Hello friends. Long time no update and it turns out I write painfully slow. I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read and review this fic. I promise I will finish this fic eventually.
Sean sits in the passenger seat of the Heck family station wagon nervously wondering how to broach the subject of asking for his blessing to propose to Sue.
Should he do it before the game and get it over with? Should he wait until after the game? Would he chicken out if the Colts lost?
Sean's thoughts were interrupted when he realized Mike Heck merging into the freeway off-ramp and Lucas Oil Field was in sight . Was he really so lost in his own thoughts that they spent the entire two hour commute in silence?
Mike pulls into a parking lot a few blocks away from the stadium that exits the station wagon and breaks the silence, "Sean, how is that fantasy football team of yours doing?" Remembering one of Sean and Sue's early trips to the Heck family home as a couple.
Mike looked at the couple confused when Sean and Sue would jump up and down cheering on players and exchanging high fives as they showed scoring plays around the NFL during halftime of the Colts game.
She snuggles into her boyfriend as they settle back on the couch but is catches her dads confused expression. "Sean is in a fantasy football league with some of his frat brothers from Notre Dame. His team is on fire today," Sue explains. Her eyes sparkle with adoration she looks up at Sean and caresses the numbers of the Colt jersey covering his chest intimately. Sean murmurs something in Sue's ear that makes her blush and she is unable to suppress a giggle.
Mike shifts in his chair awkwardly and his eyes darts to the couple cozily cuddling on the couch. He didn't like public displays of affection even between himself and his own wife of more than 25 years. He certainly felt uncomfortable about his daughter canoodling with the boy from across the street in front of him.
Sue is oblivious to look her dad shoots at them but it makes the hair on the back of Sean's neck stand up. Sean removes Sue's hand from his chest and hold it in his own while shrugging his shoulders guiltily at the older man.
The glare on Mike Heck's face softens and nods his head in approval. At least Sean picked up on his non-verbal cues and he didn't have to have an awkward conversation about handsy behavior in his home. Mike remembers Frankie's reminders to make Sean feel comfortable in their home or else they would lose Sue to the Donahue's when the couple came to Orson to visit.
"Are you really into that fantasy football business?" Mike asks out of genuine curiosity. He knew Sean was a busy guy between medical school, helping his parents, volunteering, and being the #BestBoyfriendEVER according to Sue's Instagram posts. Fantasy football seemed like a waste of time for someone who had so much going on in their life.
"It made watching those rebuilding years fun. Don't worry Mr. Heck I am Colts fan first. I have a firm rule against drafting any players from the AFC South other than the Colts and I always sit my players who are playing against the Colts," Sean explains earnestly.
Mike leans back in his recliner and turns his attention back to the game. He scowls as he watches Andrew Luck get sacked by Khalil Mack. Maybe Sean had a point about fantasy football making Sunday's more fun.
Sean frowns as he think about the current state of his fantasy football team between medical school and the grind of day to day life he neglected his fantasy team this year. "I'm not doing too well. I have been so busy. I put Sue in charge of my team for a few weeks and I am wishing she was still my GM."
Mike's neutral face erupts in a grin remembering the weeks when Sue incessantly texted him and called him about hypothetical football match ups. It's been a long time since Sue asked for his help or opinion on anything. Especially since she and Sean moved in together. He found himself looking forward to those texts and phone calls. Mike felt conflicted knowing Sue didn't come to him first when her car was making a weird noise or she was suffering from insomnia after watching a scary movie. He was proud his daughter was confident and self-sufficient but knew when she needed support or help she turned to Sean first. Not him or Frankie.
"I started a league at the quarry this year," Mike confesses they settled into a booth at a pub halfway between the where they parked the station wagon and Lucas Oil Field.
Sean mouth twitched as he had to fight a smile as he took in Mike's embarrassed expression. The older man was always curious about the match ups and his draft strategies when he was trying to make polite conversation. Sean couldn't help himself he had to ask, "What caused you to start your own fantasy league?" It didn't surprise him that Mike was in a fantasy league what did surprise him was Mike started a fantasy league.
"The Chandler Inn and your mom's spinach dip," Mike said as they were served their beers. Sean leans back in the booth becoming more comfortable remembering Sue was organized the first Chandler Inn Staff Fantasy League Draft Party.
