Chapter 2 #3
“I’ll also make sure you get the names and numbers of the coaches at the middle school.
As I mentioned, we try to closely coordinate our programs, so the players have an easier transition from middle school to high school athletics.
I know bringing in a new coach means new offensive and defensive schemes.
The sooner you can introduce your plays to the coaches, the better they can pass them along to their athletes. ”
“I’d like to at least see Coach Finnerty’s playbooks first. Talk to Hope. See what was working and what wasn’t.” Then she paused. “You haven’t shown me my classroom yet. I forgot to ask what I would be teaching.”
“Sorry we forgot to mention that. Coach Finnerty was also our PE instructor. The students have a separate teacher for health, so you won’t need to worry about that component. Let’s stop by the gym again. There’s a separate coaching office there for whoever is the PE teacher.”
She saw that office and was pleased that she would be teaching physical education.
She was also certified in math and knew that came with a lot of tutoring for some students.
She wouldn’t have to worry about how to work out a tutoring schedule, much less how to even begin to teach math in a classroom.
Her student teaching days had been well over a decade ago, and she knew much had changed in the classroom since then.
Teaching PE would be easier and a lot more fun than teaching algebra or geometry.
They returned to the main office, where Blanche met them, carrying a canvas bag with a Hawk on the side. She handed the bag to Paisley.
“Inside is the handbook for faculty members. There’s also a folder with the specifics for this coming year.
The academic calendar, as well as the basketball schedule—preseason and district—and the new hire teacher training dates.
Also, a set of keys. Everything is labeled and color coordinated.
Once you sign your contract, you’ll be free to come and go as you like and make whatever preparations you want before staff development starts.
West can help familiarize you with all the state UIL rules regarding your basketball program.
I’ve already talked to Dr. Sutherland, our superintendent, and he can’t wait to meet you and have you sign your contract. ”
“I thought Paisley and I could grab a late lunch before we head to the ad building since it’s already after one,” West said. “I’ll call Dad and tell him we’ll be there around three.”
He glanced to her. “Yes, my dad is the superintendent of Hawthorne ISD. He allowed Blanche and the previous AD to hire me. It’s a small town, though, so you’re going to run into my relatives.
My cousin Darby is the cheer coach and sponsors student publications at HHS.
She’ll be a great reference for you because she also came to the classroom late.
Darby worked for a decade before moving back to Hawthorne and stepping into her role as an educator last year.
I’ll make sure to give you her number, as well. ”
Paisley thanked Blanche again and told her that she would be seeing her soon. West told her they could go to lunch in his truck. On their way to the parking lot, he dialed a number and smiled down at his screen.
“Hey, babe.”
“Did you hire her?”
“Yup. Paisley’s right here with me. We’re gonna grab some lunch.”
“Jen and I got caught up in work and had just taken a break. I put in an order at Pizza Palace, and Jen was about to leave and pick it up. Why don’t you two come here and have lunch with us?
I ordered extra so we’d have some for dinner tonight or lunch tomorrow.
That way, I can help tell Paisley about Hawthorne. ”
They had reached his truck, and West looked to her. Paisley nodded.
“Okay, we’ll save Jen a trip and bring the pizzas home. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
West hung up, and they climbed into his truck. “I hope you don’t mind stopping by my house. I’m a new dad, and I need my Kate fix. Badly.”
As he started the truck, he added, “Kate is our daughter. Born six weeks ago and named after Kelby’s mom. It’s incredible how one little newborn can bring a grown man to his knees and have him talking gibberish.”
She couldn’t help but laugh, hearing this big, athletic guy talking about his baby.
“Do you have family, Paisley?”
She felt herself tense and tried to relax. “No. I grew up in foster care.”
“I didn’t know that. My brother-in-law also went through the system. His name is Dr. Eli Carson. He’s the medical director at Triple H.”
“Oh, I passed by it on my way into Hawthorne. It’s a really nice facility for a town this size.”
“Hogan Health is the parent corporation. They’re putting in hospitals and medical offices in towns about Hawthorne’s size throughout a five-state area.
Eli’s wife, Autumn, is my younger sister.
She’s in charge of all the nurses at the hospital.
I also have another sister, Autumn’s twin.
Summer is a novelist.” He beamed. “And she just married my best friend, Chance.”
“You mentioned Darby was your cousin,” Paisley said, fascinated by how West was connected to people in the town.
