Chapter 19 #2
“My entire life has been centered around basketball. You know that. Basketball saved me when I was a kid. It helped me earn a college degree. It’s how I earned a living for over a decade.
I think I’ve done a pretty decent job transitioning from player to coach.
I’m proud of the team I’ve put on the court this season, and I believe they’re learning a lot under me. ”
Bill looked at her expectantly. “But?”
“I don’t even know how to say this. I came to Hawthorne for basketball, but I can see there’s so much more to life now.
Sawyer and I are committed to one another, but I worry about how little I’ve seen him since my season began.
And when we get married and throw kids into the mix?
I don’t know if I can be the kind of wife and mother I want to be and continue coaching at the level I wish to.
I keep wondering if maybe I could do something beyond basketball. ”
“That would be a big change for you. What are you interested in doing?”
She laughed. “I have absolutely no idea. Basketball is all I’ve ever known.”
“Let’s think about the skills you possess. Things you’ve learned, both as player and coach.”
Paisley had never thought how her basketball skills might transfer to the real world.
“I’d say being organized would be at the top of my résumé,” she began.
“I couldn’t get everything I need done unless I was organized.
I believe I have good leadership qualities, having led teams as a player and now a coach.
Despite the fact that I’ve held others at arm’s length most of my life, I’ve really learned to click with the kids here at HHS. The faculty, too.”
“Okay.” Bill nodded thoughtfully. “We’ve got organizational and leadership skills. People skills, which we give the fancy name interpersonal skills in the business world. What about communication?” he asked.
“Definitely that. I’ve never been one to throw out a lot of fancy words. I communicate on a very basic level, but I’m comfortable speaking to students or adults.”
“As a business owner, I know it’s more than that, Paisley. Communication involves listening as much as speaking. You’re a good listener. Both your players and your other coaches speak, and you truly listen to them. Communication is also giving and receiving feedback.”
“There’s plenty of that in coaching,” she agreed, thinking of her team meetings, as well as time spent with individual players, addressing their goals and performance on the court.
“And don’t forget decision-making,” Bill added.
“During games, you have to analyze situations quickly and think of the consequences. Act upon what you’ve evaluated.
The plays you send in and advice you give your players about how to handle what’s happening on the court results in progress, if not downright success. ”
“I’m going to add adaptability,” she told him.
“Adapting in game situations. Changing things up when the game plan isn’t working or an injury occurs.
” She brightened. “I believe I have more to offer than I previously thought. That’s thanks to you, Bill.
You’re not only a friend to me. You’re a mentor.
Thanks for helping me add to this imaginary résumé. I may actually have to create it now.”
Then Bill asked, “Would you consider stepping away from coaching if a new opportunity arose?”
“That would be a hard call. I don’t know what I could do in Hawthorne besides coach.
I’m just frustrated. I really like what I do, but I see how much time it takes me away from Sawyer.
We both have talked about how having kids is important to us.
With basketball, I have to be all in. Pretty much ignore everything and everyone else so that I can focus on my team.
I can’t be a mom—or wife—part of the time and ignore my family for months on end. ”
“You could always coach the teams of the children you and Sawyer have. The local Y has basketball teams. Volleyball. Softball. It would be a way to stay connected with sports, with a bonus of getting to spend more time with your own kids.”
“I never thought of that,” she said, the idea intriguing her.
“I understand your concerns, Paisley. I let work absorb my every waking moment. It cost me the one love I had—and it kept me from ever looking for anyone else. I don’t want to see that happen with you.”
His gaze met hers. “I have an idea. You don’t need to make a decision right away. In fact, I wish you wouldn’t.”
His words intrigued her. “What are you thinking about, Bill?”
“You and Sawyer are very committed to one another. You have a heart for people, Paisley. It’s not all just revolving around basketball.”
He took a sip of his water and then added, “Right now, The Packman Foundation is just getting started. Ginny is helping coordinate with Meg Sutherland on the books which will be gifted to students. Sawyer is handling meetings with the architect and will work with the construction company regarding the library’s expansion.
Eventually, though, the foundation will be involved with more than these two projects.
I’m going to need someone to keep things on course after I’m gone.
Sawyer will maintain his role as The Packman Foundation’s attorney, but there will need to be someone who can head the organization.
Be the face of it. Look through the grant requests and bring the most promising ones to the board, then go from there after the board has voted.
“Would you be interested in being that person, Paisley?”
Excitement filled her. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
It would give her a chance to spread her wings.
Challenge herself. Do something entirely new, away from the world of sports.
Yet she had come to Hawthorne for the chance to coach basketball.
She couldn’t leave her team in the lurch.
Resigning mid-season would be unthinkable.
She could see, though, finishing up the year and then turning the reins over to someone else.
Maybe even Hope, who was proving on a daily basis just how good a coach she was.
Paisley looked at Bill. “I won’t give you an answer now. It’s definitely food for thought, however. I’m excited by the opportunity you’re presenting, but I do owe a lot to Dr. Sutherland. West. My players.”
“I get that,” Bill said. “Stepping away from coaching would be difficult. Sports is all you know.” He grinned impishly, looking like a young boy for a moment.
“Or all you think you know. I think we’ve proved otherwise as we’ve spoken.
I believe you would offer quite a bit if you spearheaded The Packman Foundation, Paisley.
As I said, though, I won’t take an answer from you now. ”
“I will share this with Sawyer. I want his input in such a big decision. I don’t know when I’ll do that, Bill. Could we keep this conversation between the two of us for now?”
“You betcha.”
By now, Paisley had finished her sandwich. Bill had barely touched his.
“Are you not hungry?” she asked, concerned.
“I think I’ll wrap this up and take it home for dinner,” he told her.
It took him a moment to stand, and she realized he was growing more frail. His loss of appetite also worried her. Bill was going downhill. She felt helpless, knowing there was nothing anyone could do for him.
“Let me walk you out to the car. Ginny should be back from the library by now.”
“I don’t want to put you out.”
“Not a problem. I’ll head to the field house once I see you safe and sound in Ginny’s hands.”
She locked her office and took his arm, guiding him across the gym and out the door. As she suspected, Ginny sat behind the wheel of his Lincoln Continental. Paisley opened the passenger door and helped Bill into the sedan. She handed him the sack.
“He didn’t finish his lunch,” she told Ginny. “Get him to eat the rest of it for dinner if you would.”
Ginny nodded solemnly, and Paisley knew the young woman also understood that Bill’s time was coming to an end.
She waved goodbye as Ginny pulled away and then crossed the parking lot, heading inside the field house.
Paisley tweaked the game plan for tonight, adding in one play between Effie and Ashley, which would allow each athlete to shine.
She hoped her players would take down their biggest rivals in district tonight.
When Hope arrived after her last class of the day, she told Paisley that she had an idea for a new play and walked her through it on the whiteboard.
Paisley loved Hope’s unbridled enthusiasm and had watched as the younger coach had blossomed and come into her own during their time together.
It struck her that if Hope succeeded her, the program would be in excellent hands.
At that moment, Paisley already knew what she was going to do. She couldn’t wait to share news of this opportunity with Sawyer.