He put Tiny on the couch and stood up. “Yeah, you’re right, I do. I’ll say good night and hopefully I’ll see you around, Dakota. I’ll still be there for you and the Christmas gala. Thanks for the chat.” He stalked out her front door without making eye contact.
She stood there listening to his car drive away. Perhaps she had overdone it but he had it coming. Someone had to snap him out of his poor me mood. “Men! Seriously, little poodle, you don’t know how lucky you are.” Dakota put the wineglasses on the counter, the screen in front of the fireplace and turned off the lights. Tiny snuggled into her arms as she carried her little dog to the bedroom. “This day has gone on for far too long. Let’s snuggle down and see how we’re going to get enough decorations for that huge tree. Me and my big mouth.”
Two hours later, and multiple drawings tossed on the bedroom floor, she sat up, scattering her pencils. “I have it, Tiny. I know exactly what I’m going to do for the tree to make it special.”
*
“Sorry man, I’m busy. If you’d asked me yesterday, I could have said yes.” Buzz’s voice rumbled over the phone. “Love doing workshops with kids, you know that, but my mama made plans and I can’t disappoint her.”
“I meant to ask yesterday but I had something on my mind. Completely my fault, I get that. I was hoping to get a day in before the school broke up for Christmas break.” He gripped his forehead, desperately trying to stave off the stress headache throbbing behind his eyes.
“You could ask a few of the other guys. Not sure what their plans are for Christmas but you might get lucky.” His teammate paused. “How about giving Ryan a call? He’s always up for a trip to somewhere quiet.”
Ryan, the lovable goalie. Of course. “Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Thanks Buzz.”
“And Leon. That damned Irishman will go anywhere for a free meal. You know what he’s like. Feed him and he’s yours.”
And didn’t they all know it? Where there was fine food, Leon would be in his element.
“Any idea when you’re coming back, Adam?”
“Don’t tell me you miss my ugly face, Buzz.” Funny enough, Adam missed his teammates but not the game. That alone was a revelation to him. Perhaps it was his subconscious preparing him for the worst. He brushed off the doom and gloom.
“Yeah, I do. Place ain’t the same without you hanging around. Was thinking of coming out to visit this hometown of yours. City is kind of wearing thin. I’m feeling closed in, antsy like. Getting kind of jaded, know what I mean?”
Oh did he know alright. “Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. I’m wondering if now would be a good time to retire. Please don’t say anything yet to anyone. I haven’t quite made up my mind but with my dad’s health being what it is.”
“I get that, man. You gotta look after number one and that’s you. You’ve been in this game for long enough. Might be time to lead a normal life.” A tinge of wistfulness colored Buzz’s voice. “You’ve got enough money tucked away, wise investments. Give your body a rest and join the real world.” Buzz was nothing if not down-to-earth.
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is. Nothing complicated about it. Make a decision and stick to it.” A soft chuckle broke the tension-filled conversation. “Bet your old coach would love to see you back. You’ve got a lot to give, Adam. Those kids would be lucky to have you hanging around.”
“Thanks. Talking to you, well, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to retire. And I’m going to make it up to those kids.”
“Sorry I can’t help you out. You know I would if I could.”
“I know. And if you do make it to Cherry Lake, you can stay with me. I’d love to show you around the town.”
“Do I hear the sound of romance in the air, Adam? About time you got a down-to-earth hometown girl.” Buzz chuckled again. “Maybe I will have to talk to Mama about changing her plans. This is something I have to see.”
Adam decided to leave the phone calls to the other team members until the next day. He was drained and it was getting late. Another rejection from the guys would make it impossible for him to sleep, guilt would chew at his insides. The night hadn’t gone well and he could only blame himself.
He tossed his cell phone on the floor and pummeled his pillow, then turned off the light.
Chapter Eleven
Dakota put down the wire cutters, the copper thread and got up from the table, happy to have a moment of distraction to stretch her aching muscles. Her hand had started to cramp up because she had been working for hours without a break. She bent at the waist, touched her toes with one hand and then reached for the ceiling, her gaze going to the designs she’d pinned on the wall before she started work this morning. Beside it sat the candid shot she loved of her with her three sisters last Christmas just after her accident. Thank goodness she’d had them backing her up. They were all close and she missed Bella and April. She must remember to call them, fill them in on how she’d settled in and maybe, just maybe, tell them about Adam.
Dakota walked out into the kitchen and opened the back door. Tiny ran out and rolled on her back in the grass. Dakota poured herself a glass of water, followed and stood in the patch of winter sunshine. Being locked inside didn’t give her much of a chance to catch up on her vitamin D allocation and she’d take any spare minute she could. Besides the fresh air was so much nicer than the smoldering fumes from the copper wires she was using
