Weekend Goal

Chapter 17 - Meeting at Myrtle's

"You are not alone. You've never been alone," Rose says. "What you've been is too stubborn to accept help from anyone."

We all look from Cooper to Rose, and back. Her words only seem to have a meaning for them while we are all left out.

"I believe your team deserves an explanation," Lachlan says.

Cooper rubs his face and let out a deep breath. "I was in deep financial trouble when I took the job managing the club and the team. Even had to lend money from the club for some personal expenses, which I have been paying little by little. But the truth is I have no fucking clue about what I'm doing. The board has given me warnings not only about the team's performance, but also about the state the club house is in. I thought I could do everything; the cleaning, the kitchen, the admin, but I'm mediocre at everything I do."

"And I offered you help, which you declined," Rose says.

Cooper smiles a sad smile and shakes his head. "You know I'm too proud to accept help."

"I think you are running out of options," I say. "I'm willing to look at the admin and set it straight."

"I can make that horrendous kitchen decent again, and don't get me started on that ancient freezer with God knows what petrified things are stored in there."

The room buzzes with new-found energy, some of the ladies offer help to clean up the club, others even plan an open house, someone even suggest a tutoring camp where Cooper can help sharpen the sport skills of children.

"You better say something," Myrtle says to Cooper while bringing a large tray of cookies from her kitchen. "Never seen a group so willing to make things work."

Lachlan gives her a loving smile. She's become a mother role in his life since he moved across the street, and always talks about her wisdom.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm in your hands. Tell me what I need to do and I'll do it."

"What about we start with talking about the next game?" I suggest.

This isn't a team talk like any I've experienced. No coach telling us what to do, more like what we can do and are best at.

"I don't like to be at the goal post," Sage says. "I like to run and I'm better in midfield."

Her new-found confidence is great to see. Everyone makes a self-assessment of their skills and expresses their preferences. Cooper writes down on a paper and then sketches a field, trying as much as possible to make a new team set-up.

"I think this is it," he says and reads the teams names and positions from the paper, making notes when necessary. "If you are all happy, we start practicing in this new set-up tomorrow. I only hope we are not too late."

"It's never too late," Rose says to him, and again, her words seem to have a deeper meaning for them.

We spend the rest of the time together making plans for the club. The first thing that will happen during this week is that the whole place will get a massive scrub from floor to ceiling. The team leaves with high hopes until only Lachlan, Cooper, Rose and I are left.

"Thank you. None of this would have happened without you," Cooper says. "You seem to have put your differences aside for the club, and I'll be eternally grateful."

"She isn't so bad," Rose says in a joking tone. "Let's go Sanne."

"You go home. I'm staying a bit longer with Lachlan."

Rose lifts an eyebrow but says nothing further. We say goodbye to Myrtle after settling the bill, and head to Lachlan's little apartment.

"Part of his thanks are also for you," I say to him. "You alerted us on what was happening and we could take measures."

"I only hope it's on time. Those men seemed quite ready to pull the plug on the club. I didn't see one of your teammates, the dark girl."

"It's better to leave Willow out of this. She hasn't been exactly a good friend to anyone. I'll leave that to Cooper."

"Will you stay?" He asks as he opens the door. "Your stuff has made it here little by little anyway."

"Yeah, I can stay if you give me a ride to work tomorrow morning. I left my car at the mall."

Lachlan smiles as he lets me in. We lay in bed in each other's arms and cuddle for a long time without exchanging a word until sleep wins.

When I wake up the next morning, I feel more energized than I've been in a while. I'll head by the club after work to start making sense of the administration. Lachlan brings me to work and kisses my lips softly before I leave his car. The gesture leaves me smiling as I walk inside and keeps me energized through a day full with meetings and analysis.

"Sanne, something's been delivered for you," our receptionist says in sing-song just as I walk to the coffee machine for a well-deserved break.

I grab the yellow flowers bouquet and get in my office. The card inside is printed with the text:

Pretty flowers like you.

There's no signature on the card and no name on the delivery slip. I get my phone and call Rose.

"Rose, did Cooper send thank you flowers?" I ask.

"I know for a fact they are not from Cooper as he spent the night with me. I also received a bouquet here at the café."

"I spent the night with Lachlan so they are not from him. Who sent them then?"

"I have a suspicion. I think Willow is behind this."

Willow? Wait, Cooper spent the night with Rose?