Don’t you have a job?
Shit.Maybe now that she was with Alek, she wouldn’t work anymore.I’d have been happy to support her, but she never let me do as much as I’d wanted.If Alek wasn’t going to be in Toronto, maybe she was leaving too.If things worked out with them.Otherwise, long-distance dating wouldn’t be easy.
Even we mortals get vacation days.
That was the snarky side of Jess that had been missing for a while.And why I was willing to give Alek a chance.Despite everything, he was good for her.
There are some boxes in the basement to go through—I’ll take care of the ones with my name on them.
The three dots appeared as I waited for her response.Then,
What are we going to do with the place?
Maybe Alek will sign with Vancouver and he can stay here.
Wasn’t that progress?A part of me still didn’t want him around me or my twin, but I was working on that.This place was a little out of the way if Alek played in Vancouver, but Jess would visit him and this was better than a hotel.If there was a chance I’d have more than one game a season here, I’d keep the place just for my visits.I liked this house.Growing up, this was where the good memories were.Where I felt most like part of a normal family.
Jess’s three dots appeared and disappeared, but nothing came through.She either was writing something really long or was revising herself over and over, which meant she was worried about how I’d react.I didn’t think she was writing a novel, so…
Finally the text appeared.Just four words.
I’m going with Alek.
Where?On vacation somewhere?For dinner?But there were no more dots, and it hit me.
She wasn’t going to a restaurant with him.Wherever he played next year, she was going.Moving, quitting her job, probably living with him.
I clenched and unclenched my hands, twinges sparking from my injuries.I’d been afraid of this, and now it wasn’t a maybe, but definite.She’d made her decision and spent long moments typing four words to tell me.I had to respond.I couldn’t let her even consider staying in Toronto just for me.
If he hurts you, next time I won’t hit his helmet.
If he hurts me, I’ll hold him down for you.
Good for her.
It’s late, so I should go.Good night, Jess.
She responded and I let the phone drop.
I wanted her to be happy.To find someone to love, have her own family, follow her own dreams.But now that it was happening?It made it all too obvious how alone I was.
I pulled a beer out of the fridge and went out to the back porch to sit and drink.It was a little chilly this time of year, but not too bad.I sat, unopened beer beside me, listening to the sounds of the neighborhood.Some kids shouting, cars, a dog barking.
I was happy for Jess.Also, envious.But circumstances had pushed Mia and me apart, and I’d tried to fill that void with Sharleen.That had resulted in an epic disaster.I couldn’t rush and make a mistake like that again.
I needed to get over the past.Mia would be here tomorrow.Maybe we should go through those boxes in the basement.Rip off the scab.Because there would be more than hockey trophies there.And I’d put off talking to her for far too long.
Mia
Arne chatted about his new friend all the way home.I could remind him not to tell anyone who Justin was, but he was only six and he’d forget.Instead of trying to muzzle him, I’d be better off preparing for what would happen when the news got out.
After the chili disaster, I’d decided on hamburgers for dinner.I’d left the ground beef thawing in the fridge, confident that no one would take the effort to make something with it, and I was right.As the patties began to sizzle in the frying pan, family came down to eat.
I raised the spatula to protect the first couple of burgers I’d finished.“Get the condiments on the table.There’s a salad in the fridge.”
Dorian rolled his eyes but actually did what I’d asked.Bruce was waiting at the table, scrolling on his phone.Cora hovered over my shoulder like she was hoping to get first dibs if she was close.
I flipped the burgers onto a couple of buns and passed her the spatula.