Working My Way Back to You

by Doreen Alsen

  He arched a brow and looked so much like Jeff. “Whatever.”

  She wanted to shake her precious boy. If she’d learned anything the previous night, Jeff would at least make Danny mind his manners.

  “You may be mad at me right now but I’m still the boss of you. The doctor cleared you to go to school on crutches.” Danny’s wrist sprain had ended up no big deal. “If you want Jeff to cancel all his classes and devote his time to you, I’ve got to tell you, bab“

  “Don’t call me baby ever again.”

  She picked her battle and ignored that dig. “I guarantee you won’t win any friends by bragging that the coach is your dad.”

  “What do you know?”

  “More than you. You didn’t like it when other kids bragged about who their dads are.”

  “I used to, but it’s okay now, I’ve got a real dad.”

  Lord, give me strength. “You don’t want me to call you baby, but you want everyone to watch your dad, the coach, treat you like a baby? Think about it.”

  “He knows I’m a big kid.”

  Time to take a new tack. “You can see Coach“

  “Dad.”

  “Okay, Dad.” She gave that word the gravity it deserved, because it was important to him and it was the truth. “If you want to be respected for your talent, do you really want to have the kids like you just because you’re the coach’s son?”

  “They’ll be afraid of me, because they won’t want me to talk smack about them to Dad.”

  Who was this creature and what had he done with her son? “I don’t think this is your best plan.”

  “I’ll ask Dad about it and tell you what we figure out.” He crossed his arms against his chest.

  She gave up. “Grab your crutches and go out to the car. I’ll be right there with your books and your lunch.”

  Before she dropped him at school and got him settled in his classroom she texted Jeff about Danny’s delusions of grandeur.

  He’d have to talk some sense into the boy. Lord knew Danny wasn’t listening to her.

  ****

  “Hi, Julia, do you have a minute?” Jeff caught up with the high school principal in the outer office.

  “Sure, come on in. Alex told me he talked to you about the softball team the other night when one of your Junior Sharks got hurt.” She sat behind her desk and he sat in one of the chairs in front of it. “What’s up?”

  “I’ve had a change in my personal life and I want to tell you before you hear it from someone else.”

  “You’ve got my attention.” She leaned forward, elbows on her desk.

  “I just found out that I have a ten-year-old son, that Junior Shark Alex told you about.”

  “Just found out?”

  “It’s a long story. I was kept in the dark for ten years. Now that I know I have a kid, he’s not going to be a secret any more.”

  “Who is he?”

  “Danny Rawson. Beth Pritch—uh, Rawson is his mom.”

  Her eyebrows slammed up her forehead. “Danny? Of course I know Danny. Beth is the organist at St. Joseph’s. She’s a lovely person.” She stood. “I’m shocked. How did you find out?”

  “The other night at the hospital. I knew Beth by her real name, Pritchard, but my son had a different last name. I never would have known if Danny hadn’t gotten hurt and I’d taken him to the emergency room.” The hurt was still fresh. “I just wanted to let you know about my changed circumstances.”

  “Wow. That’s a lot to take in. I never would have guessed“ She shook her head. “Never mind. You’re going to be very busy between having a son here and a daughter down in Massachusetts.”

  He frowned. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Okay. Thanks for letting me know.” She gathered some files from her desktop. “I’ve got a meeting. Good luck!”

  He followed her out the door. He would need every bit of that luck Julia wished him.

  ****

  Beth had gotten Danny to school early so she could let his teacher know what was going on.

  Of course, the minute they got to the classroom Danny announced as loudly as he could that Coach Myers was his real dad and how awesome that was.

  She’d never forget the shocked look on Mrs. Bailey’s face. Or the judgmental one that followed. She might as well get used to it.

  Jeff hadn’t answered her text yet.

  Beth’s next mission? To tell Anita. They were meeting at Maggie’s Diner for lunch.

  Anita was already seated when Beth got there.

  “Hi,” Beth said. “Thanks for coming to meet me.”

