Page 39 of Breaking the Ice
While I’m relieved to have a hospital bed for my mom, I worry that if she’s really hurt herself, it might be too little, too late.
I force myself to go into the kitchen and wash dishes while the men get everything assembled. I tell myself things like, “Don’t worry, Ellie, Mom is fine. She has to be fine.” The problem is that I don’t believe me. I’ve already lost my dad, so I know that bad things don’t always happen to other people. The thought of living a life without both of my parents is more than I can bear right now.
I really want to run down to Zach’s cottage and ask him to comfort me. Somehow, I know that if he told me everything was going to be all right, I’d be more inclined to believe it. Looking at the clock, I see that it’s already after one, so I know that’s not an option. By now, he’s long gone to the arena for the first press conference of the day.
That’s the thought that finally diverts me from my current worries. Zach and Yolanda are both at the rink and I can’t help but wonder how that’s going.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Zach
Even though I took a two-hour nap on the hammock yesterday, I still slept like a baby last night. I haven’t been this rested in years, which makes me think there’s something about the air in Maple Falls that acts like a tranquilizer. Yet, I expect my sense of calm has more to do with Ellie than the air. She makes me feel peaceful and protective—even when she’s grumbling at me, her presence is a balm.
Looking through my suitcase, I can’t decide if I should wear a suit to the rink or if I should dress more casually. A suit might make me look like a stuffy billionaire—like I was trying to put myself above everyone else, and jeans could send the message that I’m not giving the event the amount of respect it deserves. I wind up splitting the difference and putting on a pair of khakis with a nice shirt, no tie.
I’m not usually the type of guy to overthink his wardrobe. The only reason I’m giving it any thought now is because of the damage Yolanda has done to my reputation. I want to see that woman today as much as I want to jump out of a plane without a parachute. Unfortunately, I have no doubt she’s going to be at all the events and I’m going to have to keep my cool.
I’m tempted to stop and see Ellie on my way out today, but I think better of it after the way we parted company yesterday. While I thought we had a good day, she pulled back rather dramatically.
As soon as I get into the SUV, I turn on the ignition before rolling the windows down. Then I back out of the driveway and head toward my destiny. I hope Troy is right and this project will turn things around for me. Too bad when he created his plan, neither of us suspected Yolanda would be here.
As soon as I arrive at the arena, I run my fingers through my hair to tame the wind damage caused by the ride over here. After getting out of the car, I head toward the locker room. I assume all the players are here, but from the number of cars in the lot, it doesn’t look like a ton of press have arrived. Most of them are probably going to skip it and just hit the main event later at the hotel.
Walking through the locker room door, I’m met by a scene that temporarily causes my throat to tighten. I see familiar faces I know from going to games over the years, like Noah Beaumont, a hotshot who was playing for a team out of New York until he bad boyed his way down to an AHL team. Troy always liked him, so I trust his judgment. But, hey, at least he got a shot at the NHL.
When I was injured in college, I had to force myself to put all things hockey behind me. It was an act of self-preservation. Yet standing amid so many players now—some that I know and some I don’t—makes me feel a nostalgia that nearly brings me to my knees.
Even being on the ice with Tommy the other night didn’t affect me like this. I’m about to turn and walk back outside when I hear a familiar voice. “Zach, my man! How the heck have you been?”
Turning around, I spy the familiar face of Dan Roberts—my nephew’s hero. Sticking out my hand, I greet, “Dan, how are you? I hear you’re the Ice Breakers captain.”
Dan ignores my hand and pulls me into a man hug before proceeding to pat my back like he’s trying to burp a gorilla. “Sure am,” he says. “Happy to be back in Maple Falls.”
Dan grew up here and talked about his hometown so fondly that when Troy was looking for a place to settle down, he decided he had to visit. He never left.
“I bet Maple Falls is happy to have you back.”
Dan seems pensive for a beat before saying, “My family is.”
Something about his tone makes me think there might be someone else who isn’t as eager to see him. I’ll have to remember to ask him about it at another time. I currently have bigger fish to fry. “Have you seen Troy?”
He points across the room. “He’s in his office.” Then he adds, “Watch out; I saw Yolanda Simms out there. That woman is bent on ending you, Zach.”
“Tell me about it.” I don’t bother defending myself because I’m fairly certain Dan knows I’m not the kind of guy I’m being portrayed as being. “I’ll see you later,” I tell him before walking away.
I call out a few other greetings as I make my way across the room, but I don’t stop moving until I’m standing at the entrance of the press room. Peeking through the small square window on the door, I see a dozen or so reporters, as well as my brother, who’s shuffling through a stack of papers at a desk set up in front of the assemblage.
Troy looks up and sees me before standing up and joining me in the hall. “Hey, bro. You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
“Just play it cool,” he tells me. “Yolanda is sure to ask questions about you and her, but I’ll cut her off. Most of the folks inside are from local affiliates and not national ones, so I’m going to let them ask the bulk of the questions.”
Nodding my head, I tell him, “Let’s do this.”
Before we meet the press, Troy crosses the hall and opens the locker room door. He shouts, “We’re ready to start! Come on out into the hallway. I’ll signal you when it’s time to introduce you.”
As soon as my brother and I walk into the press room, the reporters begin a barrage of questions. Troy raises his hand to quiet them before saying, “Welcome to the first annual Ice Breakers All-Star charity hockey tournament. I’d like to introduce you all to my little brother Zach.”