The Escape Collection: (The Escape Collection) (89 page)

Barb’s eyes were so similar to Cam's, it took her aback. She replayed the look of confusion on his face when she told him to leave her alone. She cringed with the memory. “There's nothing to spill,” she said after a moment.
 

“Bullshit.”
 

Heads turned and glared at them. If the other parents weren't listening before, they were after that.
 

“There isn’t.” Darci lowered her voice hoping Barb would do the same. “We’re just friends.”

“Friends? Oh for goodness sake. Why aren’t you two dating?”
 

“I can't, Barb,” Darci said. She turned her head and looked away. “I wish I could. But I can't. Not now, not with everything going on with Taylor. It's just not a good time.” Just speaking the words, made her want to cry, and not for the first time, Darci wished it could be different.
 

“I know things are hard right now,” Barb said, her voice softening a level. “But you can’t use Taylor as an excuse forever. You deserve happiness too.”
 

Darci looked at her. “It's not an excuse,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
 

“Really? How is Taylor doing?” Barb's eyes flashed with the challenge. “Is she playing tonight?”

“You know she is.” Darci knew exactly what Barb was trying to do, but she smiled along anyway. “She couldn't wait to get out there. You know Taylor.”

Barb nodded and grabbed Darci's shoulder in support. “I do.”
 

They sat in silence for a few moments watching the girls jogging around the field. “She's doing really good,” Darci said, more to herself than to anyone else. “She's going to be fine.”

“Yes she is, Darci,” Barb said. She put her hand over Darci’s and squeezed. “Now it's your turn.”
 

Chapter 20

The girls played well, and despite the fact that Darci held her breath whenever she saw Taylor run past, there were no signs that she was feeling less then her best. Taylor was playing as well as she always did, and judging from the smile on her face, she was having a good time. Darci knew that despite her daughter’s tears and concerns earlier, Taylor would have handled the situation surrounding her seizure like a pro. She always knew how to handle herself in a tough spot.

Darci couldn't help but sneak a few glances at Cam, but he never looked up towards the bleachers. His focus was on the game, and his clipboard, which Darci thought he consulted more frequently than usual. He wasn't smiling either. Even when the girls scored another goal, securing a solid lead going into half time, he yelled out his appreciation, but his face didn't betray any emotion.
 

“What's the deal with Cam?” Tim, Barb's husband asked. He turned to the women, and Darci ducked her head, pretending to be absorbed in the hem of her sweater. “He should be thrilled. Taylor’s back and they've all really pulled together. They're playing awesome, which is a freakin’ miracle given what they've been through.”

“He's just having a bad day,” Barb said. Darci looked up and shot her a look that hopefully she understood as gratitude. Only Barb knew she’d been out with Cam, and even if she didn't know the details, which Darci suspected she did, she knew enough to keep it from everyone else.
 

“Bad day or not, he needs to pull it together for the girls,” Tim said, getting to his feet. “You ladies want a coffee? I need to stretch my legs.”

They nodded and placed their orders, and soon Tim was gone. Barb turned to Darci to say something, but before she could, Susanna slipped into Tim's vacant spot.
 

“Barb, I need to talk to you about the rummage sale.”

“Rummage sale?” Darci asked.
 

Susanna flicked her a glance, but turned her back on her so she blocked Darci off from the conversation. “You did say you would help the girls make posters next week, isn’t that right?” Susanna asked. “I need to make sure they're all the appropriate size and color.”

“And what would that be?” Barb asked. “I was going to make hot pink banners with green lettering. How does that sound?” She rolled her eyes and Darci stifled a giggle.
 

“That's not funny,” Susanna said. She pulled a piece of paper out of a folder and slapped it into Barb's hand. “I took the liberty of writing out exactly what we need, as well as some suggested phrases. I trust you'll have them done by Thursday so we can get them hung up?”

“Aye aye, Captain'.”

“Not funny, Barb.” Susanna tucked her folder away and moved to stand up.

“Maybe I can help out,” Darci said. “I'm pretty good at making signs.”

