The children all cheer for that.
“Is Santa coming to visit at the party?” Little Tessa asks.
“I heard a rumor he might bring gifts.” Eli winks at her. There’s something I never realized about him in college—how good he’d be around kids. Dogs, too. “Before we hit the ice, you may have noticed this Christmas tree in the lobby here. It looks a little lonely with only a handful of ornaments of the coaches and the staff. But on this table, I have an ornament for each ofyou. Now, children, you’ll take an ornament, and on the back of it, write what you want most for Christmas, and then hang it on the tree. Have your parents help you with the writing part if you need it. Please do that before you shift into the rink to skate. Thank you.”
Aiden rushes toward the table like all the others . He deliberately turns his back to me while he writes, shoulders hunched as if he’s guarding a state secret. I wonder what it might be, but I can’t even think about Christmas shopping yet. I just want to disappear with my laptop and study, and put the rest of my life on hold until Monday. But as a mother, that’s not practical, so I do what women have been doing for centuries and figure out how to balance it all.
The class gets underway, and just when I get lost in my studies, Eli pulls one more surprise. The doors on the far end of the rink open and suddenly dogs and puppies are everywhere—barking, skidding on the ice, tails wagging, handlers laughing as kids shriek with delight.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, smiling as my laptop snaps shut. I can’t even pretend to be annoyed at a sight like this.
Instead of studying, I’m at the boards with the rest of the parents, pointing and laughing, taking photos and videos, as dogs and kids wipe out, slide on bellies, and fall in fits of laughter.
“You’re not studying,” Brenna sidles up to me.
“I know,” I reply. “I’m only half mad about it. Look how cute they all are.”
“Yeah, and the dogs are cute too. Oh, you meant… I thought we were talking about the coaches.” She makes me chuckle with the way she’s always flirty. At least she stays away from Eli.
Speaking of which, he skates over with a German Shepherd puppy tucked into his arms.
“Meet Hattie Jr.,” he says, eyes hopeful in a way that makes my breath hitch. He holds her out to me. I gladly take it.
“Aw, Hattie. I’ll never forget the night we met thanks to her and a certain glove.” I can’t stop the glimmer that reaches my eyes as I cradle her like a baby. She has that new puppy smell, fuzzy fur, and licks my face. I genuinely smile, probably for the first time all week. My smile muscles are getting rusty.
“You look like you needed a break,” Eli explains. “So I called in reinforcements. You always volunteered for the shelter in college. And I recall how you set up the emotional support day during midterms. I figured you could use some support. An hour with these pups won’t ruin your finals.”
He’s right. By now, if I don’t know everything I’m supposed to know for tomorrow’s test, cramming in information last minute—a break is what I need to get myself over the finish line. My shoulders loosen up even more.
“Folks, come join your kids and enjoy the pups.” Eli opens the door and helps me onto the ice. I’m in my snow boots, clinging to his hand while he glides easily beside me in skates. Aiden beams when he sees me out there and takes my other hand.
We move together slowly, avoiding run-ins with the crazy hounds. Aiden’s giggles rise above the melee. He looks up at me with a gleam in his sweet blues. I glance at Eli and see the same pair and color of eyes shining back at me. Something enters my heart that I haven’t felt in a very long time—a strong sense offamily. Not forced, but natural. Like the three of us belong together.
It scares me how different it is from anything I ever had with Jerrod.
Later, by the time we walk out to the car, my cheeks hurt and ribs ache from laughing so much.
“Thank you, Eli. I needed that. What did you think of all the dogs, Aiden?” I ask, but certainly I know the answer.
“They were great. I hope we get to do it again sometime.” We reach my car, and he blurts, “I’m ducking into the seat now so you two can kiss. Good night, Coach Eli. I can’t wait for the party this weekend.”
He buckles in and I shake my head at how much Aiden is pushing for things to happen between us. When I turn back to say goodbye to Eli, I crash right into his broad chest. His hands steady me on my shoulders.
“Well, since we’ve been given permission…” He leans in, giving my lips a feather-light brush with his. Simple and careful, enough to remind me he’s waiting for me. And to leave me desiring so much more, the proof of it pulling in my core, my pulse racing. I miss him. But too soon, his warmth leaves me. “Goodnight,” he whispers.
By midnight, though, I’m in bed, and soon I hear him pad quietly through the house and into the bedroom. He lays down beside me, and wraps me in his arms, his body heat like salve to my soul. This isn’t about words, or sex, but about connection, and proving we still have it.
The Lego partyis small by design, which was the point. I wanted Aiden to invite a few of his closest friends, so it would be special and private, and memorable.
With my last final exam done this morning, I spend the afternoon preparing. The theme of the party is Lego cars, vehicles where the boys can snap bricks together in any fashiontheir imaginations come up with. I sort the bricks into bins by color and make sure there are plenty of wheels and windows.
Next, I build a ramp out of heavy cardboard that the boys can race their cars down and test different configurations. I even have a racing chart where, at the end of the party, they can choose their best vehicle and compete against each other. Of course, every friend will go home with a prize.
Mom bakes his cake, a perfect square blue Lego-shaped one, of course. I wrap his presents: a robot, a remote-controlled car, and a few other little things. We make favor bags of mini Lego kits, a candy cane taped to each one, with a handwritten thank-you tag.
That’s all we can do for now until tomorrow when we close the shop for the party and decorate.
We finish just in time to get Jerrod’s text. He’s checked into the hotel in town and wants to see Aiden for dinner. I suggest a pizza place that is popular with families, where they can play arcade games, mini golf, ride go-karts, and more. It’ll keep them busy for a few hours at least, and maybe give them a chance to bond again.
