Reagan Country: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel not only is the Pastor Stephen Grant Book of the Month, but this exciting thriller offers a (fictional) Super Bowl moment. (Long-suffering Minnesota Vikings fans should take particular note!)
Enjoy the entire book. The Kindle edition is on sale – the price slashed from $7.99 to $2.99 – as are signed books and sets.
Reagan Country Excerpt:
A Super Bowl Moment
A couple of hours later, Grant was sitting on the couch in the plane’s cabin next to Jessica West. On the other side of him, Chase Axelrod was in a separate seat. They were gathered in front of a large screen, with the Super Bowl kickoff just a few minutes away.
Axelrod asked, “Do you have a dog in this fight, Stephen?”
“No, unfortunately, I’m a Bengals fan.”
“Bengals?”
Grant nodded. “I grew up in the Cincinnati area. The Reds and Bengals are in my blood, you could say. What about you two?” He glanced at Axelrod and West.
Axelrod answered, “Lions. I’m from Detroit.”
Grant replied, “Ouch. That was a tough loss in the NFC Championship game.”
Axelrod nodded, and added, “And I lost a $50 bet with Jessica, and another $50 to Phil.”
“Two bets?” Grant looked at Jessica, who was smiling.
She said, “I’m from Minnesota, not far outside St. Paul. Growing up, each Sunday during the football season was an event. My family had season tickets to the Vikings. Home-game Sundays, it was church and the Metrodome. Away games, church – always church…”
Grant mischievously interrupted, “That’s good.”
“Right – you’d like that. Anyway, away games meant packing additional family and friends into the house for food and the game. It was the best when my dad was home.”
“Sounds nice.”
“It was.” There was a tinge of sadness in her voice. Grant knew much of the story behind the formidable former FBI special agent. Her beauty – tall, slim, bright blue eyes and long blond hair – led many observers, no doubt, to assume that life just works out well for people like that. But loss was a persistent partner for Jessica West – namely, her father and brother, both Marines, and her fiancé, at the time a fellow FBI agent.
“So,” continued Grant, “the Vikings in the Super Bowl – this is it for you.”
“It sure is.”
Axelrod interjected, “Not just her. Phil’s a Vikings fan. These two have been unbearable throughout the playoffs. And I’m guessing they’re going to be talking and texting throughout the game.”
This is, by far, the most I’ve ever heard Chase Axelrod talk. He played football in college, so I guess this is a passion.
West nodded. She picked up her smartphone, and began to type a text.
Axelrod added, “They’ve been inseparable throughout the season.”
That earned a raised eyebrow and brief stare from West. Axelrod was smirking.
Okay, it seems that Jessica West and Phil Lucena apparently are sharing more than a passion for the Vikings. Not two that I necessarily would have pegged as getting together.
Grant enjoyed watching the game. On one side, West was fully engaged as a fan – including texting and talking a few times with Lucena – and on the other side, the few things that Axelrod said were insights offered from a guy who had played football at a high level. As the first half came to a close, Grant found himself hoping that the Vikings would win for West and Lucena.
At halftime, Grant moved to another seat, away from the others, and called Jennifer. She was watching the game at Zack and Cara’s place, which was St. Mary’s parsonage. Jennifer answered, “Everything okay?”
“Yes. I’ve actually been sitting on a couch watching the game with Chase and Jessica.”
She jabbed, “And you call just as the halftime show is about to start?”
“What was I thinking?”
Jennifer smiled, and replied, “I know. Sometimes I wonder.” She took a deep breath, and in a low voice, added, “I have been trying to keep an eye on the news out of Russia, but have not seen any major updates.”
“We’re not getting much in terms of updates or clarifications either.”
Her voice dropped even lower. “Please be careful.”
Stephen knew how many people were milling around her, and what a tight fit it would be at the parsonage. After all, he had lived there for the decade or so before marrying Jennifer. He said, “I will. I just wanted to call to remind you of something.”
“What’s that?”
“I love you.”
“You, too.”
“Enjoy the halftime show and the rest of the game. I’ll let you know when we’ve arrived.”
“You better keep me updated.”
“Count on it.”
After the call, Stephen returned to take in the second half with West and Axelrod. And when a Minnesota field goal split the uprights with time running out, he found himself on his feet, high-fiving with West.
She was then immediately on a call with Lucena, sharing their happiness.
As he watched and listened to West talk with Lucena, and looked at the fan reactions on the television screen, Grant reflected on the ability of sports to bring people together in different ways. Not exclusively about a community in a particular city or region any more. With technology, fans can watch and get engaged from wherever they are in the country, like Jen and me. Living on Long Island, Stephen remained a Reds and Bengals fan, while Jennifer was a St. Louis Cardinals fan. He focused on West’s reactions to her team’s victory. And then there’s the one on one. Did the Vikings play a role in getting Jessica and Phil together? One of the many things I certainly love about Jen is how much she loves baseball. Life’s interesting. It’s also good to see Jessica focused on something lighter, like football.
Grant looked back to the television screen, and took in the post-game party drenched in Viking purple. And the Vikings just won a Super Bowl. Life’s weird, too.
