Playing For Keeps (16 page)

He glanced at Mike who was watching him. Mike
nodded.

“I was, um, wondering if you were coming
tonight to my concert.”

“I wasn’t under the impression you wanted me
to come.”

Swallowing hard, Kyle glanced again at Coach,
who reached over and squeezed his shoulder. Left his hand there.
Kyle said, “I want you to come, Dad. I mean it.”

Another long pause. “Well, I’m afraid it’s
too late. I’ve made other plans.”

Now he felt as though his father had slapped
him. “Other plans? You knew about the date all summer.”

“Yes, I did. As I said, it didn’t appear as
if you wanted me there. So Stephanie and I are busy elsewhere.”

Stephanie, the current young girlfriend. Kyle
couldn’t talk around the lump in his throat.

After a moment, his father said, “Kyle? Did
you hear me?”

“Yeah, Dad, I heard you loud and clear. I
guess I’ll see you around.” He clicked off.

He couldn’t look at Coach. And he didn’t have
to say anything, because Coach swore again as he took the
phone.

Feeling his eyes sting, Kyle bolted off the
bench and crossed to the water. Oh, God. He felt the tears spill
over. He swiped at his face but they wouldn’t stop.

Then he felt a hand on his shoulder again.
“I’m sorry, Kyle.”

He couldn’t say anything.

“Adults, sometimes they’re stupid with kids.
There are all sorts of power plays, and some parents think they can
behave any way they want with their children.”

“He...” Kyle hiccupped. “He doesn’t care
about me.”

“He cares,” Coach said, clasping Kyle’s other
shoulder, too. It felt good. “As much as he can. Some people have
limits on their affection. It’s no reflection on you, or your
mama.”

“That’s what Mom says.” He choked out the
words.

“It’s true. He’s a fool to distance himself
from a terrific kid like you.”

That did it. The sobs came, deep from his
belly. It just hurt too much to keep inside.

He felt Coach tug on his arm. He tried to
resist, but Coach was strong enough to turn him around and drag
Kyle to his chest.

Kyle hung on like a little boy. And cried
like a girl. He couldn’t stop himself. It didn’t last long, thank
God. He became aware of Coach rubbing his back, murmuring
something. Finally he could pull back. He swallowed hard and looked
up at Mike. “This is so lame. I’m embarrassed.”

“For cryin’ when somebody rips your heart
out?”

Kyle felt a tug on his shorts. He looked down
to see Ty there, staring at him wide-eyed. “Daddy says it’s okay to
cry. His
players
do.”

That made Kyle smile. “I guess it’s okay, if
his players do it.”

Coach grinned. “I’m sorry, Kyle. There’s no
way to make this better. It sucks like a bucket of ticks.”

Kyle stared at Coach. “There’s something you
could do that would help,” he said without letting himself think
about what he was going to ask.

“You want me to go beat him up?”

Kyle felt a grin tug at his lips. “No, I want
you and Ty to come to my concert.”

A huge smile spread across Coach’s face.
“Why, we’d be honored.” He ruffled Kyle’s hair. “Someday, we’re
gonna be able to say we knew you when.”

Kyle swallowed hard. “Thanks.”

“I can come, too?” Ty asked.

Kyle reached down and put his hand on the
boy’s shoulder. Coach reached out and put his on Kyle’s. And
suddenly, the day seemed a little brighter.

o0o

Jacelyn began the meeting. “We’ll start by
confirming our schedules and time frames. As you know, the course
selections are all in for next semester, except for any drops or
adds after the term begins. I know Lew has met with those of you
whose workload has been affected by the lower enrollment numbers.”
She scanned the room. “Mainly you, Craig, and you, Sara.”

Sara Minton smiled. “I don’t mind not
teaching the Business Law course this semester. It needs to be
revamped, anyway, as it’s become too general for our needs. But...”
She shrugged. “I wish there was some other class for me. Money will
be tight.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Combined with the loss of summer-school
pay,” Craig put in. “It’s a problem for me, too.”

“I don’t know what to say, Craig.”

“We’ve all been through this,” a teacher in
Business Education put in. “Things have an ebb and flow.”

“That’s right. You were short a course two
years in a row, weren’t you, Pat?”

“Yep. Now we have an overflow.” He smiled.
“Go figure.”

Jacelyn turned to Jake Lansing, who’d sat
back and watched the proceedings. “Jake, would you like to make
your proposal now?”

