"I don't know. Why?" Her stomach sank as the reason for his question sank in.
"We can only play the Fin and Fiona videos and have Fin riding around in a golf cart for so long. The fans want to see Fin doing the flips and stunts. We need him back."
"Liam said he should be ready before mid-August."
"If so, that's great, but that's a month away and he's not even back at physical therapy yet. I can't wait until the last minute to replace him again, so I'm beginning to look for a potential candidate now. I'd appreciate if you can ask your coach to keep an eye out for someone along his size. The costumes set us back about ten grand so I'd like to keep using Liam's as long as I can."
"If Liam loses this job, it'll crush him."
"Claire, I don't feel happy about this either, but I need to look at the bottom line." Ray shuffled papers on his desk and avoided eye contact. "If we can't find anyone else, we could try the guy who took part in the audition who was close to Liam's build. You said you used to coach gymnastics. Maybe you could work with him on his mechanics."
"I..." She stalled. Oh no. No way. She didn't want any parts in any plans to replace Liam. "He looked like a total beginner. Expecting him to reach Liam's level of capability in a manner of days or weeks isn't reasonable."
"But you are willing to help train him if we can't find someone more suitable?" He looked at her expectantly.
Feeling every bit the traitor, without a choice she nodded. Her stomach quivered, only this time it wasn't morning sickness. "I'll help."
"Excellent. We highly value employees who are committed to helping the organization. Let me know what your coach says. I'll check in with that prospect. I'll need you involved in making the selection."
If Liam lost his job as Fin and learned she had a hand in it—they'd be through. Her heart would break. And her baby would grow up in a broken home. Just like her. Totally unacceptable. She squeezed her hands together, ready to plead for him. "But, you won't actually give anyone the job of Fin as long as Liam is able to come back in a month?"
"Right. I have a progress meeting scheduled with Andy and Liam on August eighteenth. If Liam is good to go, we'll continue with him as Fin. If he's not, then the new Fin will take the field at the next home game the following week."
A bout of nausea hit out of nowhere. Claire quickly rose and shook Ray's hand, again promising to help, and then bolted out of the room and to the nearest restroom.
If she didn't help out, Ray might choose to replace her too. After all, there were several gymnasts of her size and now, Ray knew who to contact.
If she couldn't get a handle on her nausea, they could let her go for not being able to perform the duties she'd been hired to do. They were ready to replace Liam and he'd been there for years. They would have even less loyalty to her, as new as she was. If she lost this job, she wouldn’t be able to handle a full-time gymnastics gig as her pregnancy progressed. And even if she landed an office job, she’d feel guilty about taking maternity leave only a few months after starting. What if she had to move home? Return to her selfish sisters and all their whining.
It was best to go along and do whatever Ray wanted her to do. She couldn't let anything jeopardize her position. Not now. Not when she wasn't the only one depending on her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SLADE
SLADE WOKE UP TO EARLY afternoon sunlight streaming in the bedroom window and a note from Savanna propped against a bottle of water.
Drink me. Rehydrate. xo, Savanna.
Not a bad idea after a long night out celebrating his All-Star appearance. He rolled out of bed, stretched his muscles, and turned on the TV. The baseball channel played highlights from the previous night's All-Star game. He pulled on clothes and chugged the bottle, automatically critiquing himself when his image and stats flashed onto the screen.
He'd more than made up for his abysmal performance in front of his parents. During the Home Run Derby, he'd launched ball after ball into the stands, winning the event, and had scored two runs in the All-Star game, helping his team to a win. James and Tiffany had been in the stands for both events.
Savanna had too. And even though she'd stayed out late with Liam and Dom and him, she'd had to get up early for work. He grabbed his phone to text her a thanks for the water and found one from Dom, checking in and making plans for dinner, and one from Tiffany, asking if he could meet her later at her home.
He fired off responses, sent the text to Savanna, and wandered into the kitchen.
Liam sat at the counter, devouring half of a huge submarine sandwich. Mouth full, he raised his brows at Slade and pushed over the other half.
"Thanks." Slade popped a coffee pod into the single-cup brewer and then tugged the plate closer.
"Dom sent a text. Dinner tonight." Liam waved his phone in the air. "I'm meeting with Andy soon so he can check my ankle. If he pronounces it healed, I'll get cleared to return to PT. I think he will. It doesn't hurt anymore."
"I'll buy the first round tonight to celebrate." Grinning at his friend, Slade twisted to grab his coffee. "Tiffany wants me to stop by this afternoon."
"Did she say why?"
He shook his head and bit into his sandwich. Maybe his bio mom wanted to chat because they hadn't had
