“Can I talk to you in the hall for a second?” Harper asks.
“Sure. Be right back, kiddo,” I say and tug on his too big Seattle Shooters ball cap. I step into the hall with Harper and Rita.
“Isn’t this wonderful?” Rita says. “I was thrilled when they matched. I couldn’t wait to see the look on Gavin’s face.”
“It is wonderful,” Harper says. “Do you mind if I talk to Liam for a quick second?”
“Of course, dear. Meet me in that room when you’re done.”
She disappears and Harper leans against the wall, like her legs can no longer hold her up. Damned if I don’t want to put my arm around her and give her the support she needs.
She shakes her head, a humorless smile on her face. “Well, this is quite the surprise.”
“Harper, if you don’t want—”
“Do you think I could say no to him?” She shakes her head. “I just…if you’re going to do this, I need you to be there for him.” She adjusts her big purse, and glances at the floor, like she’s trying to choose her words carefully. “This is hard to explain.”
“He’s had loss. I get it.” She’s had loss too, it’s written all over her, but I’m not about to bring that up.
“I don’t want him to be waiting for you, to be counting on you, relying…and…” She takes a breath and lets it out slowly. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”
“I’m going to do the best I can, Harper. I’ve never been a big brother before. I can’t promise I won’t make mistakes. But once I give someone my word, I stick to it.”
“The fighting, the drinking. I can’t have another drinker in his life. I just…can’t.”
As the vision of her life, her loss, becomes clearer, I nod. She’s right about me. I do drink too much. Partly because it helps me cope with my role of the Rule Breaker, and partly because it helps me be someone else—someone everyone likes.
“What about a hockey player who wants to help a kid out, and hopefully make a positive impact?” Christ, I sound like the poster boy already.
She gives me a small smile. “I’d like that very much.”
She pushes off the wall and is about to leave, when I say, “I think this is going to be good for me too.”
“That would be nice, Liam,” she says her voice soft, her blue eyes the color of the sky the morning after a storm blew through.
She leaves and I keep my gaze on her, admire the summery dress she’s wearing, which is once again full of animal hair. It makes me smile for some reason. At least she doesn’t seem as rushed today as she was yesterday. Once she’s inside with Rita, I open the door, and find Gavin back on the floor.
“Hey buddy, how are you?”
He jumps up. “Can we play outside?”
“I think we have to stay in here for a bit, but maybe we can later, if it’s okay with your mom.”
“She’s okay with it,” he informs me, and I laugh, giving a wink to the mirror, knowing Rita and Harper are on the other side, watching me. “How about we play with some of these cool cars while we wait for your Mom.” I drop down onto my side, and grab a toy car, running it over the mat. It’s funny because I had the same mat when I was Gavin’s age. I wonder what other toys Mom still has up in the attic. I make a note to ask her.
“What’s your favorite car?” I ask, as he drops down across from me, mimicking my position exactly, right down to the way I have my head braced on my hand. As I watch him reach for his favorite car—a very sporty corvette—it really occurs to me how much influence I’ll have over this boy. Like I said before, I’ve never had to take on too much responsibility, but for the first time in my life, I’m looking forward to it.
“When I was in Miss Tammy’s, we had show and tell.”
“Did you now?” I ask, noting his change in subject, and having no idea who Miss Tammy is. “What did you bring?”
“I brought Charlie. I think he’s Mommy’s favorite, but she’s not supposed to have favorites.”
My brow furrows and I glance at the mirror again, having no idea who Charlie is and why he’s Harpers favorite. Is it possible that she has ‘uncles’ coming and going all the time? Growing up, my buddy Beck had lots of uncles, most of them were nothing but abusive assholes. Jesus, I hope Gavin doesn’t have someone like that in his life. A surge of protectiveness goes through me, hitting like a damn defenseman on steroids.
“Do you like Charlie?”
He nods, and holds his arm out. “He scratched me once though. It hurt.” My entire body stiffens, and his eyes light up, clearly moving on to another subject. “Do you think me and Holden can play hockey with you guys?”
I laugh. “Not sure, bud, but I’ll see what I can do, okay?” The door opens up and Harper comes in.
“How about we go for ice cream?” she says.
“Mommy, I’m going to play hockey with Liam.”
She smiles at her son. “I think you might have to learn to skate first.”
Gavin jumps up, and I push to my feet. “Mommy, can I get skates?”
“I’m not sure.” She avoids my glance, and I get the sense that skates just might not be in their budget. “We’ll see, okay?”
“You know what, Gavin? My mother kept all my skates, and I bet I can find a pair that fit you.”
His eyes nearly bug out of his head. “Really?”
“Really,” I say, and he starts jumping up and down. “If it’s okay with your mom.”
Harper gives me a soft smile full of gratitude and my chest tightens in response. I don’t know
