Page 48 of Ice Cold Hearts
I should be horrified by it, but I would have absolutely done the same thing if I were out there. Throwing a punch or checking someone is all part of the game, but that was one of the most unsportsmanlike things I’ve ever seen.
Shrill whistles pierce the air, and both Ian and the Blizzards’ player are sent off the ice.
In the relative quiet, I manage to hear the commentators on the T.V. near the back of the room.
“The most surprising thing about this game, Jim, isn’t that Corbitt’s managed to land himself in the sin bin but that it took this long in the game for it to happen.” He laughs.
“That is not where I thought you were going with that, Rick,” Jim says.
“What do you mean?” Rick demands.
“Ian’s had an assist, a goal, and now a fight that’s landed him in the sin bin. That’s a Gordie Howe hat trick. His second one this season.” Jim laughs.
I don’t hear any more. Alexei is lining up for his penalty shot and he’s all I can see. He’s moving slowly, running down the clock as much as he can.
Yes! He manages to sink a goal in the five hole with two seconds to spare.
When the buzzer goes off, the entire stadium explodes with screams and cheers.
I glance worriedly down at Audrey, but she’s fast asleep holding the little bear she got today tightly to her chest.
The stadium empties quickly after the game ends except for the team box. We’re not kept waiting too much longer. The players with family pour in to another round of cheering, and somehow, I’m more tense now that my men are face to face with my parents than I was watching the game.
Dad does his best not to fawn over them, but the stars in his eyes give him away and they immediately charm Mom—and embarrass me—by telling her what an amazing physical therapist I am.
I feel a tug on my pants leg. Somehow, even though she slept through thousands of people cheering, it’s our conversation that wakes her up.
Her eyes are bigger than the moon as she gapes at them in awe.
“Mama, you’re friends with giants!” she says, clasping her hands rapturously.
Then she turns to them and shouts, “Hi, Giants, can you hear me up there?”
Their eyes all soften, and I know she’s managed to charm them too.
Oliver kneels down to her level and introduces himself. My blood freezes in my veins.
Is this the moment it all comes crashing down?
Please, please, please don’t let this be happening in such a public place, I beg the universe.
Suddenly shy, Audrey hides behind my leg.
“I like your bear,” he says in a lower volume this time. “Did you notice we match?”
Audrey peeks out from behind my leg and giggles. “Silly goose, you got a three one on yours. Bear is number nine.”
“Nice job noticing!” He grins. “You’re pretty smart.”
She gasps, “You have pimples too!”
Oliver looks up at me, confused.
“Dimples,” I explain.
“No way,” he says. “Let me see.”
Audrey grins.