Summer by Karen Kingsbury Read Free Book Online

easy.”
    In an instant, everything about Ricky’s posture looked more confident, more determined. He glanced back at Jim and grinned; then he squared up to the plate and squinted at the pitcher.
    Jim reached the chain-link backstop, a few yards from the batter’s box. He stayed quiet as the first pitch flew over the plate for a strike.
    “Way to get a look, Ricky.” Cole’s voice came from the dugout. “The next one’s yours.”
    The words and sounds and springtime air were as familiar as breathing, and they made Jenny relax, made her forget for a few minutes the battles Bailey was facing. This was the favorite time of year for the Flanigan family. A time when the rigors of football season were still half a year away, and the boys had only the weekly soccer practice and baseball games. Summer was within reach, and the days grew longer and warmer with every passing sunset.
    Years of following her family through sports had helped Jenny have perspective. She would cheer, but she would forget the details as soon as she left the park. The games were fun and exciting, and like today, they were the highlight of their week. But still, they were just games. The outcome didn’t matter nearly as much as the experience.
    Chatter came from the opposing team’s dugout. “Hey, batter, batter, batter. . . . Hey, batter.”
    The next pitch was another strike.
    Ricky stepped out of the batter’s box and practiced his swing a few times. Then he positioned himself over the plate once more. This time he swung with all his might and connected with the pitch just enough to send it bouncing toward third base. Ricky dropped his bat and raced for first, beating the throw by less than a second.
    “Way to go, Ricky!” Jim pumped his fist and gave a few hearty claps. Then he turned and jogged up the bleachers to his place on the other side of Jenny. He kissed her cheek and smiled at her. “How’s the most beautiful woman in Bloomington?”
    “Hey . . .” Bailey gave him a pretend frown. “What about me?”
    He blew her a kiss. “You, my dear, are the most beautiful girl in Bloomington. The other honor—” he looked at Jenny again—“will always go to my wife.”
    Jenny laughed. “Must’ve been a good day in the weight room.”
    “Cody helped a few of the juniors, and I must say, the guys are looking good. Much stronger than the team last year at this time.” He slipped his hand around Jenny’s waist. “Maybe the no-drinking policy’s actually making a difference.”
    “I hope so.”
    The team had ridden a roller coaster of emotions since Cody’s near death from drinking. Other players had come forward and confessed to drinking, and Jim had held a meeting, making each player sign a contract that he wouldn’t drink again or he’d be kicked off the team. Things had looked good until Jim caught a few of his players drinking at a New Year’s Eve party. They were eliminated from the squad, but rumor had it their parents had formed an angry voice, calling for Jim’s job.
    All of it was speculation at this point, but Jenny was worried. Not that Jim needed the coaching job at Clear Creek High, but he loved it. If the administration buckled and let him go, Jim would have to seriously think about returning to a coaching position with the NFL, and that would mean moving out of Bloomington.
    Jenny didn’t want to think about it. Not yet.
    Cole was up, and though he tipped a few of the pitches, he struck out. He started to walk back to the dugout, dejected, but his eyes caught Landon’s.
    “Good job, Cole.” Landon gave his son a thumbs-up. “You’ll get it next time.”
    Like Ricky had, Cole stood a little straighter, and a smile tugged at his lips. He nodded and returned the gesture to his dad.
    Again Jenny felt reassurance. The ritual of sports had its downsides, its ugly moments and times when anyone involved might wonder about the point. But watching these little boys and their dads build closer bonds made it clear