Page 102 of Endurance
I giggle and cover my mouth, my head shaking in wonder at him as he drops down to one knee and opens a ring box, revealing a disgustingly large emerald cut diamond. My hands slice through my hair in utter shock. I can’t believe he’s doing this right here.
He leans in and whispers, “This is how you propose to someone.” He winks and gestures out around him at Tower Park. I take in its grandeur, its splendour, its magical ambience. It’s the place he calls home and the place I fell in love with him wearing a T-shirt that said “BIG SPOON.” It’s utterly perfect.
Clearing his throat, he says, “Belle Ryan, I’m officially inviting you to come to Harris Sunday dinners with me from now until forever, or until you can no longer stand my family because they’re horribly obnoxious.”
“Shut up,” I cry through tears. “I love your family.”
“And I love you,” he echoes. “I thought all there was in life was football and family, but it was only because I hadn’t met you yet. Every step of the way, you have tested the endurance of my heart. But now I want to go the distance with you. I want to do life with you for so long that I won’t be able to remember what it was like before you.” He pauses. “Will you marry me?”
I laugh, sniffing back my tears. “Yes…again!” I jump out of my chair and launch myself into his arms as he stands. He holds me as I wrap my legs around his waist and squeeze every part of him against me as hard as I can.
Here we stand, on the pitch next to the goal post, confirming our life goals to each other.
“I don’t want to get married on a beach. I want to get married here,” I state and kiss him fiercely.
He laughs against my mouth. “I think that can be arranged.”
I gaze into his eyes. “I’m crazy in love with you, Big Spoon.”
“I’m crazy in love with you, Little Spoon.”
Eight Months Later
MARRIAGE IS A LOT LIKEfootball. It’s a game of trust. You support your team and you help them take risks. Sometimes it pays off. And sometimes it doesn’t. You celebrate every victory and you grieve every loss. But then you get back up and you do it again. Because the end result is a family you only ever dreamed of.
Watching my wife sit behind a table with Sedgwick, registering the masses of professional athletes that showed up for my first annual celebrity 5k run, is the most beautiful dream of all.
Today is a big day for us. Almost as big as our wedding day a month ago at Tower Park. Today is the first annual Shirt Off My Back Celebrity 5k Walk and Run.
Groups of London’s homeless are currently filing into a large white tent we have set up in Hyde Park. We’re serving food and drinks and have a table with donated clothing that they can grab from to help with job interviews. There’s also a job fair area where grounds managers from various London stadiums are doing on the spot interviews. It was Sedgwick’s idea to extend the job outreach programme beyond Tower Park, and I was stunned when other stadiums quickly jumped on board. There are no promises that anybody will be hired today, but getting face to face time with people in position is an opportunity that many on the street would have never had otherwise.
My entire family is here, dressed and ready to run. Even Hayden’s family and friends are out here to show support. Vi brought Rocky in a pram, and she’s all suited up in a little track suit and sweat band, just like her Uncle Tanner. Gareth and Camden were able to secure several of their teammates to join in on the run, and they’re all mingling with the homeless, eating and learning about their backgrounds. It’s inspiring.
We’ve raised over one hundred thousand pounds so far between donations and entry tickets. It’s only half of my goal, which is disappointing. But Belle continues to reassure me that for a first annual, it’s a great start.
At nine o’clock, I’ll say a few words and then a gun will sound for the official race to start.
I stride over to Belle at the table. She’s just finished registering DeWalt, who gives me a polite nod. The prat wasn’t invited to the wedding.
“Hello, wife,” I say proudly. “How are things over here?”
She looks up at me with a smile, her dark eyes glittering with pride. “It’s going great, isn’t it Sedgwick?”
“It really is,” Sedg beams from beside her. “And you just missed it, but I got to hold Rocky.” His eyes twinkle with delight. “Your sister thrust her into my hands, not afraid at all. She’s just heavenly, Tanner.”
I smile and agree completely. It’s nice to have my family all meet Sedgwick today. I don’t know what I would have done without him these last few months. He’s practically become the unofficial vice president of our operation here.
Our hope is to turn Shirt Off My Back into a nonprofit with a location that would allow the homeless to shower and wash their clothes. We’ve brainstormed ideas, like an onsite clothing closet for job interviews and whatever else people might need to gain back some dignity. I’d love to give Sedgwick a new job as operations manager. Though, he’s still more than happy working the grounds at Tower Park.
“Oh! I have to talk to you,” Belle says, standing up from her chair. “Are you good here, Sedg?”
He looks around. “I think we’ve got everyone registered. I’m just going to grab a quick bite before they put the food away.”
“Excellent.” Belle picks up a bag from the ground and swerves around to grab me by the arm. “Let’s go somewhere a bit more private.”
Her voice sounds funny. I don’t like it when her voice sounds funny.
“The media tent is empty,” I offer.
