Fast Forward 6 Months

Sunday Afternoon Football

They met on the field behind Woodward and Lothrop's. It was a very mild spring afternoon. Betty sat on the bleachers watching Stephen run up and down the field like a man half his age. She smiled. There were a few other people sitting and watching the game. When Stephen got the ball, Betty stood up and started yelling,

She was cheering loudly as he ran the ball, passed it to Colin, who shot it in.

The score was 12 to 8- Sainsbury's won. They all shook hands center field and the players peeled off.

"Meet at the pub, Stephen?" asked Paul, defender.

"Yes. Sounds good," Stephen answered.

"Is that her over there?" Richard asked.

"Yes. That's my Betty," Stephen smiled.

"It will be a pleasure to finally meet her," said Colin, grinning impishly.

Stephen walked off the field to Betty. He was sweaty and dirty. He reached into his sport bag for a sweat towel.

"Phoo! You smell bad!" she wrinkled her nose.

"I love you, too!" he said dryly. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, rubbed his chest all over hers and rubbed his sweaty face on hers.

"Oh, you're awful! Why would you do that?" she cried, pushing him away. He belly-laughed.

"I'm just marking my territory! I don't want any other men coming round."

He pursed his lips and leaned toward her. She backed away.

"You've been hanging around that tom cat of yours too much!" she retorted.

He wiped his face, neck and hair with the towel. He reached into the bag, took out a comb, and combed his hair. He sat down on the bleachers and took off his football boots. He pulled on a pair of sweat pants. Then he put on a pair of trainers. Betty watched him as he dressed.

At the pub, Stephen introduced Betty to some of the guys from the team:

"Betty, this is Colin. He plays Wing Back. Colin, Betty."

Colin smiled and acknowledged her, "Pleased to meet you, Ma'am."

"Next is Paul. He is a defender. Betty this is Paul."

"Charmed," he said.

"Next is Richard, AKA 'Big Dick'. He's our goalkeeper."

"Pleasure to meet you, Betty," Richard stood slightly.

"This is Jack, he is a striker."

"No, I'm not! I'm not a union man, Stephen!" he nodded his head toward Betty.

They ordered their drinks.

Betty whispered to Stephen, "I've got to go powder my nose."

"OK, Dear."

She walked away and he followed her with his eyes, smiling to himself.

"Somebody's got Stephen's heart," Paul teased in a singsong.

"She does indeed!" Stephen stated, nodding.

"It's cute seeing a 50-something year-old man smitten like a school boy," laughed Colin.

"Are you going to ask her?" Richard asked.

"I'm not ready yet…"

"If you don't ask her, I will," Richard warned.

Stephen's eyebrows shot up and he looked sternly at him.

"Look, he's jealous!" prodded Paul. They all snickered.

Betty returned to the table, oblivious to the exchange that took place in her absence.

"Betty, Stephen has something to ask you," nudged Jack. She smiled and looked at Stephen.

"Betty, are you ready to go?"

"We only just got here!" she protested.

"They're starting to get fresh!" He shot them a look. They all laughed.