“Yeah, sure.” He smiled as he faced the
department. “We have a course next semester that’s going to be
taught by outside personnel. It’s called Sports Stakeholders. It
will examine the interaction of athlete, coach, owner, business and
media.”

Jacelyn listened as he described the
curriculum. Some of the staff seemed interested, a few rolled their
eyes. “And I’d like to propose Mike Kingston teach it.”

Craig leaned forward. “I object to some dumb
jock teaching in our department.”

Lansing’s face hardened. “I resent that
term.”

“I resent your ridiculous program taking away
my income.”

“That’s enough, both of you.” Jacelyn
purposely kept her voice calm. “Craig, Lew Cavanaugh wants the
Bulls in this program. We don’t have much choice.”

“Just Lew Cavanaugh?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You want them, too. Particularly
Kingston.”

“I think Coach Kingston will be an asset to
our staff. His expertise will go a long way with the kids.”

“His charm doesn’t hurt.”

“Excuse me, I don’t understand that
remark.”

“Never mind, Jacelyn. We all got the message.
The jocks are taking our income, as well as making their own
millions.”

Lansing leaned forward. “Last I heard, this
college supported the Sports Studies program and agreed to have the
Bulls’ summer camp here. I was told the administration wanted the
Bulls as guest lecturers and adjuncts.”

“You’re right, Jake.” Sara Minton spoke up.
“Most of us supported you and the team.” She threw a disgusted look
at Craig. “Others didn’t. As Lew Cavanaugh said, this is all good
for the college.” She smiled at Jacelyn. “I think your idea to hire
Kingston is a good one.”

All but two others agreed. Finally, the tense
meeting was over.

And Jacelyn was furious. “I’d like you to
stay, Craig,” she said gritting her teeth.

He faced her squarely. “Sure.”

When everyone left, she pivoted her chair to
the right. “Exactly what were you implying during the meeting?”

“I think it was obvious.”

“You meant it to be obvious to everybody. But
just in case I misunderstood, spell it out for me.”

“It’s no secret you’re hot for the
Coach.”

“What?”

“You’re not really protesting, are you?”

“I don’t have to protest.”

“You were seen being carried across campus by
him.”

She hated defending herself. “I hurt my foot
and couldn’t walk.”

“Hal found him asleep on your couch.”

“Is Hal behind this gossip?”

Craig reddened. He knew better than-to
implicate Hal. “No, of course not. He talked to me right after you
gave him the boot.”

“What
is
this, junior high?”

“Don’t look at me. I’m not the one mooning
over some football player.”

She counted to ten. “I’ll say this once. My
decision to ask Coach Kingston to be an adjunct is based on
professional reasons only.”

“I don’t hear a denial about the personal
stuff.”

“I don’t owe you a confirmation or a denial,
Craig.”

He stood then, his face flushed. “Maybe not
me. But you sure as hell are accountable to Lew Cavanaugh.” His
look was sly. “Of course, if you’d appoint me to teach one of those
Sports Studies classes, I might not feel the need to go to Lew. I
could do the Stats one. Then one of the other Sports Studies guys
could pick up the Stakeholders thing and we wouldn’t need
Kingston.”

“Are you blackmailing me?”

“Is the course mine?”

“No.”

“Fine.” He turned and stalked out, calling
over his shoulder, “This isn’t over.”

Jacelyn was stunned. Had he actually
threatened her? She couldn’t believe it. Standing, she went back to
her desk and started to input numbers into her computer. It was
slow going as her mind kept reverting to Craig’s comments. She
wondered if everybody in the school was talking about her. Should
she go to Lew herself? No, that would give Craig’s remarks
credence.

An hour later there was a knock on her door.
She glanced up to find Lew in the doorway. “Well,” she said, “that
didn’t take long.”

o0o

“You look real spiffy there, young man.” Mike
smiled at his son’s outfit as they left the car and headed toward
Hochstein’s music hall.

“We match, Daddy,” Tyler, said taking his
hand. Mike’s heart melted when the boy did things like that. He
loved being a father.

His thoughts catapulted to Kyle and his dad.
What the hell was wrong with Worthington? Sure, Mike had been an
absent father to Tyler for a lot of years, but that was because
Trudy had wanted it that way. And because they’d never been
married. Still, he’d had the boy regularly during the off-season
and on vacations when Trudy would let him.