  “It sounded important.”

  “It is.”

  Sally brought over the coffeepot and turned over the heavy white mugs already on the table. “The soup today is fish chowder. Do you need menus?”

  Anita shrugged. “I don’t. I want the lobster burger.”

  Beth decided on the chowder and a blueberry muffin.

  “Coming right up!” Sally went back to the kitchen.

  “There’s something you need to know. I’ve been keeping a big secret.” She clasped her hands on the table. Might as well pull off the Band-Aid fast. “Long story short, Jeff Myers is Danny’s biological father.”

  Anita’s jaw dropped. “What,” she squeaked. “Jeff Myers? As in Coach Jeff Myers, Hunk Extraordinaire?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Beth felt her face flush. “It’s complicated. Jeff didn’t know and I needed to tell him and Danny first.” Well, except she’d had to tell Jenna, but Anita did have to know that. “He found out at the E.R. the other night when Danny got hurt.”

  “Why didn’t you tell him?” Anita shot Beth an accusing glance.

  “It’s a very long, complicated story.”

  “That’s why you needed my help getting him to and from practice.”

  “Yeah, well, I can help out with that now that Jeff and Danny know.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t have told anybody.”

  “Like I said, I couldn’t tell anybody before I told Jeff and Danny. I made plans to tell him last Saturday, but he had to go back to Massachusetts to see his daughter.”

  Anita’s eyes widened. “He has a daughter?”

  “Yes. With my ex-best friend from high school, now known as Skankarella.”

  Anita laughed.

  “They got married but they’re divorced now.” Thank the Lord for small things. “Then I was going to tell him tonight after the Sharks game, but it’s an away game at Stockton Springs. With the boys’ first game on Saturday afternoon, I had to wait for Sunday.” She added two creamers and a sugar packet into her coffee and stirred. “Danny’s accident took care of that.”

  “He must have been so mad.”

  “An understatement. They both were. He is working with me when it comes to helping Danny get used to it.”

  “What’ll happen next?”

  “I have no idea. Danny turned overnight into a kid I don’t recognize. He worshipped Jeff before he knew he was his dad. Now?” Beth sighed. “Dad walks on water and I’m a big fat liar who kept him from his father.”

  Someone gasped. They both looked up to see Sally standing next to their table with their food.

  Great. Just great.

  “Are you saying that the new football coach, who is amazingly hot by the way and gives Tom Brady a run for his money, is Danny’s biological father?”

  Nope, nothing wrong with Sally’s hearing. “Yes.”

  Sally put down their food on the table. “If that don’t beat all.”

  “Thanks, Sally, everything looks good.” Anita picked up her lobster burger.

  Sally took the hint. “Just holler if you need anything else.” She walked away, her steps reluctant.

  “It’s going to be all over town by tomorrow.”

  Beth picked up her spoon and dipped it into her soup. “I know. It would be anyway. I told Mrs. Bailey this morning so she could dea
l with Danny’s new attitude. By now, every kid and teacher at Lobster Cove Elementary knows.” She put the spoon of soup in her mouth. It looked good and smelled heavenly, but it tasted like ashes.

  Thank God for Anita. She might be Beth’s only friend after this shook down.

  ****

  “Hey, champ.” Jeff sat on a bench on the sidelines next to Danny.

  “Hey, Dad.” His face shone with adulation and joy. “Wish I could practice with everyone else today.”

  “Stay off that ankle and you’ll be back out there in no time.” He ruffled the kid’s hair. “I need to talk to you about something.”

  “‘Kay.”

  “Your mom texted me this morning that you thought you’d get special treatment over the other kids because I’m your dad.”

  Danny’s face turned beet red. “She’s a tattletale.”

  “No Danny, she’s your mother and she shared information with me that I needed. That’s what parents do. So here’s the deal. I’m going to treat you like any other kid on the team. If I hear you trying to push other kids around, I’m going to have to kick you off the team.”

  Danny’s lip trembled. “You wouldn’t do that!”

