The Wait Is Over

Two Ships Passing In The Night

Zach Ertz arrived at the Wingate around 8:00, hoping that Julie would be back from her game against Atlanta by then. He had booked a flight to Orlando wanting to surprise his wife with a few days together before the regular season and National Team call-ups would have her on the road a lot more. He spotted Alyssa Naeher and Jen Hoy in the lobby having a conversation over coffee.

Zach: Hi, Alyssa. Have you seen Julie around?

Alyssa: No, I haven't. I know that most of the Charge went to dinner after their game. Maybe she's with them.

Jen: The league had our team play first today so that we'd have more time to prepare for our flight tomorrow back to Chicago, so I didn't get a chance to see her more than in passing before their game.

Zach: Did the Red Stars not do well in the tournament?

Jen: We won all three of our games and are playing in the final on Saturday. We're heading to Chicago for a couple of days in between so that we can attend the funeral of one of our former coaches, Vanessa's father.

Zach: I hadn't heard about his passing. My condolences.

Alyssa: I think Julie was planning to join us along with a few other former Red Stars and Chicago-born players. I'm surprised she didn't let you know about that.

Zach opens his phone and sees the text from this afternoon asking about his weekend plans.

Julie: Are you planning to come down here this weekend? Give me a heads-up.

Zach then looks at his email and sees the note his wife left him just after he had landed in Orlando.

Zach: Looks like Julie caught a flight out tonight for the funeral.

Jen: She knew the Charge were eliminated after their second game, so it's possible her and Vanessa talked about flying up together.

Alyssa: Vanessa left at halftime of our game because the flight she booked left at 4:45. The Storm/Charge game didn't end until 5:30 or so.

Carli Lloyd and several of the Charge players entered the hotel and she walked up to Zach.

Carli: Zach, I'm a little surprised to see you here given that Julie beat it out of the locker room like her shoes were on fire after our game today.

Zach: I wanted to surprise her, so I didn't tell her I was coming.

Carli: She told me that she was going to Chicago for the funeral and would head home from there on Sunday.

Zach: I didn't see her email to that effect until I got to the hotel. Do you know what time her flight was leaving?

Carli: She said somewhere around 7:30.

Zach: Which would have been while I was at baggage claim. Damn!

Alyssa: How did she get to the airport, do you know?

Carli: I think Sonnett took her since Lindsey was playing the 7:00 game and her car was free.

Zach: Guess I'm here by myself for a few days, then. I booked my return flight on the same one that the Charge is taking back to Philly on Sunday.

Carli: I can call Brian and see if he can come down here for the weekend.

Zach: No thanks. I don't want to be third-wheeling the two of you. I'll figure out something to pass my time.

Zach thanked Carli for the information and went to the front desk to confirm his reservation and get his room keys.

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