Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Daisy
I pulled into the parking lot by the baseball diamonds. Alder had been coaching much of the season. Coal Haven only had two fields, but both were in use all summer. Since Alder was now on the board, he’d mentioned that they were trying to build two more.
Also since Alder was now on the board, he’d been approached to substitute coach for another team. For the last two weeks, he’d been helping with a girls’ fast-pitch team. The dad who normally coached couldn’t finish the season with his work schedule.
“There’s Alder!” Laila shouted and pointed.
The game was almost ready to start. Alder stood tall while surrounded by a team of eleven-year-old girls. Their orange shirts looked like flames dancing on the sand.
I took Laila’s hand and found a spot on the bleachers. The sun beat down from overhead.
Alder caught my gaze and grinned. Just seeing him loosened the tangle of tension at the base of my skull. I smiled and waved just as twelve pairs of eyes pinned me and Laila.
My chest squeezed. This was Alder’s element, but it wasn’t mine. I’d rather be anonymous in the bleachers, but again, he was getting me out of my comfort zone.
Laila had a million questions once the game began. Parents lined the fence and surrounded the dugout in their camp chairs and overhead shades. A few innings went by, and Laila asked to play in the grass by the fence. She ran off, and I squinted at the field.
More like, I gawked at Alder. He wore an orange ball cap tugged down low. He stood at first, helping the players know when to run and when to stay. His voice carried, deep and commanding.
“Are you Alder’s wife?” an older woman next to me asked. Her brown hair was in a ponytail, and she had a visor shading her eyes.
I didn’t recognize her. “Yes?”
She smiled. “I’m Kayleigh’s grandma.”
I nodded like I knew who Kayleigh was. I had no idea what any of the team members’ names were.
“The girls just love him,” she gushed. “They like their other coach too, but…” The woman leaned closer. “You know how it is when it’s the dad of one of the players. Their kid and that kid’s friends get to play the most.”
I didn’t know, but I could imagine. My only foray into sports had been for school gym class, so I was familiar with getting picked last and playing the least.
“Alder gives all the girls play time.”
Pride cooled the hot breeze blowing against my skin. “He’s amazing like that.”
The grandma nodded solemnly. “He doesn’t know what a gift it’s been to see Kayleigh excited to play again.” She swayed closer to me once more. “Some of the girls’ parents got upset with him.” She snickered. “I was picking up Kayleigh when I saw it, and I heard Alder ask them who the team was for, the players or the parents, and if the kids who got the least game time also paid lower fees. Then he asked for legitimate research referencing how benching the kids was beneficial for them. You should’ve seen Damien and Mike sputter.”
I wasn’t familiar with those guys, but if Damien was the lawyer who had ads in the bathroom stalls at the movie theater, so I had to pee with him staring at me, then I would’ve loved to see Alder knock the smug off his face. “I’m sorry I missed it.”
The woman’s grin was downright wicked. “You’ll get to see it again next weekend at the tournament.”
I lifted my brows. “There’s another tournament next weekend?”
“In Bismarck. The last one for the season. Kayleigh’s really excited.”
Cheers rang out, and I turned my attention back to the game. Alder was circling his arm yelling “Go! Go! Go!” as a player rounded the bases. Hoots and hollers rose from the parents, and Kayleigh’s grandma joined in. I clapped along with everyone, but my mind was on next weekend.
Laila would be with Jason, but I had to go to Grand Forks again to help Mom direct the movers. Over the last four weekends, I’d been driving to help her pack, donate, and toss to get the house sale ready. Then she’d followed up on the places I had researched and found a nice senior living condo.
When Laila wasn’t with Jason, she had come with me. Alder had offered to watch her, but Laila wanted to see her grandmother, and I hadn’t wanted more upheaval in her life. He had also offered to join us and help, but Mom had hired a cleaner for the final clean before the house went on the market, and she’d contacted the movers. No need for Alder to pass on the new duties he was taking on for me.
As I watched the game, letting the heat of the sun soak into my bones, the stress of the last six weeks weighed me down with fatigue. I was tired. I still worried about Mom’s health. And… I had no idea what to do about my husband.
Our year wouldn’t be up for five more months, but it felt like there was a ticking clock over my head. I hadn’t talked to Laila about having Alder sleep with me. Thanks to all the extra travel and his additional obligations, we hadn’t been able to act like a couple around her.
Would it mess her up to see us go from friendly to sleeping together? Did we take our time or would the year mark be the end of Alder’s patience?
I pushed at my temples. Alder was still an in-demand guy. All for a good, productive reason this time. But he was still stretched thin, and I didn’t want to find out that I still wasn’t his priority.
Alder
After the game, I lifted Laila onto my shoulders as Daisy and I walked to the playground on the far side of the ball diamonds. My adrenaline was running high, and the euphoria of the hard-earned win against the Crocus Valley team kept a smile on my face.
Daisy smirked at me. “You like coaching.”
We reached the edge of the swing set and Laila patted my head. I helped her down and she ran to the slides.
“I enjoy it,” I said and crossed my arms. We stood next to each other and watched Laila go down the slides.
“I got some dirt on you from Kayleigh’s grandma.”
“She wasn’t asking about Crazy A, was she?”
“No, she was admiring what a hard-ass you are. She said some parents got upset with you.”
“Oh. That.” Irritation itched across the back of my neck. “I had to call on years of professionalism to keep from telling them to fuck off.”
“You have another tournament next weekend?”
I nodded. “I don’t have the schedule yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as they put it out.” It was Laila’s weekend with Jason, and I had meant to check with Daisy about what she needed from me.
“It’s not a problem. That’s moving weekend for Mom.”
I turned toward her. Sunlight glinted off the strands of her hair. I couldn’t gauge her expression behind her sunglasses. “You didn’t tell me she was moving already.”
Daisy frowned. “I told you she found a place and her house is on the market.”
“But not that she’s actually moving. I can call in a sub and come with you. I can help you.”
“No, it’s okay,” she said nonchalantly, as if moving wasn’t stressful. “She hired people, so we’re more just supervising where everything goes. They’re going to take the furniture she’s not keeping to the thrift store.”
All this had been decided and Daisy hadn’t thought to bring it up? “Seriously, I can find someone to cover the game. I’m sure one of the other dads?—”
“Really, Alder.” Her smile was tight. “We have it covered.”
This conversation wasn’t much different than all the prior weekends. It’s fine. It’s okay. “Daisy, I’m here for you. We’re partners.”
“I know, but you have responsibilities.”
“I get that, but it’s not work.” And even then, I could take a day off. I got plenty of vacation time. “I can get out of it.”
“Kayleigh’s grandma said Kayleigh looks forward to playing again because of you. She actually gets to play. It’s the last tournament, and if you don’t go, some other parent might not have the same stance on playing time.”
I worked my jaw back and forth. Yeah, I’d feel bad if the team’s morale took a nosedive when they had been more enthusiastic than the first time I had coached. “You’re my wife. If you need my help, all you have to do is ask.”
A line formed between her brows. “I know.”
I cocked my head as frustration built behind my sternum. Her response lacked conviction. “I can at least bring Laila to Jason’s when he’s done with work.”
“He was able to work something out with his supervisor.”
Disappointment tightened the spot between my shoulder blades. She’d arranged it with him before checking with me? “He didn’t have to. I could’ve helped. Games don’t start until Saturday.”
“Oh, well, I wasn’t sure, so Jason just asked for a few hours off.”
“Daisy, you really can come to me.”
Her big eyes blinked behind her dark shades. “I know. I didn’t have to this time.”
Her voice was just light enough to set off a warning bell. We weren’t where we needed to be, and fuck if I could figure out what was wrong. Did she sense it? Was I being paranoid?
No. Because she still hadn’t told me about those damn credit cards. Unless she had paid all of them off, another set of statements had to have shown up by now with another four on their way. Yet I hadn’t seen them. She’d resumed getting the mail.
Goddammit. I wanted my wife to open up to me in life the way she did about her work history, or in bed, and I had no fucking clue how to do it.
I grabbed her hand and held it between mine. “I wish you’d have talked to me.”
Her lower lip pouted out. “I have been, but it’s taken care of.”
“It’s still your life. Your mom is my family too.”
She drew back slightly, and my stomach sank. Why was there a clear delineation around where I was allowed in her life?
“You realize I haven’t seen her since we’ve been back together,” I pointed out.
“She doesn’t like to travel.”
“Or talked to your dad.”
She scoffed. “I haven’t really talked to my dad.”
Good point. “Are you afraid of this? Of us?” Was she afraid that we could actually work out?
It didn’t make sense, but sometimes figuring out how Daisy’s mind worked took some time.
“No.” She shook her head almost as if to convince herself. “No, Alder. It’s just been a hard few years for me and I’m cautious. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Mom was moving next weekend. I really didn’t think it was that big of a deal.”
I studied her features. With her eyes covered, I couldn’t interpret the firm set of her mouth. “All right,” I finally said. “Just know when I said I love you, that doesn’t mean I only love to come inside you. I want to invade every part of you.”
This time, she looked away. “You can’t say that stuff on a playground.” Her tone was light, but my sense of foreboding didn’t fade.
I had more ground to cover with her to make sure that at the end of our agreed-upon year, I wasn’t left standing with a key and an empty house.