Page 67 of Shattered Dreams

“Yes. This is my direct line. If I don’t answer, leave a message.”

“Thank you.”

“I look forward to hearing from you, Mr. Taylor. I’d really love for you to come work for us.”

“Thank you,” I say again. “Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Happy Thanksgiving.”

I end the call and stare at my phone like it’s about to explode. What the hell is going on? Why would my name come up? Are people still looking to pull me back after I left? I was sure I’d be laughed out of the league until eternity. No one gives up those positions. But I did and I don’t regret it. I loved coaching. But I love my family more.

Still, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if I got back into it. High school is great, but college? That’s different. It’s bigger. It’s better. The kids want it more.

I certainly have a lot to think about over this week.

My parents show up first, nearly thirty minutes early. My mother hurries to meet me in the kitchen to see if I need help with anything. I almost have to shove her out to go relax for her to let me be.

“I’ve got this, Mom. I’m fine. Go sit and relax. Have some wine.”

She takes the bottle and goes into the living room where my father is already sitting on the couch with Paul, watching the football game. Just the sounds of it bring me back.

When the doorbell rings, Rylee jumps up and runs to it. “I’ll get it!”

“Hold on,” I call out. “You need an adult with you.”

“Got it!” Paul calls, and he hurries after her.

She struggles to pull open the door, but she gets it, and leaps at Maddox when she sees it’s them. Paul greets Amelia and Sean. They both walk into the house, looking around with wonder.

“Yeah, it’s big,” Paul says, scratching the back of his neck.

“I see why Maddox likes it here so much.”

“It’s better in the summer because we can use the pool. Now, all we have is the hot tub but it’s too hot,” he says.

“Yeah, way too hot,” Rylee adds. “Come on, Maddox. Let’s watch football!”

She takes his hand and leads him into the living room.

Paul, Amelia, and Sean come into the kitchen so Paul can get them each a beer. Amelia said she’d prefer that over wine. They put down the three pies they brought with them, because they couldn’t decide which would be better.

“I have harder stuff if you want.” I smirk.

“It’s early. I should stick with this for now,” Amelia says.

“Suit yourself.”

“How long until the food is done?” Paul asks, his hand landing on the bottom of my back.

“About ten minutes,” I say.

Nodding, he brushes a quick kiss along my cheek and I hear the three of them heading into the kitchen.

We’ve both been braver with the PDA around the kids. Not directly in front of them, but it’s hard to hold back. We’re getting good at sneaking in kisses while they’re busy in the other room.

The table is already set, the large one in the dining room that I’ve never used before. My mother helps me carry all the dishes in and set them on the table.

When the food is all laid out, we call everyone in. We take our seats and spend the next hour stuffing ourselves with food and laughing about who even knows what. Amelia and Paul share stories about themselves and Maddox. I share silly stories about Rylee and even recall some things from when Paul and I were in college together. My parents talk about me when I was little and how much of a pain in the ass I was. It’s amazing. It’s… perfect.