Wasn't Expecting You

Part 1

Oden sat back down next to his wife.
She looked up grabbing the bottle of water he was handing her. “Are you sure he should be standing that close to the base? That boy could run straight into him?”
“Relax. Coach said he's light on his feet. Takes after his dad.” Hannah glimpsed over at the stocky guy talking to a woman in a baseball cap.
“You never played baseball.”
“I did. Little League.”
“A hundred years ago.”
He looked over at his son on the field.
“You will still let him play while I'm away right?”
“I’m not too sure about picking him up though. My class doesn't finish till five.” Oden scratched his head. He looked down at the coach. Taylor was a good sort.
“I might have a word with the Coach. See if we can work something out.” They watched their son miss the ball being distracted by his shoelace. Hannah sighed. Oden shook his head.
“Coach said he plays a good game.”
Hannah watched the guy flirting with no luck. “Well, the coach needs more coaching. I better get going.” She reached down for her bag. “I've got to go, I have a class soon.” She reached over kissing his cheek. “I'll grab something on the way home.”
“Yeah, go go!”
Hannah looked down at her son standing there watching the other kids running for the ball.
His father's dream she thought to herself as she made her way down from the bleachers.

 

Taylor pulled up outside the two-story building along 34th Ave. She looked down at the address one more time.
“Zack are you sure this is where I'm dropping you off?”
“Yes, Coach. Mum is upstairs in the studio.” Taylor jumped out of her truck and followed him around the side of the rundown building to the back stairs.
“What does your mum do exactly?” She thought to herself feeling uneasy about leaving him here.
“She's a dancer.”
“Right,” Taylor helped him push the heavy door open. She slowed down as they passed the glass between the hallway and the studio. Her eyes drifted over the kids in leotards and a couple of younger girls in tutus. “Ha, ok she’s a ballerina.” She relaxed following Zack quietly in through the door.
A blonde woman was moving across the room.
She quickly took a seat next to Zack.
“You have to be quiet when they dance ok.”
“Ok.” She whispered taking in the sea of pink in front of her.
“Alright, here we go. A one a two a...” As the pretty music played the group of little ballerinas began dancing around the room.
“Good good Amy, keep your chin up.”
Taylors' eyes kept drifting over their teacher. She was young-looking. Her ponytail swung with the movement of her arms.
“That's it. And again,”
Taylor took a quick glimpse at Zack fidgeting with his shoe beside her. “That's your mum?”
“Yip.” He nodded. Taylor looked back at her in her black leotard. She raised her eyebrows. Zack had the same skin tone as her the same slender frame. His hair was darker but his features were similar. She smiled to herself. Now she understood this boy a little better.
She caught the woman’s eyes upon her. She instantly flushed.
“Tammy, can you take them through again.” Taylor saw her whisper to an older girl as she was making her way over. She stood up wiping her hands on her track pants. She looked like crap.
“Hi.” Hannah directed to both of them welcoming the hug around her waist from her son. “How was your day sweetie?”
“Good!”
Hannah glimpsed up at the woman with her son.
“We haven't met. I'm Hannah, Zack’s mum.” Taylor looked down at the feminine hand held out in front of her.
“Um Taylor, Coach, the kids call me Coach.” She shook her hand nervously conscious her palm was sweaty. “Ah. Sorry.” She pulled her hand back. “I haven’t had a chance to freshen up.”
Hannah noticed her reaction to her. She was the girl the Coach was talking to...
“Sorry I was expecting this brawly guy I saw at the game last week not...” She wasn't sure what she was saying. Taylor had a gorgeous smile under that baseball cap.
Taylor waved her off. “Oh don't worry I get it all the time.” She couldn't help noticing the flecks in her brown eyes.
“Mum how much longer?”
Hannah felt the squeeze around her waist.
“Um,” She broke away from her lock on Taylors' green eyes smiling back at her. “Not long. Um Taylor I'm not sure what my husband had worked out with you.”
“Oh.” Taylor pulled her hat off all of a sudden feeling rude having it on inside. “Um, we decided on five dollars a drop-off.”
“Really, is that all?” She indicated for her to follow.
“Well to be honest it is on my way home so it was just a little something towards gas. No big deal.” They stopped next to the full-length mirrors. Hannah bent down finding her purse in her bag. Taylor got a good glimpse of herself in the mirror. Well, a bad glimpse.
“Jesus I look like crap!”
Hannah glimpsed up at her noticing she was looking at herself. She smiled standing up.
“How can you guys stand looking at yourself like this?” She put her hat back on pulling it down. Hannah turned to look at their reflections.
“Oh, you get used to it. Most of the time you're watching your movements, not your face.” She put her hand out to give Taylor her five dollars.
Taylor was looking at herself in her coaching gear.
“I look so sporty.” She turned sideways and started doing the running man cracking herself up.
Hannah laughed at the sudden move from the dark-headed woman.
“Oh sorry,” Taylor noticed the money in Hannah’s hand. “Couldn't help myself.”
“That’s ok.” Their hands touched and their eyes met again.
Taylor blushed.
“I better let you get back to your class.” She scanned the little eyes looking at them. She walked past her heading towards the door. “It was nice to meet you, Hannah.” She smiled reaching for the handle. “We'll work out a better way to...” She waved the five-dollar note.
“Ok.” Hannah smiled watching the charming woman put some distance between them.
“See you Thursday sport.” She winked at Zack kicking off his shoes.
“Bye Coach!” Her eyes found Hannah’s again.
“Ok bye.” She smiled banging into the pull door as she pushed it.
Hannah watched her go bright red. She laughed to herself. “Zack is your Coach always so... distracted?” She looked over to where he was watching his toes wiggling freely. “Oh, my boy you’re a worry.