Team Thanksgiving. “Sounds good. Let me know what to bring.”
“I’m sure she’ll be texting everyone soon. I gotta go. Wanna say goodnight to the kiddos.”
When he was gone, Axel pushed me against the wall and took my mouth in a searing kiss. When he pulled back, he looked me in the eyes. “Did that fix whatever is going on behind your eyes?”
A little dazed, I grinned. “Yeah. And I have something to show you.”
Pulling out my phone, I opened the camera roll and pressed on the video. Axel took my phone. “Why did you record the crowd?”
“It’s not the crowd. It’s your dad when you scored that goal.”
He stared down at my phone, then replayed it again before handing it back to me. “Wait. You need to see the next one. It’s Kozlov’s goal.” I texted both videos to him. “Look at the difference.”
When his phone pinged, he pressed on the video and watched. His eyes narrowed as he studied them. “I see it.” I couldn’t determine how he was feeling, so I didn’t press him on it. He needed some time to sit with it, but I hoped he could see what I saw. A proud father watching his son.
“Are you ready to go?” I asked.
He leaned in to kiss my cheek, then draped his arm over my shoulder. “Yes.”
Thanksgiving morning, we started the day with breakfast with Edith. She was working the lunch and dinner shift at the Silver Stream, where I usually spent Thanksgiving. “I’d rather spend it there than at home alone,” she said.
After a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon, we helped out around her apartment, starting with taking her winterclothes from the basement storage. It had become our thing on Thanksgiving Day to switch out her clothes for the winter. She also kept important keepsakes, including their wedding rings, important papers, and some emergency cash locked away down there. “If anyone breaks in, they’ll never find anything of value.”
“Have you been burgled before?” Axel had a concerned look on his face. “We should install a security system for you.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “Not sure the landlord will allow that.”
He rolled his eyes. “He hasn’t dealt with me.” I loved that he wanted to protect her.
“Luca, can you throw a load in the washer for me, dear. The long cycle with hot water for my uniforms, please. I’ll go get them after they’re done.”
I kissed her cheek. “Sure.”
“Let me do it,” Axel said, taking the basket from me. The laundry hamper was larger than the box she stored her summer and fall clothes in. “I want to check out the security.”
“Here’s the money and the detergent.” He took the soap but waved off the money. “I’ve got it.”
“There’s no reason to argue with him,” I told her. “We’ll be right back.”
We walked outside the building and down the steps that led to the basement. After unlocking the door, we were met by the smell of fresh laundry that overpowered the dampness. Four sets of washers and dryers sat on the far wall across from the designated storage area. Axel went to the washer while I switched out the containers of lighter things for winter wear. When I was finished, he was still standing by the washer, looking up at the ceiling. “What’s wrong?”
He pointed up. “The pipes are banging and whistling. Is that common?”
“These old buildings have boiler systems for heat and hot water. Crap builds up, making those noises. I’ll email the super about it.”
While I opened my email, Axel took out his phone and recorded the noises. “What are you doing?”
“I own property in this city. I need to know what to expect.”
The service was spotty, but I managed to get it to send. We each picked up a box and headed back upstairs. When we reached her door, Axel looked around. “Do you think the other tenants might need some help?”
Leaning in, I kissed his cheek. “Probably not today, since it’s a holiday. But we can come back and ask. Edith can put the word out.”
“I’d like to do that. Maybe some of the guys would like to help too.”
“I’m sure your PR team would like it.”
Axel shook his head. “Not for PR. Just to help.”
