I grin as my heart swells in size. “I’m beyond happy. I already love Coach.”
“Oh my gosh, baby.” Maddy giggles, letting her tears stream. “He’s your dad.”
I wipe her tears, smiling. “I know. Crazy.”
“When do you want to speak to him?” Aunt Maddy asks. “We could call him in the morning. Maybe arrange for him to stop by the cafe?”
I wince. “I don’t want it to be a public scene. Plus, I don’t know if I can take another night of feeling sick over this.”
Maddy rubs my back tenderly. “Then what do you want to do, baby?”
“Can we call him tonight?” I ask. “We need to tell him about Mom anyway.”
Maddy eyes fill with concern. “You want to do this now?”
I hold on to her forearms. “All I’ve needed is to have you back. I can’t face him without you.”
Aunty Maddy rests her head by mine. “I’m here for you. Want me to call?”
I gulp. “Absolutely.”
Aunt Maddy calls Coach. I sit close to her and hear his part of theconversation. When she asks him to come over, his concern is over her cutting her trip short. She tells him she’ll explain everything, it just needs to be in person.
Even though Coach wastes no time in driving over, I need Milo to hold me upright while we wait. I’m sick with dread when Coach knocks on the door. Aunt Maddy answers the door, and I quickly peck Milo on the lips for good luck. We break apart as Coach enters the house.
“Oh, Milo,” Coach says with surprise. “It’s late for a tutoring session, isn’t it?”
“Ahh…” Milo stammers, looking at me for help.
“That’s not the reason he’s here,” Maddy answers for us.
“You told me you had some big news,” Coach says. “But it didn’t exactly sound like a happy tone.”
“You might want to sit for this,” Aunt Maddy says, gesturing at the sofa.
Coach doesn’t budge. “Maybe you should just tell me what this is about.”
“There’s no easy way to say this.” Aunt Maddy wrings her hands together, growing pale. “They found Lily’s body.”
Coach collapses on the sofa, resting his hand over his mouth. “Oh, no.” He sighs heavily. “I mean, I knew this day was coming, but…”
“Doesn’t make it any easier,” Maddy and I say at once.
Coach nods in solemn agreement.
Maddy sits down by Coach. “We were wondering if you wanted to be a part of the memorial. I know we already had one, years ago, but she’ll have an actual burial plot now.”
Coach smiles. “I’ll do anything to help celebrate Lily’s life.”
“Umm, Coach,” I say with a shaky voice. My hands fidget nervously, and Milo is quick to give me a comforting smile.
Coach looks at me with kind eyes. “Yeah, kid?”
“I know this is heavy stuff, but I have something else to lay on you.”
He looks at Maddy and then back at me. “What is it? You can tell me anything.”
I nod at Maddy. “Aunty, I got this.”
