Kathryn nodded and smiled. “Go ahead, Maya. I’ll be right here reading my book while you have your practice.”
Kathryn set up her folding chair, sat down, and opened her romance novel. After reading the same paragraph five times, she still had no idea what it said.
She looked up. Brett had set up orange cones and was showing the six little girls how to kick the ball around the cones. His demeanor was kind, paternal. Kathryn couldn’t imagine Danny doing something like this. He’d be too authoritative and demanding. Danny was a gifted athlete, or had been, when he was younger, but Kathryn doubted he was coaching material. At least not for this age.
Brett had no doubt married his high school sweetheart, Michelle Bates. That had been his plan at the end of high school anyway, whether or not the scholarship came through. Bubbly, blonde Michelle was probably the mother of the little dark-haired beauty on the field. Or maybe Brett had divorced Michelle and married again. For him to have a child so young, that was definitely a possibility. Or maybe he and Michelle hadn’t worked out and he’d only married more recently, like Kathryn had.
Whatever the case, she couldn’t sit here ogling him for another fifteen minutes. Thank goodness soccer practice for four-year-olds only lasted half an hour.
She pretended to read her book for the remainder of practice. Finally, Brett brought the girls together in a circle and made them join hands in the middle. “Blue thunder on three,” he said. “One, two three.”
“Blue thunder!” a chorus of happy little girl voices cheered.
Maya ran to Kathryn.
“Did you have fun, sweetie?”
“Oh, yeah, it was tons of fun. I love to kick the ball!”
“Then you’re in the right sport.” Kathryn laughed as she folded up her chair and stuffed it in its bag. She wanted to be well on her way before Brett was done talking to the pretty young woman hanging on his every word. Must be another parent. A very young and attractive parent. Of course she’d be young. Most parents with children Maya’s age were in their twenties, not thirty-eight like Kathryn. And Brett, for that matter.
She slung the chair over her shoulder. “Grab your ball, Maya.”
Maya picked up her size-three soccer ball and smiled up at Kathryn. “Ready, Mommy.”
“Let’s go then. I promised you a milkshake, didn’t I?”
“A milkshake sounds great.”
Kathryn turned toward the deep timbre. Brett had heard her?
“I think Zoe might like a milkshake. Do you mind if we join you?”
He had to be kidding. “Uh, well, no, of course not.”
“We can go over to The Robin’s Nest and the girls can have a milkshake and play on the tot lot. You and I can catch up.”
Kathryn’s cheeks warmed.
“That would be fun, Mommy,” Maya said. “Zoe’s real nice.”
Nice to be put on the spot. She couldn’t talk to Brett. She just couldn’t. So much history. Too much unresolved between them.
“Please, Mommy?” Maya tugged on Kathryn’s sleeve.
Kathryn had a hard time saying no to Maya these days. She missed Danny so much. Divorce was hell on a kid, but Kathryn wouldn’t be doing her child any favors by letting her have everything she wanted. She wasn’t going to have one of those spoiled children of divorce.
“I have an early day tomorrow, sweetie. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Mommy, please! You did promise me a milkshake.”
So she had. She sighed. “You’re right. I did. If Coach Brett and Zoe want to join us, that would be wonderful.”
“Oh good!” Maya jumped away from Kathryn and grabbed Zoe’s hand. “My favorite’s vanilla. What’s yours?”
“Strawberry,” the other girl said.
“I remember your favorite, Kath.” Brett’s breath warmed her neck. “Chocolate. Right?”