  “I would. That’s just really poor sportsmanship and would ruin the morale of the team.”

  Danny swiped at his eyes with the back of a grimy hand. “Okay. I probably wouldn’t have done anything. I said it ’cause Mom was making me mad.”

  “I’m glad to hear you didn’t mean it, but I don’t like you saying stuff like that because you’re mad at your mother.” He stood. “I’ve got to get back to watching the practice. We okay?”

  “‘Course, Dad.”

  Jeff jogged back to his post. That had gone well, but he and Beth better brace themselves for more trouble with Danny.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Two visits in two weeks! To what do I owe the pleasure?” Jeff’s mother stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.

  “I’ve got some news, Ma.” He grabbed a Sam Adams—that she kept only for him—out of the fridge, sat at the kitchen table, and popped the top.

  She put a bowl of tortilla chips in front of him along with some salsa. “It must be important.”

  “It is.” He took a swig of his beer and enjoyed the cold bitter fizz in his mouth before he swallowed it. “Remember I told you that Beth was living in Lobster Cove.”

  “I remember thinking it was a real coincidence.”

  He dove right in. “She didn’t give our baby daughter up for adoption. Instead she had a baby boy who she kept. His name is Danny and he’s on the kid’s football team I coach on the side.”

  “What?” His mother slapped her hand over her heart. “How did you find out?”

  “He got hurt last Wednesday and I stayed with him in the Emergency Room until his mother got there. She couldn’t keep him a secret any more.”

  “How could she lie to you about having a son?”

  He told her the whole sad story. “So that’s it.” He took another pull on his beer.

  “You’re kidding! I want to kill her.”

  “Which one?”

  “Your ex-wife. She was the one who got you busted? Didn’t she know that lunatic wanted to send you to jail?”

  “Stand in line. That’s why Beth didn’t want Danny anywhere near her.”

  She sniffed. “Knowing Katie, that was probably a good plan.”

  He grimaced. “I’ve got to tell her. Katie, I mean. She won’t take it well.”

  Nancy sniffed. “Do you have any pictures of this surprise grandson of mine?”

  Jeff grinned. “I do.” He pulled out his phone and brought up the pictures he’d taken of Danny. “I took some of him at practice on Friday. I got this one from Beth.” He drew his wallet out of his pocket and showed her the photo he’d stolen from the frame the night he’d learned the truth.

  She smiled and tears came to her eyes. “He looks just like you did at that age. Except for the blue eyes and freckles.”

  I don’t know. I think he looks a lot like Beth. You know. With that whole blue eyes and freckles thing.” His mother handed him back the photo and he traced the outline of Danny’s tiny, infant, scrunched-up face.

  “How will you handle things with Beth?”

  “I’ve got an appointment with a lawyer tomorrow to talk about adopting him and changing his last name to Myers. I don’t want any kid running around out there without my name on him.”

  “Do you think Beth will fight you?”

  “She’ll do whatever she has to do to for Danny’s good. She’s not like Katie.” He hoped.

  Oh, how he hoped.

  “When are you telling her?”

  “‘Bout an hour from now. I’m dreading it. She’s already miffed that I showed up out of the blue and she had to change her afternoon plans.” He finished off his beer.

  She stood and put a maternal hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Do you want me to go with you so I can make sure Cookie doesn’t hear? I can take her out for ice cream or something.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve got to do this alone. And I’ve got to tell Cookie anyway.” No need to have his mother around when her mother goes berserk.

  ****

  An hour later, Jeff knocked on the door of what used to be his home. He heard excited screams and grinned.

  Cookie threw open the door and launched herself into his arms. “Daddy!” She wrapped her arms around his neck so tightly he thought he’d choke.

  “Hey, Cookie!” He laid his cheek on top of her head and inhaled that little girl scent. “Let me see what you’re wearing.”

