Before he pulled away, he kissed her forehead. “See you soon.”
Sarah Beth breathed in the scent of him. Her face tingled. But in a good way. “Bye, Jess.”
~~~
The sun hung low in the western sky as Jess ended the call and placed the phone on the truck console. The timing was terrible for Tampa Bay to invite him for a visit. He’d stop by Sarah Beth’s as he’d done every evening after his camps to make sure she responded better to the new medication she’d started. He needed to tell her about this trip.
The invitation signaled they were indeed looking at him as a candidate when their offensive coordinator retired. Most of the staff were good guys, people he’d like to work with. But was this move what he wanted? Was now the right timing?
The short drive didn’t give him time to settle anything in his mind, and Sarah Beth waved from the porch swing as he pulled up. How could one woman both paralyze and move a man with such force? He sighed, opened his door, and then climbed the stairs two at a time. “Hey. Having a good day?”
A smile lit up her face. “A great day. Got lots of work done.” She narrowed her eyes as he moved closer. “What’s wrong? You look sad.”
Nailed. How did she read him so easily? “I hate the timing, but I have to go out of town for two weeks. I’m going to Tampa Bay to look at how they run their program, and then I promised to visit Mom and Dad out West. I’d put it off, but I’m running out of summer.”
She shrugged. “I knew y’all were going. You have a life outside of trying to help a crazy friend. I’ll be fine, and it’s only two weeks.”
Maybe to her. He joined her on the swing. “Mom wants to take Katie to all the places for kids.” He watched for her reaction. “The woman is dying for grandchildren.”
Her gaze fell to her feet. “Rachel never wanted to marry?”
“She was engaged in law school, but he broke it off. She’s never gotten involved with anyone again.”
“How sad.” She let that sink in. Then her brows lifted. “Oh. You guys go by my office. I asked Jill to get you passes to fun places like amusement parks, and you can meet Juan. He’ll show you the architectural models for the clinic and the church. We’re close to finishing the clinic, but I need a few more big sponsors or a fundraiser to complete the chapel.”
Jess pushed his feet to the ground and stopped the swing. “There’s plenty of money in Oxford. We can do a fundraiser with the CSU. Have you asked our church to sponsor?”
“I told them about the project, but they never offered. I’m still a new member, and I didn’t want to push fundraising on the leadership.”
“When I get back, we’ll work up a plan.”
Hands lifted, Sarah Beth looked up to the heavens. “Thank you, Lord. Who would’ve thought a few months ago that Coach Jess McCoy would be such a blessing to me and so many more?”
His turn to stare at his feet. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“It’s true. And when you get back, I’ll be ready to start our projects.”
Maybe if she got better, she could go to Tampa with him. “Including leaving Oxford?”
Her teeth bit at her bottom lip. “I guess, that too.”
Jess gave her his best coach scowl. “You better be, or you’re running laps, lady.”
She laughed. How he loved the sound. This might be the longest two weeks of his life.
Chapter 27
Still too hot outside. July temperatures soared into the upper nineties, and with the humidity, it wouldn’t cool down much, even after sunset. Sarah Beth took a seat on a barstool beside Nick in the kitchen of Chris and Kim’s house.
Nick lifted his glass of iced tea to his forehead. “We need to be in a pool. It’s miserable.”
Dabbing her neck with a napkin, Sarah Beth shook her head. “It would have to be bigger than my pool. I jumped in earlier, and it was like bath water.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait for Jess to get back and hit the lake to cool off.” Nick bit into his burger, piled high with fresh garden tomatoes and homemade pickles.
“Sounds like his trip is going well. Oh, and I have a friend I want you to meet when you join him. Go with him to my office to pick up the passes. Her name is Jill, and she’s really sweet and gorgeous. You’ll love her.”
A choking cough erupted from Nick, and he set down his burger. “You’ve talked to Jess? I haven’t heard from him. And I thought I made clear to everyone that I don’t do fix-up dates.”
