Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
Paisley saw surprise register in Sawyer’s eyes. She took his hands in hers, finding strength in them.
“I thought you were happy coaching. Tell me what’s changed your mind, love.”
She liked that he hadn’t flown off the handle or began pestering her with questions. Her man was a steady one, not jumping to conclusions. One who truly listened to her.
And she valued that as much as she did anything.
“I do enjoy coaching. I think I’m actually pretty good at it.” Paisley paused. “But I realize since I’ve met you that there’s more to life than basketball.”
He looked intrigued, but he kept silent, waiting for her to continue.
“From the beginning, you’ve seen me. The person.
Not the former player. You liked me for who I was, even when I didn’t know exactly who that person was.
I feel I’m becoming more myself with you.
That I’m seeing I’m not simply one dimensional.
” She hesitated. “I feel that I have more to offer than my knowledge about basketball.”
He leaned in, giving her a soft kiss. “You’re definitely more than just a basketball player or coach, Paisley.
And you’re right. You have a lot to offer.
You have talents which are just beginning to blossom.
If you choose to step away from basketball, you have my full support.
I’ll always be in your corner, whatever you want to do in life. ”
Tears sprang to her eyes. “How did I get so lucky? You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Sawyer. Just when I think I can’t love you any more than I already do, you go and do or say something, and I fall even more in love with you.”
His arms went around her, and Paisley nestled against him, her head on his chest. His steady heartbeat, so reflective of the man he was, gave her strength to face the unknown.
“I talked to Bill about this today,” she told him.
He nodded in approval. “I know the two of you have grown close.”
“Bill is a good listener. He never had the personal life he yearned for, and I see if I continue coaching, I won’t, either. While I appreciate how you’ve supported me during this first season, I feel as if we’ve hardly seen one another. I miss that. I miss us, being us.”
He stroked her back. “I know. But that’s the job you signed up for. You, better than most, know what a huge commitment coaching is. If you’re giving up coaching because we don’t have as much time together, I’m asking you to rethink things. We can power through any problems that arise.”
“That’s not why I want to step away,” she explained. “Not having much time with you simply got me to thinking about my life and commitment to coaching. And I’ve decided that while I could continue coaching the rest of my adult life, I would be doing myself a disservice.”
She shifted, stacking her hands atop one another on his chest and resting her chin on them. Gazing into his eyes, Paisley said, “I want a second chapter in my life. One which doesn’t involve devoting every waking moment to sports. I want more of a balance between work and my personal life.”
“What are you considering doing?”
“I think I’m going to work for The Packman Foundation.
No, not just work for it. Head it up. While the trustees will vote on the grants to award, someone has to be in charge.
Look over those grants and bring those with the most potential to the board.
I understand Bill’s vision. I can communicate with the board, present which grants should be considered, and even talk with individuals and groups to coordinate presentations they would make to the trustees. ”
Excitement began to fill her. “Once the board votes, I would communicate that vote and for those approved, I would start the process of how the grants would be awarded. Work with others, making certain the funds they receive are used to maximum benefit. The foundation is going to grow, Sawyer. It will for years to come. I can make certain we hire the right people to monitor the investments. I can work on fundraising. Keep Kelby in the loop so that our website and social media presence remain constant and constantly refreshed.”
His smile caused warmth to ripple through her, and he smoothed her hair. “I can see you in this role. You’ve got fantastic leadership and communication skills. You would be a natural at this, Paisley.”
Sawyer’s hands went to her waist, pulling her up just enough so that their lips met. The kiss was tender. It also held the promise of what they might accomplish together.
“We would be working together, too. At least some of the time,” she added. “I know you still have your practice here in town, but you’ll continue to play a vital role with the foundation. Better yet, no more drawing up plays on napkins when we’re trying to have dinner.”
He laughed. “But what if I’ll miss doing that?”
“Bill suggested that I could always coach our kids if they played sports.” She cupped his cheek.