Sue stood on her front porch breathing in the summer air and the scent of freshly cut grass on Birchwood Avenue accompanied by the sound of a symphony of lawn mowers. Bill Norwood is mowing his front yard and gives him a friendly wave as she walked toward her car. She was about climb into her car when she spots Sean pushing a lawn mower to the Donahue family front yard.
She lets out a squeal of delight at the sight of her boyfriend. She runs across the street to sees Sean in a heather grey St. Matthews t-shirt that clings to his sweaty body as she pulls him into a kiss. Her face flushes remembering the last time she her fingers caressed his sweaty skin just a few nights before when they were in his bed.
"What are you doing here?!" Sue asks holding him close to him close knowing he had a study group meeting up that day.
Sean pulls away from her just enough to look her in the eyes and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "I needed to wish my girl luck on such an important day but my mom saw me and asked me to mow the lawn before I could knock on your door," he confessed.
Sue looks at him surprised, "I'm amazed you even remembered." It was her 60 day performance evaluation. She mentioned it casually in passing to Sean and her parents last week. She hoped that her hard work would be recognized by her superiors.
"Of course I remembered! I am so proud of you Suzy-Q. You got a job in your field before you even graduated," Sean exclaims. Part of him was a little offended that she would think he would forget an important career milestone until he remembers Axl talking about all the times her family forgot her birthday or when Sue told him about how they ignored her when she "got lost" at the fair.
Sean hold Sue's hand and walks her to the car reassuring her that she was amazing and she had nothing to worry about. She looks at the passenger side confused when she finds a small brown paper bag that she didn't remember leaving in her car the night before.
"My mom and I packed your lunch. She was upset I didn't tell her about your important day earlier because she would have made that pasta salad that you like. Can you come over tonight? I want to make you dinner later to celebrate. It has been like four days since you stayed the night and my roommates aren't going to be home and we will finally have some privacy," he entices her.
Sue blushes and decides to forget the awkward conversation she shared with her mom earlier that week about spending the night a home more often since she lived there and not at Sean's apartment. "Dinner at your apartment sounds amazing," she says happy to have something to look forward to no matter how her eval turned out.
Hours later Sue sat in the Chandler Inn Staff break room with her performance evaluation that she need still needs to sign off on and send to HR. She looks at her phone not surprised to find a couple texts from her boyfriend but was shocked to see a text from her dad that said, "Good luck today. Call me when you can."
She looks at her phone debating who to connect with first. She knows that Sean is more emotionally supportive than her closed off dad but for some reason she finds herself dialing her dad's number.
"Sue, how is it going today?" her dad asked after he picked up on the first ring.
Sue tucks her phone on her shoulder and digs through the bag to see what Mrs. Donahue packed her for lunch and smiles as she finds two miniature sandwiches one in the shape of a star and the other in the shape of a heart. Sue sighs, "It went okay but not as well as I wanted."
"Really, what happened?" her dad asked sounding confused. Sue had nothing but positive things to say about her experiences at the Inn so far.
Sue looks at the evaluation and reads off, "Earned fantastic feedback from guests and peers. Creative problem solving skills. Shows potential as a trainer because of depth of knowledge and positive and approachable attitude. Valuable member of our Chandler Inn team."
"What is wrong with that?" Mike asks completely confused. That evaluation sounded like high praise to his ears.
"Because I have so many ideas to make things better!," Sue exclaims. "I had my supervisors ear without distractions and I didn't share them."
Mike frowns and confesses, "They probably wouldn't have implemented them anyway."
"What?" Sue asks confused as she walks over to breakroom coffeepot to make a fresh pot. She wasn't much of a coffee drinker but she hated seeing her co-workers looks of disappointment when they found the pot empty.
Mike leans back his chair at thinking about how different his two oldest children were. Axl took his time finding a job after he graduated and even traveled through Europe the summer after he graduated. Sue started working at the Chandler Inn weeks before her graduation. Even though he was closer to Axl through his childhood and teen years after Axl moved to Denver he found himself getting closer to his only daughter as she grew into an adult.
"As a manager I don't look for someone to come in and shake things up after 60 days. I look for people who step up when things aren't going well." Mike informs her. When he imagines her frowning on the other side of the phone he says, "I'm proud of you. Showing potential to be a trainer is an amazing thing. At the quarry I am impressed when an employee doesn't require more training after 60 days."
