And in that home Miss Lila and her three daughters and all the rest of the Rakes were now gathered, waiting for the Coach to take his last breath. No doubt the house was full offriends, too, with trays of food covering the tables and flowers stacked everywhere.
Were any former players there?Neely thought not.
* * *
The next car into the parking lot stopped nearNeely's . This Spartan wore a coat and tie, and as he walked casually across the track, he, too, avoided stepping onto the playing surface. He spottedNeely and climbed the bleachers.
"How long you been here?" he asked as they shook hands.
"Not long," Neely said. "Is he dead?"
"No, not yet."
Paul Curry caught forty-seven of the sixty-three touchdown passesNeely threw in their three-year career together.Crenshaw to Curry, time and time again, practically unstoppable. They had been cocaptains. They were close friends who'd drifted apart over the years. They still called each other three or four times a year. Paul's grandfather built the first Messina bank, so his future had been sealed at birth. Then he married a local girl from another prominent family. Neelywas the best man, and the wedding had been his last trip back to Messina.
"How's the family?"Neely asked.
"Fine.Mona's pregnant."
"Of course she's pregnant.Five or six?"
"Only four."
Neely shook his head. They were sitting three feet apart, both gazing into the distance, chatting but preoccupied. There was noise from the field house as cars and trucks began leaving.
"How's the team?"Neely asked.