Tarheel Talks
“Klingy, I love you but you barely kept Hallie and Chloe alive for the four hours you had them” Ashlyn handed her teammate a beer while juggling her own and a sleeping toddler.
Meghan scoffed, accepting the beer, refusing to admit that her friend was at least a little bit right in her accusations.
“Okay but that was like ten years ago and O’Solo’s kid is a demon. This kid is already five, potty trained and doesn’t come in a two for one deal.”
Ashlyn chuckled at the memory of wild six year old Chloe O’Hara and her equally devious partner in crime. The keeper ran a hand through her son’s hair, contemplating Kling’s recent proposition.
Earlier that day, Meghan had asked Ashlyn if she could run by the Harris-Krieger household to discuss something rather important. She rambled on about Tarheel solidarity and the fact that Ali and Ashlyn were the most normal out of their crazy soccer family; thus making them the most qualified couple to offer valid life advice.
Naturally, Ash assumed their conversation would be about how Kling had finally pulled her head out of her ass and realized how in love she was with Morgan. Everybody could see the two best friend’s blatant attraction to each other. They were almost worse than Alex and Tobin before they finally got together. So it was only natural that Ashlyn had prepared her standard “follow your heart and be honest” speech; one she had already given on three separate occasions.
(You’re welcome Kelley, Julie and Alex)
But Meghan hit one out of left field.
Meghan Klingenberg, single lady extraordinaire, was in the market to adopt a child.
Ashlyn had been taken aback and definitely skeptical. Meghan noticed Ashlyn’s doubt and set out to ease her friend’s nerves. Sitting down in a large recliner, with Graham practically drooling in her chest, Ashlyn listened with an open mind to her teammate’s explanation.
According to Kling, the decision wasn’t rash. It wasn’t the product of a midlife crisis or the need for validation in her life. Meghan was a four time Olympic gold medalist, World Cup champion and a Carolina Tarheel. Validation was the last thing on her mind.
Sure, maybe Kling did have a void to fill. A life full of traveling and competition didn’t leave a whole lot of room for starting a family. But Meghan had never felt the pressure to commit to somebody in order to have a kid. And the kid that she had fallen head over heels for needed Meghan just as much as Meghan needed her.
“Raising a child is a big deal Kling. They’re a lot of work and you wouldn’t be able to travel half as much as you do now if you go through with this. It’s a life of sacrifice dude” Ashlyn motioned for Meghan to hand her a blanket.
The younger woman grabbed the worn square of yellow fabric off the floor and handed it to the keeper. She watched Ashlyn wrap Graham’s limp sleeping body in the blanket, pressing soft kisses to the boy’s forehead before adjusting her grip. The way Ashlyn looked at her son, with unadulterated love, was the way Meghan found herself looking at Logan.
Logan.
Logan Maddox, a five year old with wise whiskey eyes and two missing front teeth, was the daughter of a friend from college. Meghan had met the girl a handful of times, usually whenever she managed to venture back to Chapel Hill.
Two years ago her parents, old college friends and teammates of Kling's, were killed in a car accident on their way back from an anniversary weekend. Even though Kling hadn’t been around for a large portion of Logan’s life, she felt obligated to at least spend time with the newly orphaned preschooler who only had her aging grandparents for companionship.
At first Meghan’s visits were awkward. They were spent mostly sitting in silence watching the little girl run around her grandparents’ living room playing with her toys, oblivious to the tragedy around her. It was almost as if Logan could smell the fear and obligation that seeped from Kling’s person.
As they became more familiar with each other’s presence, Logan began to incorporate Meghan in her four year old antics; handing the defender a book for her to read aloud or even urging her to color in the coloring books. After a while, Meghan found herself buying gifts and clothes to take to Logan for her next visit.
Kling swore that her visits with Logan were only going to be a monthly thing. At that time she wasn’t ready to be considered a guardian or anything other than Cool Aunt Kling, a title her growing posse of 15er nieces and nephews bestowed upon her. Monthly Logan afternoons were about all Kling could handle without launching herself into a panic attack about parenthood.
But here they were, one year later, and Logan was spending almost every other weekend in Pittsburgh at Casa de Kling.
Hell, the kid even had her own room and Meghan found herself walking by whenever Logan was back in North Carolina, wishing that she’d see a tiny human passed out in her Steelers themed bed. Or she and Morgan would drive by an elementary school and Kling would make mental notes to check out that particular school just in case Logan would like it.
That was when she knew that Logan wasn’t just some kid she felt bad for. No, Logan was Meghan’s world.
“I know, but honestly Ash, I think this would be good for both Logan and me. She’d get a stable home in a city with great schools and have a ton of aunts to love her. I mean, just look at how obsessed we are with your kids!” Meghan felt herself getting passionate about the subject.
The goalkeeper just smiled. She knew her children were adored by their teammates. Every kid born or adopted into the 15er family was unconditionally loved and cared for and there would be no doubt that they would take Logan in as their own.
“You’re right,” Ash nodded, smiling as her two oldest children came sleepily trudging in with Ali and Hallie right behind them. “I think you’ve thought this through and anybody would be lucky to have you as a Mom.”
“Who’s a mom?” Hallie yawned, cramming herself into the chair with Ash and Graham.
Kling and Ashlyn shared a knowing glance and gave the teenager a sly grin.
“Hal, how would you like to have another cousin?”