Page 12 of Here With Me

Nate caught the ball. “David here is looking for a job or volunteer work.”

“Sorry we didn’t have a need.” Thomas shook his head.

Jon divided the guys into teams—Nate and David with him against Thomas, Luke, and Austin. The guys lined up at center court, and the friendly game started.

After a while, Jon passed the ball to David, and he made a quick layup. Thomas caught the rebound and tucked the ball under his arm, then walked to the bench. “Water break. You know, I heard Hoover’s Hardware was looking to hire. And the high schoolers can’t volunteer there because of their equipment.”

Of all the places Thomas could throw out, he had come up with Hoover’s? Nate slapped David on his shoulder and water dribbled down his chin. Great.

“I don’t think Hoover’s would be a good fit.” David wiped his chin.

Jon plopped down on the bench. “Why not? Didn’t you used to work there?”

A long time ago. Memories of quick kisses and dreams long forgotten flickered in the back of his mind—he couldn’t picture working in the store without Sadie by his side. It had always been her dream, which eventually morphed into theirs.

“You even dated Sadie Hoover, didn’t you?” Luke. Thanks, man.

David nodded. “That’s why I can’t work there.”

“Breakups happen. Besides, she moved out of town.” Thomas drank some water and tossed his bottle back in his gym bag.

“If I remember right, you guys were serious.” Jon wiped sweat from his face. “What happened?”

David stood and grabbed the ball from Thomas. “I wanted to go to Costa Rica, and she didn’t. She broke up with me when I told her about my plans. Enough talk. Let’s play.”

David dribbled the ball as he walked back out to the court.

“It’s ours.” Thomas stood and motioned to pass the ball back. David did, and the game resumed.

Ten minutes later, David’s phone rang from inside his gym bag. Finally! The call he’d been waiting for. “I gotta take that, guys. Be right back.” He jogged to his bag and dug out the phone, answering it as he stepped outside the gym while the guys continued the game.

“Michelle, thanks for calling me back.”

“Always happy to chat with people who want to volunteer.” Her gravelly voice oozed friendliness. He could picture her relaxed in an office. She probably had succulents on her desk.

Hope unfurled in David’s chest. This was it. His last hope, and maybe, just maybe, she had something he could do. “That’s great. I have some ideas of ways I could be of use to you.”

A friendly laugh sounded. “That’s great. Really. But we don’t have a need right now. With the high schoolers working to get their hours in, our activities calendar is jam-packed. We don’t have time or space for more activities. And I don’t have any openings for employees—part-time or otherwise. I’m so sorry. Things might open up at the end of October. That’s when the kids have to have their hours turned in by. I am guessing things will drop off after that. I can give you a call then.”

Two months wasn’t soon enough. David’s shoulders rounded, and he rubbed his forehead. “Thanks, Michelle. I appreciate you calling me back.”

David hung up and dragged his feet back toward the guys. He plopped down on the bench as Austin made an easy three-point shot. Jon rebounded the ball and bounced it to Nate to start their trek back to their net. Even three against two, the guys moved quickly.

David sat, watching the game continue. Wasn’t this just like life? He’d been sidelined. Completely useless sitting on the bench, waiting for direction. And like a delinquent player who’d been benched, David waited, hoping God would put him back in the game.

“No luck?” Nate wiped his face as he walked toward David.

“Nope.” How was he supposed to be involved in the community when no one needed help?

Thomas plopped down next to him, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. “I said it before, but Hoover’s. Give them a call.”

Jon slapped David on the back. “It would get you involved in the community. Unless Nate can find some fix-it jobs for some of the older folks around town.”

Nate shook his head. “There aren’t that many that don’t have family looking after them or who would be willing to accept help. A few widows, but not enough for the hours you need. I’ll ask around though.”

That left Hoover’s.

“Call Gary.” Luke zipped up his bag. “It’s time for me to head home. Hannah had a roast in the crock pot. The house has been smelling good all day.” Luke put the ball up as he walked out, Thomas with him. Austin waved as he headed to the other side of the gym, probably to run through the ninja course.

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