Leo

After our special teams meeting, I went back to my office. When I checked my phone, there was one unusual message. Tristan Wagner had texted me.

Hey Leo. I got the A this season! Thx for all your help.

I chuckled. I hadn’t even done that much for the kid, but we’d definitely worked on his confidence. I hesitated for a minute, and then decided to call him.

“Coach Leo?”

“Hey, buddy. How’s it going?”

“Great. I’m on a new team this year. We’re in East Van, and I can walk to the arena from our house.”

“So, you’re an alternate captain?”

“Yeah. This season, I’m one of the best players on the team. I think it’s all the work we did in the summer.”

Maybe. But hockey at his age was like that because it spanned two years. So each year, you were either the best or the worst. Built-in humility. It was all good for Tristan though, since he was in a new place. Boys were predictable: if you were a good player, guys would want to be your friend. Hell, it still happened in the professional ranks.

Regardless, I’d take credit for it. “Well, you worked hard. I’ll have to come by and see one of your games sometime.”

“Wow, really? I told some guys I knew you, but I never thought you’d—”

He didn’t finish that sentence. That was an emotion I knew well, Charlotte’s disappointment when someone she’d grown to like wasn’t around anymore. The first time it happened, she had cried, but now she never said a word. I hoped that by the time I saw her in person, Charlotte would have forgotten how much she liked Jackie.

But I doubted that. The difference was that my other girlfriends had been nice to Charlotte to score points with me. Jackie had appreciated Charlotte for herself, and that was something my daughter understood perfectly.

“Just because your mom and me aren’t seeing each other anymore doesn’t mean you can’t call and ask for advice anytime,” I offered.

“Sweet. Thanks a lot.”

“No problem. Send me your schedule, and I’ll see if I can drop by sometime.”

Two weeks later, I was driving to a rink in East Vancouver on a Sunday. We’d played on Friday and Saturday nights, and while I should have been going over game video, I needed a little break. Keeping my promise to watch an Atom house team was important.

And truthfully, it was a chance to see Jackie again. While she had been in my life almost constantly for months, now I never ran into her. Vancouver was a big place, and she had moved into a new neighbourhood and a new life. I missed her a lot. How would she react to seeing me? The image of Jackie’s agonized face when she left was seared into my memory. I had hurt a fragile human being, and I felt like shit about the way things had played out. Maybe she hated me now. It would be painful to see her affection turned to disgust. But on the other hand, what if she smiled at me?

Britannia was an old arena. I liked these rinks; they brought back memories of my own childhood and the early mornings with my dad. I stood by the glass. It didn’t take long to pick out Tris. He had a distinctive upright style of skating. He’d probably get more power if he bent his knees more, but I hadn’t had enough time to work with him on the ice. Coaching him was so different, more fun and personal. But it had also felt important, like I was passing on my hockey knowledge through generations.

Tris looked good. He looked confident, which was key. After a whistle, he skated near me, and I raised my hand. He grinned and ducked his head in greeting.

After making myself known, I finally checked out the stands. Jackie was there, of course. She was sitting by herself, dressed in a down jacket and jeans. Her hair looked messy and sexy. I felt the immediate attraction—like the chilly arena had heated up. Our eyes met, and she smiled in her friendly, natural way.

Okay, at least I wasn’t on the most hated list. I crossed over to the stands and took the steps two at a time until I reached her. So far, everything was going as I’d hoped.

“Hey, Leo. The Vice must be in big trouble if you’re scouting Atom games.”

I wavered for a moment. My natural instinct was to at least greet her with a cheek kiss, but there was something in her posture that didn’t invite that. I sat down beside her. I could feel the warmth of her thigh next to mine.

“The Vice are doing okay.”

“So, why are you here?”

“I told Tristan I was going to drop by sometime.”

She turned towards the ice. “I wasn’t aware that you two were keeping in touch.”

“Not a big deal. He texted me to tell me he got the ‘A.’ And to thank me for my help. You raised a polite kid.”

“Thank you.” She watched Tris dart into the offensive zone and head to the net. He went behind to fight for the puck, won it, and then managed to jam in a wrap-around. Jackie jumped up and clapped her gloved hands together.

“Woooooo! Way to go, Tristan! Yay, C-3!”

I stood too and grinned at her adorable enthusiasm. “Nice goal. The kid’s looking good.”

She nodded with her eyes glued to the ice as Tris was hugged by his teammates. “I’ll be happy when they decide on a team name though. Cheering for C-3 is not very satisfying.”

We sat back down. I moved a little closer to her. “So, are you enjoying your new neighbourhood?” There was no question that this area wasn’t as ritzy as her old place. But Jackie never seemed like the kind of person who cared about that.

“Yeah. It’s relief not to have to maintain a lifestyle I never wanted in first place. I’m close to Sharon’s. Everything’s great. Hannah and Tristan both like their school and have new friends. And I’ve got some flexibility around money now.”

“Are you working?”

“Yes, I have multiple part-time jobs. I want to be around for the kids, after school and all that stuff.”

