Last Chance Hero (25 page)

Jess did look around, and to be honest, she
was
having a great time, but she didn't particularly feel like telling Andy he was right, so she shrugged. “Maybe.”

He laughed. “You are something else, you know that? But I know what will fix you right up.”

“Oh, what's that?”

“A foot-long hot dog.”

“A what?” That was the last thing Jess expected to hear. “Why would I want that?”

“Because they're great, that's why, and because the Boosters sell them to support the team, and because that's what you eat at the bonfire. Doesn't the smell of those onions just make your mouth water?”

“Um, not so much.”

“Well, come on anyway. There's a whole row of food booths out behind the school, and every club and organization in the whole school has one going, except those running the bouncy house or the pony rides. We're bound to find something you like, and besides, it's your civic duty to support your high school. This is everyone's big fund-raiser of the year.”

“Since you put it that way, maybe I should see what they've got. What about salads? Do you think I might find a nice fresh salad?”

“Probably not, but I bet I could score you a funnel cake.”

“Practically the same thing.”

The walk they took across campus was slow and interrupted often by people who had seen Andy play at Last Chance High years ago and wanted to shake his hand, or who had seen him coach and had observations or even advice that they wanted to share. Andy stopped to speak to each as if they were the one person he
had hoped to run into, always drawing Jess into the conversation and introducing her to whoever had stopped them. And when they parted, it was always in the same manner: a handshake, a slap on the shoulder, and a question. “So, are we gonna take 'em tomorrow, Coach?”

Andy always responded the same way. “That's the plan. You going to be there to support the team?”

“Wouldn't miss it.” And with a wave of the hand and a nod to Jess, another fan of Last Chance football slipped away in the crowd.

“You know, I'm beginning to understand how you managed to be elected homecoming king twice.” Jess bumped him with her shoulder as he took her hand. “I bet if they hadn't implemented that term limit rule, you could get it today.”

“And you don't think
that
would be sad?” Andy's eyebrow rose as he looked down at her.

Jess laughed. “Maybe just a little. But everyone seems genuinely glad to see you, and when you introduce me and tell them I'm the new doctor, well, they seem glad to see me too. Rita does the exact same thing, and they get this panicky look on their face, like they're afraid she's going to break their leg or something to make sure I have some patients.”

“Speaking of whom, mayor incoming at 2:00.”

“There you are, Andy. Evening, Jess.” Rita tossed a quick greeting and smile Jess's way before focusing her attention on the new coach. “I've been looking for you. I might need for you to talk to someone here in a little bit. Do you have your phone with you, in case I can't find you?”

“Okay, Rita, what's up?” Andy cocked his head. “I know for a fact that this bonfire is a Last Chance High event. Always has been. So who is it that I might have to talk to? And why do I need to talk to them?”

“Oh, well, I contacted a few sports editors—Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Tucson, of course, since you played there—and told them about homecoming and the fact this is your first homecoming since you came home to Last Chance. I thought it would make a good story, and they seemed to think so too. None of them promised, but they did say they'd see what they could do about getting someone down here to cover it. And I need to find you if they do show up.”

Andy opened his mouth and closed it again. “Sure, Rita. I've got my phone on me. Just give me a call.”

Rita gave one sharp nod. “Good. I'm going to go wait by the driveway so I can see them when they get here.”

Jess watched her head out at a brisk pace. “Do you think the editors will show up?”

“I doubt it. That's a long way to come to interview a high school football coach, especially of a school this size. But that's Rita, bless her, and why I didn't argue with her. She truly believes that Last Chance is the best-kept secret in New Mexico, and all it needs is a little more publicity.”

“I have to say I agree with her, though maybe not that it needs more publicity. I happen to think it's a pretty special place just the way it is, and I'm so glad that it's my home now.”

“Me too.” Andy brushed away a curl that had found its way to her cheek.

“Andy! I haven't seen you since you got home. Glad you're back.” A tall man in a blazer, an open-necked shirt and possibly the only salon-styled haircut Jess had seen on a man since she arrived in Last Chance grabbed Andy's shoulder and extended his hand.

“Greg Anderson!” Andy looked truly pleased to see him. “And Sue! This must be your little girl?”

His forehead furrowed as he looked down, because Emma was sobbing inconsolably.

Greg rolled his eyes, and his smile grew tight. “Yes, this is Emma. Sorry about the hysterics, but she put too much catsup on her hot dog, and big surprise, it dripped all over her dress. Come on, Emma, pull it together. Everyone's looking at you. Just don't be so careless next time.”

Emma gasped for breath through her sobs. “I'm sorry. I'm trying. I just can't stop.”

Sue Anderson pulled her daughter to her and put her arm around Emma's shoulder. Emma still sobbed. “Greg, I think I need to take Emma home, or at least out to the car for a while so she can calm down.”

“All right.” Greg was visibly annoyed as he looked from his wife to his weeping daughter, and Jess could tell there was so much more he'd like to say. “Just call me when you decide what you're going to do.”

“Okay, I will.” Sue wore a determined smile as she turned to Andy and Jess. “Andy, I can't tell you how nice it was seeing you this evening. All the best on the game tomorrow. And Dr. MacLeod, nice seeing you too. I'm sure we'll see each other again.” She held Jess's gaze a long moment, and Jess mentally pumped a fist.
Yes! Hang in there, Emma. Help is on the way
!