“I wasn’t fixing you up. Juan and I are praying she’ll give her life to the Lord.” She shoved the rest of her cheeseburger into her mouth. Maybe that would keep her from saying the wrong thing. But Nick and Jill would be perfect together. He was alone, and she needed a good guy.
“As long as you’re not trying to fix me up, I’ll talk to her. Who’s Juan?”
She swallowed the lump of bun stuck in her throat. “Juan’s my assistant who’s hoping to be a missionary in Honduras. They could both go to lunch or dinner with you guys. I’d love for my friends to get to know each other.” She thrashed her arms around in a little happy dance.
Nick laughed. “It would be more perfect if you joined us.”
That ended the dance. “I guess Jess or Chris didn’t tell you that part.”
“What?”
“You see, I’ve had this problem since the accident...”
She described her anxiety disorder and Jess’s plan to help her. Nick listened without interrupting.
When she finished, Nick put a hand on her forearm. “Jess will do what he says. He’s a good man and has stood by me through some tough times.”
“You know, I never would’ve guessed he was a good guy when he walked into my office to talk about Cole. I thought he was full of himself.”
Nick let out a small laugh. “What kind of quarterback—or coach, for that matter—isn’t confident?”
“I’d call it bossy, but you can call it confident if you want.”
Her phone rang, and she turned it over to check who was calling. She smiled and answered. “Nick and I were just talking about you.”
When the call ended, Nick lifted one shoulder. “You know, Katie and I could take you for a drive this week. We could carry you and that monstrosity you call a dog out to another part of the lake, farther away, for a walk.”
“I don’t know.” She wasn’t dying to start the process of going farther away. “I’m not sure about Gingie. I’m having trouble training her on the leash. She breaks into a run with me stumbling behind trying to control her. I’m planning to enroll her in obedience school soon, but they won’t take her until she’s a couple of months older.”
“I can train your dog for you. Bring a harness and a bag of treats.”
“Are you sure?”
“Before my father went to prison, we always had guard dogs. I had to be able to control them or get eaten.”
“Your father’s in prison?”
He lifted one shoulder. “Meth.”
Poor Nick. One more thing he’d been through. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It was tough. Mom left us to get away from him when I was thirteen. She lived with anyone who would take her and her bottle of gin.”
Sarah Beth’s heart hurt for him. He’d endured his share of pain, too. “Were there other children?”
“I have a brother. Also in prison. He’s five years older and in the family business.” Air quotes surrounded those words. “If I hadn’t met Katie’s mother, I’m sure that’s where I’d be right now.”
“I think she’d be proud of what a good father you are to Katie.”
“Thanks.” His voice was soft. “So about that drive?”
“Call me when you’re brave enough to start training me and my puppy. I’ll have the harness and treats ready.” But would she be ready?
~~~
“Let me know when you want me to stop.” Nick smiled at Sarah Beth in the rearview mirror. “I didn’t know I’d play chauffeur for you ladies
today.”
Stopping two miles back down the road would’ve been good. She swallowed hard at the lump in her throat that seemed to be choking her. “Katie asked me to sit with her first, so what could I say?” Plus, the back seat was safer, and she could hardly see the road. She squeezed her large tote close to her chest to comfort herself.
“So, I’m stuck up here with Cujo.”
Katie huffed. “Her name is Gingie, Daddy.”
“I know, sweetie. I was teasing Ms. Sarah Beth.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Is Cujo what they call that green stuff that covers the trees?”
“No. That’s kudzu. They call it the vine that ate the South.”
“Ate what?” Katie’s eyes grew large.
Despite her nerves, Sarah Beth smothered a laugh. He’d stepped into that one.
“It didn’t really eat the South. It just grows all over stuff.”
“Kudzu. That’s a funny word. So what’s Cujo?”
Shaking his head, Nick cleared his throat. “Daddy shouldn’t have mentioned that. Cujo was a bad dog in a movie, nothing like Gingie. I’m not communicating very well today.”
