Page 32 of Penance (Rising From the Ashes #2)

Theo

“ W rap it up, boys,” I call from the dugout.

Overall, today’s been a good couple of days. The boys practiced hard, Hayes and Campbell both had a shift and couldn’t come to practice, and Tanner and Morgan got along—if you count actively ignoring each other as getting along, which I do—and Lily Carson kissed me.

She might have looked like she wanted to run afterward, but she kissed me all the same.

The boys run toward me, stopping a few feet away from me and taking a knee like they do at the end of every practice. We are a couple of days from our next game, but the whole team feels a little more settled in than before.

“Today was a great practice,” I say as they wipe sweat from their brows with the backs of their arms. “I want to see that effort and team play at our next game. It’s another home game, so be at the field by four. I’ll see you then.”

We break apart with team on three, and then they scatter, grabbing their bags and discussing their summer plans amongst themselves as they disperse.

Turning into the dugout, I’m gathering my stuff, too, when Tanner says my name .

“Dad.” His voice is hesitant, like he’s unsure what to say, but I turn around anyway, waiting for him to find the words.

“Yeah, kid?”

I should stop calling him that. He’s no longer a kid, but he’ll always be my kid.

“I–umm—I just wanted to say I think you’re doing a good job at this—uh—coaching thing.”

Something about the way he says coaching makes me think he’s talking about something more—like maybe he’s talking about being his dad, too. Or maybe that’s just me desperately wishing.

My lips pull back into a smile, but I try to control it. I fail miserably, though.

“Thanks, kid,” I say, although it feels like my throat is on fire with the effort not to cry like a baby right here on the baseball field. I reach out to him, ruffling his hair, but he dodges it and slugs me on the shoulder.

“Too slow, old man,” he says with a grin as he takes off running across the field. He turns around long enough to give me a salute and yell, “I’ll be late getting home. I have to work.”

I watch him go with my chest feeling slightly lighter than it has in months. That interaction was probably nothing for him, but for me, it was progress.

When I turn around to grab my keys, some of the boys are still gathering their stuff, including Morgan, who is staring at me with what I can only describe as sadness in his eyes.

Swiping my keys off the bench, I walk over to where he’s standing, his eyes tracking me the whole way.

“How’s it going?” I ask, hoping he realizes I’m asking about much more than baseball.

He shrugs. “Fine.”

But it’s not fine. I can see it in his eyes .

“I have something for you that might make it better.” By this time, all the other boys have left, and it’s only us standing here.

I’ve been thinking about how to do this without embarrassing him for several days now, and this seems as good as any.

“Come on,” I say, slapping him on the shoulder. It’s in the parking lot.”

Morgan follows, his eyes darting from side to side as if waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes.

“Where’s your sister at today?” I ask, trying to make it sound casual, but the truth is, I’m worried. She’s too young to be left alone, and the last babysitter was unreliable.

“She went to a friend’s house. She’s safe, Coach. I promise.” His words are rushed as if he’s afraid I won’t believe him.

“Hey,” I say, pulling him to a stop with me in the middle of the sidewalk. “I wasn’t questioning you. I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

I face him head-on, letting him see the truth in my eyes, but he doesn’t say anything besides offering a sharp nod. We continue walking.

I don’t say anything else as we walk, leaving it open for him to talk if he wants to, but unfortunately, he stays quiet too.

We reach the parking lot, and I head toward his car.

It’s been sitting her since last week, and he’s been bumming rides off some of the other players for practices.

It’s not sustainable, though, especially when he has Mia to consider.

“I’ll get it moved, Coach,” he starts. Panic laces his voice as he begins to pace, and I realize he thinks I’m mad because the car’s been sitting in the parking lot all week.

“Morgan, hey, look at me,” I say, lifting my arm to stop him. “It’s fine. No one is mad about the car. No one has even asked about it. You don’t have to move it, but you can if you want.”

His forehead wrinkles. “It won’t start, Coach. I can’t afford to pay someone to fix it. I had to buy groceries this week, and the light bill is due, and—”

“It’s fixed.”

His words come to a screeching halt.

“What?” His voice is shaking, and for the second time in a matter of minutes, I have to fight off tears.

