Read Online Sunset: 4 (Sunrise) by Karen Kingsbury - Free Book Online
Authors: Karen Kingsbury
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Mom sounded shaky.
“A cement truck ran the red light.” Bailey looked at her dad. “He was heading right for Connor’s door, and at the last minute he swerved.”
“He ran the light?” Dad’s expression held the same shock she’d felt, as if he could see the near accident in his mind.
The boys gathered in close so they could hear, their giggles replaced by looks of concern.
Mom nodded. “I saw him pass behind us. I mean, a couple feet behind us.”
“He almost hit two other cars.” Connor crossed his arms. “It was pretty crazy.”
For a moment, the family stayed close together in the damp cold, as if all of them were trying to process what almost happened. What could’ve happened.
Their dad put his arms around the shoulders of his two girls. “I guess that means your good news beats mine. Because God chose to bring you home safely to us.”
Their mother raised her eyebrows at him. “What good news?”
He winked and nodded toward the house. “Let’s go inside. We can talk about it there.”
Suddenly Bailey remembered the silly way the boys were acting. Way too excited for a simple after-audition greeting. It was that time of year, the off-season for the NFL, when management from one or another team still knocked on their dad’s door, hoping they could get him to take a coaching position.
Her stomach flip-flopped as their group headed through the garage and into the house. What if he’d taken a job on the other side of the country? CKT was finally back, and Bailey had no intention of leaving. She wanted to study theater at Indiana University and maybe travel with her CKT friends to New York for an audition every now and then. Also, if her family left, what home would Cody have to come back to?
When they were inside, Bailey watched the younger four boys exchange looks that said they were about to burst from keeping the secret. Dad directed them to the brown suede sofas that rounded out the family room. Bailey and Connor swapped a look that confirmed one thing: Connor was worried about the news too.
As they all took their seats, Mom beside Dad, she studied him. “Jim? Tell me.”
He put his arm around her and grinned. “I got a call from the Colts. The only team that hasn’t called before.”
The Indianapolis Colts were only an hour from Bloomington. Bailey felt her fears ease, but even so she wasn’t sure. She liked her dad coaching at the high school, liked the idea that he’d be there for her brothers as they grew older.
The younger boys were squirming, giving each other virtual high fives across the room and barely able to contain their joy.
“They offered me an assistant position. Meetings would start the middle of March.”
Their mother smiled, but she looked dizzy, and Bailey understood. It was a lot to handle. All eyes were on her, waiting for her reaction. She laughed, then stood and threw her arms around Dad’s neck. “That’s wonderful. I can’t believe it!”
Like every time something big happened in their lives, Bailey was sure there’d be more conversations between her parents later when the kids weren’t around. “So, you said yes?” Bailey was on her feet now too and slowly moving toward her dad.
“I told them I’d talk to my family and let them know on Monday.”
Ricky let out a shout of victory and flung his fist high in the air. “Say yes! Of course!”
“Yeah!” Shawn danced around his brothers, his smile exposing a mouthful of braces. “Dad’s gonna coach in the NFL again!”
“That’s great.” Connor was quieter than the others, and Bailey thought she knew why. Just a few months earlier, Connor had transitioned from CKT to football, playing for his dad. Now with CKT back in full swing and their dad probably taking a job with the Colts, Connor would most likely be finished with football.
“Your mother and I have a lot to talk about. I wanted you kids to know so you could think about things over the weekend. If any of you has doubts about
“A cement truck ran the red light.” Bailey looked at her dad. “He was heading right for Connor’s door, and at the last minute he swerved.”
“He ran the light?” Dad’s expression held the same shock she’d felt, as if he could see the near accident in his mind.
The boys gathered in close so they could hear, their giggles replaced by looks of concern.
Mom nodded. “I saw him pass behind us. I mean, a couple feet behind us.”
“He almost hit two other cars.” Connor crossed his arms. “It was pretty crazy.”
For a moment, the family stayed close together in the damp cold, as if all of them were trying to process what almost happened. What could’ve happened.
Their dad put his arms around the shoulders of his two girls. “I guess that means your good news beats mine. Because God chose to bring you home safely to us.”
Their mother raised her eyebrows at him. “What good news?”
He winked and nodded toward the house. “Let’s go inside. We can talk about it there.”
Suddenly Bailey remembered the silly way the boys were acting. Way too excited for a simple after-audition greeting. It was that time of year, the off-season for the NFL, when management from one or another team still knocked on their dad’s door, hoping they could get him to take a coaching position.
Her stomach flip-flopped as their group headed through the garage and into the house. What if he’d taken a job on the other side of the country? CKT was finally back, and Bailey had no intention of leaving. She wanted to study theater at Indiana University and maybe travel with her CKT friends to New York for an audition every now and then. Also, if her family left, what home would Cody have to come back to?
When they were inside, Bailey watched the younger four boys exchange looks that said they were about to burst from keeping the secret. Dad directed them to the brown suede sofas that rounded out the family room. Bailey and Connor swapped a look that confirmed one thing: Connor was worried about the news too.
As they all took their seats, Mom beside Dad, she studied him. “Jim? Tell me.”
He put his arm around her and grinned. “I got a call from the Colts. The only team that hasn’t called before.”
The Indianapolis Colts were only an hour from Bloomington. Bailey felt her fears ease, but even so she wasn’t sure. She liked her dad coaching at the high school, liked the idea that he’d be there for her brothers as they grew older.
The younger boys were squirming, giving each other virtual high fives across the room and barely able to contain their joy.
“They offered me an assistant position. Meetings would start the middle of March.”
Their mother smiled, but she looked dizzy, and Bailey understood. It was a lot to handle. All eyes were on her, waiting for her reaction. She laughed, then stood and threw her arms around Dad’s neck. “That’s wonderful. I can’t believe it!”
Like every time something big happened in their lives, Bailey was sure there’d be more conversations between her parents later when the kids weren’t around. “So, you said yes?” Bailey was on her feet now too and slowly moving toward her dad.
“I told them I’d talk to my family and let them know on Monday.”
Ricky let out a shout of victory and flung his fist high in the air. “Say yes! Of course!”
“Yeah!” Shawn danced around his brothers, his smile exposing a mouthful of braces. “Dad’s gonna coach in the NFL again!”
“That’s great.” Connor was quieter than the others, and Bailey thought she knew why. Just a few months earlier, Connor had transitioned from CKT to football, playing for his dad. Now with CKT back in full swing and their dad probably taking a job with the Colts, Connor would most likely be finished with football.
“Your mother and I have a lot to talk about. I wanted you kids to know so you could think about things over the weekend. If any of you has doubts about
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