“Yes. Darby married Eli’s brother, if you can believe that. Jace wound up being adopted when he was young and didn’t even meet Eli until last year. Jace is my sports agent. He goes into Dallas a couple of days a week. The rest of the time, he works from his home office here in Hawthorne.”
She laughed. “Anymore family members I need to know about?”
“I’ve got one more cousin in town. Darby’s brother, Sawyer.
He’s a lawyer here in town. He used to be an assistant district attorney in Dallas, but he missed small-town life.
We all get together pretty frequently. You’ll have to come sometime.
It’ll be a good group of people for you to meet and hang out with. ”
“You’ve been very welcoming, West, but I’m going to have a lot on my plate, being a first-time coach and teacher. I doubt I’ll be socializing much,” she told him, wanting to shut the door on getting to know others so she could focus on her new responsibilities.
He turned onto the town square and pulled up in front of Pizza Palace. “I’ll be back in a few. This’ll be the best pizza you’ve ever tasted. Mario and Mischa moved here from New York, and they know how to make a damn fine pizza.”
She watched him enter the restaurant and felt bad for a moment.
He had been extending the branch of friendship, but she had thrown up a big, red flag, planting it in front of herself and telling him to halt.
Paisley hoped it wouldn’t influence their working relationship.
As the district’s athletic director, she would report to West Sutherland.
She would also work closely with him on budgetary matters.
He was a decent guy, though. Hopefully, he wouldn’t hold anything against her.
Paisley simply wanted to do her job. Coach her players. Get the best out of them.
And then move on.
She wasn’t in Hawthorne to make friends.
As much as she yearned for community, the life of a coach was transient.
They moved around, going from school to school, district to district.
She had never let her guard down before, and she wasn’t going to do so in Hawthorne, especially since she only planned to stay a couple of years before trying to make her way up the ladder.
Even Maggie had hinted to her that if she coached for a couple of years, she would find a place for her on Baylor’s coaching staff.
Paisley would do her best and keep to herself.
It had worked fine for her up until now.
Even if Dr. Langston had encouraged her to form friendships during this new phase of her life.
West returned to the truck with a couple of large pizza boxes in hand. He opened one of the rear doors and set them on the floorboard.
As he got behind the wheel again, he said, “I didn’t even think to ask what kind of pizza you liked. I’m sorry about that, Paisley. Hope you’ll find something you like in what Kelby ordered.”
“Not a problem,” she assured him. “If it’s pizza, I’ll eat it. The toppings don’t matter. I’m all about the crust. And having played in New York and eaten pizza there, I’m really looking forward to tasting this.”
He told her a little more about growing up in Hawthorne during the ten minutes it took to reach his house. And boy, was it a house.
“This is the only thing I’ve ever splurged on,” he shared.
“I made great money playing for the Cowboys. I still make decent money through endorsement deals. Kelby and I designed this house with a growing family in mind. It’s our forever home, so we went all out.
It’s got everything we want. I’m not embarrassed by it because I earned every penny that went into paying for it. ”
As they climbed from the truck, she said, “Good for you, West. Although WNBA players are paid a pittance compared to our NBA counterparts, I understand how hard I’ve worked for the money I’ve earned over the years. You don’t have to apologize to me about your house.”
He retrieved the pizza boxes, and they went to the front door.
“I know this all has to be pretty overwhelming for you, Paisley. Moving from Las Vegas. Starting a second career. A new state and a new life. If you ever need to talk about anything, feel free to bend my ear. I’ve been where you are—and not that long ago.
Both of us are former pro athletes. Both of us had knee injuries and went through painful rehabs.
We’ve both started a new chapter in our lives, taking up the challenge of coaching teenagers.
There may be a point when you miss being out on the court and just need someone to talk to about it. ”
“Do you miss being on the playing field?” she asked quietly.
He grew thoughtful. “I thought I might, but that hasn’t happened.
I feel as if I were born to coach. The satisfaction I get from working with my staff and players is way more than when I was scoring touchdowns on Sunday afternoons.
It also helps that I Zoom with my therapist once a week.
She’s a great sounding board and keeps me grounded.
Being married to Kelby and having Kate also helps. A lot.”
West opened the door and indicated for Paisley to enter. She was glad to hear that he had easily made the transition from pro athlete to civilian life. If a Super Bowl player could be happy coaching in a small town, maybe she would be, too.