The Best Is Yet to Come (64)

Chapter 23




As planned, Cade stopped by the cottage to pick up Hope for the game. Her day had been hectic, as was common on days the football team played. It’d been even more so this Friday, as rumors about Ben Rhodes had been speeding through the school faster than a flu bug. Because he was such an important member of the football team, to have him home sick had created quite a buzz.

Then she’d heard someone claimed to have seen Ben at the school arguing with Scott Pender. If that was the case, then it was unlikely he’d stayed away because he was sick. Speculation ran rampant. One of her students claimed they’d overheard Ben and Scott in a verbal confrontation about the fire that destroyed Spencer’s car. Another said the argument had nothing to do with that but over the fact that Scott wanted all the glory.

Another rumor claimed a scout for one of the college teams would be attending the game. Scholarships to major universities hung in the balance. It could be the scouts were coming to look at more than the players. With one state championship under Coach Simmons’s belt, and another likely, it could be an opportunity for Coach was in the works as well.

With the information Hope had given Dean Wilcox and Coach Simmons, Hope was surprised Scott hadn’t been suspended from the team. She suspected that without proof, the accusation that Scott was involved in selling drugs was considered conjecture and speculation. Because Callie was on suspension, she hadn’t been questioned yet. Any action against Scott would likely need to wait until the following week.

What surprised Hope was Coach. With all that hung in the balance, he didn’t appear overly concerned about Ben’s absence. As soon as classes were dismissed for the day, the team had assembled to go over the game plan the same way they did before every game.

“You about ready to head out?” Cade asked.

“In a minute. I’ll need to stop by the school before the game.” With everything that had been going on, Hope had inadvertently left her phone behind.

“Sure, no problem.”

It wasn’t until then that Hope noticed how quiet Cade had been ever since he’d arrived. “Everything okay?” she asked, reaching for her jacket. Evenings were chilly these days, and sitting in the stands with the wind made it all the colder. She knew he and Silas were back on good terms and things seemed to be going well at work.

“Sure…”

Hope focused her attention on him. “You don’t sound it.”

Cade’s face tightened, and Hope knew then something was definitely off.

“My mother showed up at the shop this afternoon.”

So that was it. Making a big deal of it would probably be the wrong thing to do. She remained silent, waiting for him to voluntarily give her the details.

Cade rubbed his hand down his face. “I blew it, Hope.”

Oh dear, this was the last thing she wanted to hear. “How? Tell me what happened.”

He looked down at the carpet where Shadow had curled up and slept. “Mom wanted to talk, and I told her I was working and now wasn’t a good time.”

That wasn’t so bad. “I’m sure she understood.”

“But then I told her, seeing that it’d taken her six years to contact me, that there probably wasn’t a lot she had to say that I wanted to hear.”

“Cade!”

“I know, I know.”

“So what happened?”

“She got all weepy and said both she and my father were available any time I was ready to reconcile. All I needed to do was let them know. Before I could respond, she returned to her car and drove away.”

“Oh Cade.” Hope wasn’t going to berate him, seeing how miserable he was.

“I was embarrassed,” Cade said, as if he needed to defend himself. “Cliff was there, and a couple of the other guys. They could hear every word. I didn’t need them listening in on my business.”

Knowing how hard it was for Cade to open up to others, Hope understood. “The one good thing is that you know the door’s wide open for you whenever you’re ready.”

He shrugged. “After what I said, I doubt Mom will want to hear from me.”

“I think you’re wrong about that. Give it some thought.”

He nodded and then smiled. “I feel better. Thanks for listening.”

Wrapping her arm around his, she smiled up at him. “Come on, soldier boy, we have a football game to attend.” Before she left the cottage, Hope made sure Shadow’s food and water bowls were filled.

Cade parked his truck in the school parking lot. The front door was locked, but the alarm hadn’t been set because the team would be using the facility. Luckily, because as a school counselor she often stayed late, she had been given a key to the building. Cade came inside with her.

“This will only take a minute,” she assured him. They had plenty of time before the game, so there wasn’t any rush.

Cade followed her down the hallway toward the counseling office when the sound of someone pounding against the outside glass door attracted their attention.

“Who’s that?” Cade asked.

“I don’t have any idea.”

The pounding continued, becoming even more frantic. Hope retrieved her phone and then stepped into the hallway to see Spencer and Callie standing outside the main door, both looking excited and more than a little panicky.