By Halloween, I decided I’d had enough moping about Wyatt. When Luke wasn’t around, I allowed myself the luxury of a few tears. It was ridiculous crying over someone whom I’d only known a few months. But those months felt like years to me.
My feet pounded the pavement, sweat running down my back despite the cool temperature. Sharon informed me that the track at the old middle school was a good place to run. It was out in the open and safe.
Despite the increase in my bank account, I decided to keep my job at Mel’s. Working at the diner kept me busy, and I needed to stay busy.
The Weeknd’s “Call Out My Name” piped through my headphones as I pushed through my fifth lap. My mood had improved slightly feeling the sunshine on my skin. I inhaled a deep breath focusing on my breathing as I ran the back half of the track.
I wondered what Wyatt was doing? It was the last day of the trimester. Was he grading papers? Holding a discussion about the current state of politics in the United States and how that would impact our future?
My legs ached as I slowed my pace.
The pull to go to Wyatt was strong, but I reminded myself it had to be this way. By the time I made it back to my vehicle my stomach was rumbling. I dropped by the local coffee shop and grabbed a caramel latte—a small treat for keeping up with my running.
I sat at a table in the corner enjoying my latte and people watching when I noticed there was an email alert on my phone.
My heart sank when I read the headline: Coach Wyatt Hamilton’s contract to be reviewed by Westmore Community School Board.
“Coach Hamilton has done impressive things with the Westmore High School football program. After the huge sectional loss, the board has decided to re-evaluate his contract. Coach Hamilton is signed on for the next two years; however, his contract can be terminated at any time if the board feels he violated any policies. The school has received multiple calls, too many to ignore. This is an ongoing story, updates to follow.”
Sighing deeply, my fingers rubbed at my forehead.
In the days that followed, more details emerged about what was about to happen. There would be internal discussions followed by this public forum, where parents in the school district would be able to speak their mind about Wyatt.
Jesus.
My hands wrung together as I watched Wyatt enter the room. He wore an ink black suit with a grey tie. The room erupted in chatter as he took his seat. Rena Walker had a smug look of satisfaction on her face from her perch at the high altar.
Wyatt looked confident with his shoulders back and his head held high. He turned to smile and shake hands with the people sitting behind him. As he scanned the room, his hazel eyes landed on me and I gave him a small smile. We stared at one other for a beat, but lingering eyes were everywhere. I tore my gaze away to study the blue carpet streaked with grey triangles.
The smack of the gavel made me jump in my seat. My leg bounced up and down as I stared at the clock on the wall waiting for this thing to start.
The board members recited various statements all involving the same words: violation, morality clause, favoritism, players, sectional loss, distraction, personal life. Every word grated on my soul. Wyatt remained unfazed, calm and collected.
“Wyatt Hamilton, do you understand the reason for this meeting here today?”
Waiting for him to answer I squeezed my eyes shut tight.
Wyatt stood. “I do, sir.”
“Do you feel that you have personally violated your contract?”
“No, sir, I do not.”
Rena Walker spoke up. “Coach Hamilton, you had a relationship with the mother of a student and then benched your starting wide-receiver in favor of your girlfriend’s son.”
Outbursts of anger and muffled chatter filtered through the room. I felt ten pairs of eyes on me at once. Embarrassment flooded through me. Maybe I shouldn’t be here.
Wyatt flashed a grin. “May I speak frankly, Superintendent Howard?”
He nodded. “Go ahead.”
“On the evening of the school kickoff carnival, Rena Walker approached me on school grounds where she inappropriately made several suggestive comments to me.”
Gasps flooded the room along with hushed laughter.
“The comments were of a sexual nature. I feel that because she was rejected by me, Rena Walker has been spearheading this witch hunt. Add in my decision to bench her son, Brodie, and you have a classic case of drama for the sake of drama where you’ve put my career and personal life on the line.”
“This is ridiculous,” Rena said, tossing her hands in the air. “Do we really have to listen to this?”
“Rena, he has the floor. Do not interrupt.”
Wyatt turned to address the student section where his players sat, including Luke. “Every single player who started on this team earned their position. There is no favoritism. Brodie Walker wasn’t playing up to his full potential, therefore a change was made of a coaching nature. Not a personal matter.”
Brodie shot up out of his chair. “It’s true,” he called out. “Luke was running seconds faster than me and hitting all his marks. He’s better than me. Mom told me to complain to Principal Allen and the school board. I didn’t want to, Coach, I’m sorry. Coach, you gotta believe me.”
