Take Three

  He climbed out of his car and hoped this was one of those times.

  Eight

  BAILEY FLANIGAN PUSHED THE SHOPPING CART next to her mother through their local supermarket. They were out of practically everything, so they each pushed a cart. Her mom was slightly distracted, trying to remember what they needed. Even still she was able to catch up on Bailey’s life the way they so easily did when they were together.

  “Have you heard from Andi?”

  “Not much.” Bailey frowned as she reached for the produce display. “Four packs of blueberries?”

  “Make it six. The boys go through them faster in the summer.”

  Bailey grabbed six and tossed them into her cart. “It’s like she’s avoiding me.”

  “The whole Taz thing?”

  “Right. I mean, Mom, you know how hard I tried. The guy was so bad for her. Now he’s broken her heart and she’s more closed off than ever.”

  “Maybe she should move in with us. Skip the whole dorm scene.”

  “I’d love that.” Bailey had thought about the possibility before. Andi had not turned out to be the friend she had hoped for, but here at her parents’ house they might still become close.

  They moved down the frozen food aisle to the produce section. “You think she’d be open to it?”

  “Not really.” Bailey wanted to be honest with her mom and herself. “She won’t talk to me. I have no reason to think she’d want to live with us.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “It is. She needs a friend now, especially since she and Taz are broken up.” Bailey grabbed three bunches of bananas and put them next to the blueberries. “Sometimes I wonder what she’s thinking, why she’s so distant.”

  “Guilt, maybe.”

  “Maybe.”

  “That’s sad.”

  “It is. I can’t find a way to get through to her.”

  Bailey’s mom filled a plastic bag with vine-ripened tomatoes and another one with cilantro. Every summer she cut up fresh pico de gallo and kept it in a container in the fridge. They ate it on everything from fish to turkey sandwiches. “Tell me about your finals.”

  “I did okay.” Bailey wrinkled her nose. “I’m a little worried about my statistics class. The questions she gave us weren’t on the study sheet.” They talked about the grades Bailey expected from the semester and the courses she would take in the fall. They were almost to the checkstand when her mom gave her a knowing look. “So…how’s Tim?”

  Bailey sighed, and she realized she was always doing that. Sighing when someone mentioned Tim. That had to be a problem, right? “I keep asking myself why I stay with him. I mean, he’s nice and we have a lot of the same interests.”

  “He comes from a good family.”

  “Yes.” Bailey pushed her cart more slowly. “But so do a lot of guys. That doesn’t mean I should date them.”

  Her mom hesitated, her eyes more on Bailey than what was in front of her. She almost sideswiped a cart being pushed by a little gray-haired old lady. “Sorry.” Jenny covered her mouth, embarrassed. Then she and Bailey swapped a quiet laugh. “I have to watch where I’m going.”

  “We both do.”

  This time her mom kept her eyes straight ahead. “Why, then, Bailey? Why date him?”

  Bailey had thought about the question every night for what felt like months. “I guess because I spent so long crushing on him back when we were in CKT.” Her heart sank a little as they reached the check stand. “He’s easy to be with, likeable. He shares my faith. That, and because he’s the only guy in my life. No one else is interested.”

  Jenny began unloading her cart, but she raised one eyebrow and flashed Bailey a kind look. “That isn’t true.”

  “It is.” She let the disappointment sound in her voice. She had no walls where her mother was concerned. The older she got, the more her mom was her best friend. “If Cody liked me, he’d say so. He’s waiting for his dream girl. He told me so.”

  Jenny nodded slowly and didn’t say more on the topic. They finished unloading the carts, and Bailey allowed herself to get lost in thought just a little. This was the sort of night when she would’ve loved nothing more than to ask Cody over to her parents’ house. They were planning to watch a football movie—Remember the Titans. And before that, her mom was going to make the famous Baxter Enchilada Casserole—the recipe she got from Ashley Baxter Blake years ago. They’d probably even play a round of Pictionary before the night was over. Cody would love a night like that. Tim was still recovering from being sick, but even so, she couldn’t call Cody and ask him over. So she did the only thing she could do.

