Chapter 7 Roan
ROAN
The next afternoon, the kids showed up around three as promised.
Marcus hunched over, as if his backpack were too heavy, but greeting him with a smile.
Emma’s gaze darted around the room, taking in the equipment with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
Julia hung back slightly, her chin lifted in that defensive way she had, eyes scanning the room as if expecting judgment.
Cody brought up the rear, hands shoved deep in his hoodie pockets, his expression carefully blank.
“Hey,” Roan said. “Glad you guys made it.”
“We have a problem,” Emma said. “We don’t have the right clothes for working out. None of us thought of that until we were walking over here.”
“No worries, Reese already thought of it. She texted she’s bringing some stuff for you guys,” Roan said.
Just then, Reese rushed in through the back door, ponytail swinging, two shopping bags in her hands.
“Hey, everyone. Sorry I’m late. I brought some workout clothes for you.
” She set the bags on the floor and shrugged out of a long, camel-colored coat.
Underneath, she wore black leggings and a fitted tank top.
Roan’s mouth went dry at the sight of her.
“Grace and I put together some things,” Reese said.
She pulled items from the first bag. “I grabbed some leggings and tops from my studio’s retail section. Nothing fancy, just basics that’ll work. Emma, I got you a small. Julia, I wasn’t sure what size, so I got a couple options—these have stretch for your tummy.”
Julia’s expression softened. “Thanks. Those are nice.”
“And Grace hit the thrift store for the boys.” Reese pulled items from the second bag. “Athletic shorts, some T-shirts. Marcus, these should fit. Cody, she said you’re tall so she got larges.”
Marcus took the clothes carefully, as if they were a pile of gold rather than used clothing. “Thank you.”
“Bathrooms are in the back,” Roan said, pointing. “You can change there. And hustle. We’ve got a lot to do.”
The kids dispersed, Emma and Julia heading to the women’s room, the boys to the men’s.
Roan turned to Reese. “You and Grace did good. Can I help you with the cost of the clothes, though?”
“No, it’s fine. You bought the pizza last night.” She shrugged. “Plus, I raided my clearance section. Didn’t cost much. And anyway, you’re training me for free too.”
“You? Are you staying?” He gaped at her.
“Of course I am. I figured I’d work out with you guys first. Show them it’s not scary.” She grinned. “Plus, I want to see what all the CrossFit hype is about.”
Huh, so she was staying to participate. He hadn’t anticipated that or how much it pleased him. She’d see him in his element, doing things he was actually good at. The only bad news? Watching her would be distracting as all get out. He would have to keep himself in check.
“You sure?” Roan asked, teasing. “Ready to be humbled?”
“I’m sure I can keep up with a bunch of teenagers. And I’m stronger than I look. Trust me.” She grinned again, flexing her hands. “Let’s do this.”
“Okay. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The kids emerged from the bathrooms transformed.
Emma’s leggings and top fit perfectly over her slender frame, though she still looked self-conscious.
Julia’s leggings indeed stretched over her slightly rounded belly.
Marcus’s shorts hung a bit low on his thin hips, but the shirt fit. Cody’s fit perfectly.
“Aunt Grace did good,” Roan said.
“Please thank her for us,” Marcus said.
“You got it. All right, let’s get started.” Roan led them all over to a small retail space in the corner where he had various merchandise for sale with the gym’s logo. “Grab a water bottle on me, then fill it up there.” He pointed to his water filter machine. “It’s important to stay hydrated.”
They followed instructions, each taking one and filling them as he’d suggested.
“Today’s your first day, so we’re keeping it simple,” Roan said when they were all lined up, clutching their new water bottles.
“We’ll warm up, I’ll teach you one basic movement, then we’ll do a short workout.
Nothing crazy. The goal is to finish feeling like you accomplished something, not like you’re going to die. ”
“That’s reassuring,” Emma said under her breath.
Reese laughed. “We’re going to be fine. We’ll stick together.”
“Before we start, I want to show you something.” Roan walked over to the thick rope hanging from the ceiling in the corner. It was at least twenty feet tall with a bell mounted at the top. “This is one of the ultimate challenges. Rope climbing.”
The kids looked up, eyes following the rope to the bell.
“My goal for you—by the time we’re done working together—is for each of you to be able to climb this rope and ring that bell.” Roan gripped the rope, demonstrating. “It’s about grip strength, upper body power, and technique. But mostly, it’s about not giving up.”
He started climbing, feet gripping the rope while his hands pulled him upward. Smooth, efficient, powerful. Within seconds, he reached the top and slapped the bell. The clear ring echoed through the gym.
