"Keeping Promises" (Part 2)

Doing My Research

That night I was on my laptop doing some research on what was going on in California and about who can help me with this CTE project and foundation I am going to be working on. Aaron was taking a shower and I had Jeter and Daisy next to me on the bed.

Aaron walked out a couple of minutes later and I looked down at his hand and he had the ring that I gave him on. It made me smile that I could share a life with him again and I didn't have to sit back and think about what if this happened or that happened. He sat next to me on the bed on his laptop also.

Aaron: I am going to help you do research and I am in the middle of texting my mom and she told me to tell you that she is going to contact some people on her end.

Me: She's awesome. I am so grateful for both of our parents. I spoke to my brother also. He said he wants to help as well so he is going to ask around on his end also.

Aaron: Have you texted DJ yet?

Me: Nope. I am scared to. I don't know how he is going to react.

Aaron: Do you want me to?

Me: Do you think you can? I know I don't want to be putting everything on you since you are doing everything with your foundation also.

Aaron: My mom and I are in contact with people that help us always Sarah we don't have to do much with our foundation.

Me: Yeah I know. I mean do you want to call him now and it says that he lives in New England still but it doesn't say where.

Aaron: Remember Travis?

Me: Kelce?

Aaron: Mhm. He still talks to him and he helps Travis with the Kelce Foundation with Jason.

Me: That's so nice of him.

Aaron: Yeah. Let me see if I can get in contact with him.

Aaron scrolled through his phone to find his number and he tapped his contact info.

It rang twice and then I heard a voice that was DJ's on the other end.

DJ: Aaron! What's up dude!

Aaron: Hey J! How's it going?

DJ: Im okay just out with two of my cousins. We are shopping for their wedding.

Aaron: Oh okay. Would you like to call me back when you get home?

DJ: No. Im good. I can talk.

Aaron: I wanted to ask you something.

DJ: Yeah what's up.

Aaron: My wife Sarah wanted to know if you were interested in helping her form a foundation for your brother for athletes battling with mental health and with those who have had severe injuries along the lines of CTE and other life threatening ones. We have some people helping us already but we need you for the approval and also to give us some incite on the things we didn't know about your brother. It is okay if you don't want us to and if you don't want to be involved.

Aaron and I were waiting for him to say something and then we heard a couple of sniffles. He must be crying. Oh my god Aaron and I made him cry. I felt so bad.

DJ: He would love that. He always wanted to give back in any way that he could but this would be so much better than what him and I had in mind at the time.

Aaron: So you would help?

DJ: Absolutely. I would love to help. I am going to be in Florida in a day or two. Would you guys mind meeting me at UF Gainsville?

Aaron: We are actually in Jacksonville right now so that would be perfect and we are staying with Tim and Demi.

DJ: Wow. Let me guess Tim and Demi helped you guys with your vow renewal.

Aaron: Yep they did. Is that a bad thing?

DJ: Oh heck no because I would have sent Aaron to them also and I would have gone to them to save my own marriage at the time. They are the ones you go to for things like that and for any life advice. Did you guys get married at their awesome family church?

Aaron: Yeah that place really brought Sarah and I back together.

DJ: Yeah Aaron I have been following your career through the Kelce's and they were telling me they liked you two together but you hit a lot of rough patches.

Aaron: We definitely did but now we are closer than ever and I told Sarah that I am on her side with this and anything she needs me for.

DJ: You are good to her man. I wish I was more like that with my brother but I was such an idiot at the time I was not there like I should have been for him.

Me: Hey DJ.

DJ: Hey Sarah. Thank you so much for thinking of my brother. What made you think of him in this way?

Me: I grew up a Giants fan which makes me a very good expert with football and I remember when the news came out about your brother and I said to myself at the time "man life must be stressful as shit for this family I would like to help one day in anyway that I can." Then I said to Tim and Demi yesterday when they came over for dinner that I read your book about Aaron's life and I am also in the middle of reading the defense attorney's book and every time I pick up that book it makes me want to help even more.

DJ: Wow. That's awesome. Did Aaron know what you were thinking at the time?

Aaron: Dude I didn't even know she was reading the book until she brought it up yesterday at dinner. Sarah knows her shit with sports. I honestly get lucky every freaking minute of my life with her.

DJ: Man those women don't come around very often. She reminds me of Shay. Shay was like that with Aaron and now she has moved on taking care of their daughter and she tried going on other dates but my brother made a huge impact on her that moving on with someone else was painful.

Me: She didn't have the closure she wanted with him which pains me every single day. I read the forward in the book and I cried. It was painful to read but I knew I had to find out how she was.

DJ: Actually I have a feeling she would love to help with this.

Me: I would love that. Do you think it is going to be too much for her though?

DJ: If it becomes too much I will take over for her but I know she could tell you a lot about how Aaron was when he was with her.

Me: Yeah that would help me a lot. Thanks.

DJ: Anyways guys I will let you know when I touch down in Florida tomorrow other than that thank you guys for reaching out to me and feel free to reach out anytime you guys want.

Me: That would mean the world thanks.

DJ: No problem.

Aaron: See you man.

DJ: Yeah man see you.

Aaron and I looked at each other with a smile shocked at the amazing conversation we just had and we couldn't wait to get started with this project tomorrow.

Let's see what happens tomorrow when the Gators football team gets involved as well. Stay tuned.

😊