  She prayed that wherever Cody was, he’d know how much she cared. And that someday—if he really had feelings for her the way her mother believed—he would make his intentions clear.

  Until then, nothing would ever change between them.

  RICKY MET CODY AT THE FLANIGAN front door, a football in his hands. “Cody!”

  “Wow, look at you.” Cody jogged up the front steps and hugged the youngest Flanigan boy. “You must’ve grown a foot!”

  Ricky beamed. “I think I did.”

  “You must be almost as tall as your brothers.”

  “Taller than Shawn and almost as tall as Justin.” He stuck his chest out. “Dad thinks I’m gonna be six-five.”

  Cody stifled a quiet laugh. “Could be, buddy. You’re the biggest twelve-year-old I’ve ever seen. That’s for sure.”

  “Yeah, and guess what? I’m playing quarterback next year for the seventh grade team. Isn’t that great?”

  “Wow. That’s great, Ricky. You’ll be amazing.”

  Ricky led the way back into the house. “You have to come see my games.”

  They walked down an open hallway toward the kitchen. Every time he was back, Cody wished he never would’ve left. But joining the service was the best thing for him—no matter the personal cost. The army was paying for his college education, and he had done his part to defend his country. He didn’t regret that for a single moment.

  The kitchen was empty, but through a wall of windows Cody spotted Jim out back, an acre from the house tossing a football with Justin, Shawn, BJ, and Connor. All the Flanigan boys played football—though Connor, at seventeen, would rather spend an evening writing music at the family piano than watching a Monday Night game on ESPN.

  “Come play with us,” Ricky grinned as he tossed the ball to Cody. “Now we can go three-on-three!”

  That’s what he loved about the Flanigan boys. It didn’t matter if he’d been gone for weeks or months. They treated him like family, like his presence here was as natural as if he’d never left. He wanted to ask Ricky how his heart was doing, and whether he’d had any more rhythm issues. But it didn’t seem like the time. Plus, if he was planning on playing football next year for his middle school, he must be doing well. Cody was glad. He worried about the youngest Flanigan boy.

  “Come on!” Ricky tried again as he was halfway out the back door. He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Cody’s here,” he shouted. “Game time!”

  Cody looked around, listening for anyone else in the house. Bailey had moved home before summer classes started. He wondered if she was home now, but he didn’t hear her. He hadn’t come to play football, but now the idea sounded great. He still worked out every day, pushing himself on his prosthetic lower left leg so that now he could run and swim and bike better than before his war injury. Today he wore jeans and tennis shoes. As he jogged out to join Jim and the Flanigan boys, Cody was pleased that he didn’t have even the slightest limp.

  “Cody!” Jim held his hand high, his face taken up by a smile as genuine as the Bloomington sky. “Great to see you!”

  “You’re gonna play, right?” BJ ran up to him first, breathless. “We’ve needed a sixth guy all afternoon.”

  Cody laughed. “I’m in.”

  The game was wildly competitive for a backyard contest, but then that was always how the Flanigan kids played. Like the Su
per Bowl was on the line with every play. Ricky was the worst—calling fouls and arguing over yardage gained and whether a first down really was a first down. In the end, Cody won with a team of Justin and Connor. Ricky hung his head as they walked back to the house, but only for a minute. “I was terrible today.”

  “Hey,” Jim roughed up his son’s blond hair and gave him a somewhat stern look. “None of that. Someone has to lose. You all played well.”

  Ricky looked like he might disagree, but then he stopped short with a reluctant smile. “Okay.”

  They were almost to the house, when Jim stopped short. He put his hands on his waist, still catching his breath. “You boys go in and see if your mom and Bailey are home. See if they need help bringing in the groceries or getting dinner ready.”

  Not one of the kids argued. Instead they walked off as a group, already letting the intensity of the competition go. Justin slung his arm around Ricky’s back. “You looked great today. We got lucky, that’s all.”

  “A win’s a win.” They grinned at each other and a minute later they were all inside.

