Counting on Starlight (10 page)

“And now let’s call this fall’s team out onto the field—the Starrrrlight Yellowjacketssss!” The team tore through the paper barrier and spilled out of the tunnel. Jake brought up the rear with the rest of the coaching staff and trainers as they ran the gauntlet of cheerleaders and the performance dance troupe, the Honeybees.

He blocked everything else out—the buzz of the kazoos, the clicking of the telephoto lenses, the band playing the “Anthem to Starlight” that everyone knew by heart. Even the knowledge that Liann sat with her squad in the bleachers next to the band. Tonight was for Tim and the rest of the boys of Starlight.

Then came the national anthem and the school's anthem to Starlight. He couldn’t believe he’d been in those boys’ cleats not so long ago. So much had changed for him since then, but the surroundings remained the same.

A Kansas Tech ball cap at the edge of the stands caught his eyes. “C’mon boys,” he said to no one in particular. “Let’s show ’em what we’ve got.”

Chapter 8

“People are staring,” Liann said as she and Aunt Chin Mae walked into The Pit for breakfast on Saturday morning.

“Of course they stare. You do something that no one has done in many years.” Her aunt smiled as she waved across the restaurant to an older woman with copper-red hair, sitting in a booth. “Even though the Yellowjackets lose to those Dawgs last night, we hold our heads high because of the band show. The Starlight band just as good as the Pride of Cove, who always wins the Central Texas marching contest.”

Liann studied the faces in the room to see if anyone looked familiar. Starlight’s barbecue hot spot opened for down-home country breakfasts. Liann was sure she’d need to work out double time to keep her arteries from clogging if she ate here too often. Framed autographed photographs of celebrities lined the wall behind the register. Elvis Presley was one of them, wearing an Army uniform from the time he was stationed nearby at what was once Camp Hood.

She yawned. She’d never forget last night. The band and color guard’s halftime performance had shoved the crowd into a cheering frenzy that carried into the second half, but the excitement was not enough to spur the Yellowjackets on to a win. She and the girls, however, had flown on a giddy enthusiasm as a result of their role in the halftime show. Maddie had been brilliant with her rifle skills, even though she dropped her flag once during the opening movement.

Last night’s loss had to have hurt Jake. Liann scanned the booths and tables. Maybe he stayed home to figure out what went wrong. But if he were here, she’d tell him not to blame himself. Sometimes, you just had a bad night.

Aunt Chin Mae led her over to the redheaded lady. “Azalea, I got Ms. Sleepy-Do to join us.”

“Hey, it’s been a long week.” Liann laughed.

“Hi, I’m Azalea Bush,” the redhead said. “You’ve met my husband Herb already.”

“Liann Rivers.”

“So you’re the sweet young lady I’ve been hearing all about.” Azalea smiled warmly, her blue eyes sparkling. “We hope you love Starlight and plan to stay here a long time.”

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be here. At least for this fall.”

“She dumped her fiancé.” Aunt Chin Mae clucked her tongue. “Just in time, too. So she come here, and I’m glad. She has a new boyfriend now.”

Liann shook her head. “No, not exactly.” Not if he was chasing a dream of coaching a Big Twelve team—a dream  that would take him away from Starlight.

“Anyway, you ought to meet Tamarind Brown.” Azalea glanced across the room. “Tam! Hey, come meet someone.”

A lanky brunette with long curly hair and light, cinnamon-toned skin said a few words to one table’s occupants then ambled toward  them. “Hey, Aunt Zalea.”

“Tamarind, this is Liann Rivers, Chin Mae’s niece.” Azalea gestured to Liann. “She teaches at the high school. Just moved here.”

“Well, I’m really glad to meet you.” Tamarind’s green eyes were vivid in her tawny face. “I heard that was an awesome halftime show last night. Wish I hadn’t missed it.”

“Thanks. And it’s nice to meet you, too.”

“Tam!”  A voice called from the kitchen.

“Hang on,” Tamarind called over her shoulder. “I need to run. You two want coffee?”

Liann nodded. “Sounds great to me.”