Sue disappointment faded when she heard her dad's praise he was always honest with her. "Thank you, Dad," she said with her voice filled with emotion. She wanted to say so much more but she knew her dad wasn't a warm and fuzzy guy and it would make him uncomfortable.
When she hung up she was conflicted. Should she think of her evaluation as a "win" when she knew she had so much more to give it was bittersweet.
Sue lets out a breath and decides to take her dad's advice. Her career is going be a marathon, not a sprint and she will have to step up and seize her opportunities when they presented themselves.
She smiles when she finds a notes from her boyfriend and his mom scribbled on a napkins reminding her to have a good day. She continues to dig through her lunch and finds three snickerdoodles, a baggie with fresh cut veggies, and small Tupperware container with Nancy Donahue's spinach dip.
She was about to pick up her phone to text Sean and Mrs. Donahue to thank them for packing her lunch when Kerry the General Manager of the Inn entered the breakroom.
Kerry gave her a warm smile as she walked towards the coffee and says, "You know what I like about you Sue?"
Sue replied with a curious, "What?" She only interacted with her a few times. When she was hired and one time was when she had to call her to help deescalate and angry woman who swore up and down that she had a reservation booked for the end of June for a Garden View room when she was booked for the end of July. She was surprised Kerry even knew her name.
"You make my life easier every day. Even today I looked over at your station at guest services and heard you were at lunch. I knew I would find a fresh pot of coffee along with you," Kerry said as she pours a cup.
Sue dredges a carrot in her dip and cheerfully says, "I am always here to help."
"I really appreciate your positive attitude, Sue. It hasn't been the best day," Kerry confesses.
Sue's eyes widen with concern as she unwraps her dessert from its cellophane, "Would you like cookie or some veggies and spinach dip? My boyfriend's mom made me lunch and packed enough for a small army."
The older woman accepts the cookie gratefully and settles at the table across for Sue and helps herself to a cucumber slice with dip. "This is amazing. Just what I needed after such a frustrating morning."
"Do you want to talk about it," Sue asks knowing just a friendly ear can make a world of difference.
"Every year the staff has a fantasy football league and I have to be the bad guy and nag them about making trades on the clock and taking extra long breaks to gloat after a good week. I heard some employees talking about their upcoming draft. It is so frustrating," Kerry confesses.
Sue nods empathetically and then thinks of her coworkers already excitedly talking about draft strategies and says, "Maybe you should embrace it? SHRM magazine had a really interesting article about fantasy football in the workplace. They had some really interesting insights about how it's an inexpensive morale booster and promotes retention. Some workplaces even encourage fantasy football leagues by organize draft parties for employees but have firm guidelines and expectations. I still have the article if you want to read it."
Kerry eats a chuck of the cookie that Sue gave her and looks at her thoughtfully and responded, "You know I think you're right. Jim from accounting could have moved on to other bigger opportunities years ago. I think part of the reason he is sticking around is because he is determined win the fantasy league. Let's test out this theory. You write up some workplace expectations and send them to me. I will get you a budget for this draft party and you can organize it. Just remember I am tasking you to keep it professional. "
"Are you sure?" Sue asks. She couldn't believe her ears not only did someone listen to her ideas but actually trusted her to implement them.
Kerry dips a slice of red pepper in the spinach dip and says, "You are respected by all the staff and I have a feeling they will listen to you more than they listen to me."
"I'm sure that's not true," Sue protests.
"We will find out. Please drop a copy of that article off to me this week. I would like to have it available if the owners questions this little experiment," Kerry requests as she stood up and walks up towards the door.
Sue smiles widely already planning the festivities in her head and nods her head excitedly.
Before Kerry left the break room she had to make one final request, "Sue, you need to serve this spinach dip at the party. It is truly amazing."
"She worked for weeks perfecting your mom's recipe. Organizing that draft party was a great opportunity for her. She built so much confidence when it was successful," Mike says sentimentally.
"Sean, I love my daughter and respect judgement. She is more than capable of making her own choices and has done well for herself," the proud father bolsters.
"Suzy-Q is pretty amazing…" the younger man agrees happy to find common ground.
