Chapter 6 #2
“I am so sorry.” Tisha peeked into the room where they were supposed to meet. “I lost track of time.”
“Hey, I get that.” Mr. Price smiled. “It’s great to see you.”
“Please forgive me. I got really involved serving pie and chatting with customers.”
Oh brother. Could she sound any more scatterbrained? Ms. Strom moved around the room, sliding chairs under the table and collecting a stray marker from the floor.
“What can I do to help?” Tisha eyed the stack of construction paper and container of markers alongside Sadie’s backpack slouched against the wall. “Oh, that’s Sadie’s bag. Where is she?”
“I think she went down to the gym. Brody’s dad offered to keep an eye on her until you got here,” Ms. Strom said.
“Oh no.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “Is that a problem?”
“It’s fine. Brody’s dad is okay. I just…” Tisha hesitated, her heart racing. “He already has doubts about me and—”
“Oh.” Ms. Strom offered a knowing smile. “That’s all right. I think you’ll survive. We’ll see you next week, right?”
“Sure. Again, I apologize.”
“It’s okay. We all make mistakes.”
Tisha hurried down to the gym, stepping inside. Her daughter didn’t see her, so she leaned against the doorframe. Mr. Price followed her in. “I’m so sorry.”
“Really, it’s okay.” He stood beside her, scanning the activity inside the gym. “Like Ms. Strom said, we all make mistakes. You all right? Weather’s nasty out there. We were worried about you.”
“Everything’s fine. I just got caught up at the café and spaced on the meeting.”
“I’m sure Brody and his dad can fill you in.”
Was he trying to matchmake? She gave him the side-eye. No, couldn’t be.
“Mom, look!” Sadie spotted her and awkwardly bounced a basketball. Tisha waved. Hold on. Where were her shoes? Why was she in her socks?
Ethan looked up and smiled.
Her pulse quickened.
What? No. Stop it. She willed her heart to return to its normal grieving-widow pace.
“Here, Sadie,” Ethan said, motioning for Sadie to come closer. He helped her balance the ball on her palm, her elbow forming a sharp ninety-degree angle. “Bend at your knees, and then—boom!”
The ball kissed the backboard before dropping through the net. Sadie thrust both hands high in the air, a triumphant grin lighting up her face. “Perfect!”
“Nice shot!” Ethan high-fived her, and Tisha felt a rush of warmth.
Brody sat on the sidelines, scribbling in a notebook, trying to look nonchalant while clearly watching.
“Hey.” Ethan approached with Sadie trotting along beside him, slipping and sliding in her socks.
“Honey, where are your shoes?”
“Oh, they got wet at recess, so I took them off.”
“Is it okay that she’s in here in her socks?” Tisha asked.
“Of course,” Ethan said. “Missed you at the meeting. Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I just got caught up in something at the café. I’m so sorry.”
“No worries. We have a homework assignment.” He gave her a knowing look. “Teamwork, collaboration—you know the deal.”
“Great.” Tisha forced a smile. “Looking forward to that.”
Mr. Price stood by, watching the whole exchange with a curious expression.
“Hey, Mr. Ethan,” Sadie piped up. “Can I join your basketball team?”
“You’ll have to ask your mom if that’s okay,” he said, passing the ball back and forth from one hand to the other.
“Are you having tryouts?” Tisha asked.
“Uh, no. I think tryouts happened already,” Ethan said.
“But now that we have enough coaches, we don’t have to turn anyone away.” Mr. Price nudged Ethan in the side with his elbow. “Thanks for stepping up, Clutch.”
“Appreciate the offer, but I think we’ll pass for now,” Tisha said. “Is Brody on your team?”
“No, not yet.” Ethan glanced over his shoulder at his son, then frowned.
“But I’m trying to talk him into it,” Mr. Price said. “The kid’s a great shot. You’ve taught him well.”
A muscle in Ethan’s jaw twitched, but he didn’t say anything.
Tisha glanced between them. Yeah, okay, so passing on an opportunity for Sadie to get some exercise and make new friends might not be ideal. But letting Ethan coach Sadie in a sport she’d never played might be a bridge too far. Because the less time she spent around him, the better.
“Dad, is it time for pizza yet?” Brody hovered beside Ethan’s elbow, twirling his new red fidget spinner in a circle.
Ethan glanced at the clock on the gym wall. “Almost. We have about fifteen minutes to get to the restaurant.”
“Pizza? That sounds yummy!” Sadie bounced the ball, slapping at it with both hands.
He resisted the urge to correct her and instead offered Tisha an awkward smile.
Part of him wanted to invite Tisha and Sadie to dinner, but it didn’t feel appropriate, especially after all of their ups and downs over the past few days.
Besides, she hadn’t been receptive to joining the basketball league, so why would she say yes to a McGuire family gathering?
