The Newcomer (Thunder Point #2)(94)

“You didn’t want to take him out on the Jet Ski?” Cooper asked, joking.

“I’ve just spent hours traveling with him. He wiggles worse than a box of worms and he is a talking machine.”

After dinner, Cooper had him fishing off the end of the dock, and then they played checkers for a while. Spencer coaxed Austin into the shower and by the time the sun was setting, Spencer had him tucked into bed in the trailer. After Landon and Rawley left, Cooper lit the little candles on the deck tables. He had a half-dozen customers enjoying the last of the sunset over the Pacific. Finally Spencer reappeared, showered and changed.

“I better have another beer,” he told Cooper. “Can I help myself?”

“Of course,” he said. “In fact, you can bring me one.”

Cooper scooted his chair close to Sarah and put an arm around her. The beach began to come alive beneath the deck and a couple of fires appeared.

Spencer was back with the beers and sat down with a heavy, exhausted sigh. He was quiet as he took in the last of the sun’s pink rays over the ocean. He took a pull on his beer. “Doesn’t get any better than this,” he said.

“Is he asleep?” Cooper asked.

“Oh, hell no,” Spencer said. “The TV is on and I told him to call me if he needs anything.”

“He’ll pass out pretty soon. I tired him out the best I could,” Cooper said.

“How can something so small wear a person out so thoroughly? Listen, I have to tell you something,” Spencer said. “I hope you’ll take this as good news. There’s a professional reason for us being here. Your football coach and athletic director is retiring and I applied for the job.”

“You did what?” Cooper asked, sitting straighter.

“Not good news?” Spencer asked.

“Hey, I didn’t say that, but why didn’t you tell me that’s why you were coming? Maybe I could’ve said something to someone. I knew about Coach Rayborough retiring!”

“You haven’t been here that long. I didn’t think you’d be tight with the coach.”

“Well, I’m not and I was pretty surprised to be included in the discussion. But what about your family?”

“My parents are in the same nursing home in Missouri. I have some aunts out there but I’m an only child. The last time we visited, my mom couldn’t remember who Austin was. I don’t know how long it’ll be before they’re gone, but probably not long. You’re probably thinking of Bridget’s family, too. They’re grieving and I think they’re going to be grieving for a long time.” He shook his head sadly. “We’ve had enough of death and illness. Austin and I need a fresh start. I like your little town. And Austin loves it.”

“Do you think you can get that coaching job?”

Spencer smiled. “You don’t know that much about me. I had to check you out and make sure Austin was safe with you, but you probably never took a close look at me. I’m not a born-and-bred Texan, you know that, but I’ve been a Texas high school football coach and athletic director for years. My teams go to state, and it’s a big-ass state. Texas is serious about football. There’s a lot of competition for a job like this in the Northwest, but not a lot of experienced teachers and coaches who would be willing to take the size of the Thunder Point paycheck if there are bigger schools hiring. This is a good place for Austin for a lot of reasons.” He smiled. “Bio-dad is here.” Then he grew a little serious. “We do fine, Cooper—me and the little man. But we seriously need to move on. We’ll visit Bridget’s family, but we’re due a new agenda. I’ll apply and interview, but in the end it’s all up to the school board.”

Cooper leaned toward him. “What if this doesn’t work out for you, Spencer? What if you don’t like it here?”

“I can’t answer that,” Spencer said. “It could swing either way—it either turns out to be a positive move for me and for Austin. Or if it doesn’t live up to my expectations, I could be looking again. And if it’s visits instead of living in the same neighborhood, you can count on me to help with that. I didn’t do this to pin you down, Cooper. I did this for an opportunity, a positive change. This town and, in fact, the high school, both have very good reputations. Even with a smaller paycheck, it looks good on paper.”

“I think you’re going to find it feels as good as it looks,” Sarah said. “I moved here for Landon. He should be the starting quarterback in the fall, unless something happens, like maybe some hotshot moves here over the summer. I was looking around for a proactive football coach in a place I could afford, in a school that boasted athletic and academic scholarships. A place with opportunity for Landon. And it’s worked so far.”

“Maybe it’ll work for us,” Spencer said. “I haven’t given my notice in my school district and I haven’t looked anywhere else yet. This was a complete coincidence. I visited you, liked your little town, started looking around for Oregon job opportunities. I thought if there was something within a few hours’ drive, this piece of coast makes for a nice weekend. But I never imagined something like this would show up.”

* * *

Spencer turned in, but Sarah and Cooper stayed out on the deck. Once the sky was dark and the million stars came out to play, it was just impossible to leave. All the customers had gone, leaving just the two of them. There were two campfires on the beach and the presence of the Razor made it clear Landon was down there somewhere. They heard a clumping up the stairs and Ham came panting toward them, tongue hanging out and drooling.