The Renovation by Terri Kraus

Author:Terri Kraus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Restoration, old building rehab, spiritual/relational renewal, Romance, Architecture, Interior Design, Spiritual Journey
Publisher: David C. Cook
Published: 2012-01-13T05:00:00+00:00

The Flyers failed to score in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, losing the final game of the year by one single run.

The teams gathered in midfield, each player offering each opponent a handshake. Cameron scanned the boys—winners happy and ecstatic, losers glum and tight-lipped. But there were no tears, at least not yet. If they had been girls, there would have been tears—lots of tears—hugs and tears and promises that they would return victorious someday.

But the Flyers didn’t cry. They returned to their dugout for their equipment. She could hear the words of their coach, praising them for a good season and a good effort. He said they should all be proud of what they did.

That will make them cry, she thought.

She stood at the bottom of the bleachers while Ethan walked toward the dugout.

He did not have a smile on his face. It was not what she had ever expected to see from him.

She didn’t want to eavesdrop on a private moment between father and son, but she couldn’t turn off her hearing.

“That was your fault—you stopped thinking. You let the run score,” Ethan accused, his voice louder than it needed to be.

Chase, head lowered, his eyes averted, mumbled something in reply.

“It was your fault!” Ethan said back.

Chase raised his head, squared his shoulders, and, with a look of anger and grit, shouted back, “It’s always my fault, isn’t it? That’s what you think, isn’t it?”

Then, without waiting for a response, Chase turned on his heels and walked away, heading to the far exit of the park, the exit by the river.

“Hey!”

Chase kept on walking.

“Hey!”

He had no hint of hesitation in his steps.

“You stop—now!”

Chase didn’t stop, or slow, or even flinch.

Ethan stared after him for a moment, then turned away.

Cameron looked down at her hands, as if she had not been listening. To be honest, there was a lot of commotion on the field and in the bleachers as the winning side continued to celebrate. Perhaps no one else had really heard what father and son had said to each other. Perhaps it was not an unusual occurrence.

But Cameron couldn’t believe that was true. She didn’t want to be there, not just now, not having heard what she’d heard and not having seen what had just happened.

Ethan came around the backstop, slowing his steps with obvious deliberate effort. He moved to stand by her. Most of the Flyers’ families had dispersed. No one stopped as they left.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

She wondered what was in his eyes but was hesitant to look up.

“I didn’t …” Her words were almost inaudible.

Finally, she raised her head. She swallowed, her throat dry, her chest tight. “Ethan, that wasn’t fair. He’s just a boy. It wasn’t really his fault. He tried his best. And it’s just a game.”

She felt herself recoil, physically, from the withering stare that took over Ethan’s face. His eyes had narrowed until they were tight, flashing.

“Hey,” he said, snapping the word in cold precision. “You don’t know what this is

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