Page 17

CHAPTER

SEVENTEEN

The Belles

Things are super tense.

All four of the women feel it as they look from Fable, who sits at the Belles’ table with them, to Jett, who’s on the ice. It’s another Saturday night of A League hockey, and the place is packed. Though, all the four women can do is stare between the two young people they love. Jett didn’t come to the table or even wave to them as he hit the ice. He’s been very stoic all week, and from what Bea got out of him, they had a run-in with Elena. That’s all he would say.

It must have been bad because not only does he look tortured, but sweet Fable looks so defeated. Unlike Bea, Maggie, and Hazel, Kitty has had a front-row seat to Fable’s anguish. The last week has been hell for the poor girl, and no matter how much Kitty tries to get Elena off Fable’s case, she won’t let up. Fable can’t even breathe without getting on Elena’s nerves. Kitty knows that Fable’s at her wits’ end, but it’s not only that.

No, Jett is on her mind.

Fable has always been a bit different. Something that Elena and Richie never went a day without regretting or telling the girl. They tried to stuff their perfectly precious daughter into a box labeled “Normal.” Fable didn’t have it easy, yet she still sits with such grace and beauty before the whole rink. She’s in Kitty’s Belles away jersey, white with pink and black trim. She pulled half her hair up with a pink bow. Her lips are glossy and her cheeks are rosy, but her eyes are sad. While she acts like she wants to be here, Kitty knows she doesn’t.

But then, that’s all Fable knew growing up. Forcing herself to be whatever anyone wanted of her. No matter how hard Phillip and Kitty tried to support her to be herself, her parents rode her hard, which was why they didn’t fight when she left. She needed to get away, and she thrived. She learned who she is, and now that she’s home, Kitty doesn’t want to let her go.

These twenty years away have nurtured one hell of a woman, and she hopes that Elena and Richie will find that out quickly. And leave her alone once and for all. Kitty knows Fable is only here for her, that she’d rather be in her blanket burrito at home. While she has grown so much, her need to please everyone hasn’t changed.

Or maybe it’s being here that is messing with her.

Kitty reaches out, grasping her granddaughter’s bicep and rubbing her thumb along the jersey. Fable looks over, a shy smile pulling at her lips as she leans into her. Love arcs in Kitty’s chest as she slides a piece of hair behind Fable’s ear. “You okay, my darling?”

Fable nods. “Just thinking.”

Kitty tries not to wince. The sweet girl is always thinking.

Across from them, Bea asks, “How’re things going with the skating programs, Fable?”

Fable’s smile grows, and Kitty doesn’t miss the way her eyes cut to the ice. No one has to guess who she’s looking at. Her stunning green eyes don’t stop seeking him. Kitty can’t help but wonder if Fable realizes she did the same thing when she was younger too. She’d walk into a rink and instantly look for him. Wherever he was, she made sure to be right there with him.

A wave of guilt burns through Kitty as she gazes at her granddaughter. While she wasn’t the one to tear the two of them apart, she still feels like she let them down. But it was done without her knowledge, and before she could stop it, she was left with a close-up view of two lost souls moving through life.

“Great. The programs are growing little by little. I’m trying to find some coaches right now to increase the size of the program. It’s going well, and I think I might be able to pull some from Knoxville. I’ve been getting out into the community and talking to different business owners. It’s going okay.”

“Okay?” Hazel asks, concerned. “Is someone giving you problems?”

Fable shrugs. “I’m basically an outsider.”

“No, you were born here, and the Ice Thistle is a pillar in this community,” Maggie protests, her eyes wild with annoyance. “There is no reason for you to feel that way.”

Fable chews on her lip, almost to keep from answering. Before she can, though, Noelle Matthews comes to the table with a bright smile and a handful of candy canes. Everyone adores Noelle; she’s a doll baby. And while her hockey team sucks ass, Bea still lets her sit with them. Tonight, the Belles are playing the Pastry Puckers, and it should be a blowout. Nevertheless, Noelle would never not be here for her team. “Hey, Belles! Can I sit with y’all?”

Everyone agrees, smiling brightly because there is no other way when it comes to Noelle. She just radiates sunshine. She places the candy canes in the middle of the table, flashing an even bigger grin. Bea leans in, setting Noelle with a look. “Did you hear?”

Noelle’s brows pull together as she blows a stray strand of hair out of her eye. She always has her hair up in a messy, wild bun. “About what?”

Bea nods. “That we’re going to embarrass your team tonight.”

Everyone chuckles as Noelle beams. “It’s not all about winning,” Noelle sings in her lyrical voice. “It’s about fun.”

Bea’s laughter falls off. “Winning is everything, Noelle. You’d do best to learn that.”

Noelle waves off the older lady, that smile locked in place. Hazel leans in, her eyes capturing Noelle’s. “But for real, did you hear about Big Seb’s son?”

