Austin leaves, returning a few minutes later with Penny. Heexplains the situation to her and a smile spreads across her face. “This is perfect!” she squeals, rubbing her hands together. “It’s likeOperation Woo Josie.” She moves to nudge me in the ribs.
I scoff, but I’m smiling despite myself. “I’m trying to get to know Abby and help out with Jay.” By the look on her face she knows good and well that’s not the only thing I’m doing.
Penny slides her phone from her back pocket and begins tapping on the screen. Not thirty seconds later, it pings with a text.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Checking with Josie about the coach. It’s her planning period, so I figured she’d be able to text.” Penny pauses to read the text on her screen. “She said he’s already let the Recreation Center know he can no longer coach the team and they’re trying to find a replacement, but so far no luck. They’re giving it a few more days before they break the news to the kids.”
She begins typing again on her phone and Austin leans in to read over her shoulder.
“I know the perfect men for the job,” he reads aloud from her phone.
An hour later, Austin and I are driving across town to the Recreation Center. The secretary hands us a stack of forms and we fill in all of our information for the background check required to work with kids.
“It’s quick,” the secretary assures us.
While we wait, I pace the tiled floor, the clock on the wall ticking the minutes down.
“Why are you so nervous? Your background is squeaky clean,” Austin says.
Pivoting to face him, I ask, “Am I overstepping? I feel like this is too much.”
Austin considers me. “Dude, you’re keeping Jay’s team alive. And he likes you. Don’t overthink it.”
The secretary comes back, interrupting us.
“You’re both set. I need you to fill out a short form and we’ll get your team shirts ordered.”
Austin signs on the dotted line, then I follow—and with that, we’re now coaching a nine- and ten-year-old basketball team. What am I getting myself into?
On the drive back to Penny and Austin’s, I decide to tell him about Jo’s funding and her principal. When I get to the end of the story, he inhales sharply, fists clenching in his lap, evidence of how much Jo means to her friends, including my cousin.
“And I bet you’re working on a plan for this, too.”
I cut my eyes to him, and back to the road. “If there’s dirt on him, Kate could find it, right? I only plan on using the information if I absolutely have to,” I explain.
Austin chuckles to himself. “Yes. If anyone could find the dirt, it’s Kate. You gonna give her a call?”
I pull into Austin’s driveway, grab my phone from my console and dial Kate’s number. It’s still hooked up to CarPlay and after the second ring Kate’s voice comes through my car speakers.
“Kate Green speaking.” Ever the professional.
“Kate. It’s Tyler. You’re on speaker, and Austin is here. I’ve got a situation I need your help with.”
I explain to Kate that I need anything and everything she can find on Ian Stanback, principal and former coach at Singing River High School.
There’s the sound of a pen scratching on paper, then silence. “What’s this about, Tyler?” Kate asks, curiosity lacing her words.
Austin leans in, so she can hear him better. “Ty’s a baby daddy.”
Shifting to face him, I keep my voice flat. “Really, Austin? A baby daddy? That’s what you’re going with?”
Kate is coughing, probably choking on the mineral water she always keeps nearby.
Austin barrels on, undeterred. “Turns out he had himself a real good time about fourteen years ago when he visited Alabama in college. Surprised doesn’t begin to cover the look on his face when he found out.”
“Stop talking. Please,” Kate warns, a rare laugh escaping her. “So this has something to do with her. That’s all I need to know. If she’s important to you guys, she’s important to me. We’ll talk in a few days.”
