Unknown - Driven_589066

“In a little bit. I need coffee.”

“You shouldn’t drink coffee, big sister, it’ll stunt your growth.” her oldest brother, Michael called up as he stole the ball from his father.

“Don’t give up your day job, Mike,” was her droll reply as she closed the window and turned to grab her clothes.

Once dressed, she headed downstairs to the kitchen, drawn on by the savory scents of her mother’s cooking. As soon as she entered the room, her mother

pressed a steaming cup of coffee in her hand, and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“Good morning sweetheart.”

“Morning Mom.”

“Did you sleep well?” the older woman asked as she went back to preparing breakfast for her troop.

“Like a rock,” she replied, taking a long sip of coffee. “Mm. This is good.”

She slid into her seat at the table, and immediately noticed the morning paper, which was opened to the employment page. Her mother had obviously

been hard at work. Various teaching jobs were circled in bright red ink. With a silent sigh, she shook her head and put her cup down on the table, deciding

to ignore the blatant hint until she’d woken up more.

Hodge’s mother frowned as she placed a plate of bacon and eggs before her daughter, noticing the ignored paper. Turning, she made her way back to the

stove. “I ran into Mrs. Culpepper today at the beauty parlor,” she mentioned in an offhand voice.

Hodge winced, then dug into her food. “How’s she doing?”

“As well as can be expected, given her age.”

“Mom! She’s hardly ancient.”

“No, but she’s getting close to retirement age. She’s going to need a good, dependable teacher to take her place when she leaves.”

Hodge shoved another forkful of eggs into her mouth, refusing to be baited. “And I’m sure she’ll get one, when the time comes.”

Marion Hodges laid down her spatula and turned toward the table. “Catherine, you’ve been home for almost a week now. I’m not trying to push you out of

the nest or anything, but don’t you think it’s time you thought of your future?”

“Mom, I am thinking about my future. Every minute of every day. Believe me.”

“Catherine….”

“Mother, we’ve been having this argument every day since I’ve gotten home. I know you only want what’s best for me, but you have to realize that I want

that too.”

“I know, honey, but basketball….”

“Is what I want to do with my life, Mom. If I can.” Laying her knife and fork back down on the table, she faced her mother directly. “Mom, Dylan Lambert

herself came down to invite me to camp. She thinks I’m good and you know she was the best.”

“Yes she was the best and look what happened to her. She was injured and now…”

“And now she’s a head coach. Besides that’s not going to happen to me.”

“Do you suppose the great and mighty Dylan Lambert had the same conversation with her mother?”

“Mom…” Hodge whined and let her head drop to the table.

To her great relief her dad and bothers came charging into the kitchen in search of food. The need to feed her family soon distracted the elder woman from

nitpicking at her daughter.

Matthew, third eldest at 14, sat down and nudged her with his elbow. “What’s wrong sis?”

Hodge jerked a thumb over her shoulder at her mother.

“Oh,” Matthew said, knowingly. He too had been the focus of his mother’s loving, but annoying attentions. “Sorry.”

“S’okay.” She lifted her head and smiled at his. “How’s it going Pee Wee?”

“Not bad. I got an A on my Trig final, so I’m pretty pleased.”

“That’s great. It’s nice to have one math whiz in the family. I’ll hire you to be my accountant when I turn pro.”

“It’s a deal.” He scooted closer to his sister and whispered, “So did you really meet Dylan Lambert?”

“Yup.”

“Please tell me she’s really beautiful.”

“Oh little brother, you have no idea.”

Matthew’s cheeks reddened. “Man. Think you can get me tickets to come see you play?”

Hodge smiled at her brother’s simple and unquestioning acceptance of her dream. “As close to the court as I can get ‘em, Pee Wee.”

“Thanks, sis. You rock!”

Hodge stood in the driveway, bouncing the basketball and staring at the hoop but making no attempt to make a shot. It was clear she was deep in thought.

“Hey Kitty Cat.”

“Hey dad.”

She threw the ball to her father, who caught it easily.

“Don’t let your mother get to you Cat. She’s just doing what mothers do. She wants what’s best for you.”

“And if playing pro ball is best for me?”

“Then she’ll give you grief every time she sees you, buy me season tickets to your games and point your picture out on magazine covers to everyone at the

grocery store.” He passed the ball back to her.

Hodge laughed as she caught the ball. “I don’t want to make her mad, Dad but geeze…”

“I know sweetheart. She’s just fussing because that’s what good Catholic mothers do.”

“I thought they did guilt.”

“No, they leave that to the good Jewish mothers.” He laughed as he slapped the ball from her hands. “Come on Miss Big Shot Basketball player, let’s see if

you can still take your old man.”

“In my sleep, Dad!” she teased.

Later that evening, Hodge found herself in the living room, playing video games with her two youngest brothers, who were twins. The phone rang, and a

moment later, her brother John entered the living room.

“Hey Cat Poop.”

“What? Can’t you see I’m busy here, slacker?” She groaned as a huge green dragon fried her warrior on the screen, much to the delight of her younger

brothers who howled with laughter as they rolled around on the floor.

“Dylan Lambert is on the phone.”

“Yeah right!” Heaving herself off the floor, she walked over and grabbed the phone from him. “That’s not even funny, John. I swear, if this is one of your

dorky friends, I’m gonna twist your head till it pops off your runty little neck.”

He just shrugged as she put the phone to her ear.

“Cat Poop?” the silken voice on the other end of the phone asked.

Hodge pulled the phone away from her ear as if it had grown fangs. She stared at the receiver for a moment before putting it back to her ear. “Coach

Lambert?”

“Last time I checked,” came the dry reply.

Hodge sighed. “I did it again didn’t I.”

She decided that she liked Dylan’s laugh. Very much. Even when it was, as now, at her expense.

“It’s alright,” Dylan said finally. “I can imagine what it’s like growing up with younger brothers.”

“It’s a handful,” Hodge agreed.

“Listen, the reason I called was that I’m going to be in Boston on Thursday to attend a dinner. I was wondering if you might be able to take a run up there

and meet with me for lunch on Friday. There are a couple of things I need to discuss with you.”

Hodge felt her grin trying to encompass her entire face. One triumphant fist pumped in the air. When she spoke, she tried her best to modulate her tone

into one of casual interest. “Sure, I can do that.”

“Do you know where Morrissey’s is?”

“I sure do! I love that place!”

“Alright, how about if we meet at 2pm, then. My flight doesn’t leave till seven.”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’ll see you then. Goodbye, Catherine.”

“Bye, Coach.”

Hodge hung up the phone, grinning like a fool.

It was twenty minutes to two when Hodge found herself in front of the mirrored glass windows of Morrissey’s, a trendy restaurant in the heart of Boston.