Page 3 of Hometown Harbor 3
“I guess you’re right. I do love you even when I’m tortured,” Kylen said with a smile. He wore a Florida State sweatshirt, a school he had recently visited. “Do you think I need to bring my volleyball?”
“I don’t think so. They look like they travel well-equipped. You don’t mind that I’m coming down with you, do you?” April asked.
“No, I’m used to you acting as my biggest fan.”
Kylen was welcomed by Carmine and another equally fit man who invited him to warm up with them. The trio went running on the beach, but not before Carmine welcomed April.
“I’m glad you came along. Your son is built for this game, and it will be interesting to see if he has an affinity for it. I see so many kids who look like they’ll be good but don’t like the sport,” Carmine said.
“I just want him to have fun. I should tell you that he was celebrating last night,” April said.
“Weren’t we all? It was a national holiday. To your knowledge, does Kylen smoke, drink, or do any other drugs?”
"No, and if he was, I'd know. It wouldn’t be something I found out from a teacher or by snooping. It would be because Kylen told me. It’s just the two of us, and it wouldn’t work without radical honesty,” she said confidently.
“That’s refreshing because many parents are in the dark about what their child does when they leave the house. I know so little about you other than you’re a doctor and a single mother. I’d love to know more. Do you and Kylen want a burger from the beach shack after volleyball?”
“I can only speak for myself and sure, if the burgers are decent,” April said. It was refreshing that he considered April and Kylen a package because they were.
“I wouldn’t suggest it if they weren’t decent,” Carmine said with a smile. “Where did you learn to be a burger connoisseur?”
“Philly. I went to med school there, and next to my apartment was a hole-in-the-wall that made the world’s most amazing burgers. It wasn’t the type of place to be written up in magazines or found in any tourist guides. All the food in Philly was good, so I gained twenty pounds in school.”
“You clearly lost everything you gained,” Carmine said. He snapped his head around when his buddy called out to him.
April’s heart warmed when he saw Kylen smiling. The men were much older, but they were bonding over sport, and it was good to see. Kylen played lacrosse, tennis, soccer, and baseball. However, none of them held his interest for long. April would spend a fortune on equipment, and then he’d lose interest. She was hoping he would take up running, as that didn’t cost much more than a good pair of sneakers.
The men ran sprints on the beach and then did stretches, which caused April to cramp just watching them. Then they split into two teams, with two men on each team on the sideline. They would be subbed in when needed. Kylen was one of those, and he didn’t seem to mind. He should be honored even to be offered a substitute role.
When he was subbed in and spiked the ball for a point, April popped up from her sitting position and cheered. She was the only one making noise, and Kylen’s teammates encouraged her to cheer some more.
When the match was over, and his team led by Carmine had won, Kylen beamed with pride. April felt a burst of joy because anyone with children knows that their happiness is your happiness. Carmine and Kylen ran over, both glistening with sweat and broad smiles on their faces. She had difficulty believing that her son was only seventeen years old.
“That was a lot of fun. Sports and the beach – I don’t know why I didn’t think of beach volleyball before. Are you going to be around tomorrow?” Kylen asked Carmine.
“I’m here all summer, and there will be a revolving number of former and current pro volleyball players. They all have the same sponsor, and I slipped in as a coach/mentor. We’re always looking for guys who can keep up with us since some players need rest. Start showing up daily, and they’ll find a place for you in the substitution rotation.”
“I feel better than I have in months. Lacrosse was enjoyable, but I had one too many cheap shots to my abdomen. I felt like, sooner or later, I was going to smack someone back. I know you’ve heard this a million times, Mom, but I think I may have found my sport.”
"No helmet or special shoes required sounds good to me,” April said. “Carmine has invited us out for burgers. Are you in?” April asked.
“I can’t because I have something planned with Deenie and Dalton. If things progress with those two, I’m going to have to bail out before I become a third wheel.”
Kylen ran back to the house, leaving Carmine and April.
“Are you still up for that burger?” Carmine asked.
“Absolutely.”
“Remind me to thank Kylen,” Carmine said.
“For joining your volleyball crew?”
“That, too, but I really want to thank him for having plans and saving me the trouble of asking his mother out on a date.”
3
Carmine and April had much in common, although it didn’t seem like it at first glance. They both enjoyed their careers because they were put in a position to help people. Carmine was a high school English teacher and volleyball coach. He didn't have children but felt like a father to many at the boy's prep school where he worked in Miami. They went from a barefoot burger date to one when April wore a dress and Carmine long pants.