  Cody watched, amazed. This family was exactly how he wanted his family to be one day. The kids truly were friends. Cody grabbed a full breath and exhaled slowly. The sun was in his eyes as he squinted at Jim. “How long did it take for them to get that close? After you adopted, I mean?”

  “Adopting was a family decision.” Jim held the football. He tossed it in the air and easily caught it, his eyes never leaving Cody’s. “We all promised not to feel sorry for our new boys from Haiti. That way they would have the same love, the same expectations as our biological kids.” He shrugged. “That and a lot of prayer. I can’t remember a time when these kids weren’t all as close as they are right now.”

  “I guess I never asked much about it when I lived here.” Cody shaded his eyes. “Too caught up in myself.”

  “You had a lot going on.”

  Cody hadn’t planned on having time alone with Jim, but now that they were here together, it only made sense to share what was on his mind. His breathing was back to normal, his body cooled off from the game. “You have a minute? To talk, I mean?”

  “Sure.” Jim didn’t hesitate. Here was one of the most powerful pro football coaches in the country with a whole houseful of kids on one of his only days off. But there wasn’t even a hesitation about whether he had time for Cody. That was Jim Flanigan. He threw a short spiral pass and the football landed near the back door. Then he nodded to Cody to follow him. “Let’s walk. I want to see how the path through the woods is doing. Sometimes it gets overgrown during the spring.”

  Cody fell in beside him. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my future, what I want to do with my life.”

  “I’m glad.” Jim grinned at him. “That’s half the battle, putting a little thought into it. So many kids never even do that.” Jim kept the pace slow, his focus entirely on Cody. In the distance a woodpecker’s tap-tap-tap echoed through the woods, but otherwise there wasn’t a sound. Not even a breeze to rustle the new summer leaves. “So…what have you come up with?”

  He narrowed his eyes, looking at the blue beyond the tree branches. “I keep remembering something you told me a long time ago when I still lived here. You said life isn’t a dress rehearsal, and it’s important to find joy in the short time you have.”

  “Yes.” Jim nodded slowly. “I tell that to all my kids.”

  “You said joy comes first from knowing the Lord, from having a personal relationship with Jesus.”

  “Definitely.”

  The path ahead looked like it needed work, but there was room to pass. “Second, you said joy comes from your family. So it’s more important who you marry than what you do for a living.”

  “True.” His smile was easy. “Jobs come and go.”

  “Right.” Cody could remember the conversation like it had just happened. Jim Flanigan had given him more direction in life than anyone he knew. “And you said joy came from having as little debt as possible. Living within your means.”

  “Very important.”

  “Finally, you told me that a joyful life was one where you loved your line of work.”

  “Absolutely.” Jim breathed in deep and took in the beauty around them. “You’ll never be sorry if you spend a lifetime doing what you love. No matter how much money you make.”

  “Exactly.” Cody loved this, talking to Jim. “I’ve thought about being an EMT, and I’ve thought about going to law school. Being a big-shot prosecutor. Like the guys on TV.” He chuckled, and Jim did the same. “Drive a nice car, live in a nice house. That sort of thing.”

  Jim tilted his head and raised his brow, his laughter giving way to a warning. “Stuff can be a trap. Jenny married me believing I’d be a penniless high school teacher. Both of us were okay with that.”

  “Right, which is what I’ve been thinking lately.” He stopped and faced Jim. “I think I want to coach football. Make a living at it.” He felt vulnerable sharing his feelings, not sure if Jim would think him crazy for even thinking he could coach. But before he could explain himself more fully, Jim was nodding in agreement.

  “I’ve watched you around the game, around our kids. I think you’d be a natural, Cody. If you want to coach, then coach. Volunteer for Clear Creek High. If you hate it, move on to something else. But if you never try, you could miss a lifetime of doing something you might truly enjoy.”

  “Really?” With every word Jim uttered, Cody felt his heart soar. “Even for this coming season?”

  “Of course. You’re young. Younger than I was when I started coaching. There’s no better time to try it than now. It could change your life.”

