Tony's car pulled to a stop outside the pitch where the Harriers practiced. Jess strained to see a familiar figure on the field, not sure if Joe was on break from work or not.
"Better go find him, Jess," said Tony, who himself scanned the stands for an unusual boy he'd met at Pinky's wedding. After they had danced together, albeit discreetly, at the wedding reception, he'd asked for Tony's phone number. When Jess told Tony she wanted to share the good news with Joe, Tony had texted his dance partner and they agreed to meet in the stands at the pitch.
"He's there, Tony!" Jess said, her eyes bright with excitement. "Where? I don't see him," said Tony, twisting in his chair to look behind the car.
"No, I mean Joe," Jess said, laughing. "You'll have to find your lover on your own, Tony, sorry." Jess opened the car door and whirled around to look at her best friend. "See you back here in an hour?"
Tony nodded as watched Jess shut the door and run onto the pitch. He looked again at the stands and smiled when he spotted his dancer standing in the shadows of the stadium. See you in an hour, he thought, glancing in Jess's direction.
"Joe, I'm going! They're going to let me go, I can go!" shouted Jess as she ran to Joe, who caught her in an embrace. They held each other for what seemed the length of a dream before calls of "Oi, oi, oi!" in their direction reminded Jess of their verboten relationship. Jess stepped back from Joe.
"It's okay," said Joe, pulling her in, "I'm not your coach anymore. We can do what we want." He leaned in for their first kiss and Jess turned her head. "What's wrong," a puzzled Joe said, "is your dad around?" Joe released Jess quickly and turned to the parking lot.
"No," said Jess.
Joe frowned. "I thought you wanted..." He stared at Jess, looking for some explanation when she put her hand on his chest.
"Letting me go is a really big deal for my parents," said Jess, sadness crossing her face. "I don't know if they'd survive if I told them about you."
Joe snatched at her hand and sighed. "Well, I guess there's really no point, what with you going to America, is there?" said Joe bitterly, as Jess nodded understanding. They embraced again, letting the ache of their forced separation mix with the comfort of their bodies pressing together. Jess could see Joe's despair and she wanted to cry. It wasn't fair they couldn't be together now that Joe wasn't the Harrier coach anymore, and she not a Harrier.
"I'm going to need a personal coach though for the next few weeks before I go. We can still practice together, yeah?" Jess caught Joe's gaze with her own wet eyes and hoped he would grant her this favor. Joe hesitated, resentful at the idea of seeing Jess every day without being able to kiss or touch her. Why did everything have to be so damn hard?
"I'll coach you - and Jules -, but I won't like it much," Joe finally answered with a sad, wry smile. He guessed he'd have to take whatever she could give him, even if it meant more coaching and less dating. And Jess was right, she and Jules would need to stay fit before heading to the States.
Jess took Joe's hand and began dribbling the football lightly with her foot. Joe laughed,"You're wearing your boots! Did you wear these to the wedding?" Jess' fine wedding sari crinkled as she moved, and the two lovers' moods lifted as they kicked the ball around in a circle, Jess holding her sari in her hands to keep her feet free to dribble and pass. Playing football instantly made Jess feel better, and she wondered if it wasn't the same for Joe?
Joe punted the ball away from Jess, who laughed and said, "Oh no you don't!," picking up her sari and racing Joe to the ball. Joe grabbed Jess from behind, pushing his feet between hers to keep her from kicking the ball. Laughing, Jess tripped on her dress and almost fell to the ground with Joe. He caught her in an embrace, and she lifted her face to smile at him with soft, loving eyes. Joe couldn't help himself. He spun her around and her arms came under his, around his waist, pulling him to her so he could kiss her.
Joe's tongue pushed its way gently into Jess' mouth, and she responded without having any idea what she was doing. She could feel her head spinning and pulled away to catch her breath. "Wow!" Jess breathed before Joe landed another kiss on her. Jess pulled away again, leaning into Joe to steady herself. "We shouldn't be doing this," said Jess, uncertainty clouding her face. Joe grimaced. "Jess-."
"Well, look at you two sods," exclaimed Tony, emerging from a corner of the pitch. "I didn't know you knew how to do that, Jess. You givin' 'im a run for his money." Jess wiped her mouth as Joe blushed. "She's really good at it, you know," said Joe as Jess' face turned scarlet,"and I'm not talking about football." Jess' hot face made her grateful for the shelter the unlit patch on the field gave her.
