Chapter 1 #2
She went down the long corridor and stopped at the desk outside his office, greeting Sandy, his longtime secretary, who kept her dad in line and on top of things.
He had inherited Sandy when he took the principal’s job at the middle school and had asked her to go with him when he moved up to serve in the same position at Driftwood Bay High School.
Sandy had accompanied him again when Dad came to the ad building, working his way up to being the district’s superintendent. Like Cecily, Sandy was family to Mila.
“Hey, girl,” Sandy greeted, sympathy in her eyes. “I hear things went south, with Sam leaving.”
She nodded. “We’d only been going out for six months. It wasn’t that serious,” she said, trying to convince herself as much as Sandy.
“You know, I have a cousin who just recently divorced. He lives in Rockport.” Sandy smiled hopefully.
Mila laughed. “Thanks—but no thanks. I’m going to enjoy the single life for a while. Is Dad available for lunch?”
Sandy consulted the desk calendar. “He will be as soon as he finishes up with the new basketball coach.”
“He’s already hired one?”
Sandy nodded. “He’s coming from Houston. Jon Earl really likes this guy. I’m not sure why a coach would take a step back from a big school to here, but your daddy said he’ll be a great addition to the district.”
Before Mila could ask anything else about the new coach taking Sam’s place, the door opened. She saw her dad standing there, offering his hand.
“We’re glad to have you as a Driftwood Bay Pirate, Carson. I’ll have HR print out the paperwork. If you can come back around one or later, everything will be ready for you to sign.”
“Thank you for this opportunity, Dr. Perry,” the new hire said, shaking her dad’s hand.
Mila studied his profile for a moment, drawn in by how hot the new coach was. Like take-your-breath-away hot. She silently reminded herself not to look for a wedding ring on his finger, however. She was done with dating for now.
Both men turned, and Dad lit up, smiling at her.
“Why, here’s the first teacher and coach that I can introduce you to who’s on staff at the high school. Carson Andrews, meet my daughter, Mila. She coaches volleyball and teaches US history. Carson is going to replace not only Sam, but he’ll also take on the AD duties from Jon Earl.”
Surprise rippled through her. “Jon Earl is leaving?”
“No,” Dad said. “He said he misses the classroom. He’s going to be teaching government to seniors this coming year, as well as continuing as the Pirates’ head football coach.”
She turned to the new guy now and offered her hand.
“It’s nice to have you on board, Carson.
I’d love to bend your ear since I was on my way to see Jon Earl.
We need a new volleyball and track coach at the middle school.
The current one has decided to stay home once she gives birth to her third kid in July. ”
“I’d be happy to talk it over with you, Mila.”
“Why don’t I give you a tour of the high school and athletic facilities while you’re waiting for HR to finish up things on their end? We could also grab a bite to eat on the square if you’re hungry.”
“How can I pass up a guided tour and lunch with an insider?” Carson teased, his espresso eyes twinkling with mischief. “Dr. Perry said he grew up in Driftwood Bay and raised his family here. You’ll know everything about everyone, I suppose, seeing this is a small town.”
“Have you ever lived in a small town?” she asked.
“No. All I know about a small town is what I learned streaming that old TV show Friday Night Lights.”
His answer caused her to laugh out loud.
“There are some similarities between it and Driftwood Bay. That town was centered around oil, though. A lot of the Bay’s businesses deal with tourism and having the sea out our back door.”
She glanced to her father. “Carson is in good hands, Dad. I’ll have him back here to sign his life away in a couple of hours.”
Mila left the building with the new coach, saying, “Let’s do the tour first and get it out of the way. Then lunch won’t be so crowded.”
They crossed the street, and Mila showed him the front office, which also housed administrators and counselors. She walked him through the various hallways, pointing out the auditorium, teachers’ lounge, gym, and copy room.
“There’s a copier in the field house, so you’ll use that one. Let’s go out there now.”
They cut through the cafeteria and went out the back doors, crossing the teacher parking lot and entering the field house. Inside, she showed him the copy machine, break room, and conference room before stopping by Jon Earl’s office. It was empty, as she’d suspected.
“Jon Earl is at lunch now. He likes to meet his wife at the diner on the square every weekday at noon. Hillary hates to cook, so they get a good meal in them mid-day and then have sandwiches or salad at dinner. Hillary’s also a realtor.
She can help you find somewhere to live. Do you have a family?”
Although Mila had not noticed a wedding ring on Carson’s finger, there was always the possibility that he was married and chose not to wear one.
Or he could be divorced. He looked to be in his early thirties and had that basketball, lean yet muscular build on what she guessed was his six-four frame.
“Thanks for the tip. I’ll contact you after I finish up the paperwork with HR. I have a daughter who’s four. Her name is Lily.”
Carson didn’t mention his wife, and she didn’t want things to be awkward by bringing one up, especially if he were divorced.
Then he volunteered, “I’m a widower. I lost my wife two years ago.
While I enjoyed the school where I coached and taught, everything everywhere reminded me of Angie.
I decided Lily and I needed to get a fresh start.
That’s why we’re coming to Driftwood Bay, along with Binky, our three-year-old beagle. ”
“I’m sorry to hear about your wife. Lily is such a beautiful name,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll both love it in the Bay. Will you be looking for an apartment or house?”
“I would prefer a house, especially having a dog. I’d like Lily to have a backyard to play in. She’s a little shy.”
“My brother has two kids. Bobby is four-and-a-half, and Gina is three. Maybe Lily could come and play with them sometime.”
“I’ll have to figure out a lot of things,” he said. “Thanks for that offer. I’ll need to put her in preschool. Maybe you can suggest one. I also need to find someone who can sit with her nights and weekends when I’ve got games and tournaments.”
“I can help you find someone,” Mila volunteered, surprised that she was so willing to become this involved with someone she’d just met.
But she felt some pull to Carson, not only a physical attraction, but something stronger.
He seemed to be a decent guy who’d been dealt a difficult hand.
After all, she was a Driftwood Bay native, and she could help him settle in with a few tips.
“That’s kind of you. It’s been hard, being a mom and dad to Lily.
To be honest, I’m as scared as I ever have been, leaping into the abyss here.
A new job. A new town. No back-up system.
It’s a lot to take on, along with the AD position, something I’ve never done before.
While becoming the AD means more money, I know I’ve got a big learning curve ahead of me. ”
“You’re going to do fine, Carson. One thing you’ll learn about living in a small town is that people stick together. People are willing to offer a helping hand. The coaching staff at the high school is tight. It doesn’t matter which sport you coach, everyone is friends and supports one another.”
He looked at her, those warm, brown eyes causing her heart to speed up. “Thanks for being the first friend I’ve made in Driftwood Bay, Mila.”