“Look, y’all.” Katie’s words curled with the drawl particular to northern Mississippi. “Watermelons. Can we get one? Please, please, please?” Pointing, Katie bounced in her booster seat.
Sarah Beth followed the girl’s pointed finger to a truck farmer parked on the corner of two country roads. Her heart accelerated to a gallop. They were far enough. She needed to turn around and go home. “I love watermelon. Pull over now. Let’s take it back to my house and eat it.”
“Not home yet. We just left.” The sad look on Katie’s face fought against Sarah Beth’s urge to go back.
“We’re near an entrance to the lake. Let’s take the watermelon to a picnic table.”
“And how are we going to cut it?” Nick asked.
Sarah Beth dug into her bag. “I have a Swiss Army knife, and I’m ready to get out. Now.”
The truck slowed to a stop. Nick glanced to the back seat. “I guess I know when I’m outnumbered. What all do you have crammed in that big bag, anyway?”
Heartbeat slowing, Sarah Beth loosened her hold on the bag. Whew. The air released from her lungs. “A lot. I like to be prepared.”
After Nick purchased the melon, he drove down the gravel road to the lake. Once they’d unloaded, he worked with Gingie on two basic commands in a grassy area nearby. Sarah Beth labored with the watermelon and her small knife. Her hands still shook from the anxiety she’d suffered getting to this part of the lake.
The first command was for Gingie to look at him as he held a treat. The second was to sit. The dog responded to Nick’s instructions.
“You do know what you’re doing.” Sarah Beth’s attempts to cut nice slices weren’t going well at all. She’d barely made a dent in halving the thing.
Katie stood beside her, smiling and chattering.
Nick joined them with Gingie on the leash. “You doubted me?”
“More like I doubted my dog.”
“Can I help you butcher that watermelon, too?”
“I almost have it.” She glanced at her progress. “Or maybe not. You’ll need to sanitize your hands if you take over.”
“I suppose the sanitizer is in your bag of tricks, Mary Poppins?”
“That and a spoonful of sugar. Check the bench on the other side of the table.”
After he’d wiped his hands, he extended his arm. “I can’t watch you mutilate a perfectly good watermelon. I’ll cut while you try the commands with Gingie.”
She dug out her best little kid voice. “Fine, but you’re not the boss of me.”
“Just what I need, another sassy little girl.”
Before Sarah Beth had given the second command, he held out a slice. “Come and get it.”
“That was quick.” The sweet fruity scent filled the air, reminding her of summers past. Sarah Beth took a bite.
Nick smirked. “I have a few talents.”
Katie grabbed a piece of watermelon. “Yummy.”
“Oh, yes. Sweet and ripe.” Sarah Beth spoke between mouthfuls.
“And messy.” Nick nodded at the juice running down Katie’s face and arms. “I hope you have some paper towels in that bag.”
The phone chirped in Sarah Beth’s pocket. “Great, now my phone’s going to be sticky.” She pulled it out with two fingers and pressed answer. “Hello?”
“This is Stacy from church. Can you help in the nursery Sunday? Everyone else has cancelled for vacations, and I see you’ve already completed the safety training and background check.”
“Um, I guess I can help. I’ve never worked with babies, but I can try if you can’t find anyone.”
“Great. I’ll email the instructions.” The woman sounded relieved.
Nick picked up his own piece of melon. “Problem?”
“Yeah. The church must be desperate if they’re calling me. Their normal volunteers are all out of town. I don’t even know how to change a diaper. I mean, I can play with a four-year-old, but babies—they scare me.”
“I took the day off, but our flight doesn’t leave until Sunday night. Do you want me to help you?”
“Would you? I’d feel so much better.”
He gave her a warm smile. “I would.”
“Thank you so much. You’re a man of many talents—watermelon cutter, dog trainer, dad, and nursery helper. I appreciate your friendship, Nick.”
“You’re more than welcome. What are friends for?”
Sarah Beth turned to Katie. “So what’s next? Wanna play?”