Greg turned back to Andy and Jess with a short laugh after they left. “I'm sorry you got treated to that display. My law practice keeps me in Tucson during the week, and with only females in the house at home, I have a feeling it's all drama, all the time.”

Jess didn't say anything, but Andy still looked concerned. “Are you sure she's okay?”

“Oh, I'm sure she'll be fine. Most of the time, Emma's a perfect little princess, but when the slightest thing does go wrong, this is what I deal with.” His smile broadened but still looked a little forced to Jess as he reached for Andy's hand again. “Andy, it was
great to see you again. So glad you're back in town. Sometime when I'm home, we'll have to get together and relive old times. And nice meeting you too . . .”

“Jess.” She gave her name as she took the hand he offered. “Thank you.”

Greg adjusted the lapels of his blazer, patted his hair, and moved off. Andy turned back to Jess. “That was one unhappy little girl! Did spilling something on your dress make you that upset when you were little?”

“Um, short answer? No. Of course, that would have entailed me actually wearing a dress, and that didn't happen very often—and never around catsup.”

“Come on.” Andy put his arm around her shoulders and looked at the sky. “It's nearly dark, and they'll be lighting the bonfire soon. We need to get something to eat. If anyone tries to stop us, we'll just link arms and bowl them over. Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

They walked around the corner of the school building and found the food booths. Some, like the Boosters' hot dog stand, looked nearly professional; others, like the German Club bake sale, were nothing more than two card tables pushed together, covered with a length of butcher paper, and stacked with cookies, cupcakes, and brownies.

“This is more like it.” Andy looked around in satisfaction. “Wait right here. I'll be right back.”

As Jess waited for Andy to return, she looked around. Picnic tables filled the area, most in groups under signs reading “60's,” “70's,” or “90's.” Beyond the tables and beyond the borders of the school property, guarded by a fire truck from the San Ramon Fire Department, rose the mountain of wood and other flotsam and jetsam that would become the bonfire.

“Hey, look who's here.” Jess turned to find the Cooley clan—Ray and Lainie, Steven and Kaitlyn with Olivia between them, and Sarah—all coming from the direction of the Boosters' hot dog stand, although only Olivia and Steven had hot dogs.

“Should have known we'd find you here.” Steven took a huge bite of his hot dog and had to shift it to the corner of his mouth to continue talking. “I asked Andy if he wanted to come with us, and he gave a pretty evasive answer.”

“What's evasive about ‘Thanks, but I've got other plans.'” Andy appeared with a funnel cake and handed it to Jess. “Here's your salad.”

“Well, you didn't say what your plans were.”

“Nope.”

“There you go, being evasive again.” Steven finished his hot dog in another bite.

“Where's Chris?” The funnel cake, the first Jess had tasted, was really good. It could hold its own against a salad any day.

“Working, of course. The Dip 'n' Dine won't close for another half hour or so. And he didn't really want to come anyway. He said after working for twelve hours, following me around and trying to look interested while I talked to people he'd never met just didn't sound like all that much fun.” Sarah grinned. “Who knew?”

Out in the field, a siren sounded once, and people from everywhere began to make their way to the bonfire site.

Ray fell in alongside Andy. “I saw Rob Ellis a little while ago. He told me you had arranged for a scout from U of A to come see Zach play.”

“Zach's a good man and an exceptional football player. I'm glad we could work something out. But all I can do is get someone here; the rest is up to him.”

“Well, I tell you what, Rob couldn't say enough nice things
about you. He said he was up all night last night putting together a highlight reel of Zach's high school football career. You know he's been filming every game Zach played in since he first put on a uniform.”

“Good. I'm sure that'll be helpful.”

They arrived at the bonfire site and joined the others who had been gathering there. Steven hoisted Olivia to his shoulders. At first Jess stood at Andy's side, still holding his hand, but as the crowds pressed in, he pulled her around in front of him, one arm around her waist, the other around her shoulders. She leaned against him and felt his breath by her hair.

When someone lit torches and they were buried in the wide base of the pile, Jess could feel the anticipation build around her. As the flames licked their way up through and finally out the top, the crowd seemed to take a deep breath and let it out in a collective sigh.

Jess leaned her head back against Andy's shoulder and, closing her eyes, felt the warmth of his kiss touch her face. Last Chance was a good place to call home, and she was so thankful she was here. She smiled to think of how recently she would have called it a lucky choice, but even now she could hear Elizabeth chiding that luck had nothing to do with it. And Jess finally understood what that meant. She opened her eyes to watch a spark thrown from the flames circle high into the black sky before it finally disappeared.

M
any thanks and much love to my daughter, Kate Gordon, for reading over my manuscript with a medical professional's eye to keep me from saying things like, “She blew on her stethoscope to warm it.” Doctors don't do that. It spreads germs. Who knew? Also to my husband, Ed, former defensive end for the Alamogordo High Tigers, who answered all my football questions.

Cathleen Armstrong
lives in Orange County, California, with her husband, Ed, and their corgi. Though she has been in California for many years now, her roots remain deep in New Mexico where she grew up and where much of her family still lives. After she and Ed raised three children, she returned to college and earned a BA in English. Her debut novel,
Welcome to Last Chance
, won the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for Women's Fiction. Learn more at
www.cathleenarmstrong.com
.

A P
LACE
TO
C
ALL
H
OME
S
ERIES

Welcome to Last Chance

One More Last Chance

At Home in Last Chance

Last Chance Hero

www.cathleenarmstrong.com

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