“The penalties vary, but just letting a coach or booster buy you lunch can be a problem. The only saving grace is none of you ever asked for money or knowingly accepted it. I suggest we get out in front of this and self-report. I say that knowing Mr. Chadwick will cause you problems,” Mr. Morris advised.
“Will you represent them? I’d hate for the NCAA to cause them problems because of me. I also know that the Tams aren’t in a position to pay much,” I said.
“From the research I have done, even college athletes can accept services such as legal assistance from interested parties. So, yes, I can represent them if everyone is careful about the relationship.”
“What about the FBI?” Dad asked.
“We need to take this to them. We also must be honest about the fact that your sister-in-law took funds. I hope she paid it back,” Ms. Addison said.
“The funds were replaced,” Dad assured her.
“Who paid it?” Ms. Addison asked.
“I did,” Mom admitted.
“That has to be fixed. She has to make the restitution,” Ms. Addison explained.
“Greg probably hasn’t deposited all the money from his Christmas cards,” I said when my mom and dad each looked worried.
“I bet he hasn’t,” Dad agreed as he got what I was offering. “We’ll make sure she gives us the money today.”
Bev Mass rolled her eyes at us. It was probably good she’d be in private practice soon and not have the desire to try to rake me over the coals for every little issue. She took that whole ‘officer of the court’ bit way too seriously for my taste. Well, I guess she would still be an officer of the court, but hopefully, she’d ease up a little.
It was decided that Mr. Morris would use his contacts at the NCAA to let them know. The hope was they would see reason before it got back to Mr. Chadwick. Ms. Addison would call the FBI. Dad would talk to Wolf and Tim’s parents and bring them into the loop.
For me, I was free for the rest of the day.
◊◊◊
We came out of the conference room and found everyone brainstorming. Brook saw me and smiled. I could tell she was enjoying this, so I sent her a text to let her know I would have Cassidy take me to the daycare. It would be easier to see my kids there than to spring them. At least there I would have help when they went in ten different directions.
◊◊◊
“Unca David! Unca David!” Mac and Kyle yelled when they saw me.
Nate was a blur as he ran to me and jumped when I bent down, confident his uncle would catch him.
“Uhf. You’re getting big,” I said as I hugged my nephew.
Kyle twirled around and pulled his pants down.
“Pony bit me,” he announced to show his bruised butt.
“Kyle,” one of the daycare workers scolded. “What did we say about taking your pants down?”
“That he’s a Dawson?” I asked.
I think the poor girl was around kids too much because she turned about a hundred shades of red and fled.
“He not p’sosed to show ’is butt,” Mac told me.
“Dude, I’m not kissing that to make it better,” I warned him.
“Silly,” Mac said and then giggled.
I helped him pull his pants back up and gave him a hug. I was sure I would experience similar exhibitions with my horde in training. Mac took my hand to show me the babies. They kept the smaller kids in a separate room so the older ones didn’t accidentally kill one of them.
“There’s my girl,” I said when I saw Carol in a cute pink dress.
Instead of picking them all up, I sat down on the floor so they could crawl to me. Little David was holding onto the edge of a little table, and he did his cute drunkard’s walk to me. One little girl, who I didn’t know, grasped the back of my shirt so she could stand up, and suddenly had a handful of hair.
“A little help,” I called.
I had Carol in my lap with Little David sitting between my legs, so I couldn’t get to her. A daycare worker, the one I’d embarrassed, came over and saved me.
Coby crawled up and pushed Carol over so he could claim my lap.
“I hate to tell you this, but someday you’ll like girls,” I explained to my son.
Since I hadn’t made a big deal about it, Carol took it in stride and joined Coby on my lap. With all her brothers, she would have to be tough to hold her own. But hey, she was a Dawson. I could see her ruling them all at some point.
I spent a couple of hours playing with my kids and the other little ones until it was nap time. Then I stepped out to the main room, only to find Kyle and Mac sleeping. Nate wanted to be held, so I spent some time talking to him. I’m not quite sure what all he told me, but he was happy to have an interested listener. He finally wound down, and I put him down for his nap.
This was what made it all worthwhile. You didn’t realize how special children were until you had one of your own. Or five.
I sent a text to Cassidy so she would come pick me up.
◊◊◊
I wasn’t particularly amused when Cassidy pulled into the parking lot with a police car behind her with its lights flashing.
“License and registration,” I heard him order when he reached her window.
“Hey,” I said with my best smile.
For a second, I thought he was going to draw down on me, but then he recognized me.
