Page 28 of The Rebound Play
“We’re all super grateful to Emmy. Mimi’s arthritis is causing her some trouble, but you know Mimi: nothing much keeps her down.”
My grandmother is a force to be reckoned with. An indomitable spirit, she won’t let something as trifling as painful arthritis get in the way of living her life to the fullest. Having Emmy live with her has helped a lot, and I’m grateful to know my sister is keeping a close eye on her these days. We all are.
“She’s one of the reasons I grabbed the chance to come back here to play for the Ice Breakers. She’s not getting younger, and time with her is special.”
“I love Mimi. She sometimes comes to the farmers’ market on the weekends, and I see her chatting with the townsfolk, always with a smile on her face. Give her my best when you next see her?”
“Of course I will. You run the Maple Falls Farmers’ Market, right?”
Her face lights up with a fresh smile. “I do. I love it. The stall holders are great, and I get to enjoy live music each day as I do my job. Plus, I am given a bunch of fresh produce each weekend, which means Benny and Hannah have to eat their vegetables.”
I chuckle. “I bet they’re super happy about that.”
“You know kids and vegetables.”
Benny is now pretending to hit an imaginary puck with his hockey stick against the carpet, giving a commentary on his seemingly endless ability to score goal after goal.
“Do you really think he’s got promise?” Keira asks.
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t think it. No point getting the kid’s hopes up for no reason.”
“He’s wanted to be a hockey player since he came to his first game when he was only three. But hockey’s an expensive sport. I remember your family having to make sacrifices to allow you to pursue your dreams.”
“My dad worked as many extra shifts at the gas station, after his regular work day, as he could get,” I reply, remembering how incredible my parents were in their support of me and my chosen career path. Dad had his nine to five at the lumber mill, and while Mom was running me around to lessons and practices, he would pull shifts at the gas station over on 3rd Street. But he’d always manage to be at my games, come what may, with him and Mom in the bleachers, cheering me on.
Everyone knew it was a gamble. The stats say it all: fewer than five percent of high school hockey players make it into the NHL. I may be pointing out the obvious, but that’s over ninety-five percent who don’t. The odds sure were stacked against me. But my parents believed in me, and they did what they could to help me realize my dream.
That’s just the way they’re built. They supported all us kids with our chosen paths: me with hockey, Ethan with acting, and Emmy with her love of all things books.
Although I know I can never truly thank them for everything they did for me, I can show them in the small ways available to me now. I offered to buy them a new house at the wealthier end of town, a new-build with all the modern conveniences, but they wanted to stay in their home. So instead, I paid off their mortgage for them, a fact they thank me for repeatedly every time we see one another, no matter how many times I tell them they don’t need to thank me at all.
I take in Keira’s tight-lipped frown. “Is everything okay?” I ask.
She takes a deep breath. “I’m going to level with you, Dan. You’re super kind to offer Benny hockey gear, but one day he will grow out of those, and then we’ll have to buy new ones, and the pattern will repeat until he’s fully grown if he really wants to pursue hockey. As generous as you are, I think it’s only going to be hard for him when we can’t allow him to keep playing.”
“I know exactly what you’re talking about. But please, let me take care of it.”
She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that.”
I land on an idea. “This charity we’re here playing for is a kids’ charity. The Happy Horizons Ranch. Angel Davis runs it. I could see what she could do for Benny.”
And if they can’t help him, I’ll make it happen. I just won’t tell Keira.
“I don’t think they give money to kids wanting to play ice hockey,” she replies with a light laugh. “It’s a ranch where Angel and her team help kids learn outdoor and farming skills. That kind of thing.”
“Got it. I’ll work something out. Leave it to me?”
What’s the point of all the money I get for shooting a puck around on a rink if I can’t use it to help the people I love?
Okay, like. The people I like. Only, when it comes to Keira, it sure feels a whole lot more like love.
Ellie walks past, noticing us sitting on the bleachers together, and comes to a stop, smiling up at us. “It’s just like old times, you two here together.”
I steal a glance at Keira. She’s smiling, looking a little awkward—and a whole lot beautiful.
“We’re catching up over a hot chocolate, that’s all,” Keira replies. “Dan just gave Benny a private hockey lesson.”
“So I hear.” She raises her brows at me as though she doesn’t know about it. “Is that a service you’re offering all the kids in Maple Falls now that you’re back, Dan?”