I shake my head and take a deep-rooted peace in knowing that what I’m about to tell her is absolutely true. “They will not lose a lick of interest in that boy, trust me. They came into this season not knowing if he was even gonna start, but willing to wait and see.” I take another drink of my coffee, burning my tongue. “They will be interested. That won’t change. I’ve had scouts take interest in players injured their senior year. Don’t worry. We got time to nurse him to health should he need it, and the scouts aren’t going anywhere.”
She nods her head, relief evident in the way she relaxes into her chair some. She looks around the relatively empty space, as if just seeing it now for the first time, before her focus comes back to me. “He’s smart, you know? But academic scholarships are different. You have to be the top of your class, and not that Tanner couldn’t be but–”
I smile and she finds pause, smiling back. “I know what you mean. And I wouldn’t worry about anything just yet, okay? I think he’ll be just fine,” I tell her.
Clara June nods again, then we sip our coffees once more. This time, she lowers hers to the table and meets my eyeswith less intensity as she exhales. “How was the game, you know, leading up to half-time?” She looks down at her uniform, the little faded white dress with buttons running down the middle, her nametag still very much pinned to her chest. “I was supposed to be off in time but… I had car trouble and had to get my car towed to Oakcreek and—” she shakes her head, running her fingers over her braid, something that must soothe her. “Anyway, how was it?”
I nod my head, trying to put together the pieces from before all of this. “Game was good. Tough opponents—tougher than we expected given their first two games were losses to teams we destroyed last year but… otherwise, a good game. Tanner was playing great. His arm wasn’t bothering him and he was doing good. He’d scored half the points on that board alone.”
My phone rings again, but when I see it’s the JV coach Steven, I send it to voicemail. I’ll call him later. And it looks as though I’ve already missed a call and received a voicemail, all from an unknown number. I’ll check it later. “Is there anyone you need to call?” I ask, scratching the back of my head where my hat band has pinched all day. “I mean I know you have a phone but I also know these moments are great for scattering thoughts.”
She shakes her head, finally tugging her purse strap down from her shoulder, as if only then realizing she was still wearing her bag. She sets in on the table, and says, “No. I mean, Dolly took Archie just as I was getting to the bottom of the bleachers, and since I don’t have any updates, I don’t wanna call and get everyone over there worked up. And as you know, Rawley’s in good hands with the Turners.”
I wonder about Tanner’s dad, and if he’d wanna know that his boy is currently banged up at the hospital.
My eyes fall onto her bare ring finger, and she catches me,wiggling it. “Oh, I’m… Tanner’s dad isn’t in the picture. I couldn’t call him and tell him what happened even if I wanted to. Which I don’t.”
Immediately I think of a man my age, maybe a bit older, with chestnut hair, and the same strong shoulders as Rawley and Tanner. I envision him laid out on a road, blood marking his shirt, a phone in his hand, his gold wedding band shining beneath the moonlight as he calls his gorgeous wife to tell her that he’s been hit and he loves her.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I tell her awkwardly, not quite sure what to say.
She wrinkles her nose in confusion for a moment before a singular laugh erupts from her. “Ah, no, no, he left us. When I said he’s not around, I didn’t mean dead. I meant that he took off the day Archie was born.”
I cannot help my own incredulous laugh that bubbles up inside me. Her eyes clash with mine. “Why areyoulaughing?” she asks, confusion knitting her brows.
“I’m sorry,” I say, straightening against the chair. “I just…leaving you?” I shake my head in disbelief, heat rising under my collar.
Her eyes hold mine, searching them, because I’ve clearly surprised her with my visceral response.
“It’s just… I don’t know what self respecting man walks away from his boys, much less his wife.”
Color rises up her neck, and throttles in her cheeks. “You know,” she starts, finally breaking eye contact to grab her bag from the tabletop. She grabs her phone. “On second thought, maybe I’ll give Dolly a call.”
She smiles, then focuses on her phone as she dials. I listen to the voices through the receiver, muffled and soft, and try my best to mind my business. After Dolly tells Clara June what the boys did the last two hours, and reassures herthat they’re having a good time, she passes the phone to Archie.
Clara June tells him that Tanner will be okay, that we’re waiting for the doctors but that he was awake and talking like normal. After that, she calls Riley, Jake’s wife, and talks to her for a few minutes. She has a conversation with Rawley, and when she’s done, slips her old phone back into her bag.
“We’re friends with all the same people,” I say as she zips the top of her purse. She rubs her palms up her arms, holding herself like she’s chilly. Immediately I slip off the Bluebell Bruisers fleece zip up and pass it to her.
“Here, take this, please. I forced you into this cold cafeteria, it’s the least I can do.”
She’s hesitant as I hold the balled up navy blue sweater out. “Another cup of coffee’d probably have you up too late. Plus you’re probably jacked up on adrenaline, and there’s no sleep better than the post-adrenaline sleep. So my jacket is the only way to ensure you get that solid, post-adrenaline crash snooze later.” I smile, feeling like a salesman of sorts and I don’t know why I’m all of the sudden hooked on the idea of seeing Clara June in my sweater, or being the one to take away her discomfort, but here I am.
She slips into it, and it’s so big on her, she holds the ends of the sleeves against her palms with her fingers. Still, she wraps it around herself like a robe, adding a little moan of delight. “Thank you, Coach,” she says, “I didn’t realize I was cold until just now.”
“So, have Archie and Bear been friends for long?” I ask, and when her lips part and details about her life are about to come my way, a nurse appears in the doorway. The two other nurses, sharing an episode ofThe Officeon an iPhone, glance her way but she waves them off, and they immediately goback to their tiny screen. She glances our way next and asks, “Ms. Colt?”
Clara June scrambles to her feet, snatching up her purse and both of our empty cups. I take them from her hand, causing her to glance up at me.
“Let me,” I say.
“Thanks,” she says, her eyes lingering on mine before she faces the nurse, now standing right in front of us.
“The doctor has updates on Tanner.” She looks my way. “Ready?”
I pick my hat up off the seat and place it on my head. “Yes, ma’am, we are. More than.” Clara June shoots me a grateful smile, and I find my hand on the small of her back as the nurse guides us down the hall, toward answers.
CHAPTER
