Page 108 of Sweeper
Daphney
I make a pot of tea as Zander awkwardly shows his mum around his flat. It’s obviously a struggle for him, but I think he took her attendance at today’s game and the fact that she stuck around in London after their talk as an olive branch. I’m glad he’s giving her a second chance because it’s obvious she loves him.
Zander points out various sights outside of the windows to her, just like I did when I first showed him around nearly eight weeks ago now. Time is a funny thing, isn’t it? Three days ago, I hated the ground Zander walked on. But a few minutes ago, I didn’t care about our fight or how much he hurt me. I just let it all go so I could be here for him. We may not be each other’s person, but it doesn’t mean I can stop being his friend.
I bring the tea over to the table where Zander and his mother are sitting. He’s showing her the letter she wrote so many years ago and the DNA results that he’s apparently now opened. It’s strange that I wasn’t a part of all of this, but when I see the look in his eyes as he gazes at the pieces of paper, I can understand that it wasn’t an easy thing for him to deal with.
His mum shares the story she shared with me at Tower Park. It seems to bring Zander some small mark of peace, which means a lot because when I watched him storm off the pitch after that substitution, I knew he was in a dark place. His mum didn’t see it, but I did.
“I’m a bit embarrassed to say it now, but I was actually in love with Vaughn Harris when we were together,” Jane says, sipping her cup of tea.
“What?” Zander asks, his eyes laser-focused on his mum.
She shrugs. “I had feelings for Vaughn even when he was married to Vilma. I never would have acted on them. But…Vaughn was a professional footballer who swept Vilma off her feet. He flew a bunch of us girls on a private jet to watch one of his matches at Manchester United. Everyone was smitten over Vaughn. He was a charmer.”
Zander shakes his head and huffs. “Wouldn’t your feelings have motivated you even more to be honest with him about me then?”
“Not at all,” Jane replies, taking a sip of her tea. “My mom always said to find someone who loves you more than you love him. Vaughn was never going to love anyone the way he loved Vilma. They were soul mates. And your father was mine.”
She leans forward and grabs Zander’s hand. “And as much as I know this secret hurt you, I don’t regret raising you with your dad. He was so fulfilled by you. You may not have shared blood, but he gave you his heart and soul completely.”
“I know that, Mom,” Zander croaks, tears sliding down his cheeks. He wipes them away quickly. “And I hope you know that whatever happens between the Harris family and me, Dad will always be my dad. No one will replace him. And no one can replace you.”
Jane blubbers softly as she stands up and drags her son out of his chair for a hug. She’s about half the size of him, so it’s an awkward angle, but it’s beautiful and honest and raw. And as much as I feel like a voyeur in this intimate moment and I should look away, it’s a privilege to watch this kind of healing happen between a mother and her son.
Zander
Another knock hits my door just as Daphney, my mom, and I begin opening our takeout bags from Old George. It’s dark out, and apparently playing in a FA Cup quarterfinal and having a heart-to-heart with your mother who lied to you for your whole life can really work up an appetite. I frown and remove the ice pack from my ankle that’s just starting to show signs of injury. Nothing career-altering. I’ll just need it well-taped for the rest of the season. I head over to see who could be coming by this time of night. It was only a few hours ago that I felt bone-chillingly alone. Now I can’t get any peace and quiet. I open the door, and the hits just keep on coming.
“Hiya, Zander,” Vaughn Harris says as he stands on my doorstep with his hands on his hips. “I was wondering if we could talk.”
My brows lift as I see Vaughn glance past me to the people inside. Might as well rip it off like a Band-Aid at this point.
I step back and gesture inside. “Vaughn, you remember my mother, Jane?”
Vaughn’s eyes turn to saucers as his gaze snaps back and forth from me to my mom at the table. You can see the whites of my mother’s eyes as she sits there, frozen with a french fry in her hand. Or a chip, as Daphney would call it.
“Hungry?” I ask, closing the door and laughing to myself because this has been a day of all days.
“Um…no. I can come back later if you prefer,” Vaughn responds, looking awkward.
“Well, my mom already knows that I dropped the bomb on you today, plus I have a DNA test on the table if you’d like to look at it. And considering I don’t know if I still play for your club anymore, I’d rather just get this all out in the open now, so I know where I stand with you.”
The level of chill I am right now is unbelievable. I don’t know if it’s still the adrenaline from today’s match or if I’ve just completely run out of emotions to have at this point. But it is what it is.
Vaughn’s brows furrow as he pins me with a sincere look. “Of course you still play for Bethnal Green. Why would you say that?”
I shrug. “My behavior today was pretty shitty,” I reply honestly. My dad always said it’s better to admit bad behavior than try to cover it up.
“Well, I gather that you’ve been dealing with a lot since you arrived in London,” Vaughn says, gripping the back of his neck. I wince at the motion because it’s something I do a lot too. “I spoke with Santino, and he gave me a bit more of the story than you did.”
I huff out a laugh. “It’s been a weird couple of months.”
“How do you have DNA results?” Vaughn asks, blinking back at me curiously. “Santino didn’t say anything about that.”
“I stole some hair off your brush when Daphney brought me to your house a few weeks ago.” I say it like I’m ordering a burger and fries. God, life is fucking weird today.
“I see.” Vaughn frowns as he processes that information.
