Love Lifted Me (19 page)

Seventeen

“So you fired them?” Jade cut Asa's peanut butter and jelly in half and set it on a paper plate. Since they had no furniture, Jade set him in the middle of the kitchen floor. “What happened to the great camaraderie from last night?”

The little guy frowned, pouting his bottom lip. “No, no. Don't like.” He jammed his finger on the crust.

“Asa—” Jade sighed, her patience frail. “The crust is good for you. Eat it.”

Max picked up the plate. “They were going to sabotage me, Jade.” He tore the brown crusts off Asa's sandwich, eating them as he did. “Here, buddy.”

Asa regarded him with big brown eyes that said
thank you
, then picked up the triangle closest to him and dove in.

“Based on what evidence? They didn't show up for your first seven a.m. meeting?”

“Yeah, Jade, because they didn't show up. Neither did any of the players. Those coaches have influence. If they wanted to be there, if they wanted the kids there, they would've been. Hines showed up, ready to work, ready to be on the team. But between you and me, something is going on. Something political, underhanded.”

“Hines, the old coach you just met today.”

“And hired as my assistant. Offensive coordinator.”

Jade folded her arms and fell against the counter. “I was humiliated when Kathy asked me to leave. It was embarrassing. Just when I'd found an original Chanel little black dress, Max, an original. In all my years of vintage shopping and selling, I've never found an original. The contents of that closet were mine until you fired her husband.”

Jade chewed the inside of her lip, her heart pressing hard to understand why she cared more about a little black dress than Max's defense for firing his coaches.

“I'm sorry, babe. I didn't know.”

And now he was being all sweet.

“Kathy said we were going to spend so much time together as coaches' wives, we'd be the best of friends.” Jade's eyes watered when she glanced at Max. “We even joked that Asa and Lola might fall in love and get married. Friends, Max. I was making new friends.”

Without a word, he pulled her to him, kissing her cheek, then her hair, soothing her wound with masculine understanding.

“She probably has all the wives hating me by now.” A dark gust of wind hit the house. More rain.

“I didn't even think of the wives' side. I'm sorry.”

“Max, did you really consider any of this venture before you said yes? Before I said yes?”

“I thought I had.” He released her and paced toward the empty dining room. “Maybe I just wanted to come so bad—”

“Hip-pocket dream?”

He moved to the window. “I thought God's will.”

“Then we press ahead. Try not to offend any more wives so Asa and I can make a friend.”

“Okay, I hear you, Jade. I understand today was hard, but there are other moms in this city who aren't going to care I fired the assistant coaches.”

“You hope. Kathy Carroll's family is one of the oldest in the region. She could blackball me from the supermarket if she wanted.”

“Jade,” he said, low. “I'm sure that's not true, but let's just play this out and trust God for all things to work together for good.”

“Easy for you to say.” The first spatter of rain hit the window.

“Easy for me? No, it's not. I'm trying to see the big picture and it's not very clear. I've disappointed Warrior coaches and their wives, the athletic director, fans, and above all, you. I'm trying to make a go of this opportunity. I can't second-guess myself. So I go with what I think is right, what seems like wisdom, and if I'm wrong, I pray God has my back.” He was the One Max could trust.

Jade's first run of tears were thin, like the rain draining down the window.

She wiped them away with the back of her hand.

“What's wrong? Why are you crying?”

“Because . . .” She reached for the paper towels. “I lost a friend. I miss home.

I miss Mama. And oh, it was the most beautiful little black dress. A vintage dream. The mother lode.”

His quick grin tipped over her heart. She couldn't be mad at him. Not when he looked at her with those brown eyes. Not when he gathered her in his strong arms and whispered she was beautiful.

“We knew this would be a challenge, Jade.”

“For you, yes. Not me.” Her “me” was watered with emotion and a sniff. But she fought a smile. Couldn't she have a moment longer to be mad?

Max laughed and she broke. “Fine, it's tough for both of us.” She peered at Asa who lifted his peanut buttered hand to her. “Yucky.” He wrinkled his nose.

“I'll say.” Jade tugged a paper towel from the roll and wet it. “Max, can you pour him some milk, please?”

Max moved the conversation to coaching and his new friend, Hines, who had forty years coaching experience but had retired.

“He knows Calvin too, and between the two of us, we think we can get him to come out and play.”

A knock rattled the front door. “Coach Benson, you home?”

“Coach Hines. I'm always home for you.” Max stood aside for him to enter and introduced Jade and Asa.

Hines entered the house wiping his feet and Jade liked him immediately. “Sorry to barge in on you, Mrs. Benson.”'

“It's Jade.” She shook his hand. “Can I get you something to drink? I'd offer you a chair, but as you see our furniture hasn't arrived.”

“I understand moving, ma'am. Moved a lot in my time. And nothing to drink for me. But I'd like to borrow your husband if you don't mind. Coach, I heard from the potential D coordinator. If you're game, we can ride on out to the house for a meet. See if it's a go.”

Max glanced at Jade. “Do you mind?”

“No, of course not. Go.”

“We'll finish talking when I get back.” He reached for her—she thought to kiss her on the cheek. But Max pulled her to him and gave her a slow, gentle kiss while Coach Hines waited on the porch. “I won't be gone long.”

Jade fanned herself as she watched him drive off in Coach Hines's truck. It sure was steamy in Texas tonight.

She tossed Asa in the bath and while he played, familiar words danced across her mind.
Don't let life lead you around. Don't shy away from trouble
. These elements were the old Jade.

Take charge
. She'd call Kathy Carroll and make amends. And not just for the sake of the LBD.

