Page 115 of Center Ice
“Audrey, you already shone plenty bright on your own. It’s why I was attracted to you in the first place, because the love and beauty just radiate out of you. But if I make you feel like you don’t have to hide that anymore, then that’s perfect.”
She brushes her lips against mine. “And I wasn’t tugging on my necklace because I was nervous, it’s because I was worried.”
“What are you worried about?” I ask, wanting to ease any fears she might have.
“What if we wait to have kids, and find out we can’t have any more?”
“Why in the world would you be worried about that?”
“I don’t know, it happens.”
“Audrey, we’re a team. And if for any reason we have issues getting pregnant again, we’ll deal with them—together—as they come.”
“Okay,” she says, and takes a deep breath. And then her hands move to my hips as she pulls me tight against her, “but maybe we should practice, just to make sure.”
A rumble of laughter shakes my chest. “I think that’s a phenomenal idea.” I run my hand up her neck and hold her chin in place. “We’ll probably need lots and lots of practice.”
Epilogue
AUDREY & DREW
AUDREY
Five Months Later
“We’re going to fully wrap up the project at your mom’s house by the end of this coming week,” I tell Drew as we trail behind Graham on the bike path along the Esplanade.
Between the cold weather and the months it took for Graham’s broken arm to fully heal—during which he couldn’t play hockey or do anything very physical—winter was rough. But now that the weather is nice, Drew has been bringing him here frequently, first to teach him how to ride his bike on his own, and now to practice.
I happened to come along the first time Drew let go of Graham’s bike and our son rode unassisted, and I managed to capture the whole moment on video. It feels like he’s changing so fast these days, and I’m happy to be able to savor some of those milestones and to see him spending quality time with his dad.
On this particular Saturday afternoon, Graham is zipping ahead of us, then turning and riding back to us, on repeat as we walk behind him.
“I honestly think my mom is going to miss having everyone around all the time,” Drew says.
We’d been so worried that she wouldn’t be able to deal with the noise and the constant flux of people in and out of her house during the remodel we were doing on the first floor of her house, but somehow, she’s not only adapted, but thrived. She adores Jules, who can do no wrong in her eyes. She’s loved having me over there frequently checking on things. And she hasn’t minded having the few other contractors in and out of her house.
“You know, that got me thinking,” I say as Graham calls out to us and shows us how he can ride around in small circles without falling. We clap and Drew tells him what a good job he’s doing. “Do you think she’d want to get involved in the local senior center? I’m sure she’s a bit younger than most of the folks there, but she loves being around people. Maybe she could volunteer there or something?”
Drew glances over at me with that never-ending affection radiating from his face. I got so freaking lucky with this man.
“I think it’s a great idea,” he says. “Maybe we can look into the opportunity.”
“I—” I bite my lip as he looks over at me. “I sort of already did.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulder and squeezes me to him as we walk, then plants a kiss on the top of my hair. “Of course you did. And?”
“And they’d be happy to have her come in a couple times a week and help out. If she’s interested.”
“You should ask her,” he says. Of all the wonderful things that have happened to me in the last seven months, gaining a bonus mom myself was the most unexpected. But Drew’s momhas been nothing short of wonderful—supportive and loving without being overbearing. She’s so much like I imagine my mom would have been if she’d lived to see me as a mother myself.
“I will,” I tell him, knowing that we’ll be seeing her in another hour or so. Our friends and family are all coming to our place to celebrate Drew—because not only did the Rebels offer him a new contract, it was a significant improvement over his old one. Obviously, trades or injuries are always possible in hockey, but it appears that he’s going to be playing for the Rebels for the next six years. And that deserves a celebration.
We take the footbridge from the Esplanade over Storrow Drive once we reach BU’s campus. We’ve been promising to show Graham the “BU Beach” since Drew first used the term a couple of months ago. We had to explain to our son that it’s not a beach at all, but rather a grassy area behind Boston University’s Marsh Plaza that borders the very busy Storrow Drive. But BU lore has it that if you sit on the grassy quad with the grassy knoll blocking the view of Storrow, the sound of the cars is reminiscent of waves.
The area is absolutely packed with college students when we arrive, because any time there’s a nice day, people flock there for the sunshine and open space.
“So you guys used to study here?” Graham asks, looking around at the students in their shorts and t-shirts, spread out on blankets, a variety of music playing from portable speakers throughout the area. There’s laughter and talking, a few students throwing around a frisbee, a group of people sitting together in a small circle playing harmonicas and singing. It’s chaotic and busy, and not the kind of environment you’d imagine studying in.
