Neither title was real.
Beside him stood Nurse Talia Brooks, who had spent months pretending not to know football so Caleb could explain it to her.
Then Owen Reed, a fourteen-year-old patient from the same hospital floor.
Owen’s mother, Marissa Reed, stood beside him.
And finally, at the end of the row, was Adrian Cole.
Daniel went completely still.
I noticed before Caleb did.
Caleb smiled.
A tiny, secret smile.
Then whispered:
“They came.”
The announcer said:
“Caleb asked Bright Horizon one additional question.”
Caleb groaned.
“No.”
“What question?” I asked.
He would not look at me.
The announcer continued.
“He asked whether a few people from the hospital could come too—not because he wanted another surprise for himself, but because he said football was better when nobody had to sit on the sidelines.”
Malcolm lifted something toward the camera.
Caleb’s battered tabletop football game.