"Don't tell her mum that," teased Tony. "They'll skin you alive." Turning to Jess, Tony said, "We'd better get back, Jess." Jess nodded and turned to Joe, suddenly cognizant of where she was, and where she was supposed to be. "We'll talk tomorrow, yeah?" Joe nodded, wanting to lean in for another kiss but didn't know if he should in front of Tony. Instead he just said, "Ok, Jess." She squeezed his hand and then let go.
Joe watched them leave the pitch. He felt full in mind and body, not sure if he should plunge into the exhilaration of kissing Jess after weeks of discomfort, not knowing how to manage his feelings, especially after Germany, or if he should be alarmed at how impossible their situation was. Her family, going to America, the distance…
He could hardly think she was going to America. How'd she make that happen? If she was able to convince her parents to let her go, surely they'd let him court their daughter. He had to believe he and Jess could be together. But he couldn't push her, she had to decide to come to him on her own.
Joe had faith in Jess. Surely she'd be able to convince her family to let them be a couple? She'd always come round each time he challenged her to be a footballer instead of an Indian. Maybe she could convince her family to just let her be a normal girl, not an Indian one. She'd never let him down, even when he thought she'd be gone for good from the team.
Joe walked back to the bar to start closing up, football under his arm, determined to be patient for Jess.
Jess touched her lips as Tony pulled out of the parking lot. She still felt light-headed and wondered if anyone at home would see her distress. "Whoa, Jess, you've had a quite a night," said Tony, slapping her on the leg. Jess looked sideways at her friend and said, "Look whose talking! You'd be out on the street if your mum knew what you were doing!" Tony laughed ruefully, "Yeah, I guess we both have our secrets." The two remained silent for awhile, processing the pickle they were in.
Jess turned round to Tony. "My mum and dad are going to kill me if I bring Joe home. But I can't stop feeling for him, can I?"
"It's like I said, Jess, you can't help who you fall for," Tony said. Jess sighed. "It's not fair. I didn't ask to fall in love with him. I didn't ask to have a goreh boyfriend!"
"Mine situation's even worse, Jess," said Tony. "My kind can't even marry."
"Sorry, Tony. Are you in love with him?"
Tony laughed. "No, we just met! I'm just having a good time, breaking free every now and then."
Jess cast her eyes downward. "Tony, it must be awful for you." Tony pulled his car to a stop in the Bhamra driveway.
Tony patted Jess on the leg again. "It's okay." He stared out the care window, looking for signs of the Bhamras up and waiting for Jess inside the house. "Just think, if you and I had gotten engaged and married you'd have to cover for my sneaking out at night for some fun. You'd become an even better liar than you already are!"
"Tony!" exclaimed Jess, aghast, "Indian marriages are for life, you can't just do what you want!"
"Yeah," said Tony, "It's the same thing even when you're not married when you're Indian."
Jess nodded her head in understanding. She too looked at the front window of her home, wondering if she could get away with going right up to bed and not talking to anyone. She could see the hall light on, the one they usually left on for Baba when he worked second shift, but so far no worried faces poking out of the curtains.
"Good luck," Tony said softly. Jess aimed her direct gaze to Tony. "You, too."
Mohaan Bhamra's eyes were already open when the alarm went off at 6am. He was thinking about his two daughters, especially Jesminder. What had he done, telling her she could go to America? To play football! His unease with his decision to let her go arose when he considered how far California was from Britain, much less from Southall. Would she be okay?
He rolled over to see if Sukhi was up, already knowing she woke before him to make breakfast and his lunch. How much would she blame him for taking their younger daughter away from her? She would feel Pinky's absence sharply, now that she and Teetu were married. But Pinky was hard to live with. How would she manage without two daughters?
To be sure, he had had to admit that Pinky and Jesminder had grown up English as well as Indian, a reality evident from their shenanigans with Teetu and that football team recently. The Bhamras had talked about losing their children to the influence of white culture. But America? It's a far more dangerous country, and so far away!
Mohaan sighed and moved to get out of bed. He listened for a minute, hearing the clinking of dishes but not Pinky's irritated voice as she argued with her mother about how much makeup she was wearing. Mr. Bhamra chuckled. He didn't miss that morning bickering at all. Pinky was now Teetu's problem.