Mike cuts him off by saying, "This doesn't mean I agree with the choices the two of you have made as a couple. I understand that medical school is demanding and your residency might take you somewhere far away. This doesn't mean that Sue should give up a job she loves and uproot her life for someone who is just a boyfriend. She deserves a commitment."
Sean throat tightens up and gets that guilty feeling in his gut. He was ashamed to say this feeling has become familiar through the past few months. The result of too many awkward moments with friends and family asking if they set a date yet. Sue would awkwardly hold up her bare left hand and joke, "when this guy asks me."
Sean drops a small velvet box on the table and confesses, "I wanted to give Sue this three years ago…"
This action of producing a ring on the spot left Mike Heck speechless. He expected some hemming and hawing and even a little shame.
"You really have had that ring for three years?" Mike asks.
"Yes, it's a family heirloom," Sean recalls the weekend he received the ring.
When Sean returned from Ghana Sue joined him at the annual Donahue family reunion at Grandma Margaret's house at Tippercanoe Lake. Nancy, Ron, and Sean's aunts and uncles got to sleep inside the Donahue family home. Sean and the rest of the grandkids got to campout in the backyard in tents.
This was not how Sean pictured his first getaway with Sue as a couple. When he was in Ghana he would daydream of a fun weekend sightseeing in Chicago, a romantic getaway at a bed and breakfast in the country, and even a trip to Dollywood. He could picture Sue ignoring him during their first romantic getaway in favor of befriending the latest "Girl in the Well". Although their first trip as a couple wasn't the dream romantic weekend he thought of when they were apart. He decided to take a cue from his new girlfriend and look at how make the best of it he did buy a new two-person tent so they would have a little privacy.
This was the first reunion since Sean's grandfather, Peter, passed away and Sue's presence was a breath of fresh air during a bittersweet weekend. Sue loved hearing stories about Grandpa Donahue since she didn't get the chance to get to know him personally. Sue and Margaret bonded falling deeper in love over letters (or emails in Sue's case) as they played Yahtzee under a patio umbrella. Peter was in the military early and was sent overseas early in their relationship. Margaret glowed as she shared stories about her late husband and their early courtship. The whole family learned more about Peter Donahue because Sue was so curious.
During dinner of the first night of the weekend they had a blast sitting at the "kids table". Sean exchanged corny knock-knock jokes with his younger cousins and Sue taught them how to make paper fortune tellers.
Somehow Sean and Sue ended up in the oversized tent in the backyard of that house with one a kid between them in a Batman sleeping bag. Dottie and Shelly were thrilled they got share the tent Sean brought with their cousin Katie and they got a break from the little kids.
Grandma Margaret poked her head in the tent, "Kids remember I have a big bed all to myself so if you get scared out here or have a bad dream you can climb into bed with grandma and snuggle. That includes you Suzy-Q."
Sean's cousin, Emma a six year old in Poppy the Troll sleeping bag holds Sue in a death grip in her sleep. She dislodges her arms enough to give Grandma Margaret a thumbs up.
Emma's twin brother, Joshua was sleeping in a Minion's sleeping bag and had his arms clasps his arms around Sean's neck and he was practically had him in a chokehold. They looked at each other and smiled because they were exhausted by the kids pulling them in opposite directions throughout the day but they also got to have a tiny glimpse into their future.
"You really got a really special girl Sean and you look happier than I have ever seen you," Margaret praised as she added some sugar to her coffee the following morning. Sean was still on Ghana time four hours ahead of everyone and wasn't able to fall back asleep. As much as he was enjoying watching Sue sleep he was thrilled when the kitchen light flicked on and he was alerted someone else was awake.
Sean grins and remembers when he professed his love to Sue at mile marker sixteen he called her "walking sunshine". He didn't know that sunshine was contagious. When he was in Ghana all his co-workers teased him because they said they could tell when he got an email or Skyped with Sue because he radiated joy. Sue's sunshine spread to his Grandma because looked the happiest he has seen her since his grandpa passed away.
"I'm glad you and Sue hit it off. She was so nervous about coming to the reunion," Sean confesses and remembers the hours sat on her bed in the Heck house as she fussed over what clothes pack for the reunion and asked questions like "Are these shorts too short? Is this sundress okay?"
