Definitely food for thought, Aidan concluded.
“Change of subject,” Connor said. “How’s the team shaping up? Can we expect to win the regional championship?”
Aidan gave him a wry look. “We’ve run drills and had a couple of team meetings. It’s a little early for me to start bragging on their prospects for next year.”
“Can you please just tell us that they won’t suck again?” Kevin pleaded. “Those boys have had about as much heartbreak as they can handle. I’m amazed some of them have stuck with it. We had a real promising defensive tackle a few years back, but when his folks saw the handwriting on the wall after his first season, they transferred him to a private school that had a halfway decent team. I’d hate to see us lose any more players with potential or the cycle will never end.”
“Losing all the time really is discouraging,” Aidan agreed. “I’ve been through a couple of losing streaks in my career and it took a lot to motivate the team to get back on the field and keep trying, especially at the end of the season if there was no hope for the play-offs.”
“Your last season you had a winning record,” Connor scoffed. “And the team made the play-offs.”
“True, but only after we lost the first three games,” Aidan reminded him. “Coming back from that pitiful start is what I’m talking about. It builds character.”
“I think the character of these kids has taken all the building they can handle,” Kevin commented.
They spent the next few minutes talking about teams that had bounced back after a losing start and what had made the difference.
“They had heart,” Aidan suggested.
“I’m not sure these boys have any heart left to give,” Kevin said.
“Have you spoken to your son? Henry’s the temporary captain because he still believes in the possibilities and he was able to spur the other boys into the same mind-set. I’m not saying they won’t backslide if we start off with a couple of losses, but right now, I think they’re starting to feel optimistic. It’s my job to make sure they keep on believing in themselves, even if they falter along the way.”
Kevin gave him a long look. “Do you believe in them?”
“Let me put it this way,” Aidan said, meeting his gaze. “I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think I could make a difference.”
“One win would make a difference,” Kevin replied.
Aidan laughed. “I’m counting on a few more than that.”
The brothers exchanged a look.
“I guess we need to have a little faith,” Connor said.
“Or at least keep our skepticism to ourselves,” Kevin suggested.
Aidan nodded. “Couldn’t hurt for them to think the community’s behind them.”
“Hey, we’ve always been behind them, win or lose,” Kevin said. “But it sure would be nice to leave that fancy stadium after a victory. I think the last time we won, Connor was still playing, and the old stadium had temporary bleachers and a makeshift refreshment stand.”
Connor’s expression turned nostalgic. “I loved that old stadium. Stole my first kiss under those bleachers when I was twelve.”
Fascinated, Aidan sat back to listen.
“You did not, you little dreamer,” Kevin retorted.
“You ask Janie Lofton,” Connor replied indignantly.
Kevin’s mouth gaped. “Janie was in my class. She was already in high school when you were twelve.”
Connor’s grin spread. “Don’t I know it! Best night of my life, at least till I met Heather,” he added dutifully. He sighed. “I don’t know what Dad was thinking when he made those permanent stands. There’s not a decent place anywhere to steal a kiss.”
Kevin laughed. “Maybe that was deliberate. He has a lot of granddaughters to protect.”
“All I have to say is that it’s the most impressive high school stadium I’ve ever been in,” Aidan said. “Your father has done this town proud. Now I need to put together a team that’s worthy of such a fancy facility.”
“Amen to that,” Kevin said.
“On that note, I’d better take off,” Connor said. “I left Little Mick with his grandfather. It’s never a good idea to let Dad have free rein with him for long. He spoils the kids rotten.” He glanced at Kevin. “What about you? You’ll be at Sunday dinner, right? It’ll mostly be men and kids today, since most of the women are working. That’ll give Gram fits, but she doesn’t like to break tradition even if half the family can’t be there.”
“I’ll be along,” Kevin said. “Unlike you, I’m perfectly content to let Dad spoil my kids. They wear him out so he’s more mellow by the time I show up.”
Connor laughed. “Good point. Aidan, you want to join us? There’s plenty of room at the table today.”
“Why don’t you?” Kevin said.
Aidan shook his head. He couldn’t bring himself to take advantage of their hospitality, not when there was so much he was keeping from all of them.
“Not today, thanks. I’m going to spend some time looking through Coach Gentry’s notes and watching some videos he gave me of the games from last season.”
Connor regarded him sympathetically. “Well, if that gets too depressing and you change your mind, just come on by.”
After Connor left, Aidan noticed Kevin seemed to be nervous. To give him time to collect his thoughts, he got up and got himself another cappuccino.
“Something on your mind?” he asked when he returned to the table. “Are you worried about Henry if I decide not to keep him on as team captain?”
Kevin shook his head at once. “No way. That kid is amazing. Sometimes I think he was born thirty. Or maybe it was just all he went through before he came to live with us, but he takes things in stride. He’s repeatedly reminded us that the job’s not his for good. He’s just excited that it’s his right now. You gotta love a teenager who thinks that way.”
“It is admirable and unusual,”
