The Wait Is Over

Earthquake on the Potomac

Steph leaves her room early on game day to have coffee with her leftenant from the Canadian National Team, Washington Spirit captain Shelina Zadorsky. Yael is sitting up in bed, feeling a little sick. Steph kisses her on the temple and asks her to text her when she plans to head downtown with Abby for their meeting with Becky Sauerbrunn and Lori Lindsey. Yael nods and lies back down, trying to get a little bit more sleep. Failing to get back to sleep, Yael gets dressed and walks over to Walgreens to pick up something that might settle her stomach. She leaves with her items and goes back to her room, then into the bathroom to relieve herself and take the medication. She goes back to the bathroom a half-hour later where she gets sick again. After getting back to her feet, she looks at the counter around the sink and immediately breaks down.

***

Shelina: It's been a while since I've seen you, babe. How are things in Boston?

Steph: Getting better. The team has been really accepting of me, even though I'm the oldest player in the squad.

Shelina: Goalies are supposed to be the oldest. You don't usually get into the prime of your playing careers until around 30.

Steph: You're right. I'm starting to feel a bit better about life without Georgia. How are you and DiDi doing?

Shelina: Good. She came to town after their opener in Chicago to see me. We're trying to do more halfway road trips when we can, and we play them next week so that will be a great couple of days. Frankly though, I miss you more during the week than I miss her.

Steph blushes, but it also a little confused by what she means by that. She shakes it off and takes a drink from her cup.

Shelina: Are you dating again?

Steph: I trust you, Shelina, so I'm going to level with you about this. I AM seeing someone, but things are very complicated.

Shelina: How so?

Steph: For one, she's married.

Shelina: Kids involved?

Steph: Not yet, although she and her husband have been trying.

Shelina: Has she told you when the last time they tried was?

Steph: She says it was the beginning of March, and I have no reason to not believe her.

Shelina: Does she love you?

Steph: Yes, and I love her. There's also another thing that makes our relationship problematic.

Shelina: Is she a teammate?

Steph: Bigger problem than that. She's our team's assistant coach.

Shelina gasps in shock. "Yael?! Does John know?"

Steph: Not yet, and we've been trying to keep it under wraps. I figure we'll let him and Lee know after the season is over, when she will have time to make the break from Aaron.

Shelina: Does anyone else know?

Steph: Erin and Ella do. A couple of other coaches in the league do, too.

Shelina: You know I love you, Steph, and I wish you all the luck in the world on making this work between the two of you. It doesn't sound like it will be easy, especially if your secret comes out before you're ready or life takes a twist that the two of you don't expect.

Steph: Thanks. I have a meeting with Becky and Lori in a little bit to discuss what happened over the off-season that led to Abby and I being sent to the Breakers.