Page 10 of Home Field Advantage
“Oh my gosh, Daddy!” Sage jumps up and down. “You’re the best coach in all the lands. You should definitely be the coach here.”
My daughter’s right.
“I can do it.” I shrug.
I should want to take back the words as soon as they leave my lips since I told myself I’d leave all things baseball in San Francisco, but these kids seem to need help. Sage thinks I should do it. Baseball saved my life over and over again growing up—a safe place to land when the world around me was chaotic.
And I also feel like it could give me something to do.
“You want to coach the kids?” Nan asks, her brows furrowed.
“Why not?”
“But you’re leavin’ eventually.”
I shrug. “We can figure it out later.”
I always do.
Sage whines, cutting off the conversation. “I need food.”
“And I need coffee.” I smile, crouching down to pick her up.
Standing and facing Nan, I extend a hand to give her a shake.
“Thank you for helping me find a place.”
“It’s no problem.” She waves me off. “Listen, Cozy Cup might be a little busy this time of mornin’. They also don’t have snacks there. Here in town, we go there for coffee, and then Batter Up for the treats. Why don’t I take Sage into Batter Up and get her a treat while you grab that caffeine? I know the owner of the bakery and can get her in and out.”
Does this woman know everyone in town?
I wonder if she’s like the mayor or something.
“I don’t know,” I say hesitantly.
“Daddy, I’ll be just fine. And looks,” she says, standing on thesidewalk with one arm pointed to the bakery and one arm to the coffee shop, “they are so close to each other. And Nan said I’ll be in and out because she knows people.”
Nan nods. “I know everyone. And I’m practically glued to this town. There’s nowhere I’d run off to.”
This is crazy.
But Sage is right, the shops are really close. She will be in and out.
“Are you sure?” I ask Nan.
“Yes, Daddy! Pretty please with sugar on top? My treat belly is screaming right now that it needs something immediately.”
I look from her to Nan and then next door to the coffee shop. “Okay,” I agree. “I’m right next door when you’re done.”
Nan places a hand on my shoulder and smiles. “Welcome to town, Dallas.”
CHAPTER 3
TIME TO TURN THIS DAY AROUND.
Poppy
I look down at my watch and note I’m running eight minutes behind.