After finishing his morning wash, Mohaan walked down the hallway, past Jesminder's room. He stopped for a moment, resisting the urge to go into the room to hug his sleeping daughter. He felt overwhelmed with love for her, he felt compassion for how difficult her life in America might become. He heard that Americans were more open to Indians than British, but they had no family close by in America. What if Jesminder had to fight for her rightful place on this team? Without her mates and her goreh coach to help her.
He wished there were colleges in Britain that fielded football teams for girls. He regretted that he didn't let Jesminder play football for a club sooner. Maybe she would have tired of the game by now.
Of course, he shook his head at himself. Like he had tired of cricket and not thought about it every day since he'd been thrown out of the club. What had he said? He wanted Jesminder to fight and to win.
Mohaan stepped into the kitchen as Mrs. Bhamra brought food to the table. She's tired, Mohaan thought. "That was some wedding," he said. Mrs. Bhamra sat next to her husband. "Pinky's happy, we showed our guests we are not poor."
She said nothing more and Mohaan wondered if she was thinking about Jesminder or exhausted by the celebrations. She had done a good job. She was a good wife and mother.
"You did a nice job, Baba," said Mr. Bhamra. "Everyone was happy, especially your daughters."
Mrs. Bhamra poured more tea. "I did not make Jesminder happy, you did that," she said, a note of disapproval in her voice.
"What could we do?" asked Mr. Bhamra, "She wants to go to America. It is a great honor to have a full scholarship to university."
"But playing football! What kind of job is that for an Indian girl? What will her future look like?"
"Only God knows her future," said Mr. Bhamra. "She says she can have a job playing as a professional and, if not, she will have her education to help her." Mohaan cleared his throat. "Maybe she will tire of football and become a solicitor."
Mrs. Bhamra clicked her tongue a few times and went back to her beans and toast. "You and that goreh coach, you brought this on our family. Now our daughter will go far away."
"She will come back," Mr. Bhamra said with certainty. "Her home will always be here."
Mr. Bhamra hoped that would be the case, that Jesminder always would come back home. At least until she married. His mind created a quick picture of the family at Jesminder's wedding to an Indian boy. But then the image of her white coach holding Jesminder floated into his mind. He shifted in his seat. He did not know what to make of Jesminder hugging Joe at that match last week. He convinced himself it was just a coach comforting his player, but it was still a shock to him.
Mr. Bhamra had nothing against the coach, but it was not allowed for Indians to mix with whites in his culture. At least, no one chose to have their child date a white girl or boy, though he knew it happened. Jesminder wasn't that kind of girl, he told himself. She is not interested in boys. For once Mr. Bhamra was happy that Jesminder seemed to love football above all else.
Then again, he thought, Jesminder had been doing many surprising things lately.
Jesminder slowly opened her eyes to the sound of her parents talking downstairs. She would have gone back to sleep but she heard her name and she sat up, straining forward to hear what her parents were saying. She heard her mum say, "America," and "goreh coach," and she grimaced. How could she possibly get involved with Joe now? She didn't want to bring any more discord to the family, she'd already done enough.
Jess thought about the kiss she and Joe shared last night and she felt her body warming and the familiar flutter in her stomach, one that she felt the first time she noticed Joe. She couldn't believe she kissed him! She remembered how easy it felt to respond to Joe's tongue and lips, how natural to be holding him, him holding her. She resisted the urge to call him. Jess didn't want her parents to hear her or to know just yet that she was awake.
Jess lay back down on her bed and continued to dream about Joe. How romantic, her first kiss came on the pitch! She couldn't wait to tell Jules! It had been perfect, Joe was so gentle and it was obvious he cared about her. A boyfriend. She couldn't believe that she, Jesminder, could feel this way about a boy. What was happening to her? What about football? Of course, she had a scholarship to America! All her hard work had paid off, even all her deception to her family had been worth it, she gets to go to America!
Suddenly Jess felt guilty for being happy she had lied in order to play football, like she somehow wasn't a good enough daughter to deserve the opportunity to go overseas. But the scout had chosen her.
Jess rolled over. She wanted to see Joe again, feel his lips on hers, his arms around her. He felt like safety. She didn't want to stop seeing him, but she had to, for her parents sake, right?
Letting her go to America was the last thing Jess expected her parents to do. She had no idea what had changed their mind about playing football in America. Was it really her father's regret over not being able to play cricket? Was it her own shameful lying and hiding that convinced them she loved football above all else? What is the fact that she scored the winning goal of the championship?
