13. Easton
13
EASTON
I rushed out of the training center after practice Friday afternoon. Not only was I still fervently trying to avoid Shayla—just like I had since the weight room—but my sister and nephew were coming in to visit before the preseason games started, and I was picking them up at the airport. They hadn’t been to my new home yet, and I couldn’t wait to show them around. Max would lose his mind when he saw his room for the first time.
I only wished I could get my grandpa to come for a visit, but with the fall harvest fast approaching, he wouldn’t leave the farm for the next couple months even though he had a whole crew working for him. The man was nearing seventy but worked like someone half his age. He claimed that was what kept him young and in such good shape, and I believed it.
Waiting for Roni and Max to emerge from the crowd, I pulled my phone from my pocket to check my email. I was awaiting confirmation from our fan development and youth hockey manager that they had room for Max for tomorrow’s mini camp. The roster was full when I'd learned about it, but I may have sweet talked her into letting Max participate and offered to assist in exchange for securing his spot. Having a Stanley Cup winner as part of their camp was a surefire way to get the kids pumped up.
I hadn’t been happy about my trade to the Wraiths at first, but their involvement in the community definitely earned them some brownie points as well as my respect. Their youth hockey programs took off right out of the gate during their inaugural year and hadn’t slowed down since. They hosted multiple charity events and fundraisers to fund youth hockey programs and provide equipment for underserved communities. As someone who benefitted from such programs as a kid, it was something I was deeply passionate about.
“Uncle Easton!” I looked up to find my nephew barreling toward me. Shoving my phone into my pocket, I opened my arms, and he launched into my embrace. “Did you know it’s six hundred and forty-two miles from Chicago to Richmond by plane?” he asked excitedly as I placed him back on his feet. “But it’s eight hundred and twenty-three miles if you travel by car!”
“I did not know that,” I admitted, fighting the urge to ruffle his hair. He didn’t like that nor did he like getting his hair cut, which was why it was always so floppy and curled around his neck, much like mine.
“How was your flight?” I asked Roni as she sidled up to us, rolling both their suitcases behind her. Max had abandoned his when he spotted me, leaving her to trudge through the congested gate with both of them. She released Max’s suitcase to give me a one-armed hug.
“Not bad. Max spent most of the flight engrossed in his newest graphic novel.”
“Yeah, and it had just gotten to the good part when they made us get off the plane.” He pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. I pinched my lips together to smother my amusement.
“That’s alright, Max, you’ll have plenty of time to read this evening after dinner. And then, tomorrow, I have a little surprise for you.” The disgruntled scowl melted off his face, and his eyes twinkled with excitement.
“You do?” I nodded, grabbing the handle to his suitcase.
“And I have another surprise for you waiting in your room.”
“Let’s go!” He bounced on the balls of his feet, his body practically humming with energy before taking off toward the exit. I chuckled, letting my long strides eat up the distance between us as my sister followed close behind.
He chattered nonstop the whole way home, telling me all about his new friends and the fun activities they did at school. I barely had my SUV in park when he jumped out and ran to the door.
“Wow,” Roni breathed, taking in the house and the view of the lake just beyond, “this place is beautiful.”
“It’s a lot more house than what I had in Boston but cost me half what my old place did.” That was the best part about living in Willow Brook Falls. The real estate market was hot, but it wasn’t anything like the big cities in New England. A dollar stretched a lot farther here. Plus, I had peace and quiet while still being reasonably close to the city. It was perfect.
Unlocking the door, I took Max straight to his room. He was ready to explode with anticipation when I finally opened the door.
“No freaking way,” he said, stepping inside.
“Max, language,” Roni scolded.
“Sorry, Mom,” he replied sheepishly. Walking to the center of the room, he did a slow turn, taking in the 360 degree view. “Wow,” he breathed, and a triumphant smile curved my lips.
Hanging on each wall was artwork depicting Godzilla locked in battle with different foes, including the one with the three-headed dragon he’d picked out hanging directly over his bed. His comforter showed the lizard-like monster roaring out his electric blue fire. Figurines of all the titans from the movies lined the shelf above his desk, and there was a resin lamp that matched the comforter with the blue fire lighting up when you flipped the switch.
“This is the coolest bedroom ever!” he proclaimed before throwing his arms around my waist.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it? I love it!” Warmth unfurled in my chest. My nephew’s happiness meant more to me than anything in the world. It had since the day he came screaming into this world. I’d been the first person to hold him after my sister and in that moment, I knew what it was to love another person unconditionally.
Most women probably wouldn’t want their big brother in the room when they gave birth, but I was all she had other than my grandpa, and he came from a generation when “birthing babies was only for the women folk.” Our parents had been gone for nearly a decade, and Grammy had passed the year before from cancer, so it was just the three of us. Now four.
I held my nephew tight, savoring this moment of pure joy. Hopefully, now that I had a bigger place and Max got a room all to himself, I could convince Roni to visit more often. She stayed in Illinois to be close to Gramps, but I was only a short flight away. She hated Boston and rarely visited, but this sleepy little town was much more like home. Sometimes it even felt like home, but that thought didn’t scare me nearly as much as it should.