Always on My Mind (Stanmore FC Soulmates #2)

30. Chapter 30

Chapter 30

“I can’t believe our final match is against City, and I’m missing it,” Jamie complained. “Again.”

Tessa chuckled. Jamie had already been frustrated that the first time they played Manchester City was when she had her concussion. Somehow, the concussion also coincided with their first match against Arsenal, so she didn’t get to play against either of her former clubs. The second match against Arsenal had gone fine. But there was a lot of public speculation about Manchester City and her reasons for leaving it. Jamie had been looking forward to playing that match and proving to everyone there was no bad blood there.

“No one can hold your injuries against you,” Tessa pointed out, trying to sound encouraging.

“I know, it just looks unbelievably convenient,” Jamie said. “Although, Rebecca did say she’d allow me to sit on the bench instead of in the stands. As long as my crutches don’t get in the way, she said it’s fine.”

“That’s great! Plus, you’ll be closer to me.”

Tessa kissed Jamie’s cheek. Even though they were back together, it somehow made Jamie blush. Tessa loved it.

Since her confrontation with her father, Jamie had made good on all her promises. She posted a whole slideshow of photos to Instagram to announce her and Tessa’s relationship to the world. Before she went in for her operation, she posted them together at the hospital. And even allowed Tessa to share a clip from after she woke, where she couldn’t stop giggling every time Tessa reminded her that they were girlfriends.

They posted to their stories while making dinner, watching television, or lying together on the couch. And the response had been overwhelming.

Support came in droves. Not only from the public, but other footballers as well. They had even come up with the couple name, “Jessa.” Tessa was overflowing with gratitude at seeing Jamie so happy.

Tessa’s mother had also come to stay with Jamie and help care for her during recovery, and it had done wonders for getting Mary Ann to like Jamie. In fact, there were a few times Tessa suspected her mother loved Jamie even more than her. Mary Ann would only roll her eyes, but Tessa maintained her theory. The pair were adoring of one another.

Her mother’s presence also freed Tessa up to enjoy simply being with Jamie as opposed to being a full-time caretaker. It gave them time to talk. To do more research into their past lives. They had finally discovered some records through online archives of their experiences as tobacco wives. On a manifest record from the Virginia Company, they found Verity and Abigail. And through property records, they found Jamie’s life as Kitty, the wife of the British aristocrat who lived in Georgia and fled before the American Revolution.

Even though they knew in their hearts it was real, seeing physical evidence solidified it for them.

“I wonder how many people are searching for their soulmate,” Jamie had said as they sat in front of her laptop. “D’you think everyone has one?”

“Oh, aye,” Tessa replied. “I think it depends on if it’s your first go at life.”

“I suppose if you found your happily ever after the first time, you wouldn’t need to come back at all.”

“Probably not.”

“I’m glad we’re finally getting it right.”

“Christ, I am as well.”

They had kissed to confirm their agreement.

Because Jamie was recovering from surgery, it meant that they couldn’t go out in public the way they would have liked now that they were out. However, Tessa was enjoying the intimacy for the time being. Because that was what it was. Intimacy, not secrecy. And that made it all the sweeter.

Even when Jamie was complaining about missing the last match.

“This might be silly, but I had this vision of scoring the winning goal tomorrow night and then running over and kissing you in front of everyone,” Jamie said with a frown. “Now that’s been spoiled.”

Tessa melted. “Ach, you’re so sweet. You’ll rot my teeth if you’re not careful.”

“And I’d still kiss you.”

Tessa wrinkled her nose. “Okay, there’s love and there’s being disgusting.”

“Shut up!” Jamie laughed and swatted her arm.

Tessa grabbed Jamie’s hand and pulled her into a cuddle on the couch, making sure to keep her injured foot elevated on the stack of pillows they had arranged on one end. Jamie was sleeping on the couch full-time to spare her from navigating the stairs on crutches. Tessa ended up sleeping there too most nights. Now that they were together, she never wanted to be apart again. Even one night was too long.

Jamie nestled her face into the crook of Tessa’s neck. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Tessa replied, kissing Jamie’s forehead.

Mary Ann bustled into the living room and picked her purse up off the coffee table.