Or could it have been Joe? Jess' thoughts turned naturally to Joe. He believed in her and he showed her parents that each time he came to the house. Jess smiled. He wasn't afraid of them, and he hadn't given up on convincing them to let her play.
Suddenly Jess realized that she hadn't quit, either. She had played football for years, studied match tapes for years, without the interest of her mum and dad. She risked her relationship with her parents to be part of the Harriers. Now an American scout thought she was a really good player and her parents knew it. At least, Baba did. She had a scholarship to university and a chance to play professionally. That happened because of her. And because of Joe, who had contacted the scout in the first place.
Jess considered how her parents would react if she told them about him. It would be a lot for them to take in, what with Pinky's moving out and Jess going to America. Such changes to their lives! What would they think about her having a goreh boyfriend? Now Jess would be the only person in her family to go abroad from England, and it thrilled and terrified her. If she felt this scared, how worried must her parents be? Throwing in a bit about having a white boyfriend would be too much.
Jess decided to get up and see what the damage would be from her father's decision last night. Surely Mr. and Mrs. Bhamra had had some words over his declaration to let Jess go play foot in America. But Jess didn't want anyone taking this chance of a lifetime away from her.
Jules finished spreading butter on her scone as her dad ate breakfast next to her and her mother heated more water for tea. "Dad, can you drop me at the pitch after breakfast? I want to meet Jess and Joe there."
"You're going to play football at this hour?" asked Mrs. Jules. "But you played football all day yesterday, can't you spend the day with us? After all, you'll be leaving us soon and I won't be able to make you breakfast."
"Mom, I've got to keep up with my training before we leave. And Joe's agreed to coach us until then." Jules put her arms around her mother. "If Jess can show up after a wild wedding for practice, then I can, too. "Besides," said Jules with a wink at her mum, "I might want to go shopping with you later."
Jules hopped out of her father's car and dribbled a ball to the south end of the field where Joe was setting up practice.
"Where's Jess?" she asked, taking off her trackies. Joe's face went red at the mention of Jess. "She should be here by now," he said, looking at the ground to keep Jules from wondering why he was re-tying his boot for the second time.
"I hope her parents are going to let her come to America," Jules said, "It would be brilliant if we go together."
"Yeah," said Joe, not wanting to give away that he saw Jess last night. "If anyone can convince them to let her go, it's Jess."
Jules laughed. "Yeah, she can be a right stroppy cow!"
Joe turned to face Jules once his cool returned. "She's probably tired after all the that celebrating."
"Here she comes!" exclaimed Jules. Joe turned a little too quickly to watch Jess come running down the field toward them. He wanted to meet her mid-field and sweep her in a kiss but he held himself back. He didn't want to reveal his feelings for Jess to Jules just yet. She would tease him mercilessly, even if she used to have a crush on him. Plus, he didn't really know what would happen today between him and Jess. Their situation with her family hadn't changed.
Still, Joe couldn't wipe the grin from his face as he watched his best player come closer. God, she was beautiful!
"Sorry I'm late, Coach," Jess said. Now it was her turn to smother a glowing smile from her face. She channeled her excitement at seeing Joe into the hug she gave Jules.
"So what'd your family, say, Jess, did you tell them about America?" Jules asked.
"Oh Jules, it was the best ever! My dad said I was brilliant and that he wanted me to fight! He wants me to go to America and be the best I can be!" Jess went on to tell Joe and Jules about Tony's proposal, which made Joe raise an eyebrow. Hearing about an Indian boy proposing to Jess so she could go to America crystallized the uphill battle Joe faced with the Bhamras.
"Your parents aren't going to promise you to anyone, are they?" Joe asked, trying to make the question sound casual.
Jess laughed, "No, they outdid themselves with Pinky's wedding. It'll be awhile before they're ready for me." Somehow Jess' answer did make Joe feel as relieved as he thought. What if the Bhamras found out about him and that made them more determined to find an Indian boyfriend for Jess?
"Joe, Earth to Joe, what are we going to do today?" asked Jules. Joe quit catastrophizing and said, "Warm ups, ladies. Five laps around the pitch with high knees, then twenty-five burpees to start."
Jules started running right away while Jess hung back. "You comin', Jess?"
