the second half was under way. “Sit down, Derek. Can I get you something? I might have a cold beer myself.”
“Nothin’ with alcohol in it for me, not today. A Co-Cola if you got it, George.”
Hastings returned with the drinks and had a seat. Both teams went scoreless in the third.
“Our defensive linemen got fire in their eyes today,” said Strange.
“Yeah, this is one of those classic defensive battles we got goin’ right here,” said Hastings.
“They’ve stopped Stephen Davis, and we got hardly any receivers left except Albert Connell. Fryar’s out.”
“Your boy Westbrook is gone for the season, too.
“And I thought it was gonna be his year, too,” said Strange sadly. “Next year, maybe.”
At the start of the fourth quarter, Stephen Davis left the field with a pinched nerve in his shoulder. Skip Hicks replaced him for three downs at tailback and then Davis came back in. On second and seven, the teams lined up on the Baltimore thirty-three, with the Ravens showing blitz. Davis took the handoff from Brad Johnson and hit a hole provided by tackle Chris Samuels and fullback Larry Centers. Davis was off with only safety Rod Woodson between him and the goal line. Davis stiff-armed Woodson, dropped him to the turf, and sailed into the end zone.
Strange and Hastings were on their feet with instant high fives.
“Just like Riggo,” said Strange.
“Thought you said they were stoppin’ Davis.”
“You can’t stop that boy for long.”
George looked at his friend. “Good to see you smiling, man.”
“Was I?” said Strange. “Damn. Guess it’s been a while since I have.”
They watched the rest of the game, knowing the contest was over with the Davis touchdown. The ’Skins had broken Baltimore’s back with that one play. When the whistle sounded, Hastings hit the mute button on the remote and sat back in his lounger.
“All right, man,” said Hastings. “Gimme the bad news.”
“Well, I don’t think you can call it bad,” said Strange. “Your future son-in-law is clean.”
“For real?”
“Don’t look so disappointed.”
“What about all that Calhoun Enterprises jive?”
Strange spread his hands. “Can’t fault a man just ’cause he picks a bad name for his business. Far as his work ethic goes, and his reputation, the man is golden. He comes from a solid family who gave him a good example, by all accounts. I got no reason to think he won’t be anything but a good provider for your daughter.”
“What else?”
“Huh?”
“I been knowin’ you too long, Derek, and you know I can read your face. There’s somethin’ else, so why don’t you say it?”
“Well, Calhoun Tucker likes the ladies.”
“Course he does. What, you think some
“I don’t mean that. I mean, he’s got an eye for ’em.”
“Say what you’re gettin’ at, man.”
Strange looked down at his hands. He had been rubbing them together and he made himself stop.
“I don’t know what I’m getting at exactly, George. I guess . . . I was wondering, not to get into your business, understand, but I was wondering how it was between you and Linda. The whole time you were married, I mean. Did you ever, you know, stumble? Did you ever find yourself steppin’ out on her or anything like that?”
“Never,” said Hastings. “You know me better than that, Derek.”
“But I remember how you were, back when the two of us were out there. When we were single and coming up, I mean. You had a lot of girlfriends, George. Wasn’t like you ever just stuck to one.”
“Until I met Linda.”
“Right. But you and her were together for like,
“Well, naturally, you know, I continued to see other girls while I was dating Linda. I never did consider that to be any kind of sin. But once I made a pledge to her and the Lord in the church, though, that was it. I looked hard at plenty of women, but as far as lyin’ down with someone other than my wife, after I was married? It was never an option for me again.”
“So you don’t see nothin’ wrong with cattin’ around up to the wedding day.”
“Young man’s only gonna be young once. You tellin’ me Calhoun Tucker’s a player?”
If he were to bring it up, now would be the time. But he had been leaning one way already, and this conversation with George had made up his mind. Strange shook his head.
“I guess I strayed off the topic some. To tell you the truth, I was askin’ about it because . . . because I been having some problems with Janine. I been stumblin’ like that with regards to her, George. Not just once or twice, understand, but as a matter of habit. It came to a head between us last night.”
