Chapter 374: The River Court
Saturday, February 4th, Afternoon (Eastern Standard Time)
The wind blew in off the river. Her hair being tied back didn't move much in the wind's icy grasp, save for a few stray strands around her forehead. Downtown laid across the river from where she stood, and was in a sluggish not ready sort of way. Nearby the traffic over the bridge made noise but in the wind it's barely noticeable.
"You miss it here?" Fawn asked.
"Oh! What?" Candi asked, broken out of her thoughts about nothing, turning to face Fawn.
"I asked if you missed it here," Fawn said.
Candi nodded, "I miss some of the people," she said, shrugged, "Some of the place s, but mainly the familiarity."
"Like this place?" Fawn asked.
Candi looked around finally back to Fawn. "Yes, why do you ask?" she asked.
"Every time we come here, we end up in this park," Fawn said.
"Comfort, family, no matter who, when they needed to think they would come here," Candi said.
"Is that why you go to the courts back home?" Fawn asked.
"That and I still like to play," Candi said.
"You never explained to me why you never went pro," Fawn said.
"If I went pro, we would've never have met," Candi said.
"So, I want to know why you gave it all away, it's one hell of an opportunity," Fawn said.
Candi sighed, "One of the main reasons I always wanted to become a doctor was to help kids," she said.
"That explains Lamont," Fawn said.
Candi nodded, "Yeah," she said.
"You said one, which would mean there is more," Fawn said.
"Well, two, I didn't want to play in Europe," Candi said.
"Oh really?" Fawn asked.
"Yeah," Candi said, "The final reason had a bit of a story for context."
"Okay, why, haven't you told me this before?" Fawn asked.
Candi shrugged, "I never thought much of it, and well it's not a nice story," she said.
"Go ahead," Fawn said.
"My junior year, I had interest from several agents, and being a year older than people my year in school I could leave school after my junior year. They were saying I had a good shot at going in the first round," Candi said.
"Did you think about doing it?" Fawn asked.
"Yes, I did, but something changed," Candi said.
"What changed?" Fawn asked.
"Angela took a season off because she was pregnant with Jess. My dad, opened up her house. She spent a lot of time in Chapel Hill and Raleigh. We got talking one night and I asked her what it was like playing in the league," Candi said.
"What was the result of that conversation?" Fawn asked.
"I stayed in school and went to med school after," Candi said.
"That's it?" Fawn asked.
"Somewhat," Candi said.
"Somewhat?" Fawn asked.
"To protect the innocent and guilty, Angela told me of the working conditions, and the co-workers. We both concluded that it wouldn't be a good fit for me, and she suggested I play in Europe if I wanted to keep going," Candi said.
"Which you already established you didn't want to go to Europe," Fawn said.
Candi nodded, "Yes," she said.
"Do you miss it? Playing that is?" Fawn asked.
Candi shrugged, "A bit," she said, and nodded, "My dad was told by Keith and me about the same time we were going in different directions then professional basketball. Keith got married, had Nomi, and went in to…well, the family business, and into the National Guard. I went to med school, we met, and you know the rest."
Fawn nodded, "I see," she said, and looked around the court, "Why this place?"
"It's where My Dad and Uncle Nathan played basketball after school, or would just hang out," Candi said.
Fawn nodded and looked out across the river. "It's a great view," she said.
"That it is," Candi said, "You know there's a battleship not far from here."
"You've told me," Fawn said, "So, what are you thinking about today?"
Candi chuckled, "How are we going to get Mads out of the spa?" she asked.
"Drag her if we have to," Fawn said, and the two women laughed.
Candi sighed, "In all seriousness my dad needs open heart surgery," Candi said.
"What? Is it that bad?" Fawn asked.
"It's because of his heart condition, they have to do it to make his heart work," Candi said.
"So, when does he go under the knife?" Fawn asked.
"He's trying to hold it off until after the school year," Candi said.
"He could hold it off that long?" Fawn asked.
"He wants to," Candi said.
"Did you talk with his doctor?" Fawn asked.
Candi nodded, "Yes, the other day, I went with him and reviewed his charts. I helped explain it to my dad, and thanked the doctor," she said.
"So, you concur?" Fawn asked.
Candi nodded, "Yeah, it was there in black and white," she said.
"Yeah, how do you feel about that?" Fawn asked.
Candi shook her head. Fawn noticed streaks running down her cheeks from the corners of her eyes. "Fawn, I don't, no, I can't lose my dad," she said.
"You're not going to lose your dad," Fawn said, ad comforted Candi.
"I hope so," Candi said.
"C'mon, let's get some coffee, or at least get out of the cold," Fawn said.
"Okay," Candi said, Fawn wrapped her arm around Candi.
"Hey things are going to work out," Fawn said.
"Are you sure?" Candi asked.
"You know the odds," Fawn said.
Candi nodded, "Yeah, unfortunately," she said.
"I'm sure your dad is in good hands," Fawn said.
"I looked up my dad's surgeon, he's a good doctor," Candi said.
"I knew you'd do your due diligence," Fawn said.
"What else could I do? It's my dad. I have to do my due diligence," Candi said.
"Well, be a good daughter and support him the best way you can," Fawn said.
"Yeah," Candi said.
"If he, doesn't you straighten him out, dad's have a weakness for their daughters," Fawn said, with a laugh.
Candi smiled, chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, I think we do need some coffee," she said.
"That sounds familiar," Fawn said.
"Well, let's get coffee, and get Mads out of the spa," Candi said.
"Is that café still open?" Fawn asked.
"The Fire and Ice Café?" Candi asked.
"Yeah, I should remember it, it's a nice Robert Frost reference," Fawn said.
"You only know that because I told you," Candi said.
"Oh well," Fawn said, and they walked towards their barrowed car. Candi quickly over her shoulder to a spot worn down from a picnic table, that had been removed for the winter. Candi made a face, gazed for a little too long, then went stone faced and turned back as they reached their barrowed car.
