A Beaumont Family Christmas
“I knew you paid attention when we watched the games.”
Elle winks and tosses the ball back to Noah. “I know more than you think, Uncle Liam.”
“Lovely,” I mutter.
Nola stands on our makeshift sideline, marking our imaginary downs and keeping time. We are only playing five-minute quarters due to the freezing air and elevation. I know that once we’re inside, we’re going to hack up a lung or two.
“Do you have room for one more?” I glance over at the voice to find Mack standing here.
“I thought you went skiing?”
“We did but came back.”
“Where’s Paige?” I ask.
Mack points to the house. “She’s coming out to stand with Nola.”
“All right, why don’t you sub for Noah.”
“Hey,” Noah says, acting as if he’s hurt. “What if Mack and I swap?”
“Yeah, whatever.” I’m almost out of breath, and I think I’ve pulled a muscle.
Noah hands Mack the ball, and for a moment, they talk among themselves. “Traitor,” I mumble at Noah, who just shakes his head. Mack takes up the center position, putting Peyton, Quinn, and me on defense.
“Let’s go, Quinn. Hit someone.”
I look over at Nola and then at Quinn. “She always into violence?”
He shakes his head and laughs. “Not normally. When we watch Noah’s games, she cringes a lot.”
“Me too,” Peyton adds.
“Hey!” Noah yells from the sideline.
“Sorry, babe,” his wife says back, although I’m not sure she means it.
Mack calls his play and points at me. What the hell? That’s okay because I’m ready for him if he thinks he’s going to run right past me. I get lower in my stance and wait for him to take his three steps back, only he doesn’t. He takes five. Like I used to. Like Noah does. In this moment, I’m thankful there is snow on the ground, and none of Noah’s receivers are here because I have a feeling Mack can throw the ball. I may not want to see what he can do here, but come football season, I’m going to have a front-row seat to his game.
He passes the ball off to Harrison, who runs right toward me, only when he gets close enough for me to grab, he tosses the ball behind to JD, who takes off running toward an empty field.
“Son of a bitch,” I scream as JD enters the endzone, and of course, he dances in victory. “Smart play,” I say to Mack. “Did your dad teach you to take five steps like that?”
He shakes his head. “No, sir.”
“Where’d you learn it?”
“From watching old videos of you.”
His words take the air from my lungs. Compared to my son, I was nothing of a quarterback. A high school kid dubbed the golden boy who flopped big time when he got to college. But Noah, he’s the real deal and puts me to shame in the record books.
“I don’t know what to say, Mack. I’m really honored.”
Mack smiles and then ducks his head. Peyton, Noah, and Quinn come to me and start talking strategy, but I’m too focused on Mack. He approaches Harrison, Elle, and JD, and they huddle together. When Mack looks over his shoulder and smiles at me, I realize then that our relationship isn’t going to be the typical father of the girl he’s dating. It’s going to be so much more.