“I want more time for us—and the family we’re going to have.
I don’t want to be missing from our kids’ lives for months at a time while basketball season is going on.
With this job, I could balance my own personal needs with being a wife and mom. ”
“It would be the best of both worlds,” he agreed. “And Bill will be happy, knowing he’s leaving his foundation in good hands.” Sawyer paused. “When would you resign from HHS?”
“I’m committed to finishing out this season. I owe it not only to my players, but to myself. I plan to give everything I have to coaching, and then I’ll step away. For now, the foundation hasn’t bitten off more than it can chew. Ginny is also helping with a few of the administrative duties.”
“She’s really bright,” he said. “When Bill passes, she’ll need another job.”
“I’ll talk with Ginny and Bill. Maybe she can become my executive assistant and play a bigger role once her caretaking days are behind her.”
“I’ll confide in you that Bill made a few changes. He’s leaving his house to Ginny. The mortgage is already paid off on it, so she won’t have that to worry about.”
“That’s wonderful. I know she’s had a rough patch these last few years. With her divorce and these changes in her life, things should really turn around for her.”
He kissed her soundly. “Let’s go online and file for our marriage application. Now, back to my original question, what kind of wedding do you want?”
“Small. Definitely, no fuss. I’m not someone who dreamed of her wedding since I was young and had every detail worked out.
I didn’t even think marriage was in the cards for me.
” Paisley smiled. “Until I came to Hawthorne and met you. That was the best day of my life. And every day forward will be the new best day of my life—because I’m living it in love with you. ”
They kissed, and Paisley’s gut told her she was making the right decision. About leaving coaching. Beginning a new career.
And marrying this incredible man.
Paisley had two dresses to her name. She much preferred wearing pants, from sweatpants to nicer ones which she paired with blazers. But she didn’t want to wear pants on her wedding day. She wanted to feel a little girly.
One dress was her go-to. A sleeveless, black cocktail dress that hugged her figure.
She’d worn it to weddings. Receptions. WNBA official league events.
The other she had bought on a whim when she’d gone to a Nordstrom Rack.
Although it was unlike anything she’d ever worn, something about it had called her name The A-line, V-neck, long dress was champagne in color, with short cape sleeves.
A filmy overskirt, which was transparent, had dozens of small butterflies scattered across it.
At the time, Paisley thought she had absolutely nowhere she could ever wear it.
Yet she had bought it—and now she knew why. It would serve as her wedding dress today.
They had gone to the courthouse and picked up their wedding license on Wednesday.
Sawyer had called his aunt and uncle, and they’d met with them after she finished practice after school that day.
The Sutherlands couldn’t have been more welcoming upon hearing the news.
Meg had asked her a few questions and written down the preferences Paisley and Sawyer had, which included a wedding cake with butter cream icing and using potted poinsettias as flowers since Christmas was the next week.
Their only other request was that they wanted to marry the day after school was released for the holidays, so they could enjoy the entire winter break as a married couple.
Meg said to leave everything to her. That meant much of what happened today would be a surprise, a unique kind of wedding, but one which would suit the two of them.
The Lady Hawks played last night, and Paisley had been surprised when just before the game began, Sawyer had appeared on the court, a dozen red roses in his arms. He’d presented the bouquet to her and then slipped an engagement ring onto her finger.
It fit perfectly. Hope and all her players gathered around, congratulating her.
Desi proclaimed when she got engaged, she also wanted a marquise diamond engagement ring.
Paisley hadn’t known that was what the shape of the ring was called, but she did know she liked the way it looked on her hand.
Then she had set aside everything to concentrate on the game.
Her team defeated the Lady Lions by seven points, so they were off to a solid start in district play with back-to-back wins over two fierce competitors.
She’d told her players goodbye, reminding them they would hold practice on January second and third before school started up again on the sixth.
Their next game would be played on January seventh, and she wanted to make sure her players’ conditioning remained in place.