Page 14 of The Rebound Play
“Hey, Caroline,” he replies, and then all the members of the Mom Squad introduce themselves, describing their tenuous connection to him as though sketching an elaborate family tree.
“Which one is Hannah?” he asks once he’s humored them all.
“She’s the one in the white hat and jacket,” I explain, pointing at her on at the ice. If he sees the rip in her tights, he doesn’t mention it.
“I noticed her when I came in. She’s a natural on the ice. Talented.”
I can’t help but smile proudly as I watch her fluid movements. Next to some of the other kids in the class, who clunk around, looking stiff and uncomfortable, Hannah looks like she was born to skate.
I flick my gaze to Dan’s and notice him watching me.
“Thanks,” I murmur, heat claiming my cheeks.
“Dan Roberts!” a deep voice says, thankfully pulling his attention from me.
I look over to see Troy, the owner of the arena and the Hawk River Lodge, heading our way. He’s accompanied by another big guy, who I can only assume is another member of the Ice Breakers charity team. Together, they’re one imposing group, three huge guys in great shape with shoulders wide enough to form a bridge.
“Good to see you, Troy,” Dan says as they shake hands warmly.
Troy slaps Dan on the back, his face lit up in a genuine smile. “I am so excited you’re here. This is going to be an incredible six weeks. Right, ladies?”
They all enthusiastically agree as they gaze appreciatively at the cluster of men.
That’s one positive aspect to this whole Ice Breakers thing: serious eye candy for the ladies over the coming weeks. I’m sure none of the women of the town will complain about that.
“Dan, I want you to meet Scotty MacFarland. He’s the second coach for the team, working with Doug Strickland,” Troy says, and I take the opportunity to slink away, leading Benny further up the bleachers as Dan and Scotty MacFarland shake hands in greeting.
Hiding behind my book, I watch the three of them as they discuss Dan’s injury—something literally everyone in Maple Falls has been concerned about since he came out second best in a collision with the plexiglass during practice—my humiliation finally beginning to subside.
The first meeting with Dan is done. It might not have been as I pictured it, but then weirdly, I didn’t picture myself lying on the ground, hoping to melt into the floor during our first meeting since we broke up. But at least it’s over, and now I know that when I do inevitably see him again, it can’t be nearly as awkward. We can meet as two impartial acquaintances, important to one another in the past, but no longer.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself. That way it’s so much safer for my heart.
CHAPTER 5
DAN
My stupid heart has been doing weird things at the sight of Keira. Weird things that I know I can’t entertain, not if she’s married with kids.
Married with kids.
The thought hits me in the solar plexus like a train heading at high speed into a wall.
Could it be true?
I need to look at the evidence. Be level-headed about this. She’s here with two kids, one of whom held her hand and blamed her for not allowing him to take hockey classes. Benny’s six and a half and his sister looks to be about eight, nine tops. Keira would have had to have gotten married and had those kids pretty dang fast after I left town, but it’s possible. Then there’s the fact the boy—Benny—shares Keira’s blonde hair and gray-blue eyes, the eyes I remember so clearly, gazing into, feeling as though my heart would burst with love for this girl on the precipice of womanhood.
The girl I had wanted to be with forever.
But surely, I would have heard about it if she’d gotten married and had kids? Someone would have told me. Mom, Dad, Emmy? But then I never raised Keira with any of them, which maybe they took as a sign that I didn’t want to know about her. Maybe in doing so, they thought I was protecting myself?
And you know what? They would have been right.
But why wouldn’t the news about Keira having kids have gotten back to me? It’s not like the townsfolk around here don’t love to gossip, least of all Mary-Ellen McClusky, the town gossip since I was a kid. I saw her on a trip to the market to pick up some groceries for my parents last time I was in town. She hadn’t even mentioned Keira, much less Keira’s marital status.
Despite not having heard a word, everything points to yes. I admit, I scanned her left hand for a ring and didn’t find one. Maybe she doesn’t like to wear a ring? Maybe it’s in the shop, getting repaired? And besides, a couple of living, breathing, small humans trump a ring, anyway.
A lump forms in my throat.