Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
“Your daddy will be stopping by to see you once he finishes practice. Would you like me to hang around for a bit?” Luci stands beside me in the cozy kitchen of Barrett’s Nanna. The air is thick with the sweet aroma of sugar mingling with the savory scent of spaghetti. She enveloped me in a warm hug earlier, her embrace reminiscent of a grandmother’s love. I can’t help but think how my own grandmother never offered such affection.
“No, I’m good. I like Nanna,” I reply, trying to keep my tone light.
Luci beams at me, rising onto her toes to match my height, a little trick she often uses to engage in conversation with me. “I like her too. Just watch them for real love,” she says, her eyes sparkling with sincerity.
I nod in agreement before pulling her in for another hug. “I love you, Luci.”
“Love you too, Coco. Dream about a cookie war! Imagine chocolate chip cookies battling Oreos, but instead of swords, they wield straws and shoot milk sabers!”
Barrett bursts into laughter alongside me, and Mr. Banning can’t help but chuckle as well.
“Luci Lou, you are something else,” Mr. Banning says, his laughter ringing through the kitchen.
“Yeah, a crazed rainbow rollercoaster! I can come pick him up tomorrow if you want,” she adds, her excitement palpable.
“I’ll give you a call in the morning,” Mr. Banning assures her as he walks her to the door.
“Boys, how about a quick game for ten minutes?” Nanna asks, her smile brightening the room.
“Yes, Nanna!” Barrett exclaims, grabbing my arm as we dash toward his room. “Did you use the mistletoe again?” he whispers conspiratorially.
“Only once. He kissed her cheek, not like at the parade,” I frown, recalling the event. “And Luci chose a tie, but thankfully not the smelly cologne spray.”
“Baker is gonna help, right?” Barrett taps his fingers together, deep in thought.
“Yes.”
“They need to go out to eat, Cole. Like in the movies. Then he’ll kiss her again,” Barrett declares, scribbling furiously with a blue crayon on a piece of paper. “I’ll ask Aunt Sydney for help to surprise Luci. You need to get your daddy there. We need a restaurant…”
“Chuck E. Cheese!” I suggest, my excitement bubbling over.
“No, that’s not romantic. It has to have candles,” Barrett insists, his brow furrowing in concentration.
“Pizza Palace has candles,” I argue, picturing the little red ones in glass that I love to try and blow out.
“No, it has to be fancy, Cole. Like in those movies with flowers, big candles, and waiters in ties. I’ll ask Aunt Sydney. She’s a girl; she knows romance.” Barrett’s confidence shines through. He’s in kindergarten, after all.
“Do we need romance, boys?” Nanna asks, peeking in through the doorway, a playful glint in her eyes.
“Yes, Nanna! We need a romantic restaurant,” Barrett replies earnestly.
“For Luci and your daddy?” Nanna’s eyes twinkle as she settles down next to us.
“I want her to be my mom. She loves me,” I confess, my heart swelling with hope.
“Luci does love you. I know just the place. With your Aunt Syd’s help, we can get them a lovely table,” she assures us, her voice warm and comforting.
“Thank you, Mrs. Isabelle.”
She pulls both of us into a tight embrace. “You can call me Nanna Cole if you’d like. Luci is like my other daughter.”
“Okay, Nanna.”
Easton
“Have fun and listen to Mr. Banning. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say, watching as my son beams up at me.
“Okay, Daddy. I love you! We’re going Christmas shopping on Sunday, right? Just two days away! I need to get Luci’s present, Daddy. It’s very important!” His insistence on this shopping day is unwavering.
“We will go, I promise. I love you,” I reply, my heart swelling with affection. I need to figure out a gift for her too. Perhaps I can come up with something tonight. After another warm hug, he’s off, and I feel a mix of pride and worry.
As Banning walks me out, I sense the weight of my anxiety. “It’s not easy, is it? Leaving them with someone else. I promise I’ll look after him. They’re going to have a blast.”
“I know. It’s just his first sleepover. Thanks for letting him come, though. He adores Barrett. And I trust you and your parents completely. You have Luci’s gold seal of approval,” I reply, trying to reassure myself.
“Well, that’s better than gold. Luci has a knack for reading people, especially those with kids. She’s seen enough bad ones in her life. Honestly, I’d like to punch some people for her,” he says, his expression turning serious, and my heart sinks. It seems Luci hasn’t shared everything about her past.
“She will tell you in her own time. But Luci doesn’t like to play the sympathy card. Give her time to open up. I’ve known her for a decade, and she didn’t share for a long time. We were her second family, and the way she looks at you, she doesn’t want you to feel sorry for her.”
Barrett and Cole seem to be a good match. “See you at the game tomorrow,” he waves as I head out. I drive to Luci’s, missing my Cole but eager to see my sweetness, especially after what Banning just revealed. I can’t fathom how Luci remains so kind and unbitter. All day, she’s told me she loves me, but the most beautiful thing she said was that she loved all of me. I’m not exactly a ray of sunshine, and being a single dad is often a deterrent to relationships. Add in my ex who abandoned my son, and most girls would run for the hills.
When I knock on her door, she answers, folding her arms almost immediately. “What are those? I’m taking you on a date,” she says, eyeing the flowers I’m holding.
“Easy there, sassy. They’re a gift for you after this week and because I adore that happy smile you get when I bring you flowers,” I reply, trying to keep my tone light. Honestly, after our first date, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with flowers for anyone else. But her eyes light up with a joy that’s impossible to ignore.