“What do you mean, you might be playing again? Are you trying to kill yourself?”
“I’ve been cleared for practice, Mom. That’s all. It was unexpected, so I didn’t think there would be any conflicts with Elise’s plans. I’ve never had to consider anyone else before. I’m in unfamiliar territory here and I don’t know how to fix it.”
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry you’re going through that. I know you care for Elise. And what mother wouldn’t want her son to settle down with someone special? Let me give you some motherly advice. If there’s one thing I regret about my life choices, and this doesn’t diminish my love for you in any way, it’s that I didn’t make a life for myself. I made your hockey dreams my entire focus. Everything I did was for you. Once you were out on your own, I had to find myself. Figure out what my life would be like as someone other than your mother. Don’t be like me. Don’t allow hockey to be your entire focus, above all else and everyone else. Find your new passion. Find your person. From what I can see, you were on your way to doing that with Elise. Figure out the compromise. Show her that she and her career are important to you. Make it work. Make it last, so you have something beyond hockey when hockey goes away. Because it will eventually go away.”
My mother is right. By the time I reach the arena, I’ve got a tentative plan. Time to put it into action. I pull Shay’s number up on my phone.
“Shay, this is Jax. Can you put me in touch with the Ottawa fellowship committee?”
I can detect the suspicion in her voice. No doubt, Elise has convinced her I’m an asshole. “And why would I do that?”
“I want to talk to them. Persuade them to reschedule her interview or conduct it remotely so I can be there to support her. If it will help, I can have our owners put in a word with the committee. If there’s a cost associated with rescheduling, I’ll take care of it. I just need to resolve the conflict.”
Shay’s voice comes through the speaker with a screech so loud I have to turn down the volume.
“Conflict? What conflict? Have you lost your ever-loving mind or are you just that self-centered? Are you trying to get her disqualified and ruin her opportunity so you can play a hockey game? How entitled of you, Jax!”
She then disconnects the call, and if it would have been a landline, the sound of slamming the phone down on the cradle would have likely punctured my eardrum.Shit! I’ve screwed this up royally. So much for that plan.
There’s only one way to fix it. Even though I’m sitting in the parking lot of the arena, I place a call to Coach instead of going inside.
“Coach. I’m not going to make it to practice today. Something’s come up. I’ll keep you posted on my availability.”
Before he or I can question my sanity, I put the truck in drive and head for Pelican Point and Elise’s studio.
I find her in the rear of the warehouse area preparing some of her pieces for shipping to Canada.
“Jax. What are you doing here?”
I approach her, searching her face for a clue as to her current level of anger. Not taking any chances, I gently remove the shipping tape dispenser and marker from her hands, so she can’t throw them at me. Placing her hands in mine, I recite the words I’ve been practicing all the way up the road.
“I’m here for you, Princess. I realize I fell into old habits and tried to control everything around me when I was cleared for the ice. Wearepartners in every sense of the word, and I’m ready to support you. Partnerships require compromise and the ability to manage conflict and I’m committing to that with you. If you’ll have me. I’m here now to help you finish packing up, then I’m going to drive you to the airport tomorrow and put you on that plane to Ottawa.”
“But Jax, there’s a game tonight. Don’t you need to be there?”
“Here is where I need to be,” I say sincerely. Then I give her a playful nudge. “But since you’re such a hockey fanatic now, we can always listen to the game on the radio while we work.”
She gives me her answer by taking her hands from mine and pulling my face down to hers for a kiss.Thank God.Then she surprises me with a lighthearted suggestion of her own. “If we finish packing everything up quickly, we might just have time to play with some ice.”
Palm Beach International Airport is crowded as usual. Good thing we left early. I use my hockey connections to get a pass so I can accompany Elise all the way to the gate. I spent the night at her place last night, which gave us a chance to reconnect in the most spectacular way, using ice in ways I never dreamed were possible.
We’re sitting at the gate, her head resting on my bicep and our legs touching. I can feel her nervous energy emanating from her bouncing leg. I gently rub her thigh to help calm her nerves.
“Princess, you’re going to do great. You’ve got this.”
“It could be the big break I’ve been waiting for. But six months away in a place where I don’t know anyone? That’s going to be hard.”
“Hey, you did it when you moved to Florida. And I’ll come visit as often as possible. I promise we’ll find a way.”
“I hope my portfolio is good enough. Maybe I should have sent more documentation.”
“I’m sure Shay prepared you well for all of that. And the letters of recommendation you got are stellar.”
The fellowship committee sent a first-class ticket, so Elise is called to board in the first group. When we hear the announcement, she stands and puts her backpack over her shoulder. “I guess this is it. Time for me to go.”
I stand up as well and wrap her in my arms, kissing the top of her head. “Knock ‘em dead, Princess. I love you.”
“I love you, too Jax,” I hear her say softly into my chest as I feel the dampness on my shirt from her tears.
