Chapter Three #2
Since I’m not protected as much in my gear and take a lot of hits, injuries are unavoidable, and I know it’s just a matter of time before a fresh-faced rookie comes in and claims my spot.
I’m not bitter about it, truly. I’ve had my time in the spotlight with a successful career and stats, so when the time does finally come, I can embrace it with class.
I think the hardest part, aside from not being on the ice with a team, is deciding what to do after.
I’m hoping that with me being home around Mom, she can help guide me a little as to where my focus should be for those next steps.
I figure if anyone in the world knows me best and can help me decide, it’s her.
Releasing a breath, I set my gear down in the laundry room and take my shoes off.
Even being in my thirties, I know better than to push my luck with walking through the house carrying stinky equipment in my dirty boots.
“Hey, Mom, I’m back. Gonna shower then I’ll be down,” I yell by way of greeting, then quickly take the steps leading up to the second story and to my room.
It’s my childhood home, but thankfully, Mom took mercy on me and removed all the posters and every other teenage piece of me out of my room.
Now, it’s my home away from my apartment, the place I can turn my cell off and relax.
I make my way into the living room after I’ve washed and thrown on a fresh pair of sweats.
The fire’s roaring in the fireplace, which reminds me I still need to head outside and chop some more wood.
I try to keep Mom stocked up with every trip I make here, so she never has to worry about it and doesn’t end up hurting herself trying to be a lumberjack on top of everything else she does.
The woman never stops going, but I guess staying busy keeps her happy.
“Mom?”
“Hey, Sean. I’m in here,” she calls from the kitchen. I find her at the counter with sandwich stuff spread everywhere. “Hungry?”
I nod. With all of my training, I’m basically a bottomless pit. “Starving.” I immediately jump in beside her, assembling my club sandwich while she makes hers. “Fresh bread?”
“Yep. I’d love to claim that I’m the one who baked it, but it was Brenda.”
“Brenda, as in Winter’s mom?” I clarify, because there are three Brendas who live in town.
She nods. “Mmhm. She makes the best sourdough around, although I don’t know how she finds the time to do it.” She laughs and picks up her sandwich, taking a big bite while leaning her hip against the counter.
I copy her by taking a bite and resting my back against the counter. It feels good on the lower lumbar, where I always seem to be sore these days. “Mm. Good idea on the sandwich.”
“Right? Told you.” She takes another bite before asking, “Did you get the stuff from the store I’d asked you to, while you were in Noelville?”
It’s the closest city to Noel Falls, hence the names being nearly the same to each other.
Noelville is small compared to most cities, but big enough that they have the chain grocery stores and the only professional hockey rink within a hundred-mile radius.
“Of course. I did forget the bags in my truck, though, so I’ll have to run out after I eat this.
I still need to go outside and take care of some more wood for you anyhow. ”
“How did I get so lucky to have a son like you?”
I shrug, flashing a smile full of sandwich like I used to do as a teen, making her groan with disgust. I cover my mouth, laughing. After I chew and swallow, I confess, “I found a car nearly in the ditch on my way home.”
“Oh yeah? Anyone we know?”
“Winter.”
Her eyes light up, her lips tipping into a small smile.
“Her mother told me she’d be here for the holidays.
Supposedly, she’ll be in town for a full month.
I have a feeling that later on today, when she discovers her father hurt himself and can’t work the farm much, she’ll be staying even longer.
I understand they didn’t want to worry Winter and have her drive all this way through the snow while distracted, but at the same time… ”
“They should’ve told her right away,” I finish for her, thinking the same thing, and she nods. “Yeah. Not gonna lie, I’d be pretty upset if something happened to you and I wasn’t notified right away. I’d want to come home and help out if I could, snow or no snow on the ground.”
“I would never do that to you, not after Daddy.”
She doesn’t have to say it out loud. My father's passing away suddenly affected both of us strongly, and it still makes my heart hurt. He was a good man and a great father. He’s the reason why I fell in love with hockey in the first place.
He would be out on the ice with me every chance he had at the local ice rink when he wasn’t working.
He taught me skating drills and little tricks he swore would make me faster.
He’d shown me the best way to sink the puck in the net, along with how to take criticism from other players and let it roll on one shoulder and right off the other.
Not only did he share his love for hockey with me, but he took pride in teaching me things I’d need to know as a man someday.
Fishing, hunting, chopping wood, replacing a tire, a truck battery, a leaky dishwasher, taking Mom flowers, and more.
You name it, and the man figured out a way to fix it with me being his sidekick.
He was my best friend, and every day since he passed away, there has been a hole in my heart the size of Niagara Falls from where he’s meant to be.
“Winter hasn’t changed much. Do you know what she’s been up to? Married?”
Mom smirks at my question, shaking her head. She’s mentioned Winter a few times on the phone in passing, but I’ve always acted like I wasn’t interested. After seeing her, well, let’s just say I’m interested.
In absolutely everything, where she’s concerned.
“Not married. Never married, in fact. No kids, yet. According to Brenda, she wants them, but hasn’t found the right person.” She takes another bite and chews for a moment.
She continues, “I think she’s a workaholic like you are. Brenda’s always worried about her being so busy that she burns herself out. This visit home will do their whole family good, that I’m sure of. Besides, it’ll be nice seeing her around the village. It’s about time she comes home for good.”
My brows skyrocket as I lowly whistle. “Home for good? You’re putting some weight on those words, Mom. You sure she’s on board with this, too?”
She shrugs. “I’m not. I’m only hoping she sees that her family needs her, and the time ends up being right for her, too.
You know how we are around here; we love to watch our community be successful in whatever life they choose, but we also enjoy having them come home and rejoin the community at some point.
Noel Falls has always been one big family, and anyone coming back into the fold is always welcomed with open arms.”
She’s laying this on a little thick, making me think she’s not only talking about Winter, but possibly is hinting at me, too. Does Mom want me to give up my hockey career and come home for good? What would I even do here? These thoughts are exactly what I’m hoping she can help guide me with.
“Anyway,” she breaks up my thoughts. “You ready for Thanksgiving? You’ll see Winter again when we go over to join her family for dinner and the day.”
“Yeah, uh, I thought we were just eating over there. What do you mean by the day?”
“Oh, Son, you know how these holidays are.” She puts the sandwich stuff away, finally turning to me and tossing me a water bottle.
I catch it, of course, and take our dirty plates and napkins, throwing them in the trash.
“Football, playing cards, turkey, dessert, laughter, and good old-fashioned fun with friends.”
I went from teasing Winter that I’d see her for Thanksgiving dinner, to momentarily panicking now at realizing that I’ll also be spending the day with her.
What should I wear?
What am I going to say?
Will she even speak to me?