Want to Know a Secret? (18)

I hold out the Tupperware for him. “I made them with just a touch of sea salt on top. Like you like them.”

“Yum.”

I glance over at the Cooper family, waiting anxiously at the sidelines. “I was wondering if I could ask for a favor, Mark.”

His brows bunch together. “Yes…?”

“My friend Maria’s son Owen is an incredible soccer player.” Well, I assume so. “But they just moved here and were too late to register for soccer. I was just wondering if he could join Team B.”

Mark hesitates. “I don’t know if I’m allowed to…”

“I know,” I say quickly. “But maybe he could be on the team… you know, unofficially. He could step in for kids who are out sick. You know as the weather gets colder, there are more and more no-shows.”

“Right.” Mark is nodding as he looks over at Owen Cooper. “Well, let’s see how things go today. I think it should be okay, unless some of the other parents complain.”

The only other parent who might complain is Julie—she’s such a stickler for the rules. I wonder if a discounted dress from Helena’s might be enough to win her over. Because cookies sure won’t.

“Thanks, Mark!” I say. “You’re the best. And don’t worry about the Tupperware. We’ve got tons of it.”

I go back to the sidelines, flashing an enthusiastic thumbs up. I can’t tell who looks happier about it between the three of them. Probably Sean.

“So that’s it?” Maria says. “Owen is on the team? Just like that?”

I bob my head up and down. “Just like that! I told you I make good cookies.”

Julie rolls her eyes dramatically.

Owen races onto the field, excited to get to play. Practice will be starting in a couple of minutes, but some of the kids are already kicking the ball around. Right away, I can tell how good Owen is. Even though I only barely grasp all the rules of the game, I’ve noticed there are always a couple of kids on each team that stand out as being particularly good. Owen is one of those kids. Of course, that’s what happens when your dad coaches the team.

I had worried Sean might be an awkward addition to our group, but he couldn’t seem less interested in talking to us. He is watching the practice intently, giving Owen silent instructions with his hands. It’s obvious he’s barely restraining himself from leaping onto the field.

“Sean should volunteer to coach next year,” I tell Maria.

“Oh, he definitely will,” she says. “He loves it. Even after the sports season ends, he and Owen go to the park every day to practice. Football, soccer, whatever.”

“How nice,” Julie says vaguely.

What’s that like? I wonder.

“Leo is very good too,” Maria observes. She’s not just being nice. Leo is probably the best kid on the team. Well, he was until Owen showed up. “Does your husband work with him a lot?”

Julie bursts out laughing. It is sort of funny if you know Keith. First of all, he spends most of his waking hours at work in the city. And even if he didn’t, he looks like ten minutes of soccer practice would give him a heart attack.

“No,” she says dryly. “We hired a professional soccer teacher to work with Leo.”

“Oh.” Maria blinks. “Well, that’s great.”

She seems shocked, but she shouldn’t be. That’s how things are in this town. I might have tried to hire a coach for Bobby, but I was hoping Elliot would pick up the slack. I’m starting to realize that’s not going to be the case though.

With only ten minutes left of practice, Carrie Schaeffer shows up with her son James. That’s the Carrie whose husband left her for the babysitter, which is all anyone can think of when we see her these days. It’s courageous of her to still show up for sports practice. Especially at eight in the morning on a Saturday.

Carrie trudges up to us, looking like she’s about to collapse. She’s got big purple circles under her eyes, which probably doesn’t help her measure up better against the young babysitter. I lean over and give her a hug. She hugs me back so tightly, it hurts my ribs.

“How are you doing?” I ask her.

“You know, the same.” She lets out a long breath. “And thank you again for the casseroles and cookies. I would starve to death if not for you, April.”

“It’s the least I can do.”

She’s looking at Maria curiously, so I quickly do the introductions. “Maria, this is Carrie. Carrie, this is Maria—she’s my new neighbor.”

Carrie raises a hand in greeting. “I’m the one who got dumped for the babysitter. Just so you know.”

Maria’s mouth falls open and Julie snorts. “For God’s sake, Carrie,” Julie says.

“What?” Carrie shrugs. “Everybody’s talking about it. You would probably tell her right after I left. I might as well own it, right?”

I respect that. I don’t think I would be nearly as upbeat in her situation. That’s why I make sure that all the babysitters I hire are very plain. Our current sitter is postmenopausal. Not that I don’t trust Elliot, but he’s already got Brianna at work. Why tempt fate? Especially after…

No, I promised myself I wouldn’t think about that anymore. It’s the distant past.