I added, “But also, if you have a family company that’s struggling and I come in to help and they can get on board with the business plan, what’s the point in breaking them up?”
“So, you don’t go in and tear apart companies for shits and giggles?”
For whatever reason, his question made me laugh. “Definitely not. Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I laughed at work.”
Weston chuckled. “That’s a shame. I laugh all the time. It’s really the best way to lift your spirits.”
He had a point. “Do you like working with kids?”
He shrugged. “The alternative was to stay home all day and stare at the wall. I suppose there are times when I’d prefer the wall because it doesn’t talk back, but yeah, I love my job.”
“Have you always wanted to be a teacher?”
Weston laughed. “Nope, but getting my degree in physical education was the easier path in college, and it made for a nice retirement.”
Retirement?
“Wait, what?”
He chuckled again, and I found that I liked the sound of it. I wasn’t wrong when I’d said I didn’t laugh at work. No one did. Work was always so damn serious. We were always straight-faced, no nonsense. The idea of work filled me with dread. I hadn’t looked at my emails since I arrived, nor had I returned any of Brendan’s messages. He was angry with me, and rightly so; I dumped a lot on him, but he could handle it for a few days while I figured things out.
“Teaching and coaching is my retirement job,” Weston said.
“What did you do beforehand?”
Weston’s cheeks blushed. He looked at the yard and tried to hide the small smile spreading across his lips. I knew I was missing the punchline of whatever his career used to be.
“You honestly don’t know?”
I shook my head slowly.
He glanced my way, his smile still in place. For a moment I wondered if he was one of those male models who used to grace our TV with their underwear ads.
“In my other life, I was a professional baseball pitcher until I had a career-ending injury.”
“Wow.” I shook my head. “Sorry, Cutter never said a thing. I mean, I knew he liked his baseball coach, but I didn’t know you played professionally.”
“It’s not something I talk about, but yeah. I mean, it’s not a secret. Everyone in town knows, and during the annual summer parade, the town makes a big deal about it. And there are times when the league will ask me to do appearances and other things.” He shrugged as if what he used to do wasn’t a big deal.
“I don’t know shit about sports,” I told him. “I go to Cutter’s games when he’s playing near my home, but that’s about it.”
“Where’s home?”
“Boston.”
His face fell at the mention of the city I lived in, and I wanted to ask him why, but he masked his expression quickly by looking away. Before either of us could continue, the screen door opened, and Miri stepped out. She looked like her old self. Not sick. Not someone facing the biggest battle of her life. Scout ran up to her, and sure enough, she slipped him a dog treat and then crouched down to hug him.
As much as I wanted to watch her, absorb her energy, I found myself watching Weston instead. There was something about him that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. From our brief interactions I knew he was a good guy, and I liked that about him. Especially if Cutter was going to need someone to talk to.
Chapter 10
Weston
Miriam smiled softly at me after she finished petting Scout. He loved her. But he also loved anyone who would rub his belly and feed him snacks. She walked down the stairs and into her yard, tilting her head back. I never took my eyes off her, watching and wondering what she was doing.
The sun shone down, and Miriam sighed. “It’s a gorgeous day.”
We said nothing. Itwasa nice day, but not something I would’ve considered gorgeous. The sun was out and melting the snow, which would make the ground soft and the roads turn to mud. I supposed in the grand scheme of life, winter turning to spring could be considered gorgeous—if spring were coming in March, like in Boston. But here, spring could arrive in June, if Mother Nature didn’t take pity on the people of Grove Hill.