Tyler was chattering on, cute as a button in
his dark slacks, white T-shirt and the navy blazer Mike had just
bought him today. Mike’s shirt was silk, but otherwise they were
twins. All dressed up for Kyle’s concert.

There’s something you could do that would
help...come to my concert.

“You know, sport, you gotta be real quiet
tonight here.”

“Okay.”

“You ever been to a music performance,
Ty?”

“Nope, you?”

“Can’t say I have.”

Jeez, he was culturally deficient. Jacelyn
probably spent most of her life in concert halls. They were so
different, he was constantly amazed that he wanted her so bad.

Once they got inside the building, he
realized they were early. Thinking about whether to look for her,
try to sit with her—probably not a good idea—Mike ushered Ty into
the auditorium. It was a good size, with graded seating of about
sixty rows up and as many seats wide. He didn’t spot Jacelyn, so he
decided that was a sign. “Come on, Ty, let’s sit in that—”

“There’s Dr. Ross.” The kid took off like a
bullet. So much for good sense.

Mike followed him, and reached Jacelyn’s row
in time to see Ty launch himself at her. And in time to see her hug
his son tightly. “Hey, little guy. What are you doing here?”

“Came to see Kyle play.”

“Oh!” Her look was full of pleasure. Suddenly
he wanted—real bad—to keep that expression on her face. “It’s so
sweet of you to show up.”

“Can’t miss the grand performance.” Mike
smiled at Eric who sat next to Jacelyn. “How you doin’, buddy?”

“Terrific. Nice of you to come.”

He said hello to Kay, and nodded to the seats
on the other side of Jacelyn. “These taken?”

“Not now. I was saving them for Millie,
and...” Her voice trailed off. “Never mind. Millie called my cell
to say one of her boys is sick. So the seats are free. Sit
down.”

They sat, with Ty between them.

Jacelyn tousled the boy’s hair. “You look
pretty handsome tonight, young man,” she said smiling. But Mike
noted lines of strain around her face. Had something happened, or
was it just because jerk-head Worthington hadn’t shown? He couldn’t
say anything though. He’d promised Kyle he wouldn’t.

Um, Coach, don’t
tell Mom about
this. It’ll just upset her, and Dad already does that
enough.

They made small talk until the concert began.
There were three featured artists playing with the Philharmonic—on
the violin, the trumpet and the piano. Kyle was last. Mike settled
in.

He tried to concentrate on the music, and not
think about Jacelyn. The program was halfway through when Ty
started to squirm. “Maybe I should take him out,” he whispered to
Jacelyn in between solos.

“No! Wanna sit on Dr. Ross’s lap.”

“You’ll get her pretty dress all wrinkled,
Champ.” And it
was
pretty—pink sleeveless silk that melded
to her form.

“No, he won’t.” Jacelyn reached out and took
Tyler onto her lap. He cuddled into her.

Just before Kyle’s performance, Tyler fell
asleep in Jacelyn’s lap. Mike tried to take him so she could enjoy
her son’s time on stage, but she shook her head. She seemed to like
having his boy there. Mike watched as she brushed his head with her
lips.

Hell of a thing to be jealous of your own
kid!

Mike was distracted from Jacelyn when Kyle
began to play. The music took possession of the air, filled it,
dominated every inch of the auditorium. He couldn’t tear his eyes
away from Kyle, who was a regular maestro on stage.

The audience was impressed, too. When Kyle’s
performance ended, everybody stood. Mike took Tyler from Jacelyn,
and she stood, too. It was then he saw that she was crying.

Ty woke up, of course. He hugged his father
sleepily. When the applause died down, he asked, “How come Dr.
Ross’s crying?”

“Because I’m happy, sweetie.”

“Is that why Kyle was crying this morning,
Daddy?”

o0o

They always went to Phillip’s European
Restaurant for dessert after a concert. Kyle invited his uncle and
the Kingstons to join them; Eric begged off but Tyler wanted to go,
so there was little Jacelyn could do about spending more time with
Mike. In any case, she wanted to know what Tyler’s comment had
referred to.

All in all, she was feeling pretty raw. She
was still reeling from her talk with Craig, then Lew. And, of
course, there was the fact that she felt like a hypocrite—she
was
hot for the coach. On top of everything, Neil hadn’t
come to the concert. When she’d asked Kyle, as casually as she
could, if he’d talked to his father, he’d said yes, and Neil
wouldn’t be attending. He’d also said he didn’t want to discuss
it.