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"You don't have to do that."
"I know. But I should…" My words hang in the air like a fog that refuses to lift.
Eventually I continue, "I wanted to thank you looking after Sasha for me today. I understand that's outside your scope of responsibility."
"I'm always happy to spend time with Sasha. If it happens to fall under my workload, you won't hear me complain. I'd do it regardless."
"Well... it's appreciated. I wanted to make sure you knew you that. I hope you have a good evening, Harper. I'll need to see you in my office tomorrow morning."
"Of course," she responds. "Goodnight, Deacon."
I feel like a teenage boy who doesn't want the call to end, wanting to stay up all night just to hear her voice, but I made a promise to my daughter. "Goodnight, Harper."
I start the process of shutting down the computer for the night, trying not to let my thoughts wander again. Right now, the only thing I want to focus on is taking Sasha out to explore my old stomping grounds. Maybe grab some barbecue, since she hasn't had a chance to try it, yet.
As soon as the computer is powered down, Sasha rushes in, colliding into me for a big bear hug. I scoop her up and squeeze her tightly, blowing a big raspberry on her cheek, and she squeals with delight.
"You ready?" I ask as I set her down.
"Yep!" she cheers and bounces on the balls of her feet, taking my hand.
"You're in a better mood now than you were this morning," I comment as we walk towards the door. "You must be feeling better. That's good. Maybe you're out of the woods."
"Definitely!" she nods. "Harper took very good care of me. We had some lunch in the restaurant and then she let me help her with something called 'number crunching' in her office. I couldn't help much with that, but she says I can learn when I'm older if I'd like."
"I'm sure she'd be willing to teach you. Now, come on. Let's go play some ball at the park."
The drive is fairly short since everything in Greenwood is pretty much within a five-mile radius. When we arrive, Sasha starts shouting before we're even parked. "Daddy, I see the swings and the other kids!"
"Wait a minute," I laugh, unbuckling. "Let me come around and get you out first, then you can join them. Hey, why don't you run and see what some of them are playing? I'll be right behind you. Okay?"
"Yes! Thank you, Daddy!" She leaps from the truck and runs straight over to the swing set. This boldness is all new and I love it. I start digging around in the trunk for a ball and a mitt.Baseball was my thing when I was a kid. Dad coached my little league team, and I was a pitcher until I was thirteen. It wasn't until high school that I joined track. I suppose that's where the rivalry between Harper and I was born. We both wanted to be the best, and that eventually spilled over into academics and everything else.
Looking at this park, I almost feel like a kid again. It seems smaller, but the feeling of happiness that surrounds me is something I've missed. As I scan the faces, I find a familiar one standing inside the fence that surrounds the baseball field.
"Holy moly, is that Kip Noland I see?" I call out to the man who was once one of my closest friends. "I haven't seen your ugly mug since high school! How've you been?"
Kip wears a red coaching uniform with the name of our town printed across the chest. He walks over with a smirk on his face, signaling to a group of boys gathered on the field behind him.
"Mr. Hotshot arrives at last." Kip approaches and bumps fists with me, a grin painting his features. "Back in town and too big to even get in touch? Been wondering when you'd come to pay me a visit."
"Those boys yours?" I ask, nodding my head in the direction of the field.
"Yep," he answers. "I'm coaching the school's team now. You remember Johnny? The boy who used to skip school and always be in trouble? He's my assistant coach."
"No kidding!" I exclaim in disbelief. "Really?”
"I'm totally serious." His shoulders shake as he snickers. "The guy cleaned himself up. He's married, got two kids."
I let out a low whistle. "You, I can see coaching, but Johnny? Good grief, man. Who'd have thought."
"Yes sir, he's a great coach, too." Kip glances over his shoulder at the young boys, then turns back to me. "So, where have you been? What have you been up to?"
I give a noncommittal shrug. "Oh, around, you know. My folks asked me to help out with the resort, so my daughter and I moved back. This place really hasn't changed much at all, has it?"
Kip scratches his chin, looking around. "Nah, not much. Got a few more businesses, a little more traffic. Some younger families moving in, which helps keep things moving."
"That's nice to hear," I respond. "I’ve spent the past few years with Sasha in the city, with its skyscrapers and bustling crowds of people rushing all over the place. Being able to just take our time and enjoy the pace and scenery of a small town is refreshing. Actually, my daughter is here now, playing on the swing set."
