34. Lilah #2
“It must’ve been a hard season for you.”
“Season?”
“This hockey season. Managing Mason and your friend.”
I shifted in my seat, not wanting to talk about my relationship with either one of them with Mason’s stepmom. I scrambled for something to say.
“With a lot of warnings, I got them to stay on their best behavior. No fighting off the ice. Now that they’ve both gotten their full rides, there’s no reason to fight anymore.” I shot her a reassuring smile, not even sure why we were having this conversation.
“Mason’s father is not an easy man and sometimes I worry he will rub off on the good kids.”
“They’ve also got you. Zoe’s great. She’s lucky you’re there for her.”
“I am very lucky.”
After months in the house, every interaction I’d had with Alena had always been pleasant, even if they were usually brief until Mason invited me for a family dinner here and there.
And she’d given me free rein to wander her massive closet.
Some fashion warehouses had to have fewer clothes than she owned, but she’d laughed and told me everything about every piece I’d gasped at in the “closet.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you and Mr. Petrov even meet? You’re both very…different.”
Imagining her with Mr. Petrov, I suppressed a shudder. Was the nice car, the stack of diamond and gold tennis bracelets on each wrist and the bag in the back seat worth more than a year of college worth it?
She smirked. “He wanted a pretty thing. I wanted… We both got what we wanted.”
“Glad it worked out for everyone,” I squeaked.
“Sometime this week, I would like to get your feelings about some pieces I’m thinking of buying.” She pulled her black SUV into a spot close to the front of the venue and checked herself in the visor mirror.
I slapped a hand against my chest. “Me?”
Her smile widened, but she kept her eyes on the mirror. “Your eye is very discerning. Impressive at your age.”
“Thank you, and I’d love to. Whatever you need.”
She quickly dabbed at the corner of her mouth. “Are you excited for your weekend?”
“What weekend?”
Her gaze slid over to mine before she snapped her mouth shut. “Oh, nothing. I must’ve been mistaken.” She shook her head. “I’d love to see some of your design work one day.”
Maybe I’d let her.
She stared at me again, face unreadable. “You’ve been good for Mason.”
“Thank you? I’m glad I could help.” It felt like the safest answer.
The theater doors were almost closing when we ducked inside and found our seats…right in front of Erik, Galen and Calder.
“I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Galen had an arm stretched out over the empty seat beside him and a woman another seat over stared longingly like she wished she were sitting there.
Erik had a bag of popcorn although I hadn’t seen a concession stand. “I am ready for this show.”
Calder sat with arms crossed over his chest.
Alena leaned over and whispered. “I’m paying for the video, so don’t worry about using your phone to record.”
“But will they have multiple angles?” Galen held his phone between us.
“I’ve paid one cameraman exclusively to follow Mason on the stage.” She smirked.
I wasn’t the only one ready to thoroughly enjoy this.
Zoe and Mason took the stage first. He was in white leggings, showing off the power and muscles of his legs, with green shorts over them, a green fitted shirt and a leaf crown. The other duos followed, wearing matching costumes.
Erik whooped before being shushed. He ducked down and whispered, “Sorry.”
Zoe wore a pink leotard and a tutu that looked like a cotton candy cloud. Everyone in position, they went through their basic movements, with the little girls showing up their partners every time and instructing them when they missed a move.
She beamed as Mason spun around her. She gave his arm a pat of encouragement when he nearly crushed one of the other girls. And he and another dad got their legs tangled together when attempting a jump.
The audience was full of laughter, cheers and whistles. When they finished their song, Mason picked up Zoe and swung her around. The love he had for her shone through a theater full of families. This was the side he only showed to the little girl who looked at him like he’d never let her down.
An ache squeezed in my chest. This was only the beginning for us. And one day, Zoe might be a little sister to me too. I shook my head, trying to knock those fantasy hallucinations from my head. They weren’t a plan. But maybe someday.
After the partner work was finished, the dads, brothers and uncles filed off the stage and the girls regrouped with little costume additions for their chance to show off their skills.
Mason burst into the theater and dropped into the seat between us to watch the final number.
“Did I miss it?” He took my hand, still in his leaf crown from his performance, and lifted his other fist for bumps from the guys, but never took his eyes off the stage.
“No, they just started.”
He watched her with rapt attention and squeezed my hand. I swung my focus back to the stage, pride brimming at all Zoe’s hard work.
And when they finished their final dance, Mason was the first out of his seat for the standing ovation.
We all grabbed the bouquets of flowers Alena had delivered and waited in the lobby for Zoe.
She flew down the hallway from the stage door, bouncing with excitement.
The guys swarmed her, holding her high and carrying her over to us.
“Lilah! You came.” Her little arms wrapped around my waist.
My eyes flooded at being her first hug. I squeezed her back and blinked the tears away.
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it. You did a great job.” I handed her the flowers.
She beamed. “Mama Lena, did you see me?”
Alena handed her a bouquet so large that it almost blotted out her whole face. “I saw every second. You were fabulous, so wonderful after all your hard work.”
Zoe’s shoulders slumped. “I only messed up a few times. Do you think Dyadya will be upset with me if he watches the video?”
Alena crouched in front of her. No idea how she pulled it off with the pencil skirt.
“I saw no mistakes. You were incredible, no—better than incredible. You were Zoe. And I am your mother and you could never disappoint me, my sweet.” Alena stood with not a crease to her outfit and hugged Zoe hard and kissed the top of her head.
“What about my hug, Zo?” Mason opened his arms and she tugged us all together for a hug. Zoe gave Mason one of her bouquets to congratulate him on his first performance.
Mason went to change. Alena and Zoe left after another bear hug from the little girl who looked up at me the way I’d always hoped Kelsey and Eliza would look at me.
My new world was filling with more people. It felt strange to add in more when it always felt like they were being stripped away from me. Rye’s family and now Mason’s.
A happy hum filled my chest and I wasn’t as scared of being alone anymore.
I almost didn’t want to think too much about how the pieces of my life were stitching together into a warm, cozy blanket I never could’ve imagined for myself.
And I wasn’t going to keep planning for things to go wrong.
Maybe this was the time they would just keep getting better.