She shrugged dismissively, so I dropped the subject of work. It felt natural and right to be together here in my element, the arena. Maybe it was time to suggest we get together again. “You should bring Tristan to a Vice game.”

“Oh, sure.” Great. Plans for the future were a first step. I’d come here without a game plan, but things were progressing. It might take time, but Jackie had a forgiving soul.

“If you’d like tickets, I could—”

We were interrupted by a man sitting down on the other side of Jackie. “Sorry I’m so late. Got caught up with a client.”

He was tall and thin with reddish hair and glasses. Merde, who was this? I extended a hand. “Hi. I’m Leo Gauthier.”

“I’m Sid Bramley.” Jackie leaned back as we shook hands across her.

“Have you got a kid on this team too, Leo?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No, I’m a friend of Jackie’s. Tristan’s too.”

“Oh, really.” Something shifted in his manner, and he squinted at me. “Do you come to his games often?”

“Leo is a hockey coach,” Jackie explained. “He worked with Tristan over the summer.”

Sid nodded. “I see. You coach kids then?”

“No. I coach the Vancouver Vice.”

He snorted. “Oh, that team. They’re a bit of joke.” Then he deliberately placed his arm behind Jackie, resting his hand on her hip. A dog marking his territory. He leaned around her to look at me. “No offence.”

“None taken,” I assured the big asshole. So this was Jackie’s new boyfriend. It certainly didn’t take her long to find someone new. Not that it was a surprise. She was a very attractive woman, but more importantly she was kind and generous. What guy wouldn’t want to go out with someone like her? “So, what do you do, Sid?”

“I work for Ernst and Young. As an auditor.”

Well, if she wanted someone with a boring job so he could focus on her, then she was in the right place. But she could do a lot better. I glanced at Jackie, and her eyes were glued to the ice.

I stared out at the game too, but it was blurring before me. There was this hollowness inside me. But more than pain, I felt anger. Would I have found any man good enough for Jackie? Maybe not, but I was pretty good at first impressions, and this guy seemed immature and boring. It was my own fault, I’d taken too long to reach out to Jackie.

I debated taking off, but the clock was ticking down and I could congratulate Tris afterwards. He’d like that, even if the evening wasn’t ending up as I’d hoped.

Sid was talking to Jackie about their plans for the evening. “So, there’s been a change of plans. How about if Tristan walks home from the game? Then we can still meet my friends for a drink before dinner.”

Jackie shook her head. “I don’t want to do that. He’s got all his equipment and besides, he’ll want to talk about the game.”

“He’s a boy. You shouldn’t baby him. It’s only a few blocks.”

“He’s too young,” she said firmly. I had a feeling that Sid the Auditor had no kids.

“I could take him home,” I offered. “It’ll only take me a few minutes, and I’ve got some advice for him on his shot.”

Jackie turned to me, and her eyes widened. “No. No way. I mean, thank you, Leo, but it’s okay. I enjoy taking Tristan home.”

Sid jumped all over my offer. I knew he would, he was one of those bulldozers who are completely oblivious to anyone else’s feelings. “It’s the perfect solution, Jackie. The kid gets to go home with his old coach, even get a few tips. And we can leave right now.”

“But I’m not dressed up for going out. And what about Hannah? She’s going to be babysitting tonight, and she doesn’t even know that Leo is—”

He interrupted. “Text her and tell her what’s going on. And don’t worry about your clothes. You look perfect. You always look beautiful. Am I right, Leo?”

I nodded. “For sure. She wakes up like that.”

Jackie glared at me, but he was completely oblivious. Now that I was helping him get his way, I was his good buddy. Still, she seemed to be wavering. What happened to her new self-confidence? Jackie was getting pushed around way too easily, and I worried about what else he might be talking her into. Even as I missed her, I had never imagined her with someone else. But it was easy as a cupcake to imagine this idiot pressuring her sexually. Merde.

It was stupid of me to come to the game. I pretended that I was coming to see Tristan, but it was really about Jackie. I missed her like hell. But I should have come here with a real plan, not a bunch of hopes. I would never have walked into a game so unprepared.

The buzzer sounded, and Sid stood up. “Okay, why don’t we all go down and tell Tristan what’s happening. Then we can take off.”

We followed his leather-jacketed back down the stairs. My eyes met Jackie’s, and again I wondered what she really wanted.

Tristan was happy to see me. He didn’t mind the switch of chauffeurs at all. Jackie hugged him and congratulated him on his goal. She watched him tromp off into the dressing room.

“Should I help him?” I wondered.

“I don’t think so. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom, but he told me that he can do his own equipment this season.” She sounded sad about this.

“Come on, Jackie. Let’s go,” Sid interrupted. She looked up at me. It felt like there was a question in her eyes, but we weren’t in sync anymore. If we were, she would have given this jerk the boot and gone home with me and Tristan. Because that’s what the old Jackie would have done. She put her kids first. But maybe it was me she didn’t want to be alone with.

“Okay. Thanks again, Leo.” And then they were gone.