He descended quickly, landing lightly.
To his surprise, the kids all clapped.
“Whoa,” Marcus said. “That was awesome.”
“Or impossible,” Emma said.
“It’s not,” Roan said. “I promise you, by the end of our time together, you’ll be able to do it. We’ll work up to it bit by bit. It’s a goal. Something concrete to work toward.”
Julia raised her hand. “What about me?”
“After the baby comes and you’re cleared by your doctor, you can work toward it too. For now, you’ll focus on other things.”
Cody was staring at the rope with an intensity Roan recognized. Challenge accepted.
“We’ll work on it bit by bit,” Roan said. “But keep that bell in mind. That’s where we’re headed.”
He led them through a simple warm-up—dynamic stretches and three minutes of light cardio on their choice of equipment.
Marcus chose the rower, Emma and Julia took the bikes, Cody hit the treadmill.
Reese took the rower next to Marcus, pulling through the movement with perfect form that made it look effortless.
When the warm-up was done, Roan taught them the air squat—the foundation of functional fitness.
He broke down the movement, demonstrated proper form, then had them try.
Marcus’s knees caved inward at first, but with coaching he corrected it.
Emma was too tense, holding her breath. Julia went as deep as her belly allowed.
Cody dropped into a perfect squat like he’d been doing them his whole life.
And Reese squatted like she’d been doing CrossFit for years—hips back, chest up, perfect depth, smooth and controlled. Dancer’s strength on full display.
“All right,” Roan said after they’d practiced.
“Now we’re going to do a workout. Just ten minutes.
As many rounds as possible of five squats, five push-ups, and ten jumping jacks.
You go at your own pace. If you need to rest, rest. If you need to modify—do push-ups against the wall, or step jacks instead of jumping—do it. The goal is to move for ten minutes.”
He demonstrated the modifications, made sure everyone understood, then set his timer.
“Three, two, one, go.”
They scattered and started moving. Emma went to the wall for push-ups immediately. Marcus dropped to the floor and struggled through three before switching to his knees. Julia modified everything but kept a steady pace. Cody’s form was solid—his body remembering the athlete he used to be.
And Reese flew through rounds, barely winded, moving with efficient grace that made everything look easy.
Roan circulated, watching, correcting, encouraging. “Marcus, elbows closer to your body.” “Julia, you’re doing great.” “Emma, breathe.”
By minute five, Emma stopped between rounds, hands on her knees. “I need a break.”
“Take it,” Roan said. “Water. Breathe. Jump back in when you’re ready.”
Thirty seconds later, she was back at it.
Marcus hit a wall at minute seven, collapsing onto his back. “I can’t.”
“You can,” Roan said. “Rest for twenty seconds, then give me one more round.”
Marcus lay there breathing hard, then pushed himself up and completed one more round before collapsing again.
Cody kept going, round after round, and Roan saw something shift in him. The kid was good at this. His body remembered how to push, how to work. Each squat was solid. Each push-up was strong. Athletic ability that had been dormant since his mother died was waking back up.
Reese was on her eighth or ninth round—Roan had lost count—showing no signs of slowing. Her squats remained deep and controlled. Her push-ups were flawless. Sweat gleamed on her skin, her ponytail swinging, and she moved like the workout was choreography she’d already memorized.
“One minute!” Roan called.
Everyone dug deep for a final push.
“Time!”
Emma immediately dropped to the floor on her back, arms spread wide. Marcus was already down, chest heaving. Julia bent over her knees, breathing hard but smiling. Cody stood with his hands on his hips, breathing heavy but still upright.
Reese straightened, barely winded, and reached for her water.
“Oh my God,” Emma said from the floor. “I’m dying.”
“You’re not dying,” Roan said. “You’re feeling your body work. Big difference.”
“I’m alive, but I can’t move,” Marcus said.
“You moved for ten minutes straight,” Roan said. “That’s huge for day one.”
Julia lowered herself carefully to sit on a box. “That was harder than I expected.”
“But you did it,” Roan said. “All of you did it.”
“Cody, how many rounds did you get?” Roan asked.
“Seven and a half.”
“That’s solid for first day. Good work.”
Cody shrugged, but Roan saw the hint of satisfaction in his expression.
Roan turned to Reese, who was stretching her quads, completely composed. “What about you?”
“Ten.” She grinned. “Told you I could keep up.”
“Ten rounds in ten minutes?”
“Is that good?” She fluttered her eyelashes playfully, knowing darn well it was good.