"Be right there," Jess said over her shoulder. She felt something unsaid between her and Joe. "How are you today, Bhamra?" asked Joe, stepping closer to put his arms around her waist. Jess gave him a quick kiss on the nose and a sheepish smile. "Tired. But happy!"
"I hope it's more than going to America that puts you in a good mood," Joe teased. Jess blushed. "You know it is," she said, squeezing him and turning toward the pitch. "I'd better go."
"Will I see you later?" asked Joe, holding her hand to pull her back.
Jess smiled, "You can see me all day!"
Joe tried to focus on proper training for the two footballers but he couldn't help but think about Jess the girl. He really wanted her to know how much she meant to him. He didn't want to pressure her but he wanted her to know that he wasn't just messing around.
He was so distracted that at one point Juliette said, "Joe, are you drunk? Where's your head?" Joe looked up. Jess was finishing her drill down the field, out of earshot.
"Aww, I'm just distracted," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Are you worried about Jess?" Jules asked. "She said her parents were cool with it."
"Yeah, who knows what they'll say as it gets closer to the time you leave." He released a long sigh and sat quietly for a moment. "Santa Clara's far away."
Juliette stared hard at Joe until he turned red. "You really like her Joe, don't you?" Joe turned his head to the side and nodded.
"Did you tell Jess about your feelings?" demanded Jules. "Are you two seeing each other now?" asked Jules incredulously. "Even with her leaving to America? You got balls comin' clean to her parents like that."
"Well, they don't know about us." Joe said, "I saw Jess last night after the wedding."
"What?! I can't believe you two, what happened?"
"Jules, I…"
"Don't worry, I'm over it. I could tell in Germany you liked her. What did her parents say?"
"I told you they don't know," Joe said, watching Jess walking to them.
Jules' direct gaze fell on Jess. "Jess, are you going to tell your parents about Joe?"
Jess looked at Joe who looked right back at her and shrugged.
"I can't, I mean, it would kill my parents," said Jess, sitting next to Joe. Joe stroked her hair.
"But you just can't take no for an answer," proclaimed Jules. "Jess, they've come so far. Look, they're letting you go to America, where there are loads of white boys. Why worry about Joe?"
"Thanks, Jules," said Joe, "for pointing out my competition," snorted Joe.
"There's no competition," said Jess, touching Joe's hand lightly. "I'm going to America to play football, not to find a husband." She sighed, "I'm tired of everything being a struggle." She paused. "I don't want to lie to my parents anymore but I don't know how to tell them. Not now."
"We've got time, love," said Joe softly, stroking Jess' hair again.
The three sat quietly for a minute. Finally, Joe stood up to break the silence.
"Alright you two, I want to see fifty situps before we end this session." Joe jumped to his feet, pulling Jess with him. "We've only got a few weeks to get you ready for the Americans."
By the time the training session ended, Mr. Paxton was waiting for Jess and Jules. Joe hugged Jess as Jules walked to the car. "Call me tonight?" he asked as she pulled away walked toward the parking lot.
"Yeah," said Jess, squeezing his hand. "I'd like that."
Sukhi Bhamra walked to the bottom of the stairwell and called up to Jess, "Jesminder, your father will be home soon. Come help me with dinner." She waited for a response, and noticed the sound of Jess' voice low and gentle, as if she was talking to someone. Mrs. Bhamra called up again, "Jesminder, who are you talking to?"
This time Jess yelled down, "Yeah, just a minute, mum, I'll be right down." Mrs. Bhamra could still hear Jess' low voice and she wondered who was calling Jesminder now.
Jess had been off and on the phone these several weeks, it seemed. She was up in her room all the time talking to her football friends and Sukhi felt her daughter's absence already. It seemed Jesminder was too busy practicing football now to spend much time at home.
Mrs. Bhamra wondered where the time had gone. Had Jess always played this much football? Mrs. Bhamra had known Jess often played in the park with Tony, but she had never really bothered over the years to ask Jess much about the game. She always knew a time would come when Jesminder would grow into a proper young Indian woman.
Mohaan watched football matches from time to time, although he was more interested in cricket. Mohaan had been a fine player, Sukhi thought. Now Jesminder was going to America to play for university and maybe become a professional, and Sukhi realized she knew next to nothing about football.
Jess walked into the kitchen. "What's for dinner, Mum?" Sukhi said, "Who have you been talking to, Jesminder? You are always on the phone now with your friends."
