Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
More than once, Coach’s wife came over to pull Rain off somewhere, and I lost track of her for twenty minutes or so. Checking my phone, I saw it’d been at least an hour this time, so I made my excuses to the guys at the table and began my search to find her.
I moved past the back room in the basement and drew up short, hearing Rain’s voice.
“—need, really. Everything turned out fine.”
“But it wasn’t, was it?” That was Coach’s wife, and her voice was sharp. “I’ve been trying to work up my nerve all day to apologize. When Bruce told me about seeing a girl playing with the Connors boys, I had a feeling. It didn’t sit right. I couldn’t let it go. I should have stepped in. Reached out. Introduced myself to your father. Met you. I…”
She got quiet. “When Bruce said you were working with their team, I took this as my second chance. I know you’re older. You’re an adult, and you probably don’t need a mother-like figure nosing around in your life, but if you’d like one, I’m here. This family is here. Bruce too. He told me how nervous he got when you first showed up, said he stumbled something fierce, but you righted him just fine. I was proud when he told me that. Proud of you. And so was he, even though he was embarrassed.” She sniffled. “I wanted you to know that.”
There was a beat of silence. I wondered if I should make an appearance, maybe pull Rain out of the situation, but then she said, “There was nothing you could’ve done.”
I stayed where I was.
“I should’ve tried.”
“No. I’m—he never would’ve let me go, because it could’ve come back as an embarrassment on him. He didn’t want to deal with me, but he also didn’t want to look bad. Does that make sense?”
“That doesn’t matter. I should’ve—”
“I wouldn’t have trusted you,” Rain said.
It got quiet again.
“I was conditioned to be a certain way, think a certain way,” Rain explained. “I’m an adult, and I’m just now starting to change those thought processes. Back then? Around the time you would’ve stepped up for me? Even if he had let me go to live with you or something, it wouldn’t have mattered. I would’ve slept in your house. I would’ve played my part, not drawn any attention to myself. I would have sat at every meal uncomfortable and sweating, worried my answers to your questions could be turned against me somehow. If my family talked to me, that’s what they did. I was too far gone. I think I’m too far gone now.”
“Rain. No. Don’t ever think that. Please.”
There was another moment of quiet, and when I heard Rain draw in a quiet breath, I knew she was struggling.
I stepped around the corner to find her fighting tears.
Both women looked up.
“Tyler.” Mrs. Hines patted under her eyes with her fingertips, giving me a slightly uneasy smile. “I must say, you’ve been a welcome addition to the team. Bruce told me you brought a no-nonsense, why-the-fuck-aren’t-we-winning attitude. I believe that’s how he put it.” She smiled more genuinely now. “He said the other guys needed that.”
I checked on Rain, asking without words if she was all right. She gave me a little smile, but as I stepped closer, she moved to my side and sagged against me.
She wasn’t okay.
I wrapped an arm around her and smiled at Mrs. Hines. “The guys are good. I think we’ll go far this season.” I held Rain tightly against me. “I came to find Rain because we actually have another meal to get to. My sister is hosting a Thanksgiving thing as well.”
“Of course. I hope your niece is doing so much better.” Mrs. Hines began leading the way back upstairs. When we got to the first floor, she motioned for us to follow her into the kitchen. “Can I talk you into taking some leftovers with you?”
She didn’t give us a chance to respond, just began putting together four plates of food, filling each one to the brim. When they were done, she wrapped them in plastic wrap and put all four in a bag before handing it over.
We thanked her and then said our farewells, making the rounds in each room. The Minnesota goodbye was a real challenge here, but finally we got to the door. Mrs. Hines moved in to hug Rain, and I could see she was struggling not to cry all over again.
Coach gave me an apologetic look before tugging his wife away. He rested an arm around her shoulders and nodded. “We’ll be seeing you for morning skate. And you asked to work tomorrow, so I’ll expect you bright and early as well, Rain.”
“Got it, Coach.” Rain answered for both of us, stepping outside. Suddenly the weather was normal again. It was cold as fuck. Once the door closed behind her, she went pale. I didn’t think the weather had anything to do with it.