“You can come,” Brody said. “We can do our homework.”
“Oh, I don’t know if tonight’s the best night for that,” Ethan said.
“But me and Sadie can play air hockey!” Brody insisted, his eyes shining with excitement.
“It’s okay,” Tisha said, a knowing look in her eyes. “Sadie and I should probably head home anyway.”
“But when are we going to do our assignment?” Brody asked, his brows scrunched together.
“Brody loves Dockside Pizza Company because they have an air-hockey table.” Ethan plucked Brody’s coat off the floor and handed it to him. “And my sister, Megan, is in town with her new boyfriend, and they’re bringing a dog that just had puppies by the resort.”
“Puppies?” Sadie squealed, her face lighting up.
“Oh, fun.” Tisha smiled. “I remember your sister Megan. Wow, she was a teenaged barista the last time I saw her.”
“Yeah, a few things have changed in her life. She’s dating somebody who’s about to be deployed. His family has been dogsledding for ages. Anyway, she wants us to meet him.”
“That sounds complicated,” Tisha said. “Sadie and I are not going to interrupt that.”
“It’s not an interruption, it’s…” He trailed off.
Man, he was really messing this up. “Look, I’ll tell you what.
On Saturday, we’re having a resort-only activity.
It’s not open to the whole community. How about if you and Sadie come by?
I’ll make arrangements with Megan and her boyfriend.
You can hang out with the puppies, and there’s a snowshoe-softball tournament if you’re interested in that. ”
“Thank you for the invitation, but don’t you have clients to fly up into the mountains?” Tisha asked.
“I will make sure I’m available. How about Saturday at ten o’clock? Will that work? We can come up with something for Brody and Sadie to do that’s collaborative.”
“All right.” Tisha shrugged. “Sounds good. We’ll be there.”
“Dad, come on. I’m starving,” Brody whined, bouncing on his toes.
“Bye, Brody!” Sadie yelled as Tisha led her out of the gym.
“Come on, pal. Let’s get your backpack,” Ethan said.
Aaron gave him a high five. “Way to go, man. Really proud of both of you, and I’m glad to have you back, Clutch.”
“Thanks.” Ethan smiled, buoyed by his old friend’s encouragement.
As they stepped outside the school, the wind had died down, but bitter-cold temperatures enveloped them.
“Brody, where’s your hat?”
“I forgot it again,” Brody said, trudging along beside him.
“Come on, let’s hurry,” Ethan urged, quickening his pace. They walked briskly to the Suburban, where he started the engine before hopping back out to dust off the snow that had blown across the windshield.
A few minutes later, he found a parking spot facing the boat harbor and across the street from Dockside Pizza. Several boats bobbed gently in their slips. He stared over the railing. Snow had stacked up on the roofs of the houseboats, and the water looked unbelievably cold.
“Wait, why isn’t it frozen?” Brody asked, craning his neck to look over the railing.
“The ocean doesn’t freeze here,” Ethan explained. “Fun fact, Redemption is the northernmost ice-free port.”
“Cool. Let’s get some pizza.”
Ethan looked both ways before crossing the street, guiding his son to the entrance.
As Ethan and Brody stepped into Dockside Pizza Company, they were immediately enveloped in a warm, inviting atmosphere.
The air was thick with the rich aroma of freshly baked pizza mingling with notes of garlic and herbs.
The walls, adorned with rustic wooden paneling, were decorated with nautical-themed memorabilia—old fishing nets, vintage photographs of the local harbor—and colorful hand-painted signs advertising classic sodas.
Soft, ambient lighting cast a golden glow across the room.
An old jukebox in the corner played a mix of classic rock and upbeat pop tunes, adding to the lively vibe.
Clattering plates and the cheerful laughter of families gathered around booths and tables created a comforting din that made the restaurant feel alive.
In one corner, an air-hockey table gleamed under the warm lights. Nearby, a Pac-Man arcade machine flickered with neon colors. The bar was lined with stools, where locals gathered for a quick bite or a few drinks, their conversations punctuated by hearty laughter.
The staff, clad in matching red aprons, moved swiftly between tables, balancing trays laden with steaming pizzas and frosty mugs of soda. Ethan paused and soaked it all in. He hadn’t been here in years. What a relief to see that some things hadn’t changed at all.
“Ethan, hey! We’re over here.”
Ethan turned in the direction of the familiar voice. His youngest brother, Tate, stood at the end of a crowded table, waving them over.
Brody dodged a server carrying a loaded tray and raced toward the table. “Uncle Tate, what are you doing here?”
“I came for the pizza, just like you.” Tate grinned, then pulled Brody in for a hug. “What’s new? How’s school?”
