Page 74 of Game Changer

So, that’s what we did. We were married in the same venue we had the reception—the ballroom on the top floor of Chicago’s Cultural Center. It’s a spectacular space with a glass dome in the center and amazing tile work throughout. It’s fitting thatwe chose a place that supports the arts so beautifully since I’m almost finished working on my Master’s in Art History.

My mom took the lead organizing the event. Seeing what she was able to do in only two months is astonishing since we wanted to hurry and get married before the football season started. She may have missed her calling. Actually, the events staff the Chicago Cultural Center asked her if she wanted a full-time job. She declined the full-time position but said she’d consider working part-time. Four years later and she’s now a sought-after wedding planner. I don’t think she’s ever been happier.

After the wedding, Alex and I moved into a beautiful Chicago brownstone near the university. There are three floors, but we only live on the first and second floors. The third floor is devoted to visitors like Grandma and Grandpa Emerson and Nana and Papa Matthews.

Oh, I gave away the surprise, didn’t I? No matter, I was going to tell you anyway. Alex and I had a son almost three months ago. We named him Finnian—or Finn for short. I know that name is a tad strange, but the meaning is perfect for him. It stands for handsome, fair, and warrior.

Finn is a great mixture of both of us. He’s got my coloring, blond hair and blue eyes, but he’s a big boy like his daddy, weighing almost ten pounds at birth. He’s Daddy’s boy in more ways than that though. I didn’t think I could love Alex any more than I did, but after Finn was born, I saw another side to my husband––a father. He’s amazing. Every time I see them together, I want to cry. There’s nothing to compare to the love I see between my two fellas.

As for the rest of the gang, sadly, Hank and Lily split up after a two-year relationship. They’re both still single and, in my opinion, still in love with each other, but Alex disagrees. He said, “You’re just a romantic, angel. Not everyone is meant to be like us.” He kissed me after saying that. It was sweet andsexy, but just between you and me, Lily and Hank still love each other. I’m crossing my fingers and toes that they pull their heads out of their you-know-whats and get back together.

The other two people you’re probably curious about are no longer in my life. Bradley is an attorney at a firm in Ohio. He didn’t even apply to work in my dad’s firm. Bradley and I are on good terms. Friends, I guess. He came to our wedding, and he’s even met Finn. I’m happy things aren’t strained with him because his mom means so much to Mom and me.

As for Brooke? I have no idea what happened to her. I take that back. I saw her a year or two ago at a CVS pharmacy on South State Street. She was a cashier. There’s nothing wrong with being a cashier, but because it was Brooke, part of me wanted to relish in the fact that she had a not-so-glamorous job, but I didn’t. Actually, I’ve never spoken to anyone about seeing her there, not Alex or Lily. So, you heard it here first. I don’t wish her ill. To do so would mean she has some sort of power over my life, and she doesn’t. Not anymore.

So, what’s next for us? Well, the biggest change in our life revolves around Alex’s job. He’s retiring from the NFL after this season due to several injuries, one of which required surgery. His body has had enough of professional football. Now he’s moving on to broadcasting. He’s been hired by a major sports network to cover Big-10 football games. He’ll travel about the same as he has as a player, which stinks, but Finn and I will be able to go with him on some trips when I’m not working on my Ph.D. starting next fall.

In all, my life is sort of perfect—charmed, I guess you could say. I feel very lucky and blessed to have met the love of my life so early. I’m confident I can say the same for Alex. It’s still a little surreal to wake up next to him every morning. Sometimes I want to pinch myself, but I don’t. Instead, I roll over and pinch my tight end. ;)