Germany is the last place I want to go right now, but if I don’t get this taken care of, the trade time will expire. I’ve put this off for as long as I can. Leaving Andi and Violet is more painful than anything I’ve ever experienced—worse than when I walked away from her the first time. If Violet’s diagnosis comes back as the worst-case scenario, I’ll have to make some contingency plans. Andi can’t be left alone with me gallivanting all over the damn place while she’s left to care for Violet alone. That won’t work at all.

Luckily, Andi’s friend was able to come and stay with her while I’m away. If she hadn’t, I’m not sure how I could’ve left them.

Max meets me at the airport in Rome and we board the chartered jet. I’m not fit company for anyone.

“Chase, you need to calm down.”

“Easy for you to say. My daughter is sick, Max. What I need is to be staying in Rome and not be flying anywhere for this contract bullshit.”

“Right. But this is your livelihood.”

I take my seat and think for a minute. If the worst happens, and Violet truly has aplastic anemia, there’s no way I’ll be able to travel constantly. What the hell am I thinking? I cross my ankle over my thigh and huff.

“What is it?”

“I can’t do this, Max.” My head swings back and forth as I weigh out my options.

“What do you mean?”

My arms fly out as I begin to explain. “It’s easy really, when you think about it. I can’t be here when they’re there. If Violet has to undergo treatments, I have to be there.” My finger points in the direction of where I believe my house is.

“Slow down. Where’s there?” Clearly, Max is confused.

“Home. Violet may have a really bad disease. We don’t know yet.”

He leans forward and pats my arm. “See there, you don’t know yet. So there’s no need to get all worried.”

Shoving his hand away, I say, “No, we do know. We know she doesn’t have the run-of-the-mill anemia. What we don’t know is how serious it is. We’re praying it’s not aplastic anemia, but everything is pointing in that direction.”

“Chase, how can I help?”

I spread my hands wide, saying, “I don’t know. It’s so frustrating, Max, not knowing anything.”

He checks his watch. “Maybe I can come up with something once we get there.”

“Like what? Pull a magic trick out of your hat?”

“No. But maybe we can get them to extend your contract here in Italy.”

Then an idea strikes me. “I need to go back to the States.”

The pilot announces we’re taking off and we need to buckle up.

Once we’re in the air, Max says, “You can’t go back, Chase. It will end your career.”

I mull this over and say, “It doesn’t matter. The two most important things to me are Andi and Violet. I can’t leave them anymore. And I can’t leave Andi alone to shoulder this burden while I’m off playing in some football game and she’s tending to a sick child. Besides, my head wouldn’t be in it anyway. A leave of absence isn’t possible. The only thing to do is go back home and have Violet get treatment. Maybe I can get a position with a team close to one of our families, so after this is over, Andi will have someone nearby who she can rely on. And if I do go out of town, she won’t be alone.”

“The career you’ve worked so hard to build will be over.”

“Max, you’re not listening. I don’t give a damn about it.”

“But the money,” he insists.

“Is socked away in all kinds of investments. I’ve been wise with what I’ve earned. I can live a nice life on what I’ve made for a damn long time.”

“I want you to think about it.”

“I have. If they’re willing to give me a leave of absence for six months, then I’ll do it. If not, then I have to decline.”

“You can’t just walk. You’ll have to finish out your year.”

“I will. I only have a couple more months. Can you ask them to allow me to take leave?”

“This is highly unusual. They don’t generally grant these when there isn’t a known medical emergency.”

“It’s fine,” I say. “I’ll finish out my year and go back to the States.”

Max pushes for me to ride it out in Europe. But I interrupt him.

“Max, I appreciate that, but we need to be closer to our families. If this is as bad as it’s looking, we can’t be on different continents without a support network nearby.”

When we get to the meeting, at first they aren’t pleased by my deferral, but when I explain, they become more accommodating.

The group we are speaking to clusters their heads together for a moment, and then one of them says, “May we have a moment, please?”

Max and I leave the room. When we get out in the hall, Max stares at me, his eyes telling me more than I need to know.

“You just killed your European football career. But I’m pretty sure I didn’t have to tell you that.”

