We had worked hard. Our life was going to change again, ramp up. Strangely, I was happy, for a minute, to be in the quiet room with the steady, quiet man who I didn’t know very well but had always appeared when we needed him most. I was hungry for the quiet, and for home, even if it was only his words and stories.
“How’s your team shaping up?” I asked.
“Not bad, actually. The boys are very good. I’ve convinced Andre to give us access to the rink so they can practice. Evey few weeks, we fetch their friends from Timmins so they can practice together and in a year’s time, when the other two come toSudbury, Shaw and I will take a more coaching/managerial roll. They could easily compete at the junior level.”
“No Olympic dreams of your own?”
He chuckled. “Not exactly. Shaw and I are not at your level. But he is an excellent coach. One of the boys has chronic bone density issues, so I’ve been working closely with his doctors to keep an eye on him. It keeps his parents from hovering, which is space he needs.”
“I see, I see.”
“You see what?”
“You two are going the coach and trainer route. In four years, we’ll have the whole Fam Damily up in the Olympic games.”
“We’ll see.”
“It’s a nice dream.”
“It is. And to be sure I can continue to act as his physician, as well as his trainer, I’ve looked into what applications I need to fill out. What certificates I have to have. Just in case.”
“You have a very calming presence,” I told him. “Steady. It’s nice.”
“Thank you. It’s probably an ingrained trait a lot of doctors have.”
“I’m sure Shaw appreciates it too.”
He shrugged, not commenting one way or the other.
“What’s going on with you two?”
“Nothing.”
I tilted my head at him. “Not the impression I get when you text me at three a.m.”
His smile was part sad, part frustrated. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. Shaw is a lot. Lots of good and generous and kind, but… A lot. He always wants to give people the world, without ever really stopping to ask if they want that. He means well. But he can be overwhelming.”
“I love that about him.”
“Maybe you should tell him that.”
“Maybe.”
I waited but he didn’t seem to have anything else to say on the matter so I let it go. “Put whatever you want on the TV. I’m going to nap.”
“I’ll wake you in a bit.”
I knew he would, because he was a professional, and cautious. Another thing I liked about him. Something that was good for Shaw’s big, dreaming, expansive heart.
I fell asleep thinking how cool it would be to have all of us at the Olympics. Not this time, obviously. But maybe next time.
CHAPTER 33
PERRY
There wasno break between the Trials and getting ready for the Olympics. Two months might seem like a good amount of time on paper, but in life? Especially when Evan had to stay off the ice for a couple of days, and Alan, with Darby’s help, was overcautious about easing him back into a full schedule?
