Promise Me

Coach glanced up at me. “No, he won’t leave them.”

“Damn, he would be looking at a full scholarship. He’s that good.”

“He is. I’ve had some colleges want to talk to him but he won’t consider it.”

I put my hands on my hips and watched the kid put his helmet back on. There had to be a way to help this kid. “Where are the other kids now?” I asked.

Coach pointed to the bleachers behind him. Where Dom went, the kids went. The girl was coloring in a book with an open box of crayons beside her. Her long dark hair reminded him of Dom. The other kid had a buzz cut. He wore glasses and had a book open in his lap that he was reading from.

“Not an athlete?” I asked Coach.

“Nope, smart as hell though. He’s going to be a freshman.”

“Mind if I go talk to them?”

Coach’s eyes showed his surprise. “Got something in mind?”

“I don’t know yet. I just feel like someone has to help them.”

“Sure go to talk to them.”

I jogged across the field and up the bleachers. I was obviously out of shape when I sat down next to the girl. She turned her pale, blue eyes up to me. Eyes that were like Dom’s. Her brother sitting next to her slowly closed his book.

I was a combination of Dom and his brother. Smart as hell, a 4.0 all through high school. Never missed a day of school. I recognized that in the kid I was looking at but I was an athlete like Dom. “My name is Ronan Moore. I coach your brother Dominick.”

“I’m Nickolas LaBenito,” the brother said politely then extended his hand. I shook it and was surprised by his firm grip.

“No sports for you?” I asked him.

“I’m not nearly as coordinated as my brother. I hope that I can maybe get an academic scholarship then I can get an education that will allow me to work while Dom goes to school so I can support him and Madeline.”

It seemed that the weight of the world sat on both brothers’ shoulders. “You must be Madeline?” I asked.

She stuck her hand out to me and nodded. I took it gently in mine and I shook it. Luckily I was wearing sunglasses because emotion was welling up in me. These kids needed my help. Grams words stuck in my brain. I could change. I could make a difference in my life and I could start with them.

“Madeline, do you like animals?” I asked her.

She nodded eagerly.

“Ask Dom to bring you to my grandfather’s farm.” I wrote the address in her coloring book. “We have lots of farm animals. I would be happy to show you around.” And introduce you to Skylar. I didn’t know why but I felt I needed her help.

**

When I arrived at the farm there was still no baby but they were at the hospital now and Skylar was watching Gracie so I headed out to work on the farm. She called me on my phone at four. I was in the field checking on the cows. We were keeping an eye on the baby calf still who seemed to be eating much better.

“I’ll head up to the house right away.”

I had company.

Dominick LaBenito was standing by his car with his younger siblings when I arrived. Skylar was standing beside them getting introductions with Gracie on her hip. I stopped by Skylar and took Gracie from her. She was too heavy for her to be carrying around now.

“Thanks for coming,” I told Dom.

One of his thick, dark eyebrows shot up over his pale eyes. “I didn’t really have a choice. Maddie wouldn’t shut up about seeing your animals.” I didn’t miss his sardonic tone.

“I’m glad you came Dom.” I smiled at him then looked at Sky. I hadn’t talked to her about them yet so she was clearly puzzled. “I guess you guys have introduced yourselves.”

“We have,” she replied.