“It doesn’t matter. As I’ve said before, only two things matter and those are Andi and Violet.”

He heaves a long sigh. “I hope you don’t regret this decision.”

“I won’t.”

Max paces the length of the hall until one of the men calls us back in. After we’re seated, they detail their contract offer.

“However, considering everything, we are prepared to suspend negotiations until the summer trade period. You finish this season with Italy and take a few months. After that, we can offer you the contract as discussed.”

“This sounds good. However, if my daughter is still undergoing therapy, it’s likely I will decline the offer.”

“We understand.”

Everyone shakes hands, and then we go for a tour of the team’s facilities. If I’m to accept a contract here, I have to be comfortable with everything. I have to admit, they are a step above where I currently am, and the stadium is fantastic. Afterward, they take me on a tour of the city and surrounding area where I could be possibly living. I inquire about schools for Violet and they assure me they are the best around.

When I get to the hotel, Max and I head out to dinner shortly after checking in. I try to call Andi, but there’s no answer. I hope everything’s okay. I text her and ask her to text me back when she gets this.

During dinner, I’m distracted, thinking about everything back in Italy.

“Chase, are you listening?”

“What?”

“I said, that’s a sweet deal they offered you.”

“It is. But it’s all contingent on Violet’s health. I hope it all works out for the best.”

I check my phone again and there isn’t anything from Andi.

Max is talking again, but I don’t hear a word he’s saying.

Next thing I know, he’s clicking his fingers in front of my face.

“Hey, what’s going on with you?”

“It’s Andi. She hasn’t responded to my call or text. That’s not like her.”

“Maybe her phone died.”

“Uh, not Andi’s.”

My head swims with all kinds of horrible ideas when my phone finally buzzes. I snatch the thing and practically yell, “Is she okay?”

“Jeez, yes, she’s fine. We were outside playing in this beautiful weather and I left my phone in the kitchen.”

I breathe out, “Fuck.” Then I sag in my chair with relief. “I’ve been worried sick.”

“I’m so sorry. Beth is in love with this place and we took a walk around the area with Violet in the stroller. Let me tell you. She was not happy about that. She kept yelling, ‘walk, walk.’ But I wouldn’t let her. And then we sat out back for a while. It’s at least seventy degrees today.”

I honestly don’t give a fuck about the damn weather. My heart is still beating out a rhythm that could rival Ringo Starr on the drums.

“Chase, are you there?”

“Yeah, Andi, I’m here. I only suffered a minor heart attack is all.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ll live. I have to say I was ready to jump on the plane though.”

“Oh no. Really, we’re good. Violet is getting spoiled. We’re going to have a rotten child on our hands after Beth leaves.”

“I think we can handle it. You go and have a good time with your friend while I head to the emergency room to get shocked by the paddles.”

Her bubbles of laughter put a grin on my face as we end the call.

“Better now?” Max asks.

“Yeah. I’m better.”

“Good. Now eat.”

I look at the plateful of food that stares at me. I haven’t touched a single bit of it, and suddenly I’m starving.

“I think I will.”

The next morning, Max and I have a meeting with the team manager and coaching staff. Afterward, we board the plane and head back to Italy. I’m more than ready to be back home, holding Andi and Violet.

When I walk in the door, a flurry of curls and arms and legs bulldoze me, yelling, “Dada!” Then two stubby arms wrap around my knees and squeeze me. “Pick up!” she demands.

I reach down and swing her high in the air to the sound of her squeals. Andi stands by watching. I walk over and kiss her, wanting more but knowing it’ll have to wait.

“How was the trip?”

“It was good after I recovered from my heart issue.”

She smacks my ass and laughs. “Violet, why don’t you go and play with Aunt Beth?”

“No. I want Dada.”

I swing her around and set her down. “We can play in a minute. Mama and I need to talk for a little bit. Go on.” She wobble-runs into the large den where I imagine Beth is.

Grabbing Andi, I pull her tightly against me. “I missed you. It’s not good being away from you.”

“No, it isn’t.” Her pause catches my attention. “Chase, the doctor called this morning.”

I look down into her eyes and don’t like what I see.

“He wants to do a bone marrow test on Violet.”

“Fuck.”