“Fine, I guess. We stayed late because Dad wanted to play basketball,” Brody said, peeling off his coat and flinging it onto the closest empty chair.
Ethan shook Tate’s hand, then gave him a back slap. “Good to see you, man.”
“You too.” His brother raised an eyebrow. “Basketball?”
Ethan jumped in. “Brody and I had a meeting with the counselor and another student, but the other parent was late, so we were just hanging out in the gym, shooting some baskets. Somehow, I was persuaded to coach a team of seven- and eight-year-olds.”
“Cool. That sounds fun.” Tate reclaimed his seat.
Ethan sat down beside him and opened the laminated trifold menu with the same red cover and Dockside Pizza logo that had been around forever.
“Dad, no one’s playing air hockey. Let’s go!” Brody urged.
“Hang on, hang on. Let’s say hello to everybody,” Ethan said, scanning the table. Heaving a sigh, Brody flopped down in a chair at the far end of the table.
Megan shoved back her chair and squealed. Her blonde ponytail bobbed against her shoulders as she hurried toward Ethan.
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it.” She flung her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
“It’s good to see you too, squirt,” he said, patting her arm. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
“Over there.” She pointed to the far side of the table. “Hey, Lance. Come say hello to my oldest brother.”
A tall, athletic man with dark brown hair, clear blue eyes, and a broad smile approached.
“Hey, I’m Lance Thomas. Good to meet you,” the man said, extending his hand.
“And you as well. I’m Ethan. First time in Redemption?”
“We’ve conducted drills in the area. I’ve never been here just for fun though.” Lance draped his arm around Megan’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
“I see. Heard you got your orders?”
The man’s expression sobered. “Yes, sir.”
“We appreciate your service.”
“And yours as well,” Lance said. “Megan tells me you just got out?”
“I did,” Ethan said, nodding.
“Miss it?”
“Uh…sort of. But it’s time for me to be a dad full-time. I still get to fly here but it’s different,” Ethan said, glancing toward Tate, who had given in to Brody’s pleas for a game of air hockey. “Thanks for bringing the puppies. I think they’re going to be a huge hit.”
Lance grinned. “Yeah. Happy to do it. Anything to keep Megan happy, you know?”
Megan stared up at the guy with a dreamy look in her wide-set blue eyes, and Ethan turned away, feeling a prickle on the back of his neck.
Something about that whole interaction felt off.
He had been away for most of Megan’s teenage years, and their father often said her ability to pick a good man was broken.
And she seemed to be having some challenges as a single parent; Ethan could relate.
“Hey, look! Isn’t that Tisha?” Megan asked, her eyes lighting up.
Ethan’s breath caught in his chest. He glanced toward the door. Tisha stood at the hostess stand, fishing her wallet out of her purse. All of a sudden the air in the room felt a little too warm.
“Huh. That’s interesting timing, isn’t it?” Luke winked. “Want to say hello, Meg?”
“Absolutely,” Megan said, trailing after Luke.
Great. He scrubbed his hand across his jaw. Now he’d have to pretend not to care that she’d walked in. Like he wasn’t hyperaware of her presence. Like his heart hadn’t kicked against his ribs just now when Tisha recognized his sister and flashed that stunning smile.
Oh boy. He turned away as the air-hockey puck pinged off the edge of the table, then sailed into the goal Tate had left wide open.
“Yay!” Brody cheered as the digital screen awarded him a point.
“Wow.” Tate shook his head. “Never saw that coming.”
“Great shot, kiddo. Well done!” Ethan praised, warmth blooming in his chest.
Brody beamed. “Thanks, Dad. I’m pretty good at this.”
“Yeah, you sure are.”
Brody stood taller, held his chin higher, and had a light in his eyes that Ethan hadn’t seen enough of lately. He’d have to remember to praise Brody more often. Tate retrieved the puck, set it back on the table, and it glided across the surface. Tate tapped it gently.
“Don’t go easy on me, Uncle Tate. Play me as hard as you would play my dad or Uncle Luke,” Brody challenged.
“I don’t know that you need to go quite that hard,” Ethan said, shooting Tate a pleading glance.
“No need to worry, Bro,” Tate said, defending his goal from another one of Brody’s shots. “This boy’s got skills.”
Just then, Luke joined them, and Dad rolled up beside him in his wheelchair. Ethan tried to focus on Brody and Tate’s game, but he couldn’t shake the nagging distraction of Tisha standing there, waiting to pick up her order.
Brody scored again, and Ethan leaned over to give him a high five. Then, almost against his will, he glanced toward the door again. Tisha slipped out, the brown paper takeout bag bumping against her hip. She didn’t look back.
He blew out a breath and shook his head, a quiet laugh rumbling in his chest. Like it would have mattered if she had stayed. But for some ridiculous reason, a part of him wished she had.