Nick and Gingie trailed behind as Sarah Beth and Katie skipped down the path to the water. They frolicked along the edge of the lake then headed for home, tired and dirty.
Katie nodded off a couple of times on the way back but woke as Sarah Beth opened the truck door to exit. “Can you play again tomorrow, Ms. Sarah Beth?”
“Sounds fun, but we can talk about that in the morning.”
Katie nodded. “I’ll find your number on Daddy’s phone and call you.”
Katie was such a great kid. Sarah Beth smiled and waved until they were out of sight. Maybe she could be a mother someday. But how could she be responsible for a child when she couldn’t even manage her own anxiety?
Chapter 28
Sarah Beth twisted her hair into an elastic band and pulled on her running shoes. The phone on her night stand buzzed.
“Ms. Sarah Beth?”
That delightful little voice. “Hi, Katie.”
“Would you be able to go eat ice cream with me and my daddy after work?”
“I’d love to.”
“Yay. Here’s Daddy.”
The phone clonked around. “Hey.” Nick’s voice.
“She’s so cute.”
“You say that now, but once she memorizes your contact, you might change your mind. Jess can verify that.”
“Aw, that’s sweet that she calls him.”
“She also calls his mother every day. Most of the time I don’t even know when she does it. She loves to talk on the phone.”
“So Jess’s parents kind of adopted you and Katie.”
“Pretty much.”
“I like his parents. I told Jess they could adopt me.”
“How did that come up?”
“He was joking around that they loved me.”
Silence lingered on the other end of the line.
“Nick? Are you still there?”
“Sorry, I was distracted. So, do you want to drive to New Albany for ice cream, or Batesville?”
Her chest tightened at the thought. “I thought we were staying in Oxford.”
“You did so well yesterday, I thought I’d check. What if we get ice cream in Oxford and then go for a ride in the country? It doesn’t get dark until about eight.” His tone was soothing. “We can turn around any time you want. I promise.”
He thought she’d
done well? She forced herself to inhale. “I’ll try.”
~~~
Nick motioned toward his truck, which was parallel parked in front of Sweet Cream’s pale yellow awning. Once they’d ordered and paid, he headed toward the street. “I’m going to regret this, but I’ll let you girls bring the ice cream in the truck. It’ll occupy you-know-who for a while.” He nodded toward Katie.
Sarah Beth pointed to the pink plastic benches outside the ice cream shop. “We can eat it here. We don’t have to go for a ride.”
“Let’s get this show on the road.” He scooped up Katie then opened the front door for Sarah Beth.
Katie stopped her licking for a second. “Daddy said he’d show me a farm, but only if you got to sit up front this time.” She scrunched her nose at Nick.
“We have to share our friends.” Nick smiled as he chided her.
“Next time it’s my turn again.”
Sarah Beth laughed. “I feel so popular.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.” Nick gave her a stern look.
Her phone buzzed. “It’s Jess.” She touched to answer. “Perfect timing, you can talk to Katie and me. We’re just having ice cream, and Nick’s taking us for a ride in the country to see a farm.”
“Oh.” His voice faltered. “I won’t keep you if y’all are hanging out.” He paused. “I only have a second before I head into another meeting, then I’ll stay pretty tied up.”
Her heart sank. Already he had to go? “Oh, okay. I’ll talk to you later.” She tucked the phone back into her bag and stepped up into Nick’s truck.
The country road cut through the north Mississippi hills. Sarah Beth squirmed in her seat as she spooned her mix of pistachio and white chocolate frozen yogurt into her mouth. Please help me get through this drive, Lord.
The cool flavors mingled and soothed her tight throat. The passing countryside held green fields, trees, gravel roads, and farmhouses.
After twenty minutes, though, she rubbed her palms on her legs as they began to perspire. Her breathing sped up. “I can’t. I have to turn around now.”
Nick glanced at her. “Sure, here’s a gravel drive.”
Leaving Oxford Page 18