CHAPTER 13
Arwyn
A dler Lansing was just as I’d remembered. Nice but unremarkable.
That sounded mean to say, but for an ER doc, I’d have expected him to have an easier time carrying a conversation. One might think talking to people all day or night might teach you some conversation skills.
Obviously, he had them. Conversations. He had friends, and they spoke. Maybe he was shy around people he didn’t know well. I could empathize with that. But trying to keep the conversation going today strained my patience and drained my energy. I’d learned over the years to seek out those with energy to give, not take.
It occurred to me that Zaki Marsch had more than enough energy to give.
I was glad when the girls were ready to leave. There wasn’t anything wrong with Adler, per se. And I did feel for the guy. He was over thirty, and according to Shanna, he’d been ready to find someone to settle down with and grow a family for a long time now. I was sure his person was out there, but it wasn’t me.
At least I didn’t think so. Maybe having dinner with him would be different. In a quiet spot, with no distractions, we could talk about important things instead of trying to make small talk about soda or the weather or the priest’s homily.
“Daddy? Can we go to your game tonight?” Isla asked from the back seat as Zaki parked the van in my driveway. We’d driven to church since it’d been snowing lightly when we left.
“You girls have school tomorrow, Isles,” he reminded her.
“But Wynnie’s never been to a game, Daddy,” Amelie said. “She doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
She had a point. I’d never been to an Edge game.
I’d also never had the desire to go to an Edge game.
But maybe … maybe I should check it out. Take the girls. See what it was like. Penny would be there, and Tasha. Penny had mentioned it was Monty’s birthday, so the whole family was going. I wasn’t sure if Kami would bring Ryleigh and Conner, as it was a school night, but I could always bring Isla and Amelie home early if they got tired.
“Let me talk to your dad about it inside,” I said. We climbed out of the van and crunched into the snow that had fallen on the brick walk leading up to the house. It was beginning to snow again, and although I was interested in going to the game, I didn’t want to drive in a storm.
I unlocked the door and ushered them all inside. Laffy and Vennie greeted us like we’d been gone for a week, sweet things. I was glad they had each other to play with while we were gone.
After we removed our outerwear, Zaki sent the girls and dogs upstairs and motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen.
“Please don’t feel pressured to take them tonight.” He leaned back against the counter and slid his hands into his pockets.
He was still wearing his suit and tie.
I mentally cursed my eyes for lingering on him.
But, darn it, he looked so good. A far cry from his earlier years with the dyed blond hair and clean-shaven face.
I couldn’t picture a more handsome man if I tried, and I did not like these thoughts and feelings.
I’d worn my hair down in loose waves today, and I pulled it all to one side and over my shoulder as I found the words to respond, fidgeting with the waves and twisting them into a single long ringlet.
“I think it would be fun,” I said. “But it’s a long drive, and my little car’s snow tires aren’t anything I’d trust on a slippery highway, especially with the girls in the back. Could we ride with you?”
“You can. But know there will be a lot of down time. I like to get there early, and then there’s press afterward and, well, you’d be there really late.”
“I see. Never mind then. Another time. Maybe your next Saturday game?”
He caught my gaze and held it but didn’t say anything.
“I think you have a Saturday game after your next road trip?”
He nodded. “How ’bout this? You can ride in with me, and I’ll catch a ride home with Monty. The snow should be cleared by then. He owes me after that stunt.”
I grinned. “He sure does.”
“You can drive the van?”
“Oh, yeah, I used to drive Shanna’s all the time. And it’s not as, um, new or sturdy as yours.”
He grinned. “It does have great snow tires. I’ll tell the girls.” He pushed off from the counter.
“Wait!”
He paused and waited for me to speak.
“Um, silly question. What do I wear?”
He grinned. “Anything blue. Jeans?”
“I don’t have jeans. Leggings? I could hem up a skirt to knee length, and I have a navy vest and?—”
He held up his hand to stop my nervous stream of words. “Leggings are fine. No need to alter a skirt. You can wear one of my jerseys. It’ll probably fit you like a dress.”
I gaped at him. A jersey? I’d never worn a jersey from any sport. They didn’t look very comfortable. “Um, okay. If you think that’s best.”
“You’ll match the girls, and they’ll love it.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t overthink it and you’ll have a great time.”
Don’t overthink it? He might as well have told me not to breathe.
I hurried to my room to text Tasha. Please tell me you’re going to the game early tonight. I’m taking the girls, and I need to know EVERYTHING.
Tasha called me instead of texting back, and she did her best to put me at ease. I didn’t know why I was so anxious about taking the girls to a game. Yes, there would be a lot of people there, but I’d be busy with Isla and Amelie, and I knew who to ask if I needed help. She reminded me of those things and invited us to watch from the suite Monty purchased for the game.
His Nana Booboo was coming tonight for his birthday, and only the best seats would do.
I’d met Nancy Biddington a few times, and she was a delight.
Well, she’d scared me a little as a child, but I grew to love her once I understood her. She was good friends with Miss Clarice, who I learned was also coming to the game.
I really needn’t worry.
After seeing me dressed in Zaki’s jersey, black leggings, a black turtleneck, and black boots, the twins insisted on wearing their own black leggings, turtlenecks, and boots. Zaki thought that was adorable and had us pose for a mini photo shoot on the porch steps.
While it snowed.
We lasted about five minutes before we ran back inside into the warmth.
It was just as cold at ice level, where we watched the warmups, but toasty in the suite. No coats, hats or mittens needed up there, thank goodness.
Surprisingly, I found myself having a good time. At the end of the first period, Zaki was the last off the ice, and he raised his stick toward us all, mouthing the words Happy Birthday, Ridgie!
I got that feeling in my gut again.
There was a knock at the door, and Ridgie entered, followed by his handler, Jared, and Mags, the team’s social media manager. Baby Melody let out an ear-piercing screech, and Penny hurried to a corner to shield her from the big scary bear.
“My favorite mascot!” Nana Booboo called from her wheelchair. “Come give your biggest fan a kiss!”
Ridgie looked from her to Tasha and back again. Tasha lifted her arms in a big shrug, and Ridgie clutched his heart, turning so that his head was positioned looking over his shoulder as he walked toward his grandmother.
The door opened again, this time without a knock, and the team’s second mascot, Percy the Pigeon, entered holding a very large gift box, the kind where the top was wrapped separately so it could be pulled off to reveal its contents. Behind him was a cameraman.
I looked up at the jumbotron, and sure enough, Ridgie was on screen and the announcer was directing the fans’ attention to our suite.
“Let’s all turn our attention to Ridgie! Did you know it’s his birthday? Percy has a special gift for him, but first, can we get you all to join in on singing ‘Happy Birthday’?”
Everyone in the arena joined in as Ridgie danced and overdramatized his reaction. Percy set the box down on a high-top table, and when the song finished, he pulled Ridgie over to it. Ridgie positioned himself behind the box so that everyone could see his gift and pulled off the lid.
Shouts and squeals erupted from all of us as at least a dozen white birds took flight to the tune of “Free Bird” and soared across the arena. Monty stumbled back, waving his arms and falling on the ground for effect. After the birds made it safely to their trainer up in the rafters, Percy handed Monty a large gift tag that read A Special Gift from Marshy and Percy. Ridgie turned it toward the camera and face-pawed his forehead. Laughter and whistles erupted from the fans, and shouts of “Marshy! Marshy!” overshadowed Ridgie’s birthday celebration.
Zaki Marsch had reentered the Prank War in a big way. I just hoped it would stay contained in the arena.