Afterword
ELIJAH
I skate onto the ice to the cheers of my new teammates. For the most part, everyone on the hockey team has been welcoming and seems excited to have me here.
But all I can think about is how much I miss my family and how they all must be reacting to my sudden departure. I know Ellie and Henry are happy that they’ll be able to get married come springtime. But what about Mamm and Dat ? Are they pleased with my sacrifice? Are they glad they won’t lose the farm now?
If I had to guess, I’d say they have mixed feelings like I do. I know they’d never choose this path for my life. But when presented with the opportunity to make some real money to save my folks’ farm and pay down their medical bills, I couldn’t resist.
While this situation isn’t ideal and I’d rather be back in my Amish community, I am grateful for this gift I’ve been given. I knew what I had to do the moment Ellie and I walked into the house and learned of the large payment needed to prevent foreclosure on the farm.
It was no mistake that the coach offered me a position on the team that very morning. Jah , I turned him down at first. But as soon as I knew we’d lose the farm without a large sum of money, I had no choice but to come talk to Coach Graves. I knew it was God’s provision. Who was I to question His ways?
The Indianapolis Icebergs’ head coach had been pleased that I reconsidered his offer, but we did need to negotiate a little. I only agreed to join the team if I could get the money needed to save our farm upfront. That’s when Coach Graves explained the sign-on bonus to me.
Three years is a long time to be away from my family, but I can still visit in between games, practice, and training. Jude Riley playing on the team helps ease my homesickness a bit. Having a familiar face nearby is a blessing. And since we’ll be roommates, we’re likely to become good friends.
Now that Henry’s occupied with Ellie, I have a feeling we may grow apart. Not just because of the relationship with my sister but because of the distance between us.
This new life will certainly take some getting used to.
“Hey, Pete.” Eriksson swings a sweaty arm around my shoulders. “Join us for drinks and a bite to eat after practice?” I’m trying to make out his accent, but I’ve never been good at that kind of thing. Although his white-blond hair made me think he was probably northern European. Maybe Swedish?
Jude skates up to us. “Not tonight, Nils. He’s got driving lessons.” Jude has taken it upon himself to teach me how to drive so I can get my license.
That’s something else I have mixed feelings about. If I get too caught up in the Englisch world, it’s going to be difficult to find my way back to my Amish life. I already feel myself changing and I don’t like it.
“You ready for your first time behind the wheel?” Jude pumps his eyebrows.
I hang my head, then nod. “I guess I have to learn some time.”
Jude grins. “That’s the spirit. Let’s go hit the showers.” He leads the way.
As we’re leaving the rink, I spot the coach’s daughter on the bench, and she catches my eye. I give a slight smile at the pretty brunette, then feel a strong grip on my shoulder from behind.
I turn and note Eriksson’s scowl. “Best not get any ideas about the coach’s daughter. We don’t call him Coach Graves for nothing,” he warns.
“What? I thought that’s what his name is.”
“It is, but it carries a double meaning. If we touch his daughter, he’ll put us in our graves. Career speaking.”
Oh. Oh . “Well, I wasn’t?—”
“Yeah, sure. Don’t sweat it. We’ve all had our sights set on her at one point or another. That is, until Coach put us in our place.” Eriksson grimaces. “Now, she’s more like a little sister.”
“I see. Well, I’ll keep that in mind.” When I look her way again, she’s gone.
There’s something about Sage Graves that intrigues me. I’ve never really known any women who weren’t Amish, save Jude’s mother, and I don’t even know her well.
As I leave the locker room twenty minutes later, Coach stops me in the hallway. “Elijah.”
Ach , is he going to mention his daughter and warn me off her? I gulp. “ Jah ?”
“My wife would like me to extend an invitation to you to dinner tomorrow night, if you’re free.” The coach must read my confusion, so he continues, “It’s something we do with each new player. We’d like to get to know you better off the ice.”
“Uh, jah . That would be great.” Then I think about my driving situation. “But I don’t have a car yet.”
“No problem. I know where Jude lives. I can swing by and pick you up. Five-thirty sound okay?” I love how Coach Graves can immediately put a body at ease.
“Sounds good.”
I blow out a breath as Coach walks away. It looks like I might get to know Sage Graves after all. And something about that thought makes my pulse race a little faster.