Jesminder avoided her mum's question. She'd been talking to Joe, mostly, as well as Jules, but her parents still didn't know about her relationship with Joe. They knew she saw him, of course, at training, but he had not come to the Bhamras' house since the night before Pinky's wedding.
"Mom, are we having tandoori again tonight?" asked Jess, knowing that asking would distract her mum immediately.
"You girls, you are always criticizing the meal when you do nothing to prepare it. Srinija Kaur's girls know full Indian dinner without their mother's help. Oh, if you could do the same for me before you leave this country."
"Just kidding, Mum," said Jess, putting her arm around her mother. "I love your cooking just fine."
The front door opened, "I'm here," called Pinky, who walked into the kitchen wearing a blousy tunic.
"What are you wearing, Pinky," asked Mrs. Bhamra as she placed dishes on the table. Jess noticed a small smile on her sister's face but before she could ask Pinky what she was smiling about, the front door opened again. Mr. Bhamra came in.
"I'm home," said Mohaan, walking to the recliner in the living room and setting down his work bag. "Pinky, please move your car to the front next time, I can't fit my car in," said Mr. Bhamra. He patted Sukhi on the shoulder and the family sat down at the table.
The clinking of dishes and utensils filled the silence that marked the beginning of the meal. "Jessminder, how were your studies today?" asked Mr. Bhamra. He had encouraged Jess to keep reading her biology and history textbooks so she didn't get out of practice for university.
"She spent her time at training," said Mrs. Bhamra, "and on the phone."
"Who were you talking to on the phone?" asked Mr. Bhamra. Jess blushed at this question.
"Probably that goreh coach!" sniped Pinky, as Jess moved to pinch her sister on the arm. Pinky saved Jess from having to answer her sister's assertion by saying, "Lucky I'm the good daughter here. I've got an announcement to make."
Pinky was beaming at her parents. "Teetu and I are having a baby!"
"Praise be to God!" said Mrs. Bhamra as Mr. Bhamra and Jess stood up to hug Pinky. Mr. and Mrs. Bhamra exclaimed over Pinky's news. Pinky twirled around to show them her first maternity top, purchased by Teetu's mother. "I'm due in March!"
"That's great, Pinks!" said Jess, "I'm going to be an auntie!" Jess was amazed at how happy Pinky looked. Then again, this was always what her sister wanted. Suddenly Jess felt very young and far away from Pinky. How different their futures looked!
Mrs. Bhamra immediately began talking about a layette for her grandchild and more clothes for Pinky, and Mr. Bhamra felt proud of his family. Neither parent concerned themselves at the moment with the math of Pinky's pregnancy like Jess did; she calculated that Pinky was likely pregnant at the time of her wedding.
After dinner, Mrs. Bhamra and Pinky chatted excitedly over dirty dishes and Mr. Bhamra retired to the recliner with his newspaper. "How about some reading now, Jesminder?" asked Mr. Bhamra, and Jess dutifully took her science book from under the coffee table.
"You must help your sister as much as you can before you leave for America," Mr. Bhamra said in a low voice. A baby in the family is a very big responsibility and a tremendous honor." Jesminder nodded and opened her book. "We will have another mouth in the family," continued Mr. Bhamra, "and I want my grandchild to be surrounded by a good life."
The phone rang and Mr. Bhamra answered it. "Yes, who is calling?" Jess heard her father say.
"Jesminder," said Mr. Bhamra, "It's your coach." Jess registered her father's solemn look at her as she took the receiver from his hand. Her stomach still fluttered at the thought of Joe, even weeks after their first kiss.
"Hello?" asked Jess, trying to keep the enthusiasm out of her voice. "Hi, Jess, I just wanted to hear your voice," teased Joe, knowing that Jess would be embarrassed that her father had answered the phone.
Jess had tried to keep their relationship casual, and Joe followed her lead, but they couldn't keep themselves from each other all the time. Especially at training, when they were both doing what they loved and shared such passion for football. They talked on the phone a lot about football, but then again they talked a lot about a lot of things: their families, Jess' culture, Joe's plans for his life at the club and coaching.
"I also want to tell you we should train tomorrow at noon instead of 10. I have a meeting with the club chairman," said Joe.
"That sounds good," replied Jess, aware that her father was still in the room. "I'll be ready."
"Bye, love," whispered Joe and hung up.