“We’re going to play ball.” Ben reached for the football and tossed it in the air.
Jenny waved her key tag in front of the lock, and the doors clicked open. “Let me just get the lights.” She disappeared into the dark cavern.
The kids huddled closer to him. He couldn’t help but grin. They were in for quite the surprise.
Jenny bumped into something and grunted. Things clattered.
“You okay?” Ben called into the void.
“I’m good.” A moment later, the lights flipped on to reveal the grand dining room in all its glory. The tables had been folded and leaned against the north wall for storage between events. The chairs were on racks in the corner. A durable and only somewhat stylish carpet with gold accents covered the floor, while the walls were covered with blood-red drapes. Nine chandeliers could be lowered at the press of a button, but thankfully they were flush with the twenty-foot ceiling now.
“Whoa,” said Landon.
Jenny righted the chairs she’d bumped in the dark. “It’s all yours, Mr. Wilaby. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“If any of the parents come looking for their kids, send them this way.”
“You got it.” She gave him a thumbs-up and slipped out the door.
Ben smacked his hand against the pigskin. “Let’s do some drills, fellas.”
They poured into the room, picking up speed as they went, running to get the lay of the land and stretch their legs. The carpet muffled the noise.
In short time, he had them doing high knees using the design in the carpet to warm up. They stretched, and he had to reach into the wayback machine to remember the pregame warm-up he’d done in high school. As his lower back protested a twist, he realized why Savannah thought he wassoold. No more coasting on his youth.
They divided into fair teams, with him as the quarterback for both sides. He didn’t mind hanging in the middle of the line at all and had a great time. He made sure each kid had a chance to receive and run down the field. Some of them made it farther than others, but they all had huge grins.
The kids surprised him with their chatter. They didn’t tear one another down. He had to hand it to the school for that one. When he had gone for the tour, the principal raved about how they taught the children to interact in positive ways starting in kindergarten, and that those lessons carried on into adulthood. It wasn’t that the boys weren’t competitive. They were that. But they were respectful of one another.
If only the girls were so easy to get along with. Savannah needed friends. He should have brought her down here. She wasn’t a slouch at football.
“Ouch!”
Ben’s head whipped around at the cry of pain. Landon was on the ground, holding his ankle. His face was twisted and his eyes pressed shut.
Ben hurried over and dropped to a knee, followed by the rest of the gang. “What happened?”
“My shoe caught in the carpet when I turned.”
The kids crowded around, blocking the light. They asked Landon a half dozen questions at once. He didn’t respond to them. Instead, he looked at Ben for help.
Ben picked up Landon’s foot and was hissed at. He took off the shoe and sock, handing them to Rigby. “Hold these, Rig.”
Rigby stood taller, proud to be of assistance and to have a nickname. His red face fairly beamed with pleasure.
Ben carefully felt around the ankle with his fingertips. The tendon was slightly swollen, but Landon didn’t flinch when he rotated the joint. “Looks like a sprain. Not too bad. We need to get you back up to your room.”
“Aw!” moaned the kids.
Ben chuckled. “They’ll be more games in the future, guys. Brady and Tee, do you know how to do a four-arm carry?”
They shook their heads. He quickly showed them how to hold one another’s forearms to make a seat for Landon. Landon wrapped his arms around their necks and sat down so they could carry him to the elevator.
They all fit into the elevator, though the smell that bloomed with so many sweaty bodies in a small space was something awful. Ben was embarrassed to know he added to the stench. Worse yet, he was bringing it to Avery’s door. She was such a pretty lady, the kind that didn’t look like she ever got dirty, was always put together, or maybe it was the softness to her face. She didn’t have harsh lines. Considering what she must have gone through losing her husband and the father of her child, she could have turned bitter, and he wouldn’t blame her one bit.
The boys made enough noise that the whole hallway knew they were waiting outside Avery’s door. When she opened it, her eyes met Ben’s and his breath caught in his chest. She had her hair up in a high ponytail and her makeup off, revealing a youthful, fresh face. Her soft cheeks would fit perfectly in the palms of his hands.
With everyone trying to tell her what happened at once, her attention was tugged away and Ben was finally able to think clearly. “Can we come in?”
