Chapter 8
8
BOUCHER
A terror on the ice and terrified of the bedroom – I’m a wimp, Keith thought with wide-eyed knowledge as he sat in his seat on the airplane that would be landing soon. This was not how he wanted his marriage to begin or how he wanted their morning to go after saying ‘I Do’… but he couldn’t rush into this.
“Because I don’t know what I’m doing,” he muttered under his breath, rubbing his face, completely stressed out. His wife obviously wanted to have a little fun before he left, but he couldn’t do that to her.
He wouldn’t.
Marrying someone, sleep with them, and then leave? No. Never. He might be a dunce when it came to women, but he knew that was a line that should never be crossed. He’d never even slept with a woman – oh sure, he got close, but then being arrested had a way of traumatizing a guy. He sure didn’t want their first time to be awful and then leave.
That was nightmare fuel for any red-blooded man.
To say that his stress level was through the roof was the understatement of the decade – maybe two of them. The job, the money, a new wife, a new location, a new family – one of which would rather spit on him than talk to him, and the other was only safe because Kayla was so young. Yeah, he was having a tough time not cracking under the pressure.
He needed a breather, as shameful as that felt to admit because he was desperately afraid to cause irreparable harm emotionally to any of the three of them. No, he needed to handle the things he could control, setting the stage for success for his marriage, and he mentally went down his checklist for the millionth time.
Get the house.
Get furniture coming.
Fly down to get his new family.
Get a cat.
Get allergy medicine – and he chuckled at this one because he was mildly allergic to animals, but for them, he would simply start taking something for it. Anything to make the kids happy to be there. If the kids were happy, then Constance would be… and he needed her to be happy with him – which brought him to the final thing on his list.
Encourage my new wife to fall for me…
“I wish,” he muttered, putting his head down in his hands once more before turning to look out the window, spotting the city of Quebec below, bordering the St. Lawrence River. As the plane circled, he caught a glimpse of the massive new arena, and for the first time since saying ‘I do’ earlier that morning…
He smiled.
T hree days later, Keith wasn’t smiling – at all. The final walkthrough of the house definitely looked different than the pictures put online. Someone had come through and gutted the place, removing the light fixtures and doorknobs, and painted the rooms that the children wanted specifically for their themes, and the kitchen fixtures were missing.
The stove, the fridge, heck… even the sink was gone.
“ARE YOU EVEN KIDDING ME?” Keith snapped, looking at the realtor in shock. “I was coming up here to close on this house, a cash offer, and this is not what I bought. Who removes a kitchen sink? That’s like me saying ‘ oh, this is a mighty fine potty, I think I’ll yank it from the wax ring and bolts ’…” he snapped, the stress finally getting to him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he breathed deeply, trying to get his temper under control. “I’m just a little surprised, and I’m sure you can understand why.”
The thin little man with the pencil mustache simply nodded, looking at Keith like he’d seen a monster. This would not do because once their photos were scattered everywhere, he sure didn’t need this kid running to the press exaggerating things.
“Can they adjust the price?” Keith uttered in disbelief. “I need to get in contact with a painter and an electrician, and I need to go buy appliances now – that all needs to come off the price before I fork over the money.”
“Of course, Mr. Boucher.”
Keith rubbed his face in disbelief, before turning and bracing his hands against the granite countertops, letting his head fall forward in despair and shock. He wanted to yell, scream, and cry at the same time because Constance was never going to believe him when he explained the delay. Not bothering to turn around, he spoke to the realtor.
“Can you call them now and get an answer? I’ve got furniture being delivered tomorrow, and frankly, I’m terrified the carpet will disappear or sprout legs and walk off, too,” he muttered, trying not to be rude. “This isn’t a bad neighborhood, is it?”
“No sir. It’s one of the nicer ones. I’m just as shocked as you are – but I’ll get some answers for you immediately.”
He nodded and walked away as the realtor called the other office, taking a moment to Facetime Constance. She answered on the third ring, and he saw her smile instantly fade.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well, I’m honestly standing in the living room, but the kitchen needs updating…” he paused and flipped the screen. “So, the reason I was calling was to see if you want a particular sort of sink, fridge, stove, or microwave – because I’m going to go order all of them and have it installed.”
“ You… are… kidding… me ,” she drew out in obvious disbelief, making him feel a little more justified in his reaction as he turned the screen back around.
“Hey, the toilets are still here – but no lights.”
“Keith!”
“I know, I know,” he smirked, looking at her as she rolled her eyes. “Also, the kids’ rooms were painted.”
“Oh no. We can just pick a different house,” she said – and Keith looked at the realtor, who looked at him sharply in horror.
“The realtor is working on getting us a discount so we can close immediately – and he knows already that if it doesn’t happen, then I’m not signing.”
“I see,” Constance said quietly – and Keith walked quickly to another room, shutting the door.
“Look, it’s a bunch of cosmetic stuff,” he began softly, looking at her and trying to be encouraging. “But the bones are still here. I’ll get the appliances and sink handled quickly, but the painted murals might have to wait until after we move in.”
“Oh,” she whispered and gave him a tentative smile. “I thought you were calling to delay it again.”
“No. I’m trying to keep open communication with the woman who puts up with me so she doesn’t leave me,” he said softly, trying to make a joke of it but feeling like everything was on the line. “I’m trying.”
“I know you are – it’s just things feel so messed up.”
“I know they do, and I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize anymore. You are always saying you’re sorry and it’s for things that you shouldn’t have to be handling alone. You have a partner now – it’s just hard to be a partner from two thousand miles away.”
“Yeah, we’ve gotta fix that.”
“Yeah, we do.”
“I’ll call you later after I sign and get the keys,” he promised. “And then I’m running to the store to get appliances delivered.”
“Unbelievable,” Constance chuckled, shaking her head. “With the dark granite, I would prefer stainless steel or black appliances.”
“You got it,” he smiled softly. “Thank you for not flipping out.”
“Why would I do that when it feels out of control.”
“I did,” he admitted – and heard her laugh, warming his heart and soul. “I’ve gotta go and get this handled, plus we have the first big practice tomorrow. Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need it. You’ve got this.”
“I could use it anyway.”
“Good luck then,” she smiled, nodding. “You’ve got this, Keith.”
“Hey…” he hesitated and looked at her. “How about when we get moved in, we go on a date or something?” And she smiled – but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Sure.”
He felt his stomach give a painful lurch at that single word. She didn’t believe him or figured it would fall through the cracks also. He knew she was upset with him leaving on their wedding day, and then he forgot to call because Kenneth’s son was running around like a madman, biting everyone within reach, and now this?
“I promise,” he whispered, looking at the screen. “This is a new start, and we’re going to do this right. In fact, I took a new number for my jersey.”
“You did?”
“Yup. I took number one – because I don’t plan on settling for anything less than the best for our family, and I mean it, Constance. I know it's hard and frustrating right now, but I want you and the girls to have it all,” he paused, swallowing. “Just a little longer, okay?”
And she nodded.
Ending the call, he walked back out to the realtor, feeling like a man on a mission. “Where are we at?”
“They apologized profusely – and took twenty-five thousand off the price.”
“Done,” Keith said bluntly. “I want it signed today, every set of keys for this place so I can change the locks, and I need phone numbers for people to come out and fix this mess.”