Big Seb owns Reindeer Rumpus Ranch, which is a tree farm outside of town. The ranch was here before the town was. Everyone gets their Christmas trees there, and everyone loves Big Seb. His son, Sebastian, left when he graduated from high school and hasn’t been back, but every once in a while, some gossip will filter in about him.

Noelle tries to hide her interest, but her voice gives her away. Almost squawking the words, she asks, “What about him?”

Hazel hides her smile as she says, “Heard his wife left him and his two girls for good. She apparently got herself a sugar daddy. Since she is the reason he left town, maybe he’ll come on home.”

Noelle bites down on her lip as she nods slowly. And while there is concern in her features, no one can miss the excitement. She has always had a crush on Sebastian—not that he ever noticed her. “I hope he does what’s best for himself and his girls.” Noelle pauses for a moment, her lips turning down, obviously deep in thought. But then she quickly smiles. She turns to Fable, gripping her wrist. “How were the meetings with the Second Street businesses?”

Fable grimaces, and Kitty’s heart aches. “Not too good. They really didn’t give me much of their time.”

Noelle rolls her eyes. “You can’t give up. They don’t know if they should work with you, because everyone knows you only have to be here for a year.” Fable swallows, squirming in her seat. “Is there a possibility you’ll stay?”

At that question, all eyes fall on Fable. She looks down at her hands and then up at the ice. Kitty follows her gaze to where Jett is standing by the goal with his stick hanging loosely in his hands. Kitty glances back at Fable just as she shrugs. “I doubt it.”

Kitty’s stomach sinks, and Bea tsks in annoyance. Hazel and Maggie just look stricken. Hazel places her cross-stitching ring down and pats Fable’s folded hands. “No need to rush into that decision right now,” she stresses, her eyes hopeful. “Give it time. You may settle here.”

Fable shrugs, leaving Kitty to feel like the girl has one foot out the door already. According to Phillip’s letter to her, he was convinced he could get Fable to stay for good if he made her stay for a year. Kitty has been so hopeful, but the look on Fable’s face doesn’t seem to align with Kitty’s wants.

“I think you should take Jett with you, provide a united front,” Noelle suggests, and everyone nods, agreeing that it could help.

At his name, Fable looks out on the ice, exhaling heavily. “Yeah. We don’t seem to be on the same page lately, but maybe I can convince him.”

“That’s not what I see,” Noelle says, looking out on the ice as well. “To me, it seems like he is on your page and is just waiting for you to hand him the pen.” Everyone but Bea tries to hide their grins, knowing it’s true. Fable’s cheeks brighten with color as Noelle chuckles lightly. “It’s so unfair because—” She pauses, her cheeks warming as her eyes settle on Kitty. “Sorry, Kitty, but Richie and Elena really aren’t that likable, and in turn, people hold it against Fable.”

Kitty nods, feeling even guiltier. “I know it’s frustrating, but my darling, all you can do is keep showing up. You are just what the Ice Thistle needs.”

Everyone murmurs in agreement, but it doesn’t look as if Fable is convinced. She has always felt just too much, and she wears all her feelings on her sleeve. Kitty wishes she could take the constant thoughts from Fable and let her brain have a break.

Skating has always been the one thing to calm her mind.

When Noelle stands, she takes Fable’s hand. “Come on. Let’s get a beer or three.”

Fable forces a smile as she gets up to follow her friend. Once she’s gone, Bea leans in. “Things are not good between the kids.”

Hazel and Maggie nod, and Kitty exhales. “Elena has been a witch all week. I don’t know how much more Fable can take.”

“Have her move in to the apartments upstairs,” Maggie suggests, and Hazel points to her daughter.

“Two birds, one stone,” she exclaims, her eyes bright. “This way, she’ll be away from Elena and very close to Jett. This can work out for both of them.”

Bea nods. “Our boy is in his head. Apparently Elena made him feel like shit again.”

Kitty’s shoulders sag. “I don’t know what it is about him that makes her so evil. But can’t she see how amazing Jett is, how much he supports Fable?”

Everyone slowly nods as they look out onto the ice. Jett is at the point, moving a puck back and forth, but his eyes are off the ice. They all follow his gaze to find him watching Fable.

Not that anyone is surprised.

Kitty glances back at him to find his lips turned down and such pain in his eyes. He used to look at Fable like that when they were younger. As if even though she was within reach, she was miles away.

It gutted her then and still does.

“Does Fable know what her parents did?” Bea asks, pulling Kitty’s attention from the ice.

Kitty swallows thickly as she shakes her head. “I don’t think so.” She sighs harshly. “She already can’t stand them, and I worry something like that will have her running from this town once more.”

Bea nods as Hazel leans on her arm. Maggie bites into her lip. “I just want them to be happy.”

Once more, everyone agrees. “We can only support them,” Bea says, even though it’s clear in her voice she’d rather meddle in their business.

“They have to figure it out,” Hazel adds, and Kitty’s lips turn down.

“I just hope they do.”

Losing Phillip broke Kitty, but watching Fable not grab ahold of the happiness that could be hers would kill her.