Page 84

Drake shouts out orders, putting everyone who has any carpentry experience with him. He came out two days ago to look at the porch and decided the whole thing needed to come down so we can have something sturdy to attach the ramp to. It extended our timeline a bit, but with the money Reid and Briar donated, Drake and a few of his employees started to tear down the porch, and they already have the posts up for the new one.
Kenna comes up to my side. “Hey, I’m on paint duty.”
“Me too,” Bailey says.
“Kenna, Bails, this is Lex and Briar. They graduated last year.”
“I remember,” Kenna says.
“Well, I’m on paint duty, too,” Briar says. “I’ll check in with you guys later.”
“Don’t get hurt,” I warn her. “Seven already gave me a talking to.”
She turns and winks, giving me a serious nod.
The girls go off, and a sudden wish for Charley to be here settles in my stomach. She would get along so well with them.
“Kenna and West, huh?” Lex says. “That’s awesome.”
“Surprising,” I say. “But at least she doesn’t hate football players anymore.” I block out the sun so I can peer up at Lex. “Thanks for coming, man.”
“Like I would be anywhere else.”
“I knew it might be uncomfortable for you.”
He shifts from foot to foot. “Coach and I are still on good terms, and…” He trails off, shrugging.
I leave it at that. I know he and Kennedy didn’t work out, but he never elaborated. I thought they were end game, but I guess you just never know.
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road. Can you take a few action shots of me sweating and working? I want to really nail it home for Charley how awesome I am.”
Lex laughs. “How did you find anyone to put up with you?”
“Are you kidding me? I’m a fucking catch.”
“You’re a fucking tool is what you are. Wait until I meet her. The first thing I’m going to ask her is if she’s okay. Maybe she hit her head. You’re dating an amnesia patient, aren’t you? Like that Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler movie. You have to remind her who you are every day.”
“That was the longest slam I’ve ever heard. I almost died waiting for you to get to the point.”
Lex punches me in the arm, and we head toward the sounds of hammering. There’s a team putting up the new deck floorboards while Drake, West, and Aidan start on the ramp.
I get to work moving wood over to the job site, letting someone else with power tool capabilities cut the wood, then taking it to the person who’s nailing it in. We’re a well-oiled machine, and by midday, the floor of the porch is in.
They’re starting on the railings while the ramp crew is moving over the pieces they’ve already put together.
Coach drops off lunch and drinks, donated by Richie’s. I guzzle some water next to Aidan when he walks over, makingsure all his guys are okay and saying hi to Lex. I hear Briar tell him that Reid is at a game or else he’d be here, too. Coach’s response makes me smile. “You think I don’t know when his games are? I record every one. I like to think I had a little bit to do with how good he is.”
“I think he’d give you more than a little credit, Coach T.”
Coach pats Briar’s shoulder, and then he turns to me. Nodding, he motions me to the side. “How’s Tim? How bad is it?”
An uncomfortable feeling creeps up my neck. “I don’t know how much you talk to him…”
“Hadn’t heard from him in years until he called me about getting Charley a job. I went and saw him at the hospital this morning. I…” His eyes widen. “I was in shock. I knew things really hit him hard when his wife passed, but I’m angry I didn’t know he was struggling like that. That they were struggling like this.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. “We care for our own. Remember that. You’re doing a great thing here, Farmer. You Spring Hill Crew were some of the best decisions I ever made as a coach. You guys put the heart in our team, and I don’t want you to ever forget. It should be like this always. You, Brooks, Michaels, Jonesy, Parker, all of them. They’re your brothers. You don’t want to be like me, twenty years later, kicking yourself because you found out one of them was struggling and you could’ve helped.”
I press my lips together. “Thanks, Coach.”
“Tim will have a lot more assistance now. I told him I’ll come take walks with him. You wouldn’t know it by looking at him now, but he was one of the best defenders you’ve ever seen. Man, he had some heart.” Coach’s lip trembles, and he clears his throat. “Just wanted to tell you what a fine job you’re doing. Never lose this heart.” He starts to walk away but then turns around. “Also, I put in a good word for you with him.”