Page 31

“What is this?”

No one answered. Sadie was about to burst into tears.

“Isanyonegoing to tell me what this is about?”

Again, no one answered.

“Oh, good,” Charlie sarcastically laughed, “I get to figure it out on my own. Well, let’s see.” She began to walk throughout the locker room, stressing them all out, but especially Sadie. “Is this the picture that had the prom in an uproar the other night?”

Sadie’s eyes shot to Charlie.

“Yeah, I heard about that. It seems whoever was dumb enough to airdrop a photo to everyone in a room wasn’t smart enough to think thatadultsandteacherswould be on the receiving end of that too.”

Tears were uncontrollable as they ran down Sadie’s cheeks.

“When I first heard about thatincident, my first thought was that it would never bemysoftball girls doing that. They respect and support each other, on and off the field. They’re a team. Or at least that’s what I thought.”

Wadding the picture into a ball, Charlie threw it into a nearby trash can.

“We are supposed to be a team. We are supposed to support each other, on and off the field. But clearly, that isn’t happening. And if that’s the case, it might be best to just not have a softball team at all this year.”

Everyone gasped and began to whisper, but Charlie silenced them.

“Stop! I’m so mad right now that I can’t deal with this rationally. Practice is canceled today. Get your things and go home.”

Everyone hurried to pack their bags and scramble out of the locker room. Sadie was nearly to the door when she turned to face Charlie. She looked so disappointed; Sadie had never seen her look like that.

“Charlie, I’m…”

But Charlie held up a hand to stop her.

“We will talk about this tonight when I get home.”

Sadie nodded quickly, then ran out of the gym.

For the second time in three days.

Chapter 11

Ellie

Family dinners were always a priority in the Mackenzie household. Gathering around the large oak table had become harder over the years due to practices and after-school activities, so Ellie was excited each time their family was together—or at least mostly together. Since Mason and Blake had their own homes, they weren’t over as much as Ellie would like, but she still loved being with her brother, younger sister, and parents.

Isla sat at the head of the table as Vera and Ellie sat across from Everleigh and Brayden. It was the assigned seats when it was just the five of them, and Ellie had to admit she loved the routine. And that she always got to sit beside her mama. She was a mama’s girl through and through and didn’t care who knew it.

“So, how was school today?” Vera took a sip of wine and smiled at each of her children.

“Good,” Everleigh sat up straighter at the table. “Ms. Jaymes said thatmypainting was the best one in the class, and I get to display it in the studio foreveryoneto see.”

“That’s awesome, Evie!” Isla high-fived Everleigh as Vera did the same. Everleigh soaked in their attention, smiling happily. “I’m so proud of you, sweetie.”

“We all are,” Ellie added. “That’s awesome, Evie. I’d love to see it.”

“We have an open house in a few weeks, and you can see it.”

“We’re totally there.”

They chatted for a few more minutes about Everleigh’s painting and open house at the art studio where she’d been taking classes. Brayden took over the conversation afterward as he excitedly talked about the college he’d signed with and how the coach had sent him a box of goodies. A jersey, sweatpants, sweatshirts. More stuff theater kids never got.