Читать книгу There Comes A Season - Carol Steward - Страница 11

The next morning, Bryan parked his white sports car in front of Laura’s house. He saw the freckle-faced kid deposit a sack of trash in a barrel, then grab a basketball and shoot three baskets—all net.

Tucking Jacob into the crook of his arm, Bryan hustled up the driveway. “Hi. I’m Bryan. We met yesterday.”

The boy looked puzzled.

“You were playing football. I’m the coach.”

“That was you?” The boy’s sparkling eyes grew bigger.

Bryan nodded. His smile couldn’t begin to express his joy at finding this kid again. “Are you Laura Bates’s son?”

“Uh-huh. You know my mom?”

She’s a widow, and never said a thing. And I told her she couldn’t begin to imagine what it was like to lose a loved one. Great one, Beaumont. Open mouth, insert foot. “I talked with her last night about watching my son. What did she say about football?”

“She said it’s too late to sign up,” he complained.

“Oh yeah? Let’s go talk to her. We’ll see what we can do.”

Bryan followed T.J. into the kitchen and watched silently as Laura flipped pancakes.

“Chad, you’re going to be late for school. Will you please hurry?” She pivoted, jumping when she saw Bryan standing in the doorway.

“Your son and I met outside. He invited me in. Sorry I startled you.”

T.J., obviously forgetting football at the sight of warm pancakes, walked between Bryan and Laura with a plate piled high. Not that he blamed the kid. They looked delicious.

“Good grief T.J., you’d think I never feed you.” She took several pancakes off his plate and returned them to the platter. “You may have seconds after you’ve eaten those.”

Laura glanced back at Bryan, her face full of strength, shining with a steadfast and serene peace. “I didn’t expect you quite so early, but that’s okay. Help yourself to breakfast if you’d like.”

Her other son sauntered into the spacious kitchen.

“Chad! You’ve been up for an hour, why aren’t you dressed?” She excused herself, then disappeared with her youngest son in tow. A few minutes later, both returned, and the doorbell rang. Laura’s workday was beginning. Preschoolers and toddlers arrived every few minutes and she introduced Bryan to each of the parents.

“How do you stay so calm with this chaos?”

She laughed, seeming very pleased with something. “It grows on you.”

While she was busy feeding the toddlers and helping her children prepare for school, he mentioned registering T.J. in football.

She stole a guilt-ridden glance at her son.

T.J. looked at Laura hopefully. “Can I, Mom? Please.”

“I’ll discuss that with Jacob’s dad. You and I will talk tonight. Right now, it’s time for you kids to walk to school. Have a good day. Remember, I love you.” She kissed each child’s cheek as they left. “And no talking to strangers.”

After her children were out the door, she faced Bryan, arms across her chest. “So you’re the coach he met last night, huh? How’s the leg?”

“Fine. I’m sorry about the stranger thing. He was hesitant, if that matters.” By the look on her face, it didn’t. “He’s got talent.”

“Oh, he’s a natural all right. Just like his dad.” She smiled, but her eyes were looking far beyond anything visible. She shook her head, then looked back at him. It was as if he could look right into the raw sores of her aching heart. “I’m not sure I’m ready for him to play full-contact sports.”

“Has he played soccer?”

Laura nodded.

“There’s more protection playing football than soccer. I’m helping coach the team at McKinley. I’d love to have him play.”

She proceeded to cut another pancake for a towheaded boy without any indication she’d heard Bryan.

“It’s not too late to register,” he told her.

“I know. That’s not it.” Laura washed another toddler’s fingers before getting him out of the high chair, then cleared the dishes from the table while children dug through the toy box.

“Did your husband play?” Bryan persisted.

“Todd was an athlete. Anything with ‘ball’ attached, consumed him. If he wasn’t playing, we watched on T.V.” She looked as if she actually missed that. “T.J.’s so young. There’s plenty of time for sports later.”

“Sometimes kids need an outlet to deal with losing a dad. Especially an oldest son who feels an obligation to take care of his mother. That’s a heavy load for a boy his age.” Bryan tried to block out memories of his father’s death, memories that were especially strong during football season. “You didn’t tell me you were a widow,” he said accusingly.

She replied right away, “You didn’t give me a chance.” Her cool blue eyes eluded his and she sidestepped the subject. “Did you play football?”

Bryan smiled, recalling his own experience with the sport. “Wide receiver for Colorado University.”

“Ah. Serious obsession.”