“I’ll send some over.” Tamarind sped off toward the kitchen, Azalea  watching her.

“Sweet, sweet girl.” Azalea sighed. “We need to find someone for her, especially after what happened with Billy. But she’s so gun-shy. She’s a good girl, too. Goes to church and knows her Jesus. Doesn’t go hitting the nightclubs looking for a soldier.”

“What happened with Billy?” The words flew from Liann’s mouth. Here she sat, with two of the town’s biddies, and she was letting them assimilate her into their problem-solving club.

“Oh... Let’s just say it wasn’t meant to be between them. I know she wanted it to be, though.” Another sigh from Azalea.

“She’s going away soon,” said Aunt Chin Mae. “Culinary school. I think she’s going to come back here and buy The Pit. Her parents are helping her.”

“Good for her,” said Azalea.

“Coffees?” A waitress stopped at the table with two steaming mugs.

“Right here.” Aunt Chin Mae tapped the table in front of her, and the waitress set the mugs down. “Now, Liann. What about you? Did you work things out with Jake?”

Liann found the cream and doctored her coffee. “No.... But there’s nothing to work out, really. I do like him, but he has his goals, and I have mine. I don’t think they’re the same.”

“Give it time, Hon,” Azalea said, patting her hand. “Those Tucker boys make up their mind, and there’s nothing changing it except an act of God. So let God do His thing.”

“That sounds great to me. I’m going to keep busy with work.” She had the feeling if she sat here long enough, the two older women would figure out the rest of her life for her too. Sweet ladies. But she’d had enough of other people thinking they knew what was best for her.

“Who’s
that
?” Azalea stared toward The Pit’s entryway. “He definitely ain’t from around here.”

Liann and Aunt Chin Mae looked in the direction of Azalea’s stare. A male figure, backlit by the sun. He lifted an arm to his face, pulling off a pair of sunglasses.
Matt?
Liann ducked
lower onto the cushioned seat, trying to use her aunt’s body to block his view of  her.

#             

Jake cast the fishing line into the center of the river, and the loose line drifted on the breeze. He had enough shade here from the late morning sun. His visit with Liann to the river last Saturday reminded him of how much he enjoyed fishing. A man could do a lot of thinking while waiting for a bite. Or no thinking at all.

The Kansas coaching scout never made it down to the field, and Jake’s phone didn’t ring, either. Of course, last night’s loss still dug into him, and that pain and aggravation overshadowed any disappointment over what didn’t happen with the scout.

What was he expecting, a job offer that evening? Was he prepared to walk out on the team so early in the season? And then, there were Coach Blann’s words to him.

Top coaching spot in Starlight. He’d prayed about that last night. He had to, like any major decision. He continued the conversation now. “Lord, You know how much I want to coach college ball. To work at that level, even as an assistant coach...”

Some people wondered why he wasn’t a teacher or even a preacher. A few of the others on the coaching staff called him “Preacher Jake,” and that was fine by him. No, he didn’t feel that calling on his life.

He heard a vehicle coming toward the end of the trail. As the noise grew louder, he turned to see a late-model sedan approaching at a crawl. Tim Rollins. He parked the car and ambled in his direction.

“Maddie said you were down here. I tried calling but got your voice mail.”

“Turned my phone off.” Jake turned back to the river, feeling a tug on his line before it went slack again. Either it was a branch, or something was playing with the bait.

“Sorry about the game. The Dawgs are tough.” Tim stood at the end of the trail.

“We knew it would be a tough fight. The Dawgs have made the playoffs and the state finals several times over the last few years.” He tugged on the line. “We’ll go out there and attack it on Monday morning. Shake it off. They outplayed us last night. We’ll look at the films and figure out how they did it.”

Tim had the fidgets. “Yeah. We’ll do better next Friday.”

“You won’t just do better. You’ll win. Go out there expecting to win. Don’t expect it to be easy. Ever.” He eyeballed the boy, who flinched as if he were under an interrogation lamp. “So, what brings you here? You never come out to talk the game.”

“I, uh… I was wondering if I could take Maddie to the play tonight at the high school.”