“Okay, girls, what do we want for dinner?” she asked.

Jamie popped her head up. “Oh, will you make that creamy lemon chicken dish you made the other night? I loved that.”

“Of course, love.”

“With some rice and veg?”

“Oh, aye.”

“You’re the best, Mrs. Gallagher.”

“Hold on, don’t I get a say in dinner?” Tessa protested.

“Are you the one with the broken ankle, Tessa?” Mary Ann countered.

“Well, no—”

“Then I can’t be doing with your opinion now, can I?”

Tessa’s mouth fell open while Jamie snickered behind her hand.

“I’m away to the shops now,” Mary Ann said casually. “Behave yourselves, girls. Tessa, your Jamie is to want for nothing, do you understand?”

“Ma, she’s fine—”

“Actually,” Jamie cut in. “I would love some water and a pain pill.”

“Alright, shift it, Tessa,” Mary Ann ordered. “Up you get.”

Tessa groaned and rolled her eyes, but did as she was told. Mary Ann bid them farewell as Tessa returned with Jamie’s requested water and one of her prescribed pain pills.

“Turning my ma against me is diabolical,” she said. “If I weren’t so happy, I’d be raging.”

“You know what? If it took getting a broken ankle for your mother to forgive me for being English and Protestant, I’d say it’s well worth it.”

“Aye, those were two big hurdles to overcome, for sure.”

“She told me she prays to Saint Raphael for me every night doing her rosaries,” Jamie said. “I am truly touched.”

Tessa smiled. “Hopefully, he’s listening.”

Jamie finished the water and set it on the end table closest to her. Tessa, though aware her mother was not in the house, but somehow felt her presence, fluffed Jamie’s pillows and got her comfortable under a blanket before joining her.

“Want to watch something?”

“This pill is going to knock me out pretty soon,” Jamie said. “Can we just hold each other and sleep?”

“Of course.”

They settled back into the couch. Jamie was out within minutes. Tessa scrolled on her phone for a while until she got a text from Billie. It was a picture of Billie on her own couch, her son on her chest, his little face all peaceful in sleep.

Billie

He’s so tiny but I’m trapped until he wakes up. Who knew a sleeping baby was this powerful?

Tessa stifled a laugh as she snuck a photo of Jamie sleeping on her chest.

I know the feeling. Though my baby is much bigger than yours. I really am trapped until she wakes up.

Billie replied with a laughing emoji.

Will you two come see us sometime this week? Henry misses his Auntie Tessa.

Mummy misses Auntie Tessa too.

Tessa grinned.

Of course! Auntie Tessa misses the whole Knight family. How’s dinner on Tuesday sound?

Perfect!

Tessa locked her phone. Billie becoming a mother had meant they saw less of each other, but they spoke almost every day, via text or phone call. Tessa had offered to come by and help, but Billie assured her Betty was all the help she needed. What she wanted was Tessa’s company.

Jamie had yet to meet baby Henry, and Tessa realized she had something to look forward to with her. It would be another way Jamie could become ingrained, like she had wanted so badly at the baby shower. Finally, it was all happening for them. It was their time.

Jamie felt a bit out of place in the dressing room since she could only watch her teammates get ready for the match. She remained in her joggers and hoodie, though the joggers were pulled up over her cast. They all took turns signing it, wishing Jamie luck heading into the off season of healing.

Rebecca signed it last before she faced the team.

“Alright, ladies,” she said. “I want to start tonight by wishing you all good luck. We’ve had a solid season since getting promoted. Everyone thought we were headed straight back to relegation. But thanks to all of your efforts and working as a real team, we’re finishing in the middle of the table. Lower than the ideal, but higher than anyone expected of us. Tonight, we play one of the top clubs in the league for the second time. They won last time, but I think tonight, as it’s our last night of the season, and we’re here at home, we have the ability to beat them. I want to go out on a high note. How about you?”

A murmur of agreement went through them.

“Good to hear,” she said. “But no matter what the outcome is, I hope you all know that I’m proud of each and every one of you. Now, let’s go kick some ass!”

They cheered, Jamie along with them, wishing more than ever that she could be a part of it. She rubbed her chest to ease the ache in it.

