by Claire Adams
Adam received thank you notes from farmers and their families almost weekly. And the families, who'd benefitted from the grocery give-away we'd staged to help save us from losing our farm had been among the ones who'd approached Uncle Amos and demanded that he not shun the entire family. There'd been an uproar in the community over the role of lay people in determining church policy. This had been put to rest when Uncle Amos and those who wanted my family shunned splintered off into a separate ward and the rest elected Levi as their new bishop.
I'd returned to Chicago to start my new position as Director of Auditing. Adam had returned to the city not long after I did, and after a long talk about where we had been and where we were headed, I'd agreed to move into his new, luxury penthouse in the Loop. Much to my surprise, no one was shocked, least of all Honor who had come back to the city with me to finish her senior year of high school at a top-ranked Chicago school where she'd have a much better chance of getting into Harvard or MIT. Adam had assured her that he'd put in a good word at the latter, and when the time came, he escorted her to the campus for a visit.
Danny had stayed at the house with Verity, explaining that he'd rather work the land than live in the city with Honor and I, but he missed us both terribly. In September, Adam had hooked up a computer that Danny could use to communicate with us more regularly, and we'd hired a speech pathologist to come down several times a month and work with him to see if he could learn to speak.
Today we were finally celebrating Levi and Verity's wedding by throwing a huge party for the entire community. On an emotional morning, two days before the wedding, Verity, Honor, and I had harvested the celery that Mamm had planted just before she died. We laughed and cried as we clipped the celery and talked about all the wonderful family memories. Verity had called on Hope and Faith, asking them to be present at her wedding, but they'd been part of the community that had sided with Uncle Amos and the bond between sisters had been irrevocably broken.
Levi had agreed to move into the house with Verity and take over farming the land my parents had left us. Coupled with the income from the turbines we'd installed, they would be able to live a comfortable life and support their future family without worry.
Later that afternoon, the sun broke through the clouds just as the wedding was about to start. Verity looked lovely in her new cotton dress and kapp, carrying a bouquet of freshly picked wildflowers that grew behind the house. I smoothed her hair one last time and smiled as I kissed her cheek.
"You make a lovely bride," I whispered. "And I wish you all the happiness and love of a lifetime."
"You're next," she said with a playful grin as she patted my cheek then took one last look in the mirror before announcing, "Let's get this show on the road!"
I stood next to Adam and held his hand as the couple said their vows. After they'd signed the marriage license and then kissed for the cheering crowd, Verity and Levi moved toward the barn to begin the feast we'd prepared. Many of the guests had brought food to contribute to the wedding banquet and the table groaned with all the offerings. We'd opened the barn and given it a good cleaning so that there was room for a band in one corner. They struck up the music as soon as the newlyweds entered the barn. Adam and I watched as the wedding guests began to fill the tables.
"Come with me," he said, pulling me toward the backfield where the hay had been cut and bundled in bales waiting to be put on a truck and transported to the loft above the barn. Out in the middle of the field, one bale sat covered in a mossy green cloth with something on top. As we got closer, I saw there were two glasses and a bottle of what looked like champagne. Adam stopped in front of the bale and looked down at me before he reached down, popped open the bottle, and poured two glasses of the bubbly drink. He handed me one and then dropped to his knee and said, "Grace Miller, I've loved you from the moment I met you, and here today on this land that your parents loved and farmed, I want to ask you if you'll spend the rest of your life letting me love you."
"Adam? Oh my God," I said as he produced a box from his pocket, flipped it open, and offered me a ring with a diamond larger than any stone I'd ever seen before. "Are you—"
"Asking you to marry me? Yes, indeed I am," he said with a wide smile. "Grace, will you marry me?"
For a split second, I was torn between past, present, and future, and then I came to my senses and looked down at him with a smile as I replied, "Yes, Adam Wallace, yes I will marry you!"
As Adam slipped the ring on my finger, a loud cheer erupted from the barn and all the guests came pouring out, laughing and clapping as Levi and Verity led the shouting crowd. "Congratulations, Adam and Grace!"
"What is going on?' I asked confused as to why my engagement had become the focus of my sister's wedding celebration, but when I looked off to my right and saw my brother holding a camera up, I knew that everyone had been in on the proposal. I shouted, "You all are too much! Go celebrate the wedding!"
Adam laughed loudly as I turned to him and said, "Mr. Wallace, you are incorrigible!"
"And you, Ms. Miller, are lovely," he said as he bent and softly kissed my lips.
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BAD COACH
By Claire Adams
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2017 Claire Adams
Chapter One
Eryn
The tension in the air was almost tangible. Everyone's nerves were on edge, everyone's breath was held, and my team was collectively hanging in the balance. After four hard-fought rounds, it had come down to this one play. The games were tied up at two apiece, and we stood at the ready to defend our one-point lead. At 14 to 13, this could be the deciding play. If we took this point, we'd take the game and the match.
