An Unlikely Match Read Online Free Page A

white-tipped nails and dark eye makeup, she had just been divorced for the second time when her daughter, Angie, had entered Ellie’s kindergarten class about a year ago now. Angie and Shawna, the second girl, had quickly become best friends and apparently still were. Ellie noticed that incontrast to her mother’s neat stylishness, Angie still looked as if she’d slept in her clothes, her short, dark blond hair sticking out at odd angles.
    “I like to start my day with a prayer,” Ellie said, smiling. “Now, what can I do for you?”
    “Please, Miss Monroe,” Shawna pleaded, tilting her dark, sleek head, “we don’t get a coach, and we ’membered that you can play.”
    “You played with us all those times at recess,” Angie put in eagerly.
    “Play?” Ellie echoed, puzzled. “Play what?”
    “Soccer,” Ms. Riddle clarified. “The girls have signed up for the spring soccer season, but there aren’t enough coaches to go around. Unless we can find someone to help out, the girls won’t get to play.”
    “Oh, dear,” Ellie said, rising to her feet, her hands still planted atop the book on her desk.
    “I’ve volunteered as team mother,” Ilene went on, “but I know nothing at all about the sport. I mean, I can organize everything, but I just don’t have any of the skills needed to teach the kids about the game, and the commissioner is apparently pretty strict about who is allowed to coach. We thought—hoped—you might be willing to help us.”
    Ellie stood speechless for a moment. She had never coached a sport in her life, but she did know the game, having played all through high school. Straightening, she folded her arms thoughtfully, one forefinger tapping her rounded chin.
    “How many kids would I work with?”
    “Nine is the minimum,” Ilene answered. “We actually have seven right now and could use a few more. Twelve is the max at this age.”
    Twelve at most. Ellie looked around the room. Sheroutinely corralled twenty-two in this small space and flattered herself that she actually taught them something worthwhile in the process. Twelve kids on an open field would be a piece of cake by comparison.
    “How much time are we talking about?”
    “It’s nine games and twenty practices in ten weeks, so roughly twenty-five hours.”
    That was little more than a full day in total, spread out over more than two months. Besides, she’d always enjoyed soccer and could use the exercise. And hadn’t she just asked God to show her the needs of her pupils and how to meet them?
    “Sounds like fun,” she decided. “Count me in.”
    The girls hurrah ed, bouncing up and down on their toes. Ilene Riddle reached past them to clasp Ellie’s hands with hers, silver bracelets jangling.
    “Thank you so much. I’ll help every way I can, I promise. First practice is Wednesday afternoon at five-fifteen. Do you know where the field is?”
    “I think so. Across the creek from the park, right?”
    “Right. I’ll bring all the supplies. You just bring the expertise.”
    “Deal,” Ellie said, smiling broadly.
    As the trio took their leave, Ellie dropped down onto her desk chair once more. Well, it looked like she had her work cut out for her, starting tomorrow afternoon. She’d have to brush up on coaching tactics this evening. Thankfully, with all the information online, that shouldn’t be too difficult. She’d see to it tonight.
    That left this afternoon to convince Asher Chatam to drop her grandfather’s case and turn his attention elsewhere.
    Ellie smiled. Mondays really were her favorite day of the week.
     
    Dropping the telephone receiver into its cradle, Asher stared at the leather-trimmed blotter on his desk. He hated Mondays. Just once, he wanted to get through a Monday without some unpleasant surprise. What, he wondered, had the aunties—and, by extension, he—gotten into? So much for settling this “routine” insurance matter and getting on with his life.
    Unanswered questions about the fire