Keeping Score (Brooklyn Monarchs 3)

Jaclyn shook her head at her media executive, then administered a bolstering pat to Marilyn’s shoulder. “Think positive. The Monarchs had a convincing win over the Nuggets during their second home game of the series Wednesday night. They’re on a roll. That means these vultures can’t pick at you for any recent losses.”

“And Troy and Jackie will be right behind you at the podium.” Andrea offered a bright smile. “If you get a question you can’t answer, one of them will bail you out.”

“That’s right.” Troy searched her features. He probably expected to have to bail her out fairly quickly.

“Thank you again for arranging this press conference.” Marilyn smoothed the jacket of her caramel suit. She glanced at her talking points again.

Jaclyn nodded. “The media have been hard on you and Rick. The message you’re going to deliver won’t stop them, but it will put them on notice. And you’re the best person to deliver it.”

Troy glanced at his watch. “Are you ready?”

Marilyn raised her gaze toward the podium. It seemed a great distance away. First the radio call-in program and now the media conference. She locked her knees as they began to shake. “Yes, I’m ready.”

Troy stepped to the side, putting himself between her and the restless press corps. His broad shoulders blocked most of the camera flashes that tried to blind her even before the conference began.

Andrea stayed behind as Jaclyn and Troy escorted Marilyn to the front of the room. The trip seemed to take forever. Marilyn and Jaclyn stepped back as Troy took the microphone first.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today. As we mentioned in the announcement, Dr. Marilyn Devry-Evans, wife of Monarchs’ shooting guard Warrick Evans, will address the media stories about her and her husband. Dr. Devry-Evans.” Troy stepped aside and gestured Marilyn toward the podium.

Marilyn squared her shoulders and strode forward. She scanned the room while Troy adjusted the microphone for her shorter stature. The Monarchs Wives Club was seated toward the back of the crowd. Peggy gave her a Mona Lisa smile. Susan waved with enthusiasm and Faye gave her two thumbs up. Their encouragement helped Marilyn breathe more easily.

She laid her talking points beside the mic and gripped the sides of the podium until her knuckles showed white. “Good morning and thank you for coming.” Her voice shook. She cleared her throat as though that would help. It didn’t. “This morning, you received a statement from Jordan Hyatt recanting her claim that she’s had an affair with my husband and that she’s pregnant with his child. She’s finally admitted what people who actually know my husband already realized.” Marilyn lifted her gaze and stared at the crowd and their cameras. “My husband is a man of great integrity.”

She returned her attention to her notes. “Much has been written—and photographed—about my marriage this postseason.”

Inappropriate giggles from the crowd pricked her temper. Marilyn let her anger strengthen her voice. “I hadn’t realized that by virtue of his profession, every aspect of Rick’s personal life was considered fair game to be exposed, dissected, and criticized by the public. However, no matter how you attacked him, he rose above your words and actions, and kept on winning. You claimed he didn’t have a champion’s mental strength. Yet he kept winning. You chased the lies of a stranger, allowing her to brand him an adulterer. He kept on winning. You turned his teammates against him. And he just kept on winning.”

Marilyn blinked back her tears and set aside her notes. “I never realized the value of what I had until I almost lost it. Rick wouldn’t allow the media to come between us. But I did. Because of the negative publicity and public criticism, I almost gave up on my marriage. But I’ve decided not to allow the worst thing in my life, the media attention, to cost me the best thing that could ever happen to me, my marriage. I admire Rick Evans. I’m proud of him. And those are just two of the reasons I love him.”

She took a breath and looked out over the crowd. “Are there any questions?”

A tall, heavyset man with short graying hair rose from his seat in the middle of the room. “You’re blaming the media, but isn’t your failed marriage your fault? Rumor has it you threw Rick Evans out after Jordan Hyatt

revealed he has a tattoo.”

Marilyn tightened her grip on the podium. “First, my marriage hasn’t failed. And second, I’m taking responsibility for the problems in my marriage. What I’m saying is that I won’t allow the media spotlight to cause a strain between Rick and me ever again. In fact, next season, when my husband helps lead the Monarchs to another NBA Championship title, you can turn your spotlight on us again. Just keep your cameras away from our windows.”

Applause from Jaclyn and Troy behind her joined with cheers from the Monarchs Wives Club in front of her. Marilyn almost shouted herself.

“Are there any other questions?” She extended the invitation against her better judgment.

Toward the front of the room, a small woman in a gray pantsuit accepted her offer. “During the LaMarr Green Show, you indicated there was a specific reason Rick Evans chose to get a tattoo. What is that reason?”

Marilyn smiled. “I’m not going to discuss my husband’s tattoo. Ever.”

She glanced over her shoulder toward Troy. Marilyn smothered a sigh of relief when he came forward to rescue her.

He must have sensed she wouldn’t be able to release her grip on the podium. Instead, he raised the microphone toward his mouth.

“That’s it, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you again for your time.” Troy turned off the microphone. With a gentle tug on her right elbow, he drew her from the podium.

“I’m shaking.” Marilyn’s voice trembled.

Jaclyn gave her a hug. “Nervous reaction. You were great.” She stepped back as Andrea, Peggy, Faye, and Susan joined them.

“Girl, you were wonderful.” Susan gave her a hard squeeze before releasing her.

Andrea nodded. “I was impressed. I’m sure the other reporters were, too.”