“That sounds like a great idea.”

“I don't think that's necessary.”
 

Barb and Susanna spoke at the same time.
 

“And why not?” Darci asked Susanna, who still hadn't acknowledged her presence.
 

Susanna slowly turned so she was facing Darci, but still wouldn't make eye contact.

“We formed the committees ages ago while you were busy with the hospital. I really don't think we need anything else.”

Darci bristled.
 

“I'm sure there's something,” Barb said.

Darci straightened her back and turned so she was facing Susanna head on. She looked her straight in the eyes, but the other woman, blinked hard and looked away. “Didn't you say,” Darci started, “that since my daughter was captain of the team again this year, that I should be expected to do my bit?”

“I...just...well, with everything...” Susanna stammered and shifted from side to side.
 

“Just say it, Susanna,” Barb said. “Because we all know what this is about.”

Susanna looked at each of them in turn before patting her hair. “Okay,” she said. “It’s not a secret that I’m uncomfortable with Taylor’s illness.”

“It’s a disease,” Barb said.
 

Susanna ignored her. “And as I said ages ago, I no longer think that Taylor is the best representative for our team. I don’t believe she should be team captain and I’m even sure she should be playing with the girls.”
 

“Pardon me?”
 

“I don’t like it, Darci. And I’m tired of pretending that I think it’s okay. Something needs to be done.”

Barb stood up and put her hands on her hips. “And what exactly do you think needs to be done, Susanna?”
 

Susanna turned and glared at Barb. “If you must know, I think Taylor should quit the team.”

Darci took such a sharp breath that she started coughing. When she got herself under control, she looked directly at Susanna and said, “That’s not going to happen.”

“There’s no way that’s going to happen,” agreed Barb.

“I see,” Susanna huffed and looked at both of them before stepping over the bench to make her getaway. Before she left she turned around one last time. “Well, if she’s not leaving, my daughter is.”

“You can’t do that, Susanna,” Darci said. “She’s the goalie. The team needs her.”

“But they don’t need you,” Barb chimed in. “Maybe it’s you the team doesn’t need, Susanna.”

Susanna glared at Barb but spoke to Darci, “Well I guess the team doesn’t need Jennica quite so badly after all.” Without turning around again, she picked her way down the bleachers and towards the players’ bench.
 

Barb put her hand on Darci’s shaking shoulder. “Let her go,” she said. “It’s not worth it. And we both know that she’ll calm down.”

***

Susanna didn’t calm down, and the girls played the rest of the game as if their star goalie hadn't just been taken from them. Darci couldn't hear what Cam told the girls about Jennica's departure, and despite the fact that he himself had only heard Susanna’s side of the story, there was no doubt that he knew enough of what had happened to piece it together. And the girls didn't need to know the details, although, Darci was sure that Taylor would ask her later.
 

The Chargers won the game, but there was no enthusiastic cheer, no celebration and no victory pizza and soda. One by one, the parents said their goodbyes, and made their way down to the field to collect their kids and go home. In unspoken agreement, Darci, Barb and Tim sat and waited until they were the only ones left in the stands. Darci watched as Cam packed up his bag, gathered the balls that had escaped and stuffed them into his net bag. Taylor and Abby were sitting in the grass stretching their legs, but Darci knew they were doing more talking than stretching.
 

“I guess we should go talk to him,” Barb said after a moment.
 

“I'll take the girls to the car,” Tim offered.
 

He called out to the girls who grabbed their stuff, dusted off their backsides and jogged over to him.
 

When they were gone, Darci and Barb stepped down the bleachers and over to where Cam was waiting.
 

As soon as they got close, Cam asked, “So, are you two going to tell me why my star goalie was yanked out of the game halfway through?” He didn’t look up.
 

Darci stayed silent, she didn't trust herself to recount the story. Just thinking of the way Susanna had acted, made her cringe.
 

“What did Susanna tell you?” Barb asked.
 

Cam turned and glared at his sister. “She said you told her to leave. That she wasn't welcome on the team anymore.”

