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“Bye.” My fingers brush his as he straightens.
Oliver passes Coach as he ambles into the restaurant, and the two stop to chat. I’m not close enough to hear what’s said, but from the looks of things, the brief conversation is lighthearted. Both laugh and Coach backslaps Oliver as he saunters outside.
Coach then makes eye contact with me and walks toward the table. At the same time, Pop strides from across the restaurant to refill my coffee cup.
“Hey, Luke. Wren. How are you?” Coach Bell’s smile doesn't quite meet his eyes.
Something weighty and somber passes between my father and his good friend.
I don’t need to be a genius to figure out they’ve clearly talked about the mess with Dot and maybe even the rejection of Bright Horizons and my potential job loss.
“Hi, Coach. I’m good. Why don’t you have a seat?” I pat the tabletop.
“Why thank you, I’d love to.” He looks to Pop and points at the carafe. “And I’d love some of that too.”
“Sure thing.” Pop nabs a clean cup from a nearby table and pours the dark, hot liquid in.
“So what’s new with you?” He brings the cup to his mouth, eyes drifting to Pop.
I sit back, content to let them gab while I enjoy my coffee, when Lara Crandall whooshes into the Grill like a wintry gust of wind. The sight of her reminds me of today’s top priority—talk to the family sponsors. This includes Lara.
In a split second, she surveys the restaurant, eyes sharply fixing on me, and I realize this tiny slice of solace is about to end. Lara heads this way. She came in looking for me.
“Luke, Coach Bell, good morning.” Lara unravels her wool wrap while both men say hello. Then she looks down at me, and I can’t help but feel like I’m five years old and about to get into trouble. “Wren, just the person I’m looking…” She stops midsentence and turns away from the table. She nabs Percy’s arm as she walks by, practically yanking her to a stop. “I’d like a coffee to go.”
Eyes sparking with ire, my sister suddenly resembles a fire breathing dragon. As she opens her mouth, I inwardly cringe and tense, fully prepared for what is likely to be a less than nice response.
Luckily, we’re spared an altercation between the women when my father clears his throat and gives his youngest daughter a loaded “don’t you dare, she’s a customer” look.
Pop isn’t a fan of Lara Crandall, but he runs a business, and there’s no room for personal grievances and quarrels at the Grill.
Percy’s lips thin yet she nods and plasters on a brittle smile. She probably doesn’t trust herself to say anything. Then she rushes off, and Lara’s hawkish gaze lands back on me.
“I’ve heard about all the terrible business with you and…” Lips pursed, she casts a shifty glance at my father then Coach. “Well, I’m not going to get into it. But no surprise, as it should be, your program has been rejected. Now, I’ve heard some rumblings of you still trying to breathe some life into this idea of yours, and I’m here to tell you that we want nothing to do with it.”
I choose to ignore her deliberate positioning and focus on what matters. The kids.
“Uh, what exactly does that mean?”
“We will not be sponsoring Jack. I want nothing to do with you and your program.”
My ears ring, hands suddenly tingling, and I start to lose all feeling in my limbs. It’s hard to focus on the conversation. Not with her explosive words.
“Well now, Lara, don’t you think that’s a bit hasty?” Coach wraps his beefy hands around his mug.
Pop deposits the carafe on the table with a little too much force, and the do-good Mrs. Crandall jumps.
His stern stare never wavers from the woman. “Look, I don’t disagree. All this business has gotten out of hand and it certainly isn’t pleasant, but you seem to forget what this is about. Not Wren.” He casts a nonchalant hand in my direction as if to suggest that Lara should forget about me.
In different circumstances, I might be upset about this, especially since he’s my father, but he wants her to focus on what matters. Jack, Brayden, and Courtney. And if I know Pop at all, he’ll also boost her ego while he’s at it.
“Think of the children. Think of Jack. He’s a good kid. Bright with a promising future, and you, Lara, have a good heart.” Pop rests his hand on the center of his chest, emphasizing his point. “You’d be helping him make his dreams come true.”
“Well, I…” She flushes, losing a bit of her bluster although this doesn’t last long. As soon as her gaze falls to the table, it snags on me.
Lara straightens her spine and crosses her arms over her chest. “No. This is more than that. We have values. Family is of the utmost importance, and we won’t have anything to do with this…this scandal. It’s simply horrible.”
She turns away from me and shakes her hands like what I’m accused of—carrying on an affair with a taken man—is contagious and she might just catch it.
