They nodded and then gathered around her for a hug, which she was lost in, completely covered by their warm, familiar and beloved bodies. When her brothers backed off her dad stepped forward.

?I?m so proud of you Cat. You?ve worked hard to get here. You deserve it.?

?I couldn?t have gotten here without you. I couldn?t have gotten here without my family. I love you.?

?Love you too sweetheart.? He hugged her, holding her close and kissed the top of her head. ?You be good.?

?I will Dad.?

Once her father released her, Cat turned to see her mother standing alone on the porch, her eyes brimming with tears. She walked slowly over and stepped up onto the porch, grasping her mother?s hands and holding them gently. ?Now Mom, don?t do that because if you do I will.?

?Can?t help it Cat.? She wrapped her arms around her daughter. ?My first born, the apple of my eye. I guess I couldn?t keep you from growing up, no matter how much I tried.?

?We tend to do that, Mom.?

?I know.? Sighing, she pulled her daughter?s hands up to her chest. ?I still don?t know if this is the life I would have chosen for you, Catherine. Filled with so much uncertainty.?

?Mom??

?But?I realize that you?ve grown up to be a fine woman, Cat. And any path you choose will be the right one for you. I?ll worry, but that?s what mothers are supposed to do, because no matter how old you get, you?ll always be my baby, and I love you.?

?I love you too.?

?Now you get down there and show those Badgers how things are done.?

Cat chuckled and wiped her eyes. ?I?ll do my best.?

?And you better tell that Dylan Lambert to watch after you. She may be taller than this house, young woman, but my wooden spoon is still faster than lightning and will tan her behind for her if she doesn?t.?

Cat broke into laughter at the mental image and pulled her mother close, hugging her tightly. ?I love you, Mom.?

?I love you too. Now go, before I lock you in your room and never let you out.?

Cat backed off and walked backward to her truck, waving the entire way. She got in and started the truck and backed out of the driveway. As she pulled out and drove down the road, she looked in her rearview mirror to see her brothers had run into the road, yelling and waving. She gave the horn a blast and drove toward her future.

DRIVEN

Hodge looked at the key in her hand and at the door in front of her, smiling like the cat that ate the canary. Unlocking the door to her new apartment, she stuck her head inside as if she was expecting someone to be home. Too many years of living with family, friends and roommates had conditioned her to be cautious.

Once inside she looked at the bare dwelling. By her standards it was huge. She had gone for a loft apartment because the open feeling appealed to her; she had spent way too much time in dorm rooms and she liked the idea of spreading out. The down stairs was basically one large room with a living room and kitchen that could be set up any way she desired. The floor to ceiling windows on one wall made it bright and seem even larger.

There was a set of iron steps in the center of the room that curved up to the open second floor, where her bedroom and bathroom were. Of course right now the place was empty. Cat looked over at the small pile of her things in one corner. It consisted of five medium moving boxes, three suitcases and two duffle bags.

“Pathetic Hodge, just pathetic. You need stuff.” She spun around in the center of the floor. “Lots of stuff.”

Like the child she wasn?t that far removed from being, Hodge took off her shoes, leaving her in her socks, and took off running, skidding and sliding around on the freshly waxed hardwood floors.

Sliding into the kitchen, she grabbed hold of the counter to stop before she slid into the opposite wall. She opened the door to the fridge, opened the oven door, realizing that she couldn?t use it if she tried. Cooking was not her thing. Then she noticed the dishwasher and the microwave.

“This is good. Nuking I can do.” Catherine Hodges didn?t have a clue that she was standing in a state of the art chef?s kitchen and it was possible than unless she got involved with a state of the art chef, she never would.

Climbing the steps to the second level she looked at the space that would eventually become her bedroom. Again, it was an open space with an iron rail to keep her from falling into the open floor below. One wall was outfitted with monstrous closets, more closets that Cat would ever require. When it came to clothes, she always looked great, but she was a minimalist.

The bathroom was well appointed and she nearly drooled when she saw the Jacuzzi tub in the center of the room. “Oh that?s going to be nice after a game.”

Taking a deep breath she went back downstairs and simply laid in the center of the floor, giggling like a kid who had just been given the best Christmas present ever.

Three days later, Cat pulled opened the door to find a delivery guy leaning on a box and chomping on a piece of gum.

“Delivery for Catherine Hodges.”