“That's not-”

“I know,” Cam said, his face cracking into a smile. “I know Susanna well enough to know that there's a whole lot more to it than that. And really, even if you had told her she wasn't welcome, I wouldn't have blamed you. She's difficult to deal with on a good day.”

Darci tried to match his smile, but couldn't. She had to fight the urge to reach out to him and stroke his cheek where the stubble was beginning to turn into a beard. But their relationship was never that intimate and after the way she'd treated him at the hospital, Darci knew she wouldn't have the opportunity to touch him that way at all.
 

“Is that right, Darci?”
 

She shook her head clear, embarrassed that she'd been caught daydreaming and hadn't been listening. “I'm sorry?”
 

Cam was staring at her, his smile had vanished and she hoped it wasn't because of her. “Did Susanna say that Taylor was a bad influence on the girls because of her diabetes?” His jaw clenched tight as he waited for her answer.

Darci nodded. “It's true.”

“Then she can't be here,” Cam said. “I will not tolerate anyone treating any of my players with such ignorance. It's not fair to Taylor, or anybody else.”
 

“Thank you,” Darci whispered.
 

He looked at her and his gaze softened. “You don't have to thank me.” His eyes held hers and for a moment, she thought he might say something else. “I can't and won't tolerate that kind of behavior. Taylor has enough to deal with, she doesn't need Susanna spreading misinformation too. Jennica is welcome, but that's not my decision to make.”

“What did you tell the girls?” Barb asked.
 

Darci and Cam both turned to her, having forgotten she was still there. “Sadly, I didn't have to tell them anything. They heard Susanna's ranting loud and clear when she came and grabbed Jennica. I'll explain things tomorrow night at practice.”

Darci's mind drifted slightly and she tuned out of their conversation again. After a moment, she popped her head up and said, “Maybe I can make a suggestion?”
 

Chapter 21

Darci's lungs burned. Her feet pounded the pavement, and with each strike, she exhaled a puff of air, sucking in another so fast that she didn't have to think about the action. Faster. She pumped her legs, willing them to go. Harder. She closed her eyes for a second; letting her body move by the sheer memory of the trail she ran almost every night.
 

After bringing Taylor home from the game, she'd cooked a simple spaghetti dinner and together they sat at the kitchen table where Darci answered all of her questions about what happened at the game and why Jennica didn't play the second half. It turns out the girls had drawn their own conclusions after witnessing Susanna yelling at Cam, and they weren't far off.
 

Taylor confided that things had only gotten worse with the girls at school too. Darci knew that there had been problems and she wasn’t surprised when Taylor told her that Abby, in an effort to defend her, had confronted Jennica.
 

“What did she say?” Darci asked.

“I don’t know.” Taylor shrugged and picked at her dinner. “And I don’t care. It's not worth it, Mom.”
 

“Tay, Jennica's your friend. Of course it's worth it to try and figure out what's going on.” Darci spun a forkful of pasta and swirled it through the sauce.
 

 
“She just doesn't understand, Mom.” Taylor ripped off a chunk of her garlic bread but wouldn't meet her mother's eyes. “It doesn't matter what I do or say, she believes what her mother tells her and I’m sick of saying the same thing.”

“I know.”

“It's not fair that my friends treat me differently.” Taylor shoved the bread into her mouth.
 

“No, kiddo. It's not. But I think I have a plan that will help.”

Taylor listened, her eyes growing wide with enthusiasm, as Darci laid out the plan that her, Barb and Cam had come up with earlier. Darci decided it was time to teach the team and all of Taylor’s friends exactly what diabetes was, and was not. The plan was to throw a party that would not only be fun but that would also educate them. There would be healthy snacks, sugar free sorbets and other healthy option deserts. Darci had come up with the idea of having Joelle come and do a needle demonstration, so they could all see that it wasn’t that scary. It would also be good to explain to the girls what to look for when it came to the signs of
 
a sugar crash, so Taylor could hopefully avoid a seizure again in the future.