  Cody felt a thrill rush through him. Was it possible? Could he be coaching at Clear Creek as soon as fall? He stood a little straighter and suddenly he felt more excited about his future than he had all year. They walked a little further and Jim shifted the conversation. “How’s your faith, Cody? You staying close to Jesus?”

  “Definitely.” He told Jim about the Cru retreat, how he’d enjoyed focused time to read his Bible and pray about God’s direction for his life. “That’s partly why I wanted to talk to you. The Lord made it clear at the retreat that I needed to try coaching. It’s something inside me.”

  “That’s how it felt for me too.” Jim grinned and patted Cody on the back. “I’m glad you stopped by.” They turned around and headed back to the house. “Bailey was on the retreat.”

  “Yes.” Cody never liked talking about Bailey with her family. He wasn’t sure how they felt about Tim Reed, but he was her boyfriend. All of them knew that. “She and I talked. It was nice. Being together like that.”

  Jim slowed his pace, his attention more fully on Cody. “She cares a great deal for you.” He looked like he might say something more, but he stopped himself. “Probably more than you know.”

  “I…I like hearing that.” Cody wanted to say more too. He wanted to ask if Bailey cared so much, then why was she dating Tim. But that wasn’t a conversation he could have with her father. And the last thing Cody wanted was any awkwardness between them. Instead he shifted the conversation again. “Pray for my mom, will you? She’s acting funny. I’m worried about her.”

  Concern clouded Jim’s eyes. “She’s still clean?”

  “I’m not sure. The guy she’s dating, the way she seems nervous all the time. I think she’s about to fall.” He studied the ground for a few seconds. “There’s nothing I can do to stop her, but I’d like to try.”

  Jim nodded, understanding. “I’ll tell Jenny. We’ll pray.” He put his arm around Cody’s shoulders. “Let us know if there’s anything we can do.”

  “I will.” Cody felt his emotions gather in his throat, a combination of the way Jim treated him like a son, and the certainty that his mother was about to suffer yet another crisis. He was so grateful for the Flanigans, for this time with Jim. As they reached the house, Cody hugged Jim hard. “Thanks. For letting me talk.”

  “Stay
for dinner.” Jim gathered the football and reached for the back door handle. “I’ll call Ryan Taylor. See if he could use another assistant through summer league.”

  Cody could hardly believe it. “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I want to. You’re here all summer, right?” His smile was kind, compassionate.

  “I am.”

  “Okay, then. You might as well be on a football field.”

  Cody grinned, again grateful. He hadn’t imagined Jim would make a phone call this quickly. Ryan Taylor had been the assistant at Clear Creek High when Cody played there, back when Jim was the head coach. It was a position he’d taken after his first retirement from the NFL. But when the Colts hired Jim, Ryan took over at the high school. Cody followed Jim into the house.

  The scene was happy chaos inside—typical Flanigan stuff. Bailey and Jenny were unloading grocery bags while a tag team of Flanigan boys carried in one armload after another. Jenny spotted him first. “Cody! The boys said you were here!” She blew at a wisp of hair in her eyes. “You’d think we were stocking up for a month.”

  Bailey exchanged a look with him then. She mouthed a quiet hi, her eyes sparkling in the sunlight streaming through the window. “The checker always gives us a funny look.” She pulled five oversized packs of eggs from a single bag. “‘You must run a daycare,’ they say, or sometimes it’s, ‘What in the world are you doing with all these eggs!’” Bailey giggled and put her hand on her mother’s shoulder. “What did we figure it was each week?”

  “A hundred and eight eggs every seven days.” Jenny laughed. “Unless we have extra kids on the weekend. Then it’s more.”

  “It was more when I lived here.” Cody moved into the kitchen and started unloading one of the bags lined across the counter. They worked together, while Jenny whipped up the great-smelling enchilada casserole and popped it into the oven. When the groceries were unloaded and the mess from two dozen plastic bags was cleaned up, when toilet paper had been taken to each of the Flanigans’ nine bathrooms, and cleaning supplies had been distributed to the same, Cody motioned for Bailey to follow him into the piano room.