See you soon. x
I might be exhausted, but the thought of seeing Leon again fills me with excitement. I’m going home to my husband, where I know he’ll take care of me.
I inhale deeply, the crisp evening air filling my lungs with freshness. Being stuck inside a hospital for twenty-four hours is no fun, and I missed getting any vitamin D today. I haven’t even had a break.Or a shower, and I desperately need one of those.
Rounding the corner, I make my way to the parking lot, and I wave when one of Leon’s drivers, Jerry, tips his hat my way, smiling at me, standing beside a shiny black limousine.
“What the hell is this, Jerry?” I point to the fancy car.
“Your ride, Mrs. Hill.”
No matter how many times I tell Jerry to call me Erika, he ignores me.
“This is a bit much, isn’t it?” I ask, laughing, giddy from being overtired.
“It’s a special occasion, Mrs. Hill.”
“Why? Where are we going?”
“I can’t tell you, I’m afraid. Mr. Hill told me to tell you that you’ve got to trust me.”
What the hell is he up to? My senses are spinning.
Jerry opens the door, and when I slide inside, I’m surprised to find it’s empty; I thought Leon would be inside waiting for me.The door closes softly, and I reach for a bottle of water that has a Post-it stuck to it that says,To hydrate, drink me, in Leon’s handwriting, and another stuck to a container of fresh ham salad that says,To nourish, eat me.
My stomach grumbles at the sight, and I follow Leon’s instructions and dig in.
“How long until we get there?” I ask Jerry when I’m finished.
“We’re here.”
I look out of the window and up at the huge building that I’ve practically spent my entire childhood inside of: the Edmonton Eagles practice arena.
“Are you sure this is right?” I ask, more confused than ever.
Jerry doesn’t reply; instead, my door opens, and Lily pops her head through the gap. “Good evening, Mrs. Hill. Could you follow me, please?”
I’m either dreaming or have stepped into a different dimension where nothing makes sense. “Lily, what the hell is going on?”
My sister-in-law ignores me and strides confidently toward the entrance of the arena.
I shout after her as I rush out of the limo, “Why am I here?”
She blanks me, and the automatic entrance doors of the arena slide open.
“Why are you wearing that fancy dress?” I ask, noticing she’s in one of the prettiest powder pink dresses I’ve ever seen. “Oh my god, will you slow down. And shit. I forgot my bag. I left it in the car. Lily.”
I feel likeAlice in Wonderland, late for a date I don’t know anything about.
I come to a sharp halt, the squeak of my crocs rubbing against the floor.
And there he is.
Leon.
Standing in the middle of the rink, the vast space bending around him, his commanding frame dominating the ice.
“Your husband is waiting for you,” Lily announces from somewhere to my right, then she disappears, leaving just the two of us.