Our opponent, however, had the serve. I was positioned at the net on the left: my favorite position. I watched the serve come in, waited for it to be received – which it successfully was – and then sent back over the net.
Over the net…and right in the direction of their two best players, Kelly and Tammy. They always worked as a pair, and I could see the setup for a spike coming from a mile away. I dashed in fast and low, correctly anticipating the spike, and managed to block it with a low dive. In the process, I set it up for a perfect counter-spike, which my best friend Leena smashed with almost poetic perfection.
The ball zipped between two players and bounced just inside the line. We had the point.
My team let out a cheer of victory, and we all rushed in to hug each other. I gripped Leena tightly, smiling and basking in the joy of our victory.
“That was a perfect block!” she exclaimed. “How did you see that spike coming?”
I shrugged as I detached myself from our embrace. “K and T weren't exactly subtle with their movements. I saw it coming.”
“Really? ‘Cause, I didn't.”
I glanced across and saw the pair of them glaring daggers at me. They were clearly not happy about the fact that I'd ruined what they had thought was a perfect setup maneuver. I couldn't understand why they were so mad, though. It was just practice, wasn't it?
The harsh blast of a whistle jolted me from my thoughts.
“All right, ladies, gather round! Before y’all hit the showers, I just want to tell you about this coach situation.”
My practice team, the second string, mingled with the team of starters we had been playing against and gathered around Coach Hatting. Coach Hatting had temporarily come out of retirement to coach us over the past few weeks while the powers that be searched for a new coach. His small, blue eyes swept across the crowd of young women in front of him while he c
hewed gum, causing his square, stubble-covered jaw to move back and forth like a bull's and crinkle the heavy wrinkles around his eyes.
“Now, as y’all know, today was my last practice with you ladies. I'm too old for this, gosh darn it. And as much as I love the game, I've got a beach house that needs fixing and a fishing boat that ain't seeing nearly enough use. I only came out of retirement because of the incident involving your previous coach, but we ain't gonna speak about that now. Water under the bridge.
“You all did well today – and some of you did exceptionally well.” A rush of nerves washed over me as his eyes met mine.
“Miss Barnett,” he said to me, “only God knows why you haven't been on the starting lineup the last two years, but if I had been the coach during your time here, you'd have been a starter for every single game.”
I couldn't help but blush and feel a gush of pride – and sadness at the same time. Coach Hatting was right. For three preseasons, I'd worked my butt off, but had never been picked for the starting lineup. The team all had theories as to why that was, but of course, we couldn't say anything – not until the allegations against our former coach had been proven.
“Anyways, Miss Barnett, I'll be speaking to the new coach about you and giving him a strong recommendation that you be included in the lineup. And you as well, Miss Sykes,” he said, looking now at Leena.
“As for the rest of you, some of those who have been consistently placed on the starting line…well, I have to be honest. If it were up to me, some of you would be warming benches. I'll be speaking to the new coach about that, too, mark my words.”
Leena and I both discreetly glanced across at Tammy and Kelly. Their faces reddened with what I was certain to be both embarrassment and rage. Both had been starters since our freshman year, regardless of their performance. Now for the first time, the certainty that they would simply make the starting lineup without putting in any effort wasn’t as secure as they might have thought, and the looks on their faces said they didn't like it – not one bit.
“Before I say my farewells,” Coach Hatting continued, “let me tell you a bit about the new coach. First up, he's a lot younger than I am – and I'd say a sight better looking, too, so you young ladies better keep your eyes on the ball and not the piece of eye candy that's coming in!”
We all laughed, and Coach Hatting chuckled at his own joke. Despite his often harsh attitude on the court, he had a soft heart underneath it all.
“The new coach’s name hasn’t been announced to the press yet. The board wanted you ladies to hear it first. But, it will be public knowledge later this evening. His name is Wade Vinson. I'm sure most of you have heard of him.”
A ripple of hushed whispers rolled through the gathered volleyball players, and I knew exactly why.
Wade Vinson was something of a celebrity, not only in the volleyball world, but in the gossip magazines and tabloids, as well. He'd recently split from a two-year relationship with Hollywood A-list actress Georgia Jackson amidst a storm of controversy and rumors. It had been all over the press and social media a few months back.
“As y’all know, Mr. Vinson is an ex-pro and won Olympic gold, so he knows his stuff. And, y’all know how he helped coach the UCLA men's team to a top spot two years in a row, so we're really hoping he can do the same for you.
“Also, he happens to be a graduate of this very university, though I’m sure some of you know that, too. He and his teammates put Florida State University on the map in the volleyball world. I should know, I coached him back in the day when he was a rising star here. And I can tell you, the man has skills on the volleyball court!
“Anyways, he'll be here on Monday to start practices. I wish you young ladies all the best. There's some fantastic potential, some amazing talent right here in front of me, and I sure do hope that Mr. Vinson puts his all into developing it as best he can. As for me – that's all for now, folks. It's been a good – if tiring – few weeks.”
