I lift my hands. “Hey, I get it. But, like, is there a tutoring program he can take or something?”
She shakes her head. “The teacher has tried to keep him after class to give him help, but he has to be at practice. It’s a double-edged sword. And I can’t afford a private tutor.”
“Yeah, I get that.” I don’t know what else to say. I’m not just doing this to see Duke, but it’s a big factor. I really want to get to know the kid. I want to have family in my life again. “If I can think of anything, I’ll let you know.”
“You do that,” Bradie says flatly and turns to leave. “Don’t get too attached, Holden.”
Too late, I think as I watch her leave. I head back to the rink and find Bruce in the stands going over something on his clipboard. He glances up at me, his face ruddy from skating around with the kids earlier. “Your weeklong trial period ends today. So, you staying?”
“You want me to?”
“Hell, yes! You were great with them and they were clearly inspired by your story and have been more engaged at practice since you got here,” Bruce says. He introduced me to the kids by explaining how I was the best local player in town and how NHL scouts used to come see me. He, luckily, skipped the part where my career ended when I was arrested for theft and punched two police officers in the process. “I’d love you to stay permanently but I won’t be shocked if you don’t.”
“Why wouldn’t I?’
“Practice is four days a week and we play almost every weekend. You’ll have trouble maintaining a social life,” he says and chuckles. “Hell, my wife calls herself a hockey widow.”
“Yeah, well lucky for you I don’t have a wife or a social life,” I smile. “See you tomorrow.”
“Same time, same ice,” Bruce replies and nods as I head back out of the rink.
The air outside is just as cold as in the area. Hell, it feels even colder because it’s so damp, that kind of cold that seeps into your bones. I zip up my hoodie. Normally I’d have brought my jacket to wear as well, but Winnie still has it and I haven’t seen her all day. The electrician and I started work on the house at nine and she was already gone. She didn’t come back before I left for practice.
As I climb into my truck, my cell goes off and Jude’s number flashes across the screen. Huh. He must be calling to check on the work. I hit accept. “Hey, Jude. How are you?”
“I’m good,” he says. “How’s Winnie?”
What. The. Fuck.
“Umm…what?”
“I know she’s there,” Jude replies. “At least I hope to hell she is because I called Ty and he said she never got on the flight to Toronto a couple weeks ago. So, is she at the house? Is she okay? I mean she must not be, but…I mean tell me how she’s doing.”
“I…well…” Fuck. I’m not supposed to tell her family. She explicitly said that. But…
“She told you not to tell me didn’t she?” Jude asks and before I can answer he swears under his breath. “Why the fuck is she shutting us out? Listen, Holden, you’re not volunteering the information, so you’re not violating her wishes. I’m demanding it from you. So tell me. How is she doing?”
I sigh and lean back against the headrest and close my eyes. “She’s okay. I mean she’s devastated, but she’s trying to pull herself through it, you know? Slowly.”
“Yeah…but why does she have to do it there? Alone. Fuck,” Jude asks and I have no answers. “And she dumped Ty. Why the hell do that? I mean I could think of a thousand reasons, but she never wanted to hear them. She was with him ten years and then she suddenly decides to leave him the same week we lose our dad and then she runs off and doesn’t tell anyone about it?”
“Dude, I know you’re my boss and everything and I like you as a friend, but I am not getting into the details,” I say and scrub my beard. “I don’t know exactly what she’s thinking and what she has told me is in confidence.”
“Yeah, yeah I get it,” Jude grumbles and I can tell he wishes he could be mad at me for it. “I’ll find out for myself. I just don’t want her suffering through this all alone.”
She’s got me, I want to tell him but I don’t because I don’t want him to know about whatever the hell is happening between us, at least not right now. I should probably figure it out myself before I started talking about it with her family.
“How’s the house?” he asks as an afterthought.
“Coming along really well. No big problems.” Renovating the cottage is the only aspect of my life that I feel I have a handle on right now. That reminds me, the electricity is still shut off and I can’t turn it back on until tomorrow afternoon since we’re not done rewiring the kitchen. I left Winnie a note about it and I’m sure she’ll be pissed off.
“Okay, well do me a favor and call me immediately if that changes,” he says. “With my sister or the house.”
“I will…” I pause. “And do me a favor and make it clear I didn’t rat her out.”
“Worried she’ll break your nose again?” Jude laughs and I force a laugh too.
“Something like that,” I reply.