"Well she had nothing to worry about. In fact, I insist on her joining us next year and the year after that and the year after that…" Margaret said in a singsong way.
Sean chuckles, "That's my plan." He knew Sue wasn't just a girlfriend she was his future.
"Good," Margaret reaches into the pocket of her robe and places a velvet box on the table.
Sean stares at the box for a moment in disbelief. Sean opens the box and finds a familiar ring. He remembers being hypnotized by it glittering on her finger when he was a toddler. It was a simple ring white gold band with a modest solitaire diamond in the center. He smiles at the ring as he imagines putting it on Sue's slender finger.
"I know you two are still young and marriage is a long way off. When the time is right I would love it if you gave Sue this ring," Margaret says.
"Wow, Grandma are you sure?" Sean asks.
"I want the ring to stay in the family and it is a good luck charm. I want you and Sue to have as many years of love and happiness as your grandpa and I had. When the time is right of course," she encourages.
"How.." Mike ask.
"What do you mean," Sean asks confused.
"How are you planning to pop the question?" Mike asks.
Sean looks at Mike confused. Does he have his blessing? Will his plans for a proposal be a test to getting his blessing?
The younger man sheepishly looks out the window he is almost embarrassed to tell Mike Heck his proposal idea. It was shmaltzy and sentimental. Something he was sure stoic Mike Heck wouldn't appreciate but his daughter would love.
"The first time Sue and I kissed was on Christmas Eve in your backyard. I thought I might ask her there tonight," Sean admits remembering the perfection of that night. The snow falling on his favorite snow flake as their lips passionately tangled for the first time.
The older man thinks of all of the times he walked by Sue's room when she was a little girl and saw her accept Woofy Dog's proposal. Sometimes when he walks by her now empty bedroom he almost hear her dramatic gasp as she narrated Woofy Dog getting on one knee and see her crooked-toothed smile nodding her head excitedly accepting the proposal from her most loyal stuffed animal friend. How did the girl with who daydreamed about becoming a bride become a woman? How did the boy across the street become a man on the verge of becoming a doctor?
Mike bites on his thumbnail nervously and thinks about the recent rainstorms that made his backyard a swampy mess. "That won't work. You won't be able to get down on one knee for months. We need to think about something better," Mike declares.
"Well it can't be too elaborate or over the top. Sue has plans for our future. She would be furious if I spent money I don't have on an extravagant proposal," Sean explains. Although Sue was an optimistic ray of sunshine most of the time when it came to finances she was hard core realist.
Shortly after they agreed to move in together they sat side by side with laptops on the living room couch of the apartment Sean shared with two roommates. Sean was excitedly oohing and awing over spacious apartments with amenities like outdoor and indoor pools, gyms, and basketball courts.
Sue was fussing with a spreadsheet that was her budget and biting her thumbnail anxiously.
"What's wrong Suzy-Q?" he asked. She was so excited about moving in together last night.
Sue looks at her spreadsheet and confesses, "I know we grew up across the street from each other but we had very different upbringings. My family always struggled with making ends meet. I figured we could save some money and for our future. Neither of us will use the indoor gym. You will be too busy with med school and I hate running on a treadmill. I like running outdoors it reminds me of my glory days running cross country at Orson Jr High. I get to see squirrels frolic and stop always have an excuse to stop for a breather to pet dogs who are taking their humans for walks."
Sean fell a little more in love with her as she listened to her logic. He thinks of all the times he accused him of being "such a Donahue". He wanted to kiss her passionately in that moment and tease her for being "so Suzy-Q." She always found the positive side of everything and found joy in the littlest pleasures.
Instead of a passionate kiss he pulled her into a reassuring hug and snuck a peek at her budget and saw two new columns on her budget "Med School Loans" and "Our Future" and realizes it was irresponsible for him to think of "sparkling pools" and "spacious closets" when he was sitting on a substantial amount of debt and wasn't earning an income yet. They weren't just a cute couple anymore. They were two adults working together and building a future.
"It doesn't need to be expensive to be special. I am sure we put our heads together and figure something out," Mike says as he throws some bills on table and stands up.
Sean finishes his the last sip of his beer. He often wondered where Sue got her positivity and optimism. He thought it might have come from a distant relative like a great-aunt or her Grandma Heck who passed away years before she was even born. He never would have guessed it came from her dad.