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My teeth sink into my bottom lip, squashing any doubt that Dot would be reckless enough to fight this. Why would she? She doesn’t stand a chance.
“And when will she find out about the defamation suit?”
“She should get notice tomorrow.”
“Wow.”
“Hey, Wren, I gotta go. There’s a call coming in. I’ll see you later. Love you.”
“You bet. Love you too. Bye.”
This news lightens my steps to the front desk. I’ve come to terms with the fact that there isn’t much I can do about the city council’s rejection of Bright Horizons. All I can hope for is that once everything is out in the open, the mayor’s threat about firing me goes away.
As for the program, I doubt the truth about Dot will have much of an impact on the town’s decision and I no longer care.
While there’s still the question of sponsoring Jack—Oliver and I made an appointment with the bank for tomorrow to talk about a loan—Kellen’s news last night was a game changer.
Once Dot’s lies are revealed, with the backing of Canyon Spring Ranch, I’m sure I can get more businesses to donate and maybe even sponsor other aspects of the program. It’ll be a longer and maybe bumpier road, but the more I sit with the new reality, I’m coming around to not needing the mayor and his cronies. They say everything happens for a reason, and maybe this way is better.
“Hello, Wren.” Coach strolls into the library with a newspaper tucked under his arm.
“Hi, Coach, how are you?” I don’t see him in here often.
“I’m good. Just good.” He looks around the library as if seeing it for the first time. “It’s fairly busy tonight.”
“So-so.” I shrug and don’t bother to tell him that we usually have a few more people in here on this day of the week. Since the mess with Dot, the numbers have dwindled. “What can I do for you?”
He twists his football ring. “Uh, I think I can do something for you.”
“How so?”
“Well, that thing with Lara and Jack…”
Despite being more hopeful about Bright Horizons’ prospects, recalling the conversation and how that woman callously pulled out causes beads of sweat to gather at the back of my neck.
“Yeah, Coach, I don’t want to talk about that again.”
“No. No. Me neither. But you see, it got me thinking. Evie and me… As you know, well, we never did have kids. We wanted them and boy, did we try, but it was never meant to be.”
He taps his fingers on the table and scans the library. Maybe looking to see if anyone’s listening? I’m not sure, but he does seem anxious or nervous.
“I know. I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you, but I can’t say that I regret it. I miss my Evie every day, and there’s no one else out there for me. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. But you see…while I didn’t have kids, maybe there is something I can do after all. Kinda have a kid in a different way. Help where I can.”
I cock my head to one side, not quite following him. “What do you mean?”
“I see what Reggie and you are doing for those foster kids, and I’ve got no kids or grandkids to pass on what I have. I’ve got savings, you see. Sure, I’m going to need most of it, but there’s extra. I don’t see why I can’t help.”
“Help?”
“Yeah. I would like to take the Crandalls’ place.”
“Pardon? What are you saying? Do you mean, you’d like to sponsor Jack while he goes to college?”
“Yes. Yes.” He beams.
“Wow, Coach, this is really generous of you. But you don’t know exactly what’s involved. Why don’t I?—”