  She let him put her down and did a couple of twirls. The ensemble consisted of a purple sparkly top over a ruffled pink skirt that flared out when she circled. A plastic tiara studded with big square “jewels” completed the look. He squatted so he was at eye level with her. “Well, don’t you look beautiful.”

  She giggled. “You always say that, Daddy.”

  Katie entered the room on a cloud of White Diamonds. “Okay, Cookie. You run to the playroom so your father can tell me what’s so important that we had to change our plans.”

  “Okay.” She put a hand on each cheek. “Scratchy! You need to shave.” She kissed him on his nose. “Don’t leave without saying good bye.”

  “You know I won’t.” He stood as she scampered out of the room.

  Katie turned her back and walked into their family room. He sighed and followed. She perched on one of the sofa’s arms. He sat in what was once his favorite chair. He’d wanted to take it with him when he moved out, but Katie hadn’t allowed it.

  It was just a freakin’ chair. He didn’t get it, but what else was new?

  “So, what’s this big news you have for me? Though I imagine I know what it is.”

  “Uh, no you can’t. I have a son with Beth, a boy named Danny.”

  “What?” Katie’s jaw dropped. “You told me she had a girl and gave her away for adoption.”

  “Apparently she didn’t. But now I know about him and I’m going to be a big part of his life, which means he’s going to be part of his sister’s life.”

  She jumped up. “Cookie is not that boy’s sister. I’m not letting him anywhere near her. She won’t understand.”

  “She absolutely is his sister, whether you like it or not, and she will accept him if we tell her the right way. I bet she’ll love having a big brother.”

  Katie started to pace. “I won’t allow it.”

  “You will, and you know why? Because Beth told me what you did. You were the one to call the Lobster Cove police.” He hung onto his control by a very thin thread.

  “What are you talking about? Beth is telling more lies.”

  Give me strength. “Her father told her, Katie…on his deathbed so I have no reason not to believe him. You do know you could have gotten me thrown in jail.”

  Katie sniffed. “I know no such thing. How can you take the word of a maniac over mine?”

  He couldn’t be
lieve her but he knew she’d stick to her story with her dying breath. “Cookie will meet Danny and have a relationship with him.”

  “Over my dead body.”

  He resisted the obvious threat that usually followed that statement. “You’ll have no choice. Make no mistake, if you get in the way of this I’ll take you to court so fast it’ll make your head spin.”

  She stopped and glared at him with narrowed eyes. “You get out of my house right now.” She pointed to the door.

  “Excuse me? Who still pays the mortgage on this place?” What a piece of work. A strong sense of regret descended on him that he had ever touched, kissed or married this woman. “And not before I tell Cookie.”

  “I’ll call the police and have them throw you out.”

  “Yeah, ’cause you’re so good at that. Katie, it’s my house. I have a right to be here. Like I said, I still pay the mortgage on it. Now, I’m going to the playroom and tell my daughter about her brother. You can come if you like, but you can’t stop me.”

  “I hate you.”

  Jeff laughed right in her face. “Ditto.” He remembered Danny and Beth’s little phrase. “In every dimension.” He turned on his heel and left.

  She scrambled after him.

  Cookie had wrapped a silver boa around her neck and was having a tea party with her American Girl doll, the one they’d had made to look just like her, all fluffy blonde curls and big brown eyes, the bear they’d made the last time they went to Build-A-Bear and what looked to be a brand new Barbie. “Hi, Daddy. Do you want to have some tea?” She lifted the toy teapot to show him.

  “Not right now, Cookie girl. I’ve got some good news for you.” He took off his jacket and sat cross-legged on the floor next to her. “Guess what!”

  “What?”

  “You have a big brother.”

  “I do?” Her little brows furrowed under the tiara. “How come I don’t know him?”

  “That’s because I didn’t know about him. I just found out on Wednesday.”

  “What’s his name?” She put down the teapot.

  “His name is Danny and he’s ten-years-old.” Jeff brushed a blonde curl out of her eyes. “And he can’t wait to meet you.” Well, not right now, but Jeff was going to fix that.