“It was a simple fix,” I say, shrugging it off. “A new belt and a ratchet is all it took.”

It was a simple fix. When you grow up poor, you learn to fix things on your own.

“I’ll pay you back for the belt, Coach. I swear.”

But I put my hand up to stop him. “No, you won’t. I did it to help you out. Everyone needs help once in a while. The lesson is learning when to accept it. So just accept it, okay?”

He blinks, then blinks again.

“Thank you,” he whispers, his voice barely audible. He steps forward, wraps his arms around my neck, and claps me on the back in a hug.

I pat the back of his head. “Anytime.”

An engine revs on the other end of the parking lot, and Morgan pulls away, wearing a watery smile.

“I better get going,” he says, opening the door to his car and climbing in. I shut it behind him, patting the top of his roof, but my attention is on the other side of the parking lot where Tanner’s truck pulls out.

My kid isn’t paying attention to the road, though. He’s watching me. The exit is on my side of the parking lot, and as he drives closer, I can see the angry scowl marring the lines of his face.

I lift my hand and wave, but he turns his attention away.

So much for that good day.

______________________

Annoyance #1 (HM) has added you to the Benton Falls Gossiper s

Theo: No

Annoyance #1 (HM): Did someone forget to tell me about Theo and Lily kissing at my house? Because I feel like that’s something you’re supposed to tell the host.

Annoyance #2 (CR): What are you talking about? I TOLD YOU. You were too busy kissing MJ behind the shed to hear me, though.

Unknown Number (Possibly Silas): Theo, can you confirm? Did you kiss Lily? I don’t like reporting unconfirmed gossip.

Theo removed himself from the group.

Annoyance #2 (CR) added you to the group.

Theo: Am I being punished? Is that what’s happening?

Unknown Number (Possibly Silas): I’ll take that as a confirmation.

I’m staring at my phone, debating blocking everyone’s number when it starts to ring. Zane’s name pops up on the screen, and I quickly swipe my thumb across it to answer.

The rookie is on shift today, and he wouldn’t be calling unless it’s an emergency. I came home after practice, and I’ve been waiting for Tanner to get home so we can talk.

Again.

I feel like I’m on a constant roller coaster with him where I’m always one flip away from getting thrown out of his life forever.

“This is Theo,” I say, pressing the phone to my ear.

“I know who you are, Chief. You don’t have to announce it every time.”

My hands find my hair, tugging at the roots. “Do you need something important?” I growl, already heading to my room to grab my uniform.

“Actually, yeah,” he says, his voice serious for once. “There was a fire, and I think there’s something you need to see.”

“Text me the address,” I say, hanging up before he can say anything else. I take the stairs two at a time, stripping off my shirt as I go. I’m out the door in two minutes and at the scene in another five.

When I get there, Zane is waiting by one of the trucks. His face is covered in soot and sweat, and his signature smile is missing. He looks exhausted.

Shutting off my truck, I jump out, and he meets me on the sidewalk.

“What happened?” I ask, taking in the scene.

We are in a new subdivision, one that many people in the town were against. It also happens to be being built by my son’s stepdad. At least twelve houses are going up at once, none of which are currently occupied.

“We got an anonymous call about a fire. When we got here, one of the houses was already completely engulfed,” he says, nodding to the charred remains of a brand new house.

“So why am I here? Seems like a typical fire.”

Fires in new builds aren’t common, but they happen.

“Because that’s not all. That house was the only one engulfed, but another one was starting.”

I narrow my eyes. “There’s no wind.”

“Exactly, and even if there were,” he says, pointing down the street, “that house wouldn’t have been the one to catch fire.”

“Did you notice anything else when you pulled up?”

“Actually, yeah. Shane saw a guy running. He was dressed in all black. Had a ski mask on. It was getting dark, so he couldn’t tell much about him. Shane tried to catch him, but he disappeared in that tree line, behind that last house.”

A curse slips out, and I rub the side of my jaw.

“You know what that means, don’t you?” Zane asks with pity in his eyes.

I rub my jaw harder, putting the inevitable off for at least a minute.

“Unfortunately, I do.”