Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
“Of course! Just don’t expect anything too big or impressive,” she replies, setting him down. He races past her, and her gaze meets mine. For once, I can’t quite read her expression. “Hi,” she says softly.
“Morning, Luci.” I remind myself to keep my hands to myself for now.
Cole shouts her name, and she turns to follow him down the hall. I step inside and close the door behind me. “What are you making?” he asks, pointing at the sewing machine with some bright green fuzzy fabric. “Is it my costume?”
“No, that’s for Barrett. He’s going to be the Grinch, so I’m starting on his now. I’ll have time to make yours once I finish,” she explains, her voice light and cheerful.
“Do I get to know which character you are this time?” I tease, leaning in.
“No, Daddy. It’s a surprise! I don’t even know yet,” he adds, and I chuckle.
“Luci does,” I whisper loudly.
“Not telling!” she sings back, a playful glint in her eyes. Cole races down the hall toward her bedroom, excitement radiating from him.
“Can you be bribed?” I ask, half-serious.
“Nope,” she replies, shaking her head with a smile.
“Luci, your house is small,” Cole remarks as he dashes back into the room.
“It’s just me, Coco, so I don’t need anything too big,” she explains while pulling on her coat and gloves. I mentally note that I should probably get her a better pair.
“Daddy used to live in a house nearby. He showed me,” Cole announces proudly.
“You did?” Luci sounds surprised.
“My brothers and I rented a place about a mile from here during our freshman year. That was before I had to move back home,” I confess, sharing a meaningful glance with Cole.
“My car is still at the rink,” she reminds us as we step outside. I lift Cole into the backseat, securing him safely.
“I figured I’d take you by there after we leave,” I say, glancing at Luci as she climbs into the passenger seat.
The kids’ league is set to play at the public rink near downtown, and the drive there is filled with Cole’s cheerful chatter, with Luci easily engaging him.
Once we arrive, I help him lace his skates and we step onto the ice. “Luci and I will be right up there,” I point to the spot where I told her to sit. “Today is all about skating and learning how to hold the stick while you skate, okay? You know how, but you have to show your coach.”
He nods eagerly and waves to Luci before joining the group. I take the stairs two at a time and settle next to her.
Turning to her, I begin, “Maxton confessed he was trying to frame you for vandalism at the rink to get revenge. He tricked your friend into giving up her phone so he could text you and get your number. Just a heads up to watch out for unknown callers.”
“Stormi wasn’t lying then,” she replies, relief flooding her voice.
“No, it looks like she wasn’t. Luci, I know Cole asked you about his mom,” I say, ready to dive into the deeper conversation now that Vivienne drove by this morning.
Fear flickers across her face. “I hope I didn’t cause problems. I told him to ask you. I…I tried to help him. I heard you get very angry about her,” she admits, her gaze dropping. I notice her nail-biting habit has resurfaced, and I reach over, gently placing my thumb between her fingers to stop her.
“Luci, what you told him was perfect. I heard you the second time. I do get angry, but probably not for the reasons anyone suspects. Once upon a time, it was because I wouldn’t let anyone speak a word against her. Now, it’s because I want to explode at her,” I explain, keeping my eyes on Cole as I continue. “Her name is Lorelei Winters, and she lives in France, near Paris. Her mother is Vivienne Winters.”
“The actress?” Luci’s surprise is evident.
“Movie buff…you would recognize her name. Yes, that’s her. They moved into the house two doors down from us when Lorelei and I were eight. She became our fifth wheel, quite literally, once our mothers became fast friends. Until we were fifteen and started dating. We were inseparable, and I thought we’d be together forever.” I glance at Luci, but her focus remains on me.
“I’m focused,” she murmurs, her eyes flicking back to Cole.
I do the same and continue, “She wanted to be a model and actress like her mother. She was getting calls for shows and contracts constantly after she turned seventeen. Right before Christmas break of our senior year, she told me they were leaving for Paris.”
Arm squeeze.
“I begged her not to go. I asked her to wait six months so we could graduate together, and I’d go with her. I could find a European school to play hockey, or she could put it off for a year and come back here for school and a team. She refused, and her mother basically said it was now or never. They left after New Year’s, shattering my world. My father forbade me from moving to Europe after graduation, and Lorelei asked me not to come. She said she was too busy. I moved into a house near you with my brothers and started college.”
Arm squeeze. Cole waves to us, and we return it.
“Until the weekend after Thanksgiving, when my dad asked me to come home. My brothers tagged along because, with my mother, you might need support in numbers. Imagine my surprise when I found Lorelei sitting there with a baby in her arms. My father was furious, and my mother wore her usual calculating expression.” I can see Luci gasp, her sympathy evident. I feel her hand squeeze mine for support.
“He was three months old, and she never breathed a word about him to me. The moment I laid eyes on him, I knew he was mine-blonde hair and those strikingly light gray eyes. It hit me in the gut, Luci. I thought I was going to pass out. She was all emotional, saying, ‘Say hello to your son, Easton. Cole Matthew Reed. Isn’t he perfect?’ I stared at her in shock until she practically thrust him into my arms. He was asleep, but I’ll never forget the feeling of touching his cheek and seeing his contented smile. How he seemed to burrow his little head against my chest. I fell in love with him instantly, sweetness.” I notice tears welling in her eyes, and she wipes her cheeks with her free hand.
“I’ll spare you the melodramatic shock and anger that followed while she explained she had postpartum depression. She had been on medication for it, but it wasn’t working. So, she needed inpatient treatment. Her mother refused to keep him while she was there for three months.”
“No…” Luci breathes out, her sadness palpable.
“Yes. She had no choice but to bring him to me. I was furious. She didn’t know she was pregnant until she was five months along. But I forgave her once she explained she was scared of my reaction throughout her pregnancy. It’s not like we ever talked about having kids. She had depression during her pregnancy too, so she was always down a dark rabbit hole, figuring I’d blame her or be angry with her. I was still completely in love with her, so, of course, I let it go. She went to the treatment center while I struggled to learn how to raise an infant. I moved back home, and my brothers helped me. Baker was amazing, and my dad helped when he was around. My mother did the bare minimum. Dad insisted on a paternity test to be sure. He’s mine. The whole time, I was happily planning our future. We’d get married or at least move in together and be a family. And for two months, once she got out, we were. I even bought an engagement ring in my delusional world. She moved into my parents’ house with me, and it was just like I imagined.”
Arm squeeze.