What I wouldn’t give to fix up this house and see it brought back to life. This house deserved a family living within its walls. I’d spend my entire savings to bring this house back from the ruins and make it my own. It may be the closest thing to feeling like I’d done right by Ms. Cathy, the foster mom that introduced me to the game I loved.
“I’ll be back,” I said to the house as I turned around to return to my truck. A breeze whipped up around me and I took that as a positive sign that the house wanted me there.
The remaining drive to Brett’s continued without incident. I was too geared up to pay much more attention than to keep the truck on the pavement. I recalled a few farm signs on my journey. One read Sunny Brook Farