CHAPTER 40
Palmer
Day Twenty-two
“Coach Jade?” Ethan tries to lean over Ronnie.
I motion for him to step around her with the hand holding the hairspray. The other holds her ponytail in place. “Come over here, bud. What’s up?”
He watches me diligently before talking. “Is Mr. Bailey going to come see me cheer today?” His voice is small, laced with nervousness.
“No, Ethan, not today. He’s busy fighting bad guys right now, so he can’t be here.”
Ethan’s eyes light up, and his voice becomes more animated. “Like a superhero?”
“Exactly like a superhero. But you want to know what he told me before he left? He asked me to video the performance and to tell you that he knows you’re going to do an amazing job!”
“Does he really think that?” Ethan asks earnestly. “What if I mess up?”
I finish pinning Ronnie’s hair then shift over to do the same to Molly’s. “He sure does. And if you mess up, that’s okay! Mistakes happen. As long as you try your best.”
He nods, his face serious. “Okay. I’ll do my best.”
As Ethan walks over to sit with Fabian, who has his tablet in front of him and is watching a video, Virginia steps up next to me.
She studies Ethan as she speaks. “He’s been nervous since last night.
I keep telling him that Mr. Bailey wishes he could be here, but Ethan is absolutely convinced he’s going to mess up the routine.
” She shakes her head. “That Bailey is a good one, Palmer.”’
“I know it.”
A notification pings on my phone.
Turning toward Virgina, I gesture to Molly’s hair. “Can you help me with this really quick? I want to make sure it’s not something for the competition that I need to see.”
She steps in, pinning the bow in place as I pull out my phone. My heart flips. The banner shows an email from Bailey. I know he said he might be able to talk on the phone, but I didn’t know he had email. I open it and begin to read.
To: palmer.j@
From: b.a.i.diaz@
Hey, beautiful.
I’ve got that email set up on scheduled send, so hopefully it gets to you at the right time.
I know today is competition day for the Hijinks, so I wanted to take a minute and wish everyone good luck.
Tell Ethan I know he’s going to do great.
Just do it like we practiced. Send me pictures and video!
Also, make sure to show everyone the video attached (if it sent).
I love you.
B
[Click to see attachment]
A wide smile spreads across my face, and I click on the link. It takes a second to download. When it finally does, I press play and turn up the volume.
Our competition song cues up through the phone’s speakers, and everyone’s heads whip my direction. I hit pause on the video.
“Hey, team! Hijinks huddle!”
Everyone moves toward me.
“Mr. Bailey sent me a video that he wants me to show you. Our voices need to be at a level zero, which means…”
“No talking,” the group finishes for me.
“Good. Once the video is done, then we can talk. Give me a thumbs up if you’re ready!”
Everyone in the room raises their thumbs, and I hit play.
The song starts over, and Bailey backs away from the camera, wearing a pair of sunglasses.
He’s wearing his uniform, and there are two men in the background of the video with him.
I don’t recognize them and quickly realize he must have videoed this after he left.
The three of them are holding what look like wadded up green socks in their fists, and Bailey counts them down. “5-6-7-8!”
The three of them start doing our routine, and the team goes wild. Bailey, of course, is the star of the video. All the athletes point at him, saying, “Look at Mr. Bailey!”
As the song winds down and they release their final stunt, everyone starts clapping. Bailey approaches the screen and fills it. Seeing his face causes a pang of sadness, and tears well up in my eyes.
I miss him.
Bailey takes off his sunglasses then begins to speak.
“Hey there, Hijinks! I know today is the competition and that is so exciting. I know you’re all going to do amazing and try your best. Just remember, it’s normal to be nervous.
That just means you care! Kick some tail out there, Hijinks!
I can’t wait to see the pictures and video.
Bye!” He waves, and the screen goes black.
The athletes immediately burst into excited conversation, giving me a moment to compose myself. “You heard Mr. Bailey! Let’s finish getting ready and go out to do our best!”
* * *
When I walk in my front door that night, I’m exhausted.
Hijinks won first place, and we all went out to dinner to celebrate.
I had considered bringing Mouse with me, but I’m glad I didn’t.
There was too much going on, and with her demeanor, it might have been too much.
She greets me with a big shake when I walk in the door.
“Come on, pretty girl. Let’s go outside.”
She plods leisurely to the door, waiting for me to open it. As she does her business, I send the photos and video to Bailey, then I pull up his video and watch it again. This time, I don’t try to stop the tears that flow. I pause on a frame where Bailey is close to the screen and smiling.
I wish he was here now.
Mouse nudges my hand, leaning heavily against my leg. I stroke her velveteen ears and study Bailey’s smile, promising that as soon as he’s home, he’s never going to doubt how I feel about him and us. I’ll make sure of it.