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“What for?”
“For not listening to you when you first arrived. I just want you to know that I think you’re the best basketball coach I’ve ever had.”
Emily reached over and squeezed the girl’s hand. “Thank you. That makes me feel good. We’ve got a chance of being invited to the UIL tournament. But we’re going to have to work extra hard.”
The girl seemed troubled and she licked her lips. “You know my father is the superintendent and sometimes I hear things I’m probably not supposed to know.”
Emily’s ears perked up as she stared at the girl.
“I know there are parents who want to get you fired. That’s not going to happen if I can help it,” she said.
Oh no, what she didn’t need was for the students to get involved. Oh, how she just wished this would all go away.
“Georgia, please don’t do anything that will put you or any of the students in jeopardy. I’m hoping that the truth soon comes out and everyone learns at the same time that I’m innocent. That’s all I can say about the situation.”
The girl frowned. “These people are fanatics. Please don’t let them run you out of town. That’s what they want to do.”
“Thanks for telling me, Georgia. I’m going to be all right.”
It was true. No matter what happened, she was going to be fine.
Just then the other team scored. The game was tight with Zach’s boys playing good defense but lacking on offense.
“Jack needs to get closer to his opponent,” Georgia said.
Emily laughed. “Yes, he does.”
The other girls around her giggled and laughed.
“Miss Martin, do you like Mr. Rowling?” Oh no, the rumors were starting and she had to nip them in the bud now.
“Of course,” she said. “He’s a good coach.”
They all grinned at her like they knew her secret. “Did you date him in college?”
She wasn’t going to lie to them. If she did, it would hurt the trust she was building with her players.
“Yes, we did,” she replied. “Now let’s get back to watching the game.”
It was the last quarter and the two teams were battling it out. Zach had said he expected an easy win, but this had turned into a dogfight. There were only two minutes left on the clock when he called a time-out and waved his boys to the sidelines.
She watched as he gave them directions and then sent them back onto the court. This was it. The final minutes of the game.
“They’re going to give the ball to Jimmie,” Georgia said. “Watch. He is big and tall and he will drive it to the basket.”
Sure enough, they gave the ball to Jimmie, but he was fouled. The ref gave him three free throws. That would be enough to win the game. All he needed was two.
With five seconds remaining on the clock, the kid hit the first basket. She watched as he seemed to focus on the rim of the basket andboom, another shot went in. Then another. He hit all three baskets.
The crowd screamed as the buzzer sounded and the boys’ team won their game.
Standing, she and the girls walked down to the center court where they congratulated the team.
Shaking her head, she gazed at Zach. “Two wins.”
“Yes,” he said. “Looks like we’ll both be doing the dance.”
She sighed, fearing what could happen. “If you get me fired, we’re done.”
