Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
After double-checking my phone for any texts or messages from Mrs. Walters, I head to Cole’s preschool. Nothing. Maybe she prefers to deliver bad news in person.
Cole’s face lights up when he sees me. “Did you like my daddy, Luci?”
“I didn’t really get to talk to him, Cole. What’s more important is that I like you,” I reply, wondering how to explain to a four-year-old that his father might not harbor the same feelings toward me.
“He’s a hockey player. He’s very fast,” Cole says, pride bubbling in his voice as he talks about his father.
“Do you get to go watch him play?” I ask, curious but cautious not to pry too much, lest he run back to share my questions with his father. Kids are notoriously honest.
“Not anymore. Madison made a…” He scrunches his face in concentration from the backseat, and I glance at him in the mirror. “Grandmother called it an ene.”
“A scene?” I guess, and he nods with a smile.
“That’s it! And we couldn’t go no more. What does that mean, Luci? I want cheese and crackers for snack today.”
I can’t help but smile at his random thoughts. This is why I connect with kids better than adults. “It means something you don’t want other people to see. I bet Baker will give you cheese and crackers.”
The rest of the drive is filled with Cole’s chatter about his friends at school. I can’t help but notice how articulate he is for his age. I wonder if his “dragon grandmother” has something to do with that; I can’t imagine she enjoys the typical adorable mispronunciations of little kids.
As we walk in, laughing, his grandmother steps out to greet us. I take Cole’s jacket and bag from him.
“Go ahead and see Baker. I think your grandmother needs to talk to me,” I say, hoping to keep the conversation light. He scampers off quickly, and I wish I could do the same.
“This Saturday, you will take Cole to the Ice Kings hockey game. He will sit in a special section. He hasn’t been in a while,” Mrs. Walters declares, her tone leaving no room for argument.
I stare at her in disbelief. Me, at a hockey game? Coach Humphries would have a stroke or a heart attack if he saw me there. His disdain for me is well known, and the fact that two brothers are coaching both football and hockey at the same school feels like a cruel twist of fate.
“You will wear this,” she says, holding out an oversized hoodie and a ball cap emblazoned with their logo. Oh great, if he sees me in that, I might as well hand him a loaded gun.
Her voice cuts through my thoughts. “And I’ve already resolved the issues surrounding you with Nick Humphries. He knows you’ll be there and will keep his mouth shut.”
She studies me carefully, and I clear my throat awkwardly. “I make it my business to know everything about the people who work for me. I’m well aware of your reputation at school. The Humphries brothers clearly have a strong aversion to you, and justifiably so, from what I’ve gathered. You seem to be a curse to them and the football team. I won’t lecture you about your past choices, but I hope you’ve learned something from your experiences. However, I won’t let their issues with you affect Cole’s enjoyment of the game. Let it be known that you are here because Cole insisted on you as his nanny, and I was tired of his dramatics, not because I have any particular fondness for you. You seem to have a sensible head on your shoulders, and you did rescue him. I’m also relieved to see you weren’t trying to catch the attention of the Reed brothers yesterday. Therefore, you may continue your employment with my husband and me.”
For a moment, I’m utterly speechless, trying to process her words. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize she’s waiting for a response.
“Th…thank you,” I stammer, unsure if I should phrase it like a question. I suppose I’m in her debt now, at least from her perspective.
She nods, and I assume I’ve given her the answer she wanted.
“Tomorrow, I need you to stay until around seven. My husband and I have a dinner engagement. Easton will release you once he arrives to take over after their practice, as Baker also has an engagement at six. You should have him ready for bed by then.”
“I need to pick up my friend’s nephew, Barrett, tomorrow. Is that arrangement still acceptable?” I feel the need to confirm.
“Yes, it is,” she replies with a prim pursing of her lips.
“Thank you. I’ll be here tomorrow,” I assure her, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.
I spend the rest of the evening watching Cole until his bedtime. He’s already asleep when I wander back to the kitchen to drop off his milk glass, and to my surprise, Baker is there.
“Madam went out, Luci. You are free to go home,” he informs me.
“Thanks, Baker.”
There’s no sign of the Reed brothers or even Cole’s mother. He hasn’t mentioned her at all, and at some point, I’ll need to ask someone about that. I wonder if Baker might be willing to share who I’m allowed to leave Cole with and who Cole is permitted to leave with. If not, I’ll have to ask Mrs. Walters the next time I see her for safety reasons. I can’t help but ponder whether it’s shared custody or visitation between Easton and the Walters. With my luck, they’ll all show up tomorrow night.
Syd offers me a smile tinged with regret, her eyes wide with concern. “I completely forgot that he has program practice today. Maybe she won’t mind if you leave to pick him up at 5:30,” she suggests tentatively, her voice laced with a hint of hope. “I can just skip my lab tonight, Luci. I don’t want you to lose your job.”
I’ve shared everything with Sydney-every worry, every secret. I trust her implicitly. If something terrible were to happen to me, at least she would know who to inform. She had seemed genuinely shocked when she mentioned seeing Cole at a game once, accompanied by a tall redhead. I had forgotten that she and her brother had attended a few games in the past, given his passion for hockey.
I shake my head, dismissing her offer. “No, I’ll text her real quick. I’m sure she won’t mind. I mean, she’s usually fine with me picking him up when I get Cole, so why would it matter if it’s just two hours later? You really need to focus on not failing your lab, Syd. I’ve got this,” I assure her, projecting confidence even though my heart races with uncertainty.
Imogen Walters could very well tell me no. But Syd has done so much for me; I can’t let her down now. I’ll figure something out if she declines. Maybe I could suggest taking Cole to the park for a while and coincidentally pick up Barrett on our way back for dinner. That might actually work; heaven knows I can lose track of time during an impromptu outing.
I pull out my phone and start typing, my fingers flying across the screen as I break into my own rambling thoughts. “Mrs. Walters, my friend’s nephew has school program practice today. Would it be alright if instead of bringing him when I pick up Cole, we go get him at 5:30 and bring him back there?”
As I wait anxiously for her response, time seems to stretch endlessly. When her reply finally comes through ten long minutes later, I am taken aback by her kindness.
“Bring him back here. Baker could have the night off if you’d like to pick dinner up for them on the way home. Cole will think it’s a big treat.”
I struggle to type out a message of thanks, genuinely surprised by her thoughtfulness.
In our shared class, I can feel the piercing gazes of the Reed brothers boring into me. I deliberately arrive early, taking my time to pack up my things, ensuring they leave the room before I do. It may seem cowardly, but I genuinely want to avoid any confrontations at school.
When we finally leave to pick up Barrett, I turn to Cole, curiosity bubbling up inside me. “Do you know your daddy’s phone number?” I ask. He shakes his head, completely clueless. I make a mental note to ask about such things later. I’d like to inform him that I’m taking Cole out a bit late, but I have no one here to ask. Baker had kindly left us a snack, but how awkward would it be to ask him for a list of phone numbers? I can’t bring myself to call Mrs. Walters after her comments to me yesterday.