“That?s me.”

“Got yer furniture, lady.”

“Great! I was getting a little tired of my sleeping bag. Great for camping, but on wood floors?.” Putting her hands on her hips, she arched her back, groaning as the abused muscles along her spine forked out their protest. “You guys were supposed to be here yesterday.”

“We got caught in traffic,” the man replied drolly. “We tried to call but ya? ain?t got no phone.”

“Yeah, well the phone company didn?t show up either.”

“Ever here of a cell phone?”

Hodge leveled a look at him, green eyes darkening a shade. “Just bring the furniture in, huh?”

The guy keyed the microphone on his lapel. “This is the place, bring the rest of it up.” He tipped the handcart back and brought the boxes into the apartment. “Where do ya want these?”

“Pick an spot, any spot.”

After about thirty-five minutes the apartment was furnished. Now all Cat had to do was move the stuff were she wanted it. She had managed to convince the guys to carry the bedroom furniture upstairs. They looked like she had asked them to fly to the moon and back, but they did it.

Now her once empty apartment was filled with nice, new furniture. Her signing bonus had been a rather tidy sum, and while she was always careful with her money, she couldn?t resist the urge to splurge, just this once. The furniture she?d purchased was top of the line. Beautiful to look at, it would last her for a good long time.

As she moved the TV and stand into place against one wall she lovingly patted the 27 inch color set. “One of these days you?ll be a big screen with surround sound.”

She was placing a few of her books on the bookcase when there was another knock on the door. Blowing a frustrated breath she opened the door once again the find the telephone guy.

“Hook up for Hodges.”

“Finally! Come in.”

The guy stepped inside and looked at his clipboard. “Okay it says here one jack in the living room one jack in the bedroom and you?re gonna buy your own phones.”

“Right. Just as soon as all the people who are suppose to hook shit up arrive so I don?t have to stay here trapped like a rat all damn day.”

“?Kay.” He answered, obviously oblivious to her mini rant. “Where to you want it?”

She pointed to that wall by the counter that separated the kitchen and the living room. “Right there.”

She went back to unpacking and moving furniture while the telephone guy did his thing.

“You aren?t by chance the Hodges that was drafted by the Badgers are ya?”

“Yeah I am. You a fan?”

“Nah, but my sister loves that shit. Her and her girlfriend have season tickets.”

“Lovely.” Hodge mumbled while shoving the couch into place.

“S?ppose I could get an autograph?” he asked when he was through, handing her an invoice for her signature.

Looking up into the man?s eyes, she noticed that he was completely serious. It was a surreal moment. “Um?sure?I guess.”

“Cool,” the man remarked, handing her a business card with the name of the furniture store on it as soon as she returned the signed invoice to him. “My sister?s gonna shit herself blind when she sees this.”

Wrinkling her nose at the unappetizing sentiment, Hodge hurriedly signed the card and pushed it across to the grinning man. “There ya go.”

“Right on!” He looked hurriedly around the apartment, then back to Hodge. “Say, you don?t happen to have anything with that coach of yours? autograph on it, do ya? Man, talk about stacked!”

The growling sound coming from his throat caused Hodge?s nose to wrinkle again. “Uh..no. Sorry.”

“Damn,” the man sighed. “Oh well, if ya ever do, let me know, will ya? Name?s on the invoice.”

Hodge plastered a bright, if totally false, smile on her face. “I?ll do that,” she said, taking his arm and leading him to the door.

An hour later, the cable guy, who actually turned out to be a very nice looking woman, showed up. Hodge grinned happily as she lead the woman into the living room.

“You know, you?re the only on who?s been on time,” she commented, eyeing the attractive young woman.

“Only one?”

“Sorry, utilities. Everyone else has been a day late.”

“Figures.” She stripped a wire and then crimped and end into place. “We have a policy that if we?re not here when we say, your first month?s service is free. Boss hates giving away free things.”

Cat chuckled and leaned on the kitchen side of the bar, looking at the nice view the installer presented her as she bent over to make the connection. “I?ll bet.”

The installer smiled to herself, well aware she was being watched. She fiddled with the connection a little longer than she needed to, then slowly straightened and turned, bestowing her very attractive customer with a rakish grin. Walking over, she gave Hodge the new remote and a business card. “You should be all set. If you ever need?anything?call the number on this card and I?ll be happy to help you out.”