Even though her smile was genuine, Bryan sensed a turn in their conversation.

“Very.”

“What about coaching? You obsessed there, too?”

He realized Laura was now a mother interviewing the coach. “At this age, teaching the boys the basics and to enjoy the game is more important than winning. Obsession comes on down the road. High school, junior year at the latest.”

Laura chuckled and bit her lower lip almost nervously. “I’ll think about it.”

“I hope you will.”

During his visit that morning, Laura briefly told him that her husband had died of a heart attack, and shared that it was a continuous challenge to raise children alone. Her courage and determination was like a cold deep river flowing through her.

In turn, he told her that Jacob’s mother had died in an automobile accident. That was all she needed to know.

“Why do you coach?” Laura asked over a glass of juice as the kids watched their favorite preschool program.

“What kind of question is that?”

“Forgive me. That didn’t come out right. You obviously enjoy football, but it sounds like you already keep long hours at work, and with expecting a new baby in your house, I can’t help but wonder why you chose now to volunteer your time. Most men have difficulty making time to coach even their own son’s team. This doesn’t fit the image you portrayed yesterday.”

He remained quiet, assessing the fact that she’d examined his image. It pleased him, and it bothered him. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by some woman’s romantic notions.

“Being a weekend quarterback isn’t enough. I miss playing. And I’d made the commitment before I found out about Jacob.”

Bryan consoled himself that it wasn’t a lie, exactly. When he’d agreed to help coach the junior league team, he had no idea he was going to be a father. No one need know that at that time he’d desperately needed something to take his mind off his wife’s walking away from their marriage.

“What’s the most important aspect of football?”

“At this age, or professional?” He grinned, attempting to lighten her shrewd onslaught of questions into his character.

She stared back, obviously unimpressed with his humor.

“Okay, okay. Teamwork. No one is an entity unto himself out on the football field.”

“Are they anywhere?”

He looked again into her undaunted blue eyes, realizing her wisdom. “Touché. So how about if we try this out, Mrs. Bates. You raise my son, and I’ll coach yours. It’s as easy and uncomplicated as that.”

Three weeks later, the football season had started. During that time, Laura had cleared up the majority of Bryan’s questions about his new son. While he admitted feeling he’d never get the knack of caring for a baby, he was comforted by the knowledge that Jacob at least had Laura to meet the majority of his needs.

Bryan was a bit surprised when she accepted his offer to transport T.J. to and from practices in return for watching Jacob after her usual business hours during practice. It had been the first glimmer of her relinquishing any sort of personal responsibility. The death of her husband had obviously been a devastating blow, and she seemed determined to handle life’s punches alone.

In the three weeks that he’d known the family, he’d come to understand what had drawn him to Laura Bates. She showed no signs of weakness. There was a part of him that worried about her. Would she give and give until there was nothing left of her? Or would she someday allow herself to grow whole again?

He admired her. Almost too much. And at the same time, he longed for proof that she was human; that she, like he, had her inadequacies as well. This selfishness was a quick, disturbing thought as he struggled to put the woman out of his mind.

After the second football practice, Bryan walked into the living room and handed the game schedule to Laura. “I hope T.J. remembered to tell you he needs to get a cup.”

“No, he didn’t mention it, but it’ll be no problem. I’ll send him with one tomorrow. He has a water bottle that we take camping.”

“What?” Bryan stopped and looked at her.

“You said a cup didn’t you? He drinks a lot of water.”

Clearing his throat, Bryan rubbed his forehead with his fingers, twisting his mouth in amusement. “I meant a jock cup. You know, an athletic supporter.”

Laura’s cheeks colored. “Oh…Why didn’t you just say he needs a jockstrap?”

“I assumed…never mind. You do realize that a cup is not the same as a regular jock, don’t you?”

Laura watched in embarrassment as he tried not to smile.

“It’s so refreshing to see a grown woman blush.” Bryan smiled in spite of the fact he wasn’t sure he liked the affect she had on him. “Why don’t I take care of this?”

“We can handle it.” Her voice raised an octave. “I hadn’t thought of this part of being a single mother, to be honest. I told you I wasn’t ready for him to be in sports.”

“Let me pick him up after school tomorrow and take him shopping before practice. Taking all the little ones shopping must be a disaster. The store closes at five.”

“If you’re sure you wouldn’t mind,” Laura said, absently stacking some scattered papers on the leather-top table. “I’ll owe you one.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”