Jaci Burton - Straddling the Line

HAVENS IN TROUBLE.

Those were words Trevor Shay never wanted to hear, especially not less than a year after the death of Havens dad, Bill.

Bill Briscoe had been more than just a dorm parent back in Trevors college days. He and his wife, Ginger, had been like substitute parents, especially to Trevor, whod needed guidance more than the rest of them.

And now he sat in Gingers living room, in a house hed once thought of as his second home.

Trevor had always counted on Gingers confidence, that smile and optimism that had assured him everything was going to be all right.

Now she just looked worried.

He picked up her hand. Whats wrong?

She hasnt been herself since Bill died. You know Haven. Shes always been upbeat, and shed come to grips with the eventuality of Bills death. Ginger took a deep breath. As we all did.

Trevor squeezed her hand.

It wasnt like we didnt know it was coming. Bill prepared us all for it, made sure we were ready. Never thinking of himself.

He saw the tears welling in her eyes and wished he could take them away.

I know, Miss Ginger. I know. I miss him, too.

She grabbed a tissue. Hed kick my butt if he saw me cryin over him. But Haven, she has a great life and an amazing future. She got a job with the network as a sports journalist.

Trevor smiled. I heard about that.

Its an amazing opportunity for her. One she should be seizing. I told her that her father would be so proud of her.

He would.

Instead, what is she doing? Shes thinking about quitting the job and coming back here to live with me.

Trevor leaned back and frowned. Coming back here? Why?

I dont know. She said something about getting a job at the local TV station instead.

Is that what she really wants?

I dont think so. Ginger leaned forward. Trevor, I dont know what to do. She hasnt even given this new job a shot. I think shes scared, and without her dad, she feels alone for the first time in her life.

Shes not alone, Miss Ginger. She has you.

I know that. And believe me, I dont feel slighted in the least. I know Haven loves me. I also know shes worried about me being here all alone. I dont want her to make a mistake and screw up the best job she might ever have because of me, and because of her fear.

She paused, took a breath. I was hoping you could offer me some advice, tell me what I could say to her to make her stay in her job.

Trevor thought about it a minute. Let me see what I can do about that.

Thank you. I know youre big in the sports world, and I dont know if theres anything you can do for her, but gosh, Id sure appreciate anything. Anything at all.

An idea formed in his head. He had the pull. He could get this done. And hed do anything for Ginger, and to honor Bills memory. Haven needed help, and he sure as hell was in a position to help her.

He spent the day with Ginger, and honestly, it was great to see her again, to while away the hours talking about Bill, reminiscing about college life. Besides, she fixed him lunch, and he loved her home-cooked meals. Hours later as he sat on the plane on his way back to St. Louis for a game, Trevor already had the plan formulated. The media were constantly hounding him for a feature story on his life and career. After all, it wasnt too many athletes who played multiple sports. At least not too many who played them well. Hed been closed off to the idea of it for a lot of reasons.

He leaned back in his seat and smiled.

Now it was Havens turn to shine. And he was just the person to make it happen.

HAVEN TRIED TO MUSTER UP ENOUGH SALIVA TO SWALLOW as she pressed the button to return the phone call shed missed from her boss.

She knew what was on the other end of that phone call.

Her ass was going to be fired, less than six weeks after shed gotten the job of a lifetime.

It would have been much better if she could have resigned. It would have looked better on her rsum, but then again, what did she care? Her career in journalism was over anyway, right?

Never quit. Whatever you do, Haven, never give up on anything until youre sure youve given it everything you have.

Her fathers words rang in her ears, guilt squeezing her stomach until nausea caused her fingers to pause on the call button of her phone.

It was too late to beg to keep her job. Shed already passed up multiple travel assignments, content to do the local ones, then sit in her apartment in New York, dwelling on how much she missed home, her mom.

Her dad.

This wasnt the right career for her. Shed made a mistake accepting this job. She wasnt cut out for the rigors of sports newsthe travel, the insane schedule, the arrogant athletes.

What was she thinking? Her father hadnt even been gone a year yet.

She couldnt do it.

Be brave, Haven. You can do anything, be anything you want to be. Just be happy.

Tears pricked her eyes and she swiped them away as every conversation theyd had those last few weeks replayed in a reel over and over in her head.

Be happy.

She didnt know how to be happy without hearing her fathers laugh, seeing his smiling face, being able to pick up the phone and talk to him every day.

Who was she going to go to when she needed advice?

She loved her mother, and in the ways of relationships and men and things like that, she had always gone to her mom.

But her dadhed been her buddy. Shed learned about sports from her father, had sat next to him and watched football, baseball, hockey, and every sport imaginable. Hed taught her balls and strikes in baseball and the difference between a post pattern and a shovel pass in football. Theyd driven up to St. Louis together and taken in all the professional sports. Shed never been more content than to sit next to her dad and watch games with him.

Shed learned to love sports because of her dad.

Shed gone after this job because of him.

And now she was going to be fired because she hadnt had the energy after his death to do this job shed wanted for years. For that, she only had herself to blame.

Im sorry, Dad, she said, then pushed the call button on her phone. It rang. She was hoping for voice mail.

Haven. Ive been waiting for you to call.

She cringed as the loud and very no-nonsense voice of her boss, Chandler Adams, came on the line.

Hi, Chandler. Sorry. I got tied up.

Well, untie yourself. I have a job for you.

A . . . job? He wasnt firing her?

Yeah. You know Trevor Shay, right?

Trevor . . . yes, I know him.

Great. Were going to do his bio. A whole feature on the life of Trevor Shay. Personal and professional. Weve been after him for years to do this, and he kept putting us off, until now. Hes finally agreed to let us do the feature, and hes asked for you.

For me?

Yeah. Says you two go way back to college.

Uh . . . yes. I knew him in college.

Then its a damn good thing we hired you, Haven. Pack a bag. Youll meet him at his place in St. Louis to get everything set up. Narrative and background first, and then well get camera work involved later.

Was she in some alternate universe? She hadnt been fired. In fact, shed just been assigned to interview one of the biggest stars in the sports world right now.

Okay. Sure. Thanks, Chandler.

No, problem. Ill e-mail you the specs on what were looking for from you on this, Haven. This assignments going to take a while, so clear your calendar.