“Brodie, sit down right now,” Rena scolded. “Keep your mouth shut.”
Brodie slumped into his chair with his arms falling between his legs. He shook his head and then jumped out of his seat running for the door.
Wyatt’s face flashed with concern, his thumb and fingers pulsing together at a steady beat.
“Still doesn’t change the fact that you lost in the first round of sectionals,” someone shouted from the crowd.
Chatter erupted around the room. Superintendent Howard’s face was etched annoyance.
“Yeah, Hamilton, you were distracted with your personal life, that’s why we lost,” another sharp voice added.
Wyatt’s jaw flexed and his mouth pressed into a hardline. “We lost because the other team was better, faster and kicked our butts up and down that field all night long. They won because they outplayed us. My personal life had nothing to do with it, and, need I remind you, I was playing in a Super Bowl weeks after I lost my wife and daughter in a horrible car accident. So, I don’t think you can really sit there and say that I can’t perform under intense pressure or grief.”
“That’s right,” Brandt Davis spoke up. “Coach Hamilton is the best. We lost because they outplayed us. Simple as that. It’s not Coach’s fault.”
All the players stood up, nodding and clapping. “Coach Hamilton stays. Coach Hamilton stays.”
“All right, boys, settle down,” Superintendent Howard said, quieting the crowd. “Coach Hamilton is there anything else that you’d like to add?”
“Superintendent Howard, distinguished members of the board, I love my job. I love coaching these kids, and I’m proud of the work that we have done. I think we can conclude from what we’ve heard today that the accusations regarding the morality clause have been proven baseless. As for my coaching, in the two years I have been involved with this program, we have taken a perennial losing record and turned it around to an undefeated season. Yes, we lost in the first round of sectionals this year. It was a blow, and it stung. But two years ago, hell, even last year, we would have probably expected to lose. We don’t expect to lose anymore, and that change—that we expect to win, deserve to win, week in and week out is the exact reason I should remain. What we’ve been able to build, with this program, with these kids, and in such a short time—that is my statement.”
Superintendent Howard rubbed his thumb against his jawline. “I can agree with you on the morality clause being baseless. It is my firm belief that what happens in your personal life is none of our business, unless you were involved in a romantic or sexual relationship with a student. I believe that the board will be updating the morality clause so that there are no grey areas. Coach Hamilton, as for your contract extension, we’re going to need to take a longer look. We’re adjourned.”
I blinked, looking up and found Wyatt staring at me. I felt something in my throat tighten. Saying nothing, he turned and walked out of the room. For a second, it was like someone cracked open my chest reached in and gripped my heart, squeezing it until it no longer pulsed.
Exhaling a shaky breath, I pushed through the doors and went to find Luke. He was standing with a small group of his teammates. Instead of inserting myself into his conversation, I leaned against the wall and waited for him to finish.
Rena Walker breezed past me a scowl painted her red lips.
“Did they terminate your position on the board?” I asked.
“No,” she replied, tossing her head back in a laugh.
My voice was calm despite the emotion hammering through my veins. “Using your kid to get Coach Hamilton in hot water with the school district, you’re seriously a piece of work.”
Saying nothing, she pulled Brodie by the arm yanking him away from the conversation.
“Hey, Mom,” Luke said. “I’ll see ya, later.”
My brows pinched together in confusion.
“Remember it’s the scrimmage basketball game tonight.”
“I’m sorry, Luke, I completely forgot.”
“You okay, Mom?” Luke asked, tugging the back of my hand.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Do you think Coach will keep his job?”
“I honestly don’t know, Luke. I think the board will see the value in all that he’s brought to the school and make an informed decision.” I took a deep breath and pushed through the double doors. “So what’s the plan for tonight? Are you going to grab food somewhere?”
We walked down the steps of the administrative building. “Yeah, first we’re going to Jinky’s and then onto the game. Is midnight still my curfew?”
I fished my keys out of my purse. “Yep, have fun and be safe. Call if you need anything.”
I watched as Luke hopped into Addie’s car and then I climbed into my vehicle. The fact that it was the middle of November was completely lost on me. I needed some pie and a bottle of wine.
I spent the rest of the evening at home by myself. I thought about calling Wyatt and checking on him, but the way he looked at me today, I’m certain that I was the last person he wanted to hear from.
And considering that I was three glasses deep in a bottle of wine, calling Wyatt would not be a good idea at this juncture. Instead, I fell asleep in the living room watching some Hallmark Christmas movie.