“Thank you, Coach Hatting!” many of us shouted together.
He smiled, and I almost thought I caught sight of tears sparkling in his eyes as he waved goodbye to us. Then, he turned around and shuffled off. The girls started to disperse, picking up water bottles, towels, and gym bags, and heading to the locker room to hit the showers.
Leena and I gathered our things and talked on the way to the showers.
“I'm actually kinda sad to see Coach Hatting go,” I confided. “He's been so good, and I’ve learned a few things from him. Not to mention, he’s so fair.”
“Yeah, he's really great,” replied Leena, “but how cool is it that Wade freakin' Vinson is coming to coach us! Like, oh my God! Not only is he a gold medalist and former pro, but he's super hot, too.”
She giggled, and I leaned into her shoulder with mine playfully.
“Come on, Leena, don't be ridiculous.”
“What? You don't think he's just gorgeous?”
I rolled my eyes. “All right, he's pretty damn good looking. But from what I hear, he's a bit of a douchebag, and you know with all this Hollywood gossip stuff and him being involved in those kind of circles, the odds are those rumors are likely true. And jeez, what are we even doing talking about him like that! I mean, he's like 30-something. Seriously. I'm 21, you're 20. He's old!”
“Hey, 32 isn't that much older than us, Eryn,” countered Leena. “Hell, I'd do him.”
I gasped with mock shock. “Noooo, Leena! You slut!” I joked, and we both laughed.
“Yep, that’s me. Leena the slut. But in all seriousness,” she said, “I think it'll be a good thing. I mean, you heard what Coach Hatting just said. He's gonna recommend us as starters to Vinson when he talks to him! We've both been dreaming of this and working our asses off for it for so long now. Especially you, with all the extra practices and workouts you put in.”
I nodded. “It's definitely been a long time coming. But you know what they say about hard work – it does pay off in the end. And hopefully, it's about to pay off for us in a big way.”
“Yeah, now that we no longer have a coach who chooses who's in the starting lineup based on how big a bribe her parents paid him.”
I shook my head. It still pissed me off to think about it. “Do you really think those rumors about Coach Edwards are true?”
“Are you kidding?” she replied. “They have to be. Why else would you have been a benchwarmer the last two seasons when you're clearly one of the best players – if not the best player – on the team?”
I blushed, a bit embarrassed by Leena's praise. “C'mon, I'm not the best player on the team.”
“Like hell you're not! Quit being so modest. I mean seriously, you are here on a volleyball scholarship. That makes it even more criminal that you haven't been part of the starting lineup!”
“It does look like that might change now, though,” I replied with a smile.
“Yes, it does! Things seem to be changing for sure.”
I was about to respond when I heard my phone ringing in my gym bag. “Hold that thought, Lee, let me see who this is.”
I reached into my bag and grabbed my phone. When I looked at the screen, I shook my head as a flood of emotions rushed through me, none of them good.
When Leena saw my expression change, she glanced down at the screen and quickly snatched the phone away from me before I could answer it; she rejected the call, sending it straight to voicemail.
“Tim is a grade-A asshat,” she said, shaking her head. “I can't believe that cheating douche is still trying to call you.”
“I wasn't gonna talk him,” I replied.
“Good. He doesn't deserve a single second of your time. He already wasted two semesters of it with his lies and cheating. Why is he trying to call you and message you all the time, anyway? I mean, it only started up around a week ago, right?”
“He broke up with Ma-”
“'The Whore,' Eryn, 'The Whore,'” Leena interrupted me. “I thought we'd agreed on calling her by her correct name
, ‘cause that's what she is.”
“Well, whatever you wanna call her, they broke up. She dumped him-”
“Oh, and now he thinks he can just waltz right back into your life, huh? Hell, no. HELL to the no.”
“Don't worry, Lee. Like I said, I'm not gonna talk to him. It's over, and it's been over for a long time.”
“I hope so, Eryn. You know how much of a jerk he is. Even if you did love him, don’t forget how he had you fooled for so long. And, don't let your heart deceive your head – it was lies, not love, even if you really want to believe otherwise.”
“I know, I know.” We walked in silence until we reached the showers.
“All right, let's get cleaned up. Then how about grabbing a bite to eat afterward?” Leena asked.
“Not tonight, Lee,” I replied. “I'm going to stay at my mom's place for the night and make her dinner and then breakfast in the morning. That asshole store manager has her working double shifts this week.”
“Ugh, that's terrible. She really should be taking things a little easier at her age.”
“I know, Lee, believe me, I know – but it's tough for her being on her own. Times are hard, and there are bills to pay. My sister helps out when she can, but she's all the way across the country now and has a family of her own to provide for. Mom made a lot of sacrifices for my sister and me, and I gotta do what I can to help her out.”
“I understand. Well, maybe we can get coffee tomorrow morning if you've got a gap between lectures?”
“I do. We can do that. C'mon now, let's get showered up and then we'll make plans for tomorrow.”