Tristan changed quickly and brought out two of his teammates to meet me. “This is Leo. He’s the pro coach I was telling you about.”

“Who do you coach?”

“The Vancouver Vice.”

“Oh. They kinda suck,” said the shorter one.

I laughed. “We used to suck. But we made a bunch of changes during the summer, so we’re not going to suck as badly this season. You guys should check us out.”

They nodded politely. An entire Atom team would fill up some of the gaps in our arena seating nicely, but I wasn’t going to do that without Jackie’s okay. Unlike the idiot she was dating.

Tristan directed me to a narrow house that was only a five-minute drive away. How hard would it have been for Sid to let Jackie drive her son home, get him settled, get changed, and then feel free to relax all night?

“You want to come in and see my new room?” His voice was hopeful, so I agreed. All I had waiting for me at home was more work and leftovers.

The new place was a lot smaller than her other house, but it had that same comfortable sense of home. I wasn’t even sure how she did it. Was it the cushions everywhere, the plants, or the artwork?

Hannah stepped out of the kitchen, and she was shocked to see me. “What’s he doing here? Where’s Mom?”

Tristan scowled. “Mom’s gone out with the Jerk-head. Leo brought me home, and I invited him in. I want to show him my room.”

“Hi,” I said to her, but I only got a nod in return. Obviously, everyone wasn’t happy to see me. I followed Tristan into his room and admired the hockey mural that Jackie had painted on his walls. While he was showering, I went to the kitchen where Hannah was on her laptop.

“You’re mad at me?” I asked.

She glared over the laptop. “You made Mom unhappy.”

For a moment, I considering replying that breaking up was all her decision, but that wasn’t the whole truth. If I had been able to be the person Jackie needed, we would still be together.

“I’m sorry.”

She eyed me again. “But now that I see you, you don’t look too hot either.”

Okay, maybe my lack of sleep and overwork was starting to catch up with me. I sat down across from her.

“Do you still have Mao?” she asked.

I nodded. “Charlotte would kill me if I returned him. She makes me send her new photos every week.” I hadn’t officially adopted him, but it wasn’t like the shelter was asking for him back. Besides, having someone happy to see me when I got home wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

“Cats hate change. Minx has had trouble adjusting to the move. I worry that she might try to get back to our old house, so I keep an eye on her.” Minx’s fat sides were overflowing a small cardboard box in the corner. Escaping looked like the last thing on her mind.

“How about you? How are you adjusting to the move?”

“Well, my best friend already lived here, so that made things easier. I kind of like it. It’s like I can be a new me here.”

“That’s great.” It was something I had worried about. If Sophie and I had stayed together, how would it be for Charlotte to move all the time? But maybe a fresh start would have been fun for her.

“It’s been a good move for everyone,” she said. That sounded like a direct quote from Jackie.

“Is that dinner?” I asked, pointing to a box of Kraft Dinner on the counter.

“Yes,” Hannah replied. “We like it.”

“I was wondering, would you like to have pizza instead?”

“Pizza!” Tristan burst into the kitchen, his hair still wet. “Of course we want pizza instead. There are so many good pizza places around here. It’s called Little Italy, you know.”

I grinned. “I didn’t know, but that’s pretty handy. What do you think, Hannah?”

Her forehead was creased. “I’m supposed to be the one babysitting tonight. Not to be rude, but you’re not going to stay until Mom gets home, are you? If what’s-his-face is still with her, that’s going to be very awkward.”

“I’ll only stay until after dinner,” I promised her. “Besides, I was going to go home and order pizza anyway. Now, I’m getting something authentic.”

Hannah still hesitated. She was a strict rule-follower.

“I could take the box and leftovers with me. Your mom won’t even know that pizza was consumed here.”

“Pleeeease Hannah-banana,” said Tris.

“Okay. But if Mom asks, we had Kraft Dinner. It was tough enough to get her to go out without leaving meals for both of us.” That made more sense to me. It wasn’t the pizza she was against as much as giving up the responsibility. Hannah liked being in charge. She’d make a great CEO someday.

Tristan began to rustle through drawers searching for pizza menus. I stood up and looked at the notes and drawings tacked to the fridge. Between the pencil crayon masterpieces was a postcard of a painted landscape.

Jacqueline Wagner. Inside and Outside.

“What’s this?” I asked. I took the magnet off and turned the card over to read dates and the location.

“That’s Mom’s art show,” Tris explained. “It’s coming up soon, and she’s freaking out.”

“An art show. That’s pretty impressive.”

“I found the menus. What do you like best, Leo—thin crust or thick?” Tris asked, looking up with a big smile. His dark eyes were exactly like his mother’s.

“What’s your favourite, bud?”

I could feel warmth spreading inside me. It was like one of Charlotte’s books, where a little girl breaks the evil spell and everyone in the castle comes back to life. In the book, the illustrations changed from black and white to full colour. Or so she told me. For me, they turned to blues, browns, and yellows. But being back here, in the midst of Jackie’s comfortable home with her great kids was making me happy. The only thing missing was Jackie herself.