‘I’ve said all there is to say.’

‘I haven’t. Let’s just say that you’ve convinced me.’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘I’m sold. On coaching you. I was worried you didn’t have the fire to back up those gorgeous strokes and that pretty face, but I can see now that you do. I’m yours.’

Charlie was stunned into silence. Todd Feltner wanted to coach her? None of this made sense.

‘And call me Todd, for chrissake. You want it badly, and only I can give it to you. You know it, and I know it. We should meet in person to finalize details, and I’ll actually be flying through SoCal next week on my way to Hawaii, so I’ll have my secretary call to set it up. Good talk, Silver. We’re going to kick some ass together.’

The phone disconnected. Charlie was so shocked she had to slam on the brakes to keep from rear-ending the car in front of her. She drove like a grandma in the far right lane for a mile or so before she voice-prompted the Bluetooth to call Jake’s cell.

‘You are not going to believe who I just spoke to,’ she said without saying hello. She could tell from the ambient street noise that Jake was walking to the subway from SoulCycle, where he would take the 1 train up to Harlem, change and shave, and head into the office.

‘Hmm, let me think about it. Can’t possibly be Feltner himself, considering I got off the phone with him four minutes ago and he said he was calling you right away.’

‘You didn’t even warn me!’

‘When Todd Feltner agrees to call someone right away, I’m not going to be the one to ask him to hold on while you and I have a little powwow about it. You sounded pretty damn sure this was the right choice when we hung up ten minutes ago. How did it go?’

‘He said he would coach me.’ Charlie barely believed the words as she said them.

‘He what?’

‘Coach me. Todd Feltner said I convinced him, that I had the fire, or what it takes, or something like that. I can’t remember exactly, but he was a complete dickhead and then I sort of told him off – politely, of course – and then he said he was convinced.’

‘Oh. My. God.’

‘Are you really so surprised? I’m almost offended.’

‘Charlie, are you sure that’s what he said? Are you sure it’s what you want? I mean, I can see the appeal, I really can, but this guy is no joke.’

The truth was, Charlie had been taken aback by Todd’s harsh tactics and abrasive manner. He was clearly the very opposite of Marcy, whose quiet calmness was something that had reassured Charlie for nearly a decade. But she was ready for a change. No, it was even more than that – she needed it.

‘I’m not going to lie, Jake, he sounds like an animal – and of course I’m going to take some time to weigh it – but I think this is one of those opportunities that can truly change my life. This might even be the opportunity. We can’t be so blind that we can’t see the big picture here. The way I see it, I have possibly just been given a chance to go from good to great. From a winner to a champion. Do you care if I’m a champion? No. Does Dad? Of course not. I know you’d both love me if I wanted to retire tomorrow and become a hairdresser. But I care, Jake. More than I can even explain. This might be my shot, and I’m wondering if I’d be insane not to take it.’

‘He is the absolute best,’ Jake said quietly.

‘He’s even better than that. I hate to state the obvious – and it’s a sorry testament to women in sports, to be sure – but it’s practically an honor to think that he’d take on a woman when there are dozens of top men who would hire him in a heartbeat.’ It was sad but true: male players typically made more prize money, drew bigger audiences, and commanded higher endorsement deals, and in turn, everyone wanted to work with them.

‘What’s next?’ Jake asked. ‘How did you two leave it?’

‘He’s coming to LA. We’re going to meet. You’ll come, too, right? I can’t do this without you.’

‘Of course,’ Jake said without hesitation. ‘I’ll buy a ticket as soon as you say the word.’

Charlie eased the Jeep onto the exit ramp and slowed at the stop sign. She was less than a mile from the club when she suddenly remembered who she was meeting. ‘Don’t say anything to Dad, okay? We both know how he’s going to feel about this, so I don’t want him to know until I’m absolutely certain.’

‘Roger that. I’ve got to run, C. Call me when you’re done with Dad. And, Charlie? I hear what you’re saying. I think it could be an incredible opportunity.’

‘Thanks, I appreciate that. Keep your fingers crossed for me, okay?’ She pressed ‘end call’ just as she pulled up to the club’s valet stand.

‘Hey, Charlie,’ called out the club’s director of operations from his perch overseeing the teenage valets. ‘How’s the foot?’

She eased herself out of the SUV and waved. ‘Getting there,’ she said, handing over her keys. ‘My dad inside?’

‘Yes, he said he’d wait for you at your table.’

She thanked him and limped toward the restaurant. The maître d’ led her to the far-right corner of the dining room, where the best table in the house looked out over the spectacular ninth hole. Before Charlie turned pro, neither she nor her father had ever sat at that table – her father had barely ever eaten in the guest dining room. Since her success, they were both now treated like royalty.

‘Sorry I’m late,’ she said as she gingerly lowered herself into the chair. The Aleve hadn’t kicked in yet, and the postsurgical pain combined with the rehab muscle ache left the whole area throbbing.

Her father leaned over to kiss her cheek. ‘That’s okay. It’s not so terrible sitting here looking out the window, especially on a day like this. How was rehab?’

Even at sixty-one, Mr Silver had a full head of hair. It was beginning to gray around the temples, prompting plenty of eye-roll-inducing ‘silver’ puns from her father, but Charlie thought he was as handsome as ever. His tan was deep but he’d somehow avoided the leather-skinned look that afflicted so many men who’d spent lifetimes in the sun, and his eyes were still startlingly green or blue, depending on the color of his shirt. Granted, he’d added a few extra pounds around his midsection – and he’d started wearing dorky outfits that included brown leather belts paired with knee-length shorts – but his mostly fit six-foot-three frame compensated for a lot, and clearly none of his lady friends seemed to mind the extra weight or the lack of fashion sense.