Chapter 5 #2
“You, too, Jackson,” he responded, watching his assistant leave.
Mila entered the office and went to the table and set down a sack and the two coffees she had been balancing.
Taking a seat, she said, “Got you a hazelnut. Hope I doctored it the way you like.”
He joined her, taking a seat and a sip of the coffee. “Perfect. Where did you get it? It’s a lot better than what’s in the break room here.”
“It’s a drive-through coffee hut which opened last summer. Coastal Roast. It did really well with all the tourists in town, but the coffee is so good that locals also patronize it.”
She told him where it was located as she opened the sack. “This is a kolache from Seaside Sweets Bakery. I don’t know if you like them or not, but in my opinion? I think they’re a little bit of heaven on earth.”
He’d heard of kolaches before but had never eaten one. Taking a bite, he savored the yeast in the roll as it blended with a bit of spicy sausage and melted cheese.
“Wow. This is incredible.”
“They’re even better if you heat them about twelve to fifteen seconds. You should get a microwave for your office. Jon Earl also had a coffeemaker in here.” She laughed. “He never drinks the coffee in the break room.”
“I guess I have some small appliance shopping to do. So, tell me about this new coach.”
“It wasn’t the candidate I thought I’d hire,” she said. “The others both had teaching and coaching experience. Julie Shannon is a recent college graduate.”
Mila explained how Julie had impressed her with her extensive volleyball knowledge, and she had also run track in middle school, which would be the spring sport Julie would coach.
“She’s played volleyball most of her life.
I liked her enthusiasm and her emphasis on teaching skills at the middle school level.
She is especially interested in working on her players’ serves.
She ran a coed intramural sports league in college, scheduling everything from volleyball to pickleball to flag football.
Besides preparing the schedules, she also had to provide referees for every game and even did some reffing of her own.
She’s not a green newbie out of college.
She’s invested a lot of her life into volleyball and is efficient and organized. ”
“Sounds like you two hit it off.”
“We did. I also told Marge Duncan, the principal at the middle school, that Julie is our pick.” Mila paused. “I used the word our because I really need your backing on this one, Carson. Marge can be set in her ways, and she doesn’t like hiring teachers with no classroom experience.”
“Jackson was telling me that Marge is a superfan with a kid on my basketball team.”
She laughed. “Superfan is putting it politely. Marge can be really obnoxious. Sam had to speak to her several times about piping down because she was such a distraction. Anyway, I’m sure Marge is going to call you. Can you let her know Julie was the best fit for our program?”
“I’ve got your back, Mila,” he said. “I mean it. I trust you made the right call. And if Julie needs help in the classroom, whether it’s with discipline or teaching methods, we’ll make certain she gets the tools she needs in order to be successful, on and off the court.”
Mila smiled, and his stomach flipped over twice.
“Thanks so much. I won’t forget this. I appreciate you allowing me to make this call, especially since we just met.”
“Oh, I’ve been researching everyone in my new athletic department, from coaches to trainers.
I’ve studied your pages on the district’s website.
Googled and got background on everyone. I like being prepared.
You have great experience, both as a player and a coach.
I even accessed your evaluations form Jon Earl.
All were outstanding. You’re a natural as a teacher and coach, Mila. ”
A blush tinged her cheeks. “I’ll admit that I googled you, too.” She grinned. “You took an inner-city program and really built it into something special, Carson. I hope you’ll enjoy living in a small town after being in the big city for so long.”
“Hey.” He held up his cup. “I have a new coffee shop. A place to buy kolaches. I even have a house.”
“Really?”
Briefly, he told her about Pete Jacobs’ sabbatical halfway around the world and how he and Lily would function as caretakers for Pete’s house over the next year.
“Hillary explained that inventory is pretty low in Driftwood Bay. While I might be able to find something outside the city itself, I prefer living in town and close to school. I want to become a part of this community.”
“When will you move in?” she asked.
“I’m leaving town as soon as we finish up here.
I’ll stop and pick up the keys from Hillary before I go.
I’ve got a few things to do in Houston concerning my house and wrapping up everything with my life there.
I’m hoping Lily I and will be back in Driftwood Bay by next Tuesday.
I still need to check out preschool for her.
Pete says his neighborhood is very friendly and even has a few kids near her age on the block. ”
“It sounds as if you made a lot of progress in the last few days.” She glanced around. “I see this is your office and not Jon Earl’s.”
“He said the AD was located here. Jon Earl left me a lot of helpful information. I’m glad he’ll be around this next year as a resource for me through each sports season for the first time.”
Carson kept to himself about Jon Earl’s plans to retire, knowing the football coach wanted the circle to be small regarding his decision.
Mila stood, draining the last of her coffee. “Then I guess I’ll see you around. I’m looking forward to meeting Lily.”
“She’ll like you,” he said. “She’s shy when she first meets someone, but I think she’ll warm up fast to you.”
“Why don’t you plan on bringing her to Mom and Dad’s next Wednesday? Mom had offered to cook for you when you came to town.”
He laughed. “You don’t think she’ll mind you planning a dinner without her knowledge?”
“Mom loves to entertain. She has never met a stranger and puts everyone at ease. She’s the perfect superintendent’s wife.”
“I suppose her personality also helps her sell a lot at her shop.”
Mila laughed. “That is very true. Summer tourists go in as strangers to pick up something, and they come out feeling as if they’ve made a new friend in Mom. I’ll talk to her about it today and text you to let you know if next Wednesday is good for her and Dad.”
“Thanks for everything you’ve done to welcome me, Mila.” He hesitated a moment and then added, “Maybe once I return, you and I might have dinner together. Just the two of us.”
There. It was out in the open. Despite believing he should hold back, he’d gone and blurted out that he wanted to see her. It was as if he’d lost all impulse control, along with any common sense he thought he had.
Her brows arched in surprise. “Are you asking me out, Coach?”
Rejection filled him. “Sorry. I know we talked about being friends. I didn’t mean to push any boundaries. That would be crazy, going out with a coach who works under me.”
A slow smile crossed her face. “It would be crazy,” she agreed. “But I have been thinking about you nonstop ever since I met you, Carson.”
Her words took him by surprise, but he found himself returning her smile.
“I think this calls for further discussion once I move to Driftwood Bay.”
“Over pizza,” she suggested. “My best talking and thinking always involves pizza.”
“You’re on.”
Mila said goodbye and wished him a safe trip to Houston and back. Carson watched her go, already missing her as she vanished from sight. He hadn’t been happy in a long time, but Mila Perry put a smile on his face—and made his heart just a little bit lighter.