Later, she'd research churches. Find a good one that also had a mom's group, and forge her way into Colby society.

Hines drove his old Ford west on Route 60 for about five miles, and Max saw nothing in the windshield but dark fields hiding in the dusk. Every now and then a silo silhouette hit the horizon. Max and Hines talked football until the golden glow of house lights popped into view and Hines downshifted to turn onto a gravel drive.

“You ready?” Hines said, cutting the engine.

“Better yet, is he ready?” Max stepped out of the truck and surveyed the land. The Porters were ranchers, Hines had told him.

As they walked toward the house, the front door opened and a passel of border collies charged down the steps. “Friends,” a woman said from the edge of the porch. “They're friends.”

Max bent to pet a soft, dark head. For a moment he missed his old pal Roscoe.

“
Friends
is my code word for them to not tear our guests apart.” The woman laughed. “Hines, how are you?”

“Good, Haley, haven't seen you in a while.”

“Ranching keeps us busy.” She faced Max. “Haley Porter.”

“Max Benson. Thanks for letting us come out at dinnertime.” Haley appeared to be about Jade's age, athletic and commanding with expressive eyes and long red hair. Max liked her. Good sign. He'd probably like her husband and welcome him to the coaching staff.

“No worry, Dane is still out in the pasture. He'll be along soon.”

The Porter home sat on a grassy knoll, like a pushpin against green felt, holding the prairie to the earth.

Inside made Max think of the old west. He'd stepped from the twenty-first century to the twentieth. The air smelled of grilled beef. The walls and ceiling were joined by thick timber beams.

Haley led Max and Hines into a large eat-in kitchen, also carved of timber and granite. They grabbed chairs at the center island.

“Max, Haley's daddy was Coach Burke.”

“Yeah? I've heard good things about him.”

“He was one of the best.” Haley poured three tall glasses of tea. “A great man and a great coach, but the game wore him into the ground. They made it about everything but football and the boys.”

“They?” Max said. “Who is they?”

Haley and Hines shared a private glance. Max wasn't sure but he thought he caught the slightest shake of Hines's head out the corner of his eye.

“Just the boosters, the fans, the kids even. Parents, the school. You know how it is.”

“No, actually, I don't. I'm learning, though. So, what—Colby just lost sight of reality?”

“Some did, yes.” Haley smoothed her hands over the island surface. “I'm glad Daddy's not around to see the destruction of the Warriors. Though I think he saw it coming.” Haley sprouted a quick smile. “But that's old history. Max, you're making new history.”

“Hopefully.” Max took a long sip of tea. He liked Haley. She reminded him more and more of Jade. Strong with a tender thread. She'd be a good coach's wife. And, a-ha, a friend for Jade. “Do you have children?”

“No, not yet,” Haley said. “We're thirty-two so we think we'll try soon, but not during the season. Even so, having a baby won't interrupt football. I assure you.”

Max smiled. “Good. There's nothing much for Dane to do during those first few months of pregnancy anyway.”

“Just hold your hair while you toss your cookies, Haley,” Hines said, burying his comment behind his glass.

“Yeah . . . I guess.” Haley made a face.

The conversation stalled. Max glanced toward the door, anxious to meet this football coach Hines was so excited about. Didn't she say Dane would be here soon?

“So, Max.” Haley popped to life. “You have a son?”

“Yes, yes, I do. Asa. He's almost two,” Max said.

“Ah, sweet. They're so cute at that age.”

Where was Dane? Max finished his tea.

“Well?” Hines turned to Max. “Aren't you going to ask about football?”

He furrowed his brow. “When Dane gets here, yeah. Do you think he'll be here soon, Haley?”

“Hines, you didn't tell him?” Haley said, exasperated. “I told you, it's not funny.”

“I told you it is.” Hines chuckled low. “Meet Coach Porter, Max. Coach Haley Porter.”

She jutted out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Coach.”

“A woman?” Max slid off his chair and turned a circle. “Hines, are you serious? It's bad enough I fired my coaches today—but to hire a woman? Haley, do you know anything about coaching football?”

“Funny question coming from you, Max.” Haley fired him a look that almost burned the soles of his shoes to the tile floor. “I reckon I know more than you.”

“She's right about that, Max.”

“But—sorry, I've never heard of a woman football coach.”

“She's one of the best defensive coaches in the region.”

“How do you know?” Max spun toward Hines, then Haley. “Where have you coached? Don't say the sidelines with your dad.”

Was Hines serious? Max still boiled in the hot water he'd created this afternoon. The media would skewer him—after Bobby got through with him.

“Dad taught me everything he knew, Max. I grew up on the sidelines with him and my brothers. Sunday afternoon, the whole family watched film and learned.”

“That's not the same as coaching, Haley. It's enough that I'm a greenhorn.”

“I coached at a small school in New Mexico for four years after I graduated from college with a degree in sports psychology. I only quit the job to move home and marry Dane.”

Oh man, oh man, oh man. Max paced.
Lord, what do I do?
The churning in his chest robbed what little peace he had.

“If she were a man she'd be coaching college ball,” Hines said.

“I can do the job, Max.” Passion powered Haley's voice. “I can do it well. Plus, I don't know if it matters to you, but I believe in you. I thought Chevy was a loon for hiring a coach with no experience, but from what Hines tells me and the fact that you fired those jackal assistant coaches, I think you've got what it takes to turn this program around. I know the players, Max. I know their families. I know this town. I know Warrior football. And if it's all the same to you, I'd like to coach so I can honor my daddy's legacy. What those boys did to him . . . no matter. It would just be an honor.”