“What’s playing?” Oh, wow. He’d never contemplated this when he agreed to keep an eye on Maddie.

“
Into the Woods
. A comedy.There's a visiting drama group coming for a performance.” Tim rested a hand on his belt buckle. “Then I wanted to take her to Dairy Queen. My friend Kyle Sanders is going too, with his girlfriend, so we’ll be in a group.”

“You don’t say.” A good thing, four of them going together. Another thought tickled his brain. “I thought you were seeing Cassandra, on the cheer squad.”

“We broke up over the summer. Too much drama for me.”

“I see.” Jake let the silence stretch out like a strand of mozzarella cheese. He had to give Tim credit for showing up here at all. “You spend any amount of time with a teenage girl, you’re going to get drama. How do I know the same won't happen with Maddie?”

“She’s different.”

Jake chuckled. “With Maddie, there’s never a dull moment. Occasionally some drama. I’m just warning you.”

“Well, is it okay if I take her?”

“I need to check with my father to make sure it’s all right. But, have her home at ten.” Jake gave his best glare.

“The play’s at seven.”

“Well, if it gets out at nine, that’ll give you more than enough time to get some ice cream or a burger and head home again. It’s ten, or no deal.”

“Understood, Coach.” Tim nodded, looked like he was going to say something else, then trotted back to his car.

Jake set down his fishing pole, picked up his phone, and dialed. “Liann, it’s Jake. What are you doing tonight?”

#             

“What am I doing tonight?” Right now, she was melting in the parking lot of The Pit, standing beside Matt and his rental car. “Can I call you back?” Of course, her question probably sent Matt’s radar into curiosity mode. Yup, his eyebrows soared upward.

“Sure,” Jake said. “It’s kind of important.”

“All right, then. I’ll call you in a few minutes.” She ended the call and turned her full attention back to Matt. “I really need to go. It’s hot out here, if you didn’t notice, and I rode with my aunt.” She was going to find out
who
told Matt where she was. Probably her mother, who still lamented that she never got to wear her mother-of-the-bride dress. Liann had already suggested her parents go on a cruise so she could have a chance to wear the gown.

“You’re shocked to see me, but I wanted to talk to you in person.” Matt looked comfortable but a little out of place in his khakis and button-down shirt, especially on a Starlight Saturday morning.

“I haven’t changed my mind, Matt.”  A vehicle flashed in the sunlight. Aunt Chin Mae’s golden bean was negotiating its way around the holes in The Pit’s parking lot toward the exit. “No—Aunt Chin Mae!” But knowing her aunt, she probably had her Mozart cranked full blast in the car. And she’d forgotten Liann.

“Looks like you need a ride home.” Matt patted the roof of the car. “And we need to talk.”

“We can talk here. Really. Plus, I need to make a phone call soon.” She wanted to tear off and chase Aunt Chin Mae down, waving and screaming until her aunt noticed her panicked figure in the rearview mirror.

“What happened to us? I’m still baffled.”

“You flew hundreds of miles to ask me this?”

“I’m moving to Texas, Liann. I’ve applied to several churches looking for youth pastors not far from here. Plus, there’s a college outreach program in Austin that needs a director. I thought of you with that one. I understand if you’re afraid of being a pastor’s wife. Maybe with ministering to students on a college campus, you’ll feel less pressure.” Matt smiled, and for a few seconds, she remembered why she fell in love with him.

He made her feel as though she were the only person in his world. When he did that, it was easy to go along with almost whatever he proposed. When he
had
proposed marriage, she’d smiled as tears ran down her cheeks and he slipped the half-carat solitaire on her finger. He hadn’t asked her what kind of ring she wanted. He’d assumed. She should have seen the signs before then, however.

“You think you know what I want—you’ve got everything figured out.” Liann shook her head. A trail of sweat tickled its way down her back. “I’m not afraid of being a pastor’s wife. That’s not the issue. I’m not called to do that, I’ve realized. Yet you make it sound as if you’re trying to accommodate me, as if I’m not at your level. Do you realize how patronizing this sounds?”