What the Heart Knows

“Do you remove the injured player before you resume playing or do you just play around him?”

His laughter spiced the air, much like the aroma of baking bread, warm with cozy thoughts brought to mind. “You’ll be all right. Remember, I’m a doctor.”

“Now that’s really reassuring.”

“You might want to stretch some before the game.” Jared bent over and touched the ground, then did several lunges.

Having been a runner in high school, Kathleen knew the importance of stretching her muscles before a workout. And she was afraid the next half hour or so would definitely be a workout. She ran through a stretching routine, hoping she didn’t make a fool of herself.

She was thankful that she was placed on the back row as far away from the net and spiked balls as possible. On television she’d seen the killer volleyball matches at the Summer Olympic Games. She didn’t want a ball stuffed down her throat.

For the first two serves she only had to shift from foot to foot and pretend she was alert and ready. When the ball slammed across the net for the third time, it came right at her. She had to do something—fast. Miscalculating where it was going to land, she dove the last foot to punch the ball into the air. It shot out of bounds. The other team cheered, Jared the loudest.

By the time she rotated to the front of the line, she faced Jared with only the netting between them. His smile was full of mischief, and she had a funny feeling it would be all directed at her. He leaped into the air and smacked the ball toward her. She positioned herself to return it.

Before she had a chance to connect with the fast-approaching ball, someone knocked into her, yelling in her ear, “I’ve got it.”

She smashed into the ground, her left shoulder cushioning her fall. She blew out gritty sand that made up the court and pushed her hair out of her face. Her left cheek burned where it had struck the sand-covered earth.

A loud roar of triumph filled the air while she brushed bits of grit from her eyes. Through the blur she saw Jared coming toward her, concern on his face. He knelt down.

“Are you all right, Kathleen? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Does all over count as one place or many?”

He ran his hands up her left arm and over her shoulder. She winced.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s broken, but to be on the safe side I think you should let me take you to the hospital and get an X ray.”

“I don’t want to go to the hospital.” Suddenly Kathleen felt many eyes on her. She scanned the young people standing around her and Jared. “What happened?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Somers. I thought you weren’t gonna get the ball so I wanted to help. I misjudged.”

“But I was right there.” Using her arms to try and push herself to her feet, she attempted to stand. The pain in her shoulder intensified, and she fell back, sucking in a deep breath.

The young boy dropped his head. “Yeah, but you were there that last time, too, and missed.”

“That’s okay, Aaron.”

“Can I help you to your feet, ma’am?”

“No,” she said so quickly the teenager blinked. “I mean, Jared is going to take me to the hospital. I’m sure I’m fine. It’s just a precaution.” Through the crowd now surrounding her, she saw her son, hanging back but watching her. “You could give Mark a ride home, Aaron.”

“Sure, I can do that. Are you sure I can’t help you?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” The pain in her shoulder eased its intensity. With her right arm she maneuvered herself to her knees.

Jared supported her around the waist. “Take it easy.”

As the teenagers began to scatter, she said, “Oh, I plan on taking it slow and easy.”

“I had no idea you’d go to such lengths to get out of playing volleyball.”

The teasing light in Jared’s eyes made her laugh. “I told you I don’t do sports.” She observed the quickly disappearing crowd of teens. “As soon as Aaron’s been gone five minutes, I’m driving home. I have no intentions of going to the hospital. I’m fine.” She tried to move her shoulder and groaned.

“I can see that.”

Jared moved so close she wondered if he could hear her heart pounding. “Some rest, ice, and I’ll be good as new.”

“Appease this doctor and let me take you to check your shoulder out.”

“But what about my car?”

“You can get it tomorrow. I’ll even come by and give you a ride to the church to get it. I won’t sleep well tonight knowing you may be in pain because I persuaded you to play volleyball.”

His touch on her arm drew her gaze upward to his face. The plea in his eyes and the ache in her shoulder finally caused her to nod.

“See, I told you there wasn’t anything to worry about. I’ll be as good as new in a few days.” Kathleen rolled her shoulder to prove her point. A stab of pain shot down her arm, and she winced. “Okay, maybe it will be a little longer than that.”

Jared pulled into her driveway and switched off the engine. “Still, I’m glad you got it X rayed. I feel better knowing for sure and the medication should help you.”

“Do you want to come in for a cup of coffee? Decaf or I’d be up all night.”

“Sure. Mrs. Davis doesn’t turn into a pumpkin until at least nine o’clock.”

Kathleen slid from the car, trying to hold her upper body still as she moved. “How hard was it to find Mrs. Davis?”

“Hard. A good housekeeper is not easy to come by. She isn’t too bad. My children are safe with her, and she performs her job efficiently.”

“But?”

“But she isn’t the warmest person around. And right now Hannah needs a womanly touch, which she isn’t going to get with Mrs. Davis.”

Kathleen inserted her key into the lock and opened her door. “What about your mother-in-law?”

His expression tensed into a frown. “Not much help there. She doesn’t have much to do with Terry and Hannah. We see her for special occasions like birthdays and the holidays.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She placed her purse on the table in the entry hall. “Come on into the kitchen while I put the coffee on.” As she scooped the coffee into the filter, she continued, “I can help, especially with Hannah.”

He offered her a smile that eased the tension from him. “Thanks. I may take you up on that.”

“Don’t forget I promised Hannah I would take her shopping. I was thinking some time this week.”

“Fine. Whatever fits into your schedule. Hannah has talked about it, and I think she’s actually excited, which is a first since I usually have to drag her kicking and screaming to shop for clothes.”

“That’ll change as she grows older.”

“There’s a part of me that will be thrilled to see my daughter grow out of being a tomboy.”