the Big Time (2010) Read Online Free

Sit down. We’re all on the same side here. We are. And, if you’ll listen, I think I’ve got a solution.”

CHAPTER TEN
    â€œ THERE ARE LAWS,” GRAMPS said, “that give your father some rights.”
    â€œDad!” Troy’s mom said, her lips curling back in disgust.
    â€œYou need to listen, young lady,” Gramps said, his voice and look stern. “It’s true. Drew has rights. If he can show he didn’t know about Troy and he’s his father, the court will give him some kind of visitation rights, especially if Troy wants it.”
    Troy’s mom bit her lip and winced.
    â€œAnd,” Gramps said, turning his eyes on Troy, “your mom can fight it. She can get a good lawyer and drag this thing out so that it’d be years before Drew could ever see you.
    â€œThat wouldn’t be good,” Gramps said. “But, Troy,you have to know this. Your father is a smart man. If he really wants to see you, to be a part of your life, then he’ll find the laws if he doesn’t know them already. And, if he’s willing to use his time and money and initiate a suit, then I say it proves he’s not just showing up on a whim because he saw you two on Larry King . That’s what I say.”
    Gramps picked up his fork and rammed home a mouthful of food, chewing so that his leathery neck danced up and down and side to side.
    â€œHe has to sue to get to see me?” Troy asked in disbelief.
    â€œNo,” his mom said softly, “that’s not what Gramps is saying. He’s saying that if it’s that important to Drew to see you, then he’ll begin a lawsuit, and if he does, we’ll just settle it right out of the gate.”
    â€œWhy do we have to make it hard on him?” Troy asked.
    Gramps held up his hand so Troy’s mom would let him speak. He swallowed and washed down the mouthful with a gulp of juice before he said, “Because he made it hard on you, Troy. And on your mom. There’s a saying that anything worth having is worth fighting for, and it’s true. If he really wants a relationship, let him fight for it. Then when he does get it, he’s a lot less apt to walk away from it.”
    â€œAgain,” Troy’s mom said.
    Gramps glared at her.
    â€œWell?” she said to Gramps before dropping her shoulders and turning to Troy. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll behave.”
    His mom extended her hand across the table and let it hang there between them.
    â€œIs it a deal, Troy?” she asked.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    â€œ SO,” TROY SAID, EYEING her hand, “we don’t do anything, but if my dad says he’s going to start a lawsuit to try to get visitation rights, then you let me see him?”
    â€œThat’s right,” his mom said. “Let him make the first move. Gramps is right. If he really wants to be your dad. If he’s really sorry and he’s going to be in it for the long haul, then he’s not just going to go away, Troy.”
    â€œOkay,” Troy said, nodding his head and clasping her hand. “Deal.”
    Gramps smacked his hands together and rubbed them as if he were trying to get warm. “Nice, now let’s get serious about this breakfast. These eggs remind me of Waffle House back in Avondale, before it was a chain.”
    Troy smiled and dug in. They ate for a bit, recountingthe highlights of the championship game, Troy’s touchdown passes, especially the final, ugly lob to Nathan, who had been wide open in the end zone on a trick play.
    â€œGramps,” Troy said, “how come you didn’t stick around?”
    Gramps wiped his mouth and swished his hand through the air. “I saw you surrounded by all those cameras and all; I’m too old for a mess like that. I knew I’d see you this morning and congratulate you proper. You, my friend, played like a champion, and you are a champion. To the bone.”
    Gramps raised his orange