The Infertile Heart

Game day brought the usual festivities and with it the excitement of a new season and fall just around the corner. Even though he was here and not in Athens he could feel his spirits lifting just thinking about the game this evening. Rob and Erin had to run into town and they took the girls with them so the house was quiet, too quiet. Lincoln not wanting to revert to his depressive thoughts turned on the TV to watch ESPN’s Game Day, after a while he decided to walk over to the campus to mingle and find a quick bite to eat. He knew they would be going to the Letterman’s club later that day to have a catered buffet for the former lettermen and their guest. As he strolled around the campus, he was struck at the changes in the 13 years he had been coming here. Ever since he and Rob became friends they would come to each other’s school at least once a year even if only for their rivalry game. There were new buildings, roads, a new gymnasium, aquatic center and football practice facilities. They even had a new state of the art student center with multiple restaurant choices. This was a far cry from the beginning when he felt many of the buildings were older and some in a state of disrepair. But like life this place had a habit of rejuvenating itself and it seemed like him as well. He was a little distraught watching the kids play football with their dads or their siblings as he walked across campus thinking that his child would have been their age. Lincoln was afraid that he had walled of his heart so much that he would never find love and would never have the chance to pass on his legacy to a child of his own. Saddened by these thoughts he pulled out a cigar, sat down on a bench across from Toomer’s Corner and decided to watch the people go by and enjoy watching the colorful Saturday traditions that were Auburn football. Looking at his watch, he realized he had been gone awhile and headed back to the townhouse to meet up with Rob and the family. After the girls had finished their nap, they all headed to the campus to get ready for a new football season. This was going to be a good game not the usual paid for win most teams had for an opener as the Clemson Tigers were coming town. As they walked across campus they stopped at the bookstore to look for new outfits for the girls and maybe a new shirt or hat for the guys. There was a time in his life that Lincoln never would have worn anything orange but now it gave him a sense of pride and family to wear the Auburn AU just as he wore his Georgia G. After some shopping the girls wanted ice cream so they all set off for the student center in search of the ice cream treats. The afternoon wound on and soon they went to Tiger Walk and really started to get into the excitement of the game and atmosphere. “Hey Rob, I bet you $100 that the Tigers win tonight.” “You have a…. wait a minute. I am not taking that sucker bet since the tigers will win either way.” Rob chuckled and whispered to Erin “I have not seen Linc’s dry sense of humor in a long time. Maybe he is finally starting to turn a corner.” Erin whispered back, “You are right. Something seems different about him today. He seems more open. After Tiger Walk, they headed to the Letterman’s lounge for the pregame festivities. The food smelled wonderful and Lincoln was glad to see such a large turnout. He ran into Dr. James Andrews and spoke to him for a while about his practices and the successes he was having. Dr. Andrews found Lincoln’s practice model fascinating and thought that it would be a good idea to potentially incorporate the idea into an orthopedic model as well. After talking with him, he turned around and ran into Rob and his buddy Stan White, a former Auburn Quarterback, as Rob introduced the men they shook hands and talked about the prospects for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, Stan had to return to complete his pregame radio show and left. When they turned around to look for Erin, Lincoln found that he had unintentionally run into a woman and grabbed her to keep her from falling and hurting herself. All of a sudden, as if a thousand pins pricked his skin and sent electrical shock waves up his arms and down his body he looked down to see the beautiful face of the woman from the golf course. Unable to speak for a moment, his mouth suddenly drier than the desert sand he finally said “I… I am sorry. Please forgive me I really need to be more careful when I turn around. I can be a bull in a china shop if I’m not careful.” This elicited a smile from her and as she looked into his eyes he knew all of his lonely hours and days were done. Lincoln looked up to see Rob’s longtime friend Neal Harris approach them. Lincoln knew of Neal from everything Rob had told him but had never had the pleasure of meeting him. As Neal approached and stopped to talk to Rob, Lincoln extended his hand and said, “Lincoln Montgomery sir. I have heard a lot of great things about you. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Not that Lincoln is a small man but he was impressed at the fact that his hand totally disappeared in the other man’s hand as they shook. “So, I see you have met my daughter Nicole” Neal said with a deep chuckle. “Well, we certainly did run into each other or maybe I should say that I ran into her.” Lincoln did not know what was happening but he suddenly felt like a shy teenager again who was talking to the homecoming queen. This beautiful woman standing in front of him was taking his breath away and he was powerless to do anything about it. Extending his hand he said “Very nice to meet you, Dr. Lincoln Montgomery.” She took his hand and said “Very nice to meet you. Dr. Nicole Harris, but I am only a doctor of physical therapy.” Neal said, “Don’t sell yourself short honey. She is young but one of the most sought after in Atlanta. She is wanted everywhere but refuses to leave her work at Sheppard Spinal Center because she says that it fulfills her every day. “Dad” she said as heat rose in her cheeks that met her eyes. Rob looked at Neal and said’ “Why don’t we go get a drink and let these two talk and get to know each other.” “Sounds like a good idea.” Neal looked at Lincoln then at his daughter and laughed as he walked away. Still barely able think much less speak in coherent sentences, Lincoln could not break his gaze away from her enchanting look or the fresh scent of Chanel perfume. “So, do you come her often?” he said with a little laugh. “I know it is the lamest pick up line but it was all I could think of”. She laughed and touched his arm again sending lightning bolts through his body. Did she know that she is having this effect on me? Does she feel it also? Suddenly, his body craved her touch and he would have given up his empire to kiss her soft lips and taste her for himself. But discipline and a heady fear of self-preservation with her large father standing in the background kept him in check. *** Looking into his eyes, Nicole was intrigued by what she saw and felt. It was as if the sky had cleared, the sun was shining and she felt the refreshing breeze after a spring rain hit her all at once. But, she could see something else in his eyes that gave her pause. She could see a lingering deep despair that made her want to take him in her arms and tell him it would be okay. At 5’ 8” with dark blond hair and brown eyes, she had always been a tomboy at heart and much preferred playing games outdoors to sitting inside and reading. She had never really considered herself a beautiful woman just merely average but she had never been swept off her feet or stopped dead in her tracks by meeting a man until now. Her athletic grace seemed to elude her anytime she saw something she may be interested in.