“I’m open to a discussion.” She winked.
“Speaking of discussing things.” Coach scooted forward on the chair. His posture was stiff, his eyes tight. “I don’t know what the doctors told you …”
Brayden’s stomach filled with helium. He’d prayed so hard that he’d be able to play again. If anyone could make it happen, it was this group of people. “They said I’d have limited mobility.”
Doc nodded. “That’s right. A full windup is not in your future.”
“I’ll learn to throw sidearm. Like Alverez.” He mimicked the flick of the wrist as best he could.
Doc’s eyes darkened. “You’re done pitching, Brayden. Sidearm isn’t an option with the pins in your neck. You’d never get the speed.”
The helium soured and his body became heavy. Exhaustion, depression, whatever you wanted to call it, he sank under the confirmation that he was no longer an MLB pitcher. It was like swallowing a bat.
As he sank, an ocean of uncertainty washed over his head. He had nowhere to go. He’d been drafted out of high school. He couldn’t become a sportscaster without a degree. Maybe some guys could, but he wasn’t that famous. Just a big-time pitcher for a start-up team. The silence in the room was heavy with sadness.
“Brayden, you’ll always be a Redrock,” offered Mrs. Wolfe.
He couldn’t lift his eyes to meet hers. “Thank you for saying that. And please don’t think I’m ungrateful for being included. It’s just a lot to take in.” The backs of his eyes stung, and he pressed his thumb and finger into them to stem the flow. It wasn’t just baseball he was losing—it was Tilly. She’d still marry him, but she deserved so much more than a high school graduate with no future.
Elise finished up and stepped back. “That should help you get some rest. I’ll check in on you tomorrow.”
“Don’t forget to check on Tilly.” He knew the desperation in his voice made him sound pathetic, but he didn’t care.
“I’m on my way.” She took a step and then stopped. “You know she quit the expedition company, don’t you?”
Brayden sank even lower. “No.”
“She probably didn’t want to worry you. But I thought you should know that she’ll be around.” Elise patted his arm. “Drink some water, okay? I released a lot of acid into your system, and you don’t want a stomachache.”
Too late. His gut churned knowing Tilly had quit the job she loved so much. He blinked, trying to absorb the message Elise wasn’t saying out loud. He was tired and his head hurt and his lower back ached now that the upper back wasn’t so tight. Elise left, and his attention shifted back to Coach.
“Anything’s possible.” He met Brayden’s curious gaze with a firm tilt to his jaw. “But we have to deal with the facts as they are. And right now, we’re down a pitcher.”
Brayden did an extra-long blink. He’d done several of those in the hospital to let people know he’d heard them.
“Hickman called up a kid. Gunner Pinch. He’s our best shot right now, but his cutter is weak. I’d like you to work with him.”
Brayden pressed his palms together. They stung as if he’d hit a homer without batting gloves, the vibration of the bat numbing his nerves. “What do you mean?”
Mrs. Wolfe shifted in her seat. “We’d like to hire you as a pitching consultant. You’ll be a part of the Redrocks family, have health insurance, access to Doc and the PTs so they can oversee your recovery. All the perks.”
“Part time at first. Until you get your energy back,” added Doc.
“We’ll see how you do as a coach, and if things work out, there could be a spot for you long-term.”
Brayden felt like he was falling off the cliff all over again. His life was out of his control, and Coach and Mrs. Wolfe were making all the decisions. He could see how they would think they were doing something right, something kind. Charity work. He’d become a charity case.
He may have hit his head, but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew a good offer when he saw one. Heck, this situation wasn’t all that different from when the coach for the minors had sat down with him and his parents and offered him a lot of money to play baseball. He’d thought he was the luckiest guy in the world that day. Maybe he was. Maybe he’d used up all his luck just getting into the majors and it’d run right out. Because being asked to train his replacement was a big jab at his pride.
He glanced about the room, knowing he would remember this moment for the rest of his life and wishing for all he was worth that Tilly was sitting next to him, holding his hand. Her touch had a way of infusing him with confidence and a sense that all was right with the world.
“Sounds like you’ve thought this through.” He laced his fingers together and squeezed. “I’d be happy to help out the team in any way I can,” he said. That’s what you say when Coach asks you to do him a favor.
“Wonderful.” Mrs. Wolfe popped up. “There’s something else I need to check on. If you’ll excuse me.” She headed for the door. Brayden watched through the window as she walked down the street, towards Tilly’s.
He didn’t have long to wonder what she was up to, because Doc and Coach were lifting him off the couch. “Let’s get you in settled,” said Coach. “You look beat.”
He was beat. Beat up and beat down. “I’ll take the recliner.” He pointed to the big chair.