Next season , she told herself. You’ll be out there with them .

She could hardly believe how attached she had become to the club. Stanmore was only supposed to be a stepping stone back to Tessa. And yet, she had found a team that became more like family. She knew every woman in the room could be trusted, counted on. As they all high-fived her before leaving the dressing room, that bond surged between them. They included her, even when she couldn’t be with them on the pitch. They had sent her flowers at the hospital when she had her surgery. And after, they had all made the effort to visit her when they had some time.

Sometimes, she felt embarrassed that it had taken her so long to realize her father had no real place in her life. That he could not have offered even half the support she received from Tessa, Mrs. Gallagher, and her club teammates. But she didn’t let herself wallow in those feelings. She called Lila when she felt really low. Or talked it through with Tessa or Zahra.

While her father was blocked, she had kept in contact with her mother. She had gotten her in touch with Lila, who recommended an excellent grief counselor and therapist. Natalie was getting the help she needed, and had confided in Jamie that she planned to divorce Dexter within a year. Jamie looked forward to that day. She promised to support her mother in every way she could.

Despite the broken bone, she had never felt so at peace. It was as if Abigail, Kitty, and Dinah were all resting in contentment within her now that she had overcome her fear. Jamie had discussed with Lila, and realized her father was the physical manifestation of what she had failed to conquer in her past lives. She had finally vanquished it, and with that, came the deep-seated joy that promised a happily ever after.

Jamie smiled at the person who made that ending so happy as she hobbled through the tunnel on her crutches. Tessa stood on the touchline, snapping photos of the team doing their warm-ups. Tessa looked back, meeting Jamie’s gaze and grinning.

The match started off rough. Manchester City attacked with precision, catching the Stanmore defense out several times. One of which resulted in a goal. Monika got an equalizer right before halftime. During the second half, Stanmore kept up their defense. They weren’t able to play their usual possession based football because City was so dominant, but they had several good breaks on the counterattack.

One in particular had Jamie’s heart pounding. Zahra intercepted a pass by a City player and took off in the other direction. City recovered quickly. They pursued with breakneck speed. Jamie got to her feet, crutches under her arms, and went to the touchline to watch. She had to hold Tessa’s hand to prevent chewing off her whole thumbnail.

Zahra kept her pace and remained out of reach of the City defense. She slipped past the goalkeeper and chipped it into the back of the net. The Hive roared. Jamie had never wished she could jump up and down more than she did in that moment. She had a death grip on Tessa’s arm. Zahra leaped into the air and pumped her fist before her teammates pounced on her.

Jamie glanced at the clock. There was still five minutes to go. That was enough for a team like Manchester City. If Stanmore could hold on through the remainder plus stoppage, they would end their season on a win. On the promise of doing better going forward.

A hush fell over the stadium on the restart. Everyone, collectively, held their breath as the seconds ticked by. Eighty-six minutes. Manchester City broke through and tried to shoot, but Eliana made herself big and stopped it. Eighty-eight minutes. They earned a corner kick. Paige sent it nearly back to midfield. Ninety minutes. The referee indicated three minutes of stoppage.

“Sweet, suffering Jesus,” Tessa muttered.

“Tell me about it,” Jamie replied on an exhale.

Three minutes passed in what felt like three years. Manchester City threw everything they had at the Stanmore defense, only to break against the wall. The women were sweaty and tired, but determined. This match was theirs to win.

And they did. The Hive erupted.

Jamie screamed with delight. Her fists flew into the air, letting her crutches fall into the grass. She hugged Rebecca. Tessa scrambled to pick up the crutches and help Jamie get balanced on them again so she could reach her team.

The pitch was pandemonium. The players were hugging and jumping on each other—though they were careful with Jamie. The Manchester City players came over to congratulate them. And Jamie’s heart was ready to burst. There was one thing she had to do. On the pitch, in front of the crowd.

Tessa was at her side, taking photos and videos of the celebrations. Jamie tapped on her shoulder.

“You alright, Jamie?” she asked.

Jamie kissed her in reply.

Their past lives were not tucked away or forgotten. They lived again with every shared glance, every touch, every profession of love. Finally, for all the world to see, they were together. Proud.