The Wait Is Over

A Paler Shade of Blue

The Philadelphia Charge are in New Jersey this weekend for the first of their two regular season games with Sky Blue FC. After Carli and Jill's conversation last weekend with Madden, the three of them have invited Christie, Rylie, and Reece, along with Erin and Ella to dinner at the assistant coach's house.

Christie: Thank you, Jill, for having the three of us over tonight. It gives Rylie a night off from cooking and actually means Reece gets something better than mac-and-cheese or chicken nuggets.

Jill: Don't mention it, Cap. I know what's it like for life to turn upside down on you and have to struggle just to get through a day when you have others depending on you. After Britton died, and I was taking care of Madden by myself, I had no clue how to be a parent or even guardian. I'm sure I stunted his growth a little with some of my mishaps, but he's no worse for wear now.

Erin: Has your doctor giving you a prognosis?

Christie: She says it's end-stage, meaning that they can't really stop it, they can only hope to maintain my health and possibly slow its spreading to afford me a couple of additional months. Best-case scenario is probably a year to eighteen months.

Ella: I'm sorry, Christie. I know we don't know one another that well, but my heart goes out to you and the two girls. I'm sure you're scared both of dying and of what will happen to your daughters afterwards.

Christie: Chris and I are on good terms, and he's a good parent, so where they'll go when I am gone or end up in the hospital or hospice for my last days is decided. My biggest worry is them grieving so hard for my being gone that it affects them immensely going forward.

Carli: The league has connections to several mental health professionals if either of the girls needs grief counseling. There are also the players and staff at Sky Blue who I am SURE would be willing to step up and be there for them in whatever way possible. I'm sure I speak for Jill when I say that we'll help look after them when you're no longer here.

Christie: Thanks, Carli, but you and Brian are in Philly, and I thought he didn't want kids.

Carli: That's part of what I want to talk to all of you about after dinner. Before we talk, how much do Rylie and Reece know about your condition and how much time you've been given?

Christie: They've heard my oncologist say that it's terminal and that I'd probably be gone in around a year at the rate it's growing.

Carli: Thanks. I guess they too should hear what I'm going to lay out, then.

Following dinner, everyone gathers in the living room and Carli takes center stage.

Carli (to Christie): Jill and I talked last weekend about things involving the two of us and Madden. She told me how your health has deteriorated recently, Christie, and wasn't sure if you'd make it through the season. I am planning to get a divorce from Brian in the off-season and eventually marry Jill. I also mentioned that if one of the positions opened up at Sky Blue that I would be interested in coming home, even if it were as her assistant.

Erin: Have you talked to Erica yet about this, Carli?

Carli: No, because Christie is still in charge here and it'd be considered inappropriate to make that approach for a speculative job opening.

Christie: Jill has been great with filling in recently when I've been too sick to attend training. Sarah and Katherine have taken on some additional responsibilities to their joint captaincy to help with Jill's duties while she handles mine. The potential is there for this team to actually contend for a playoff spot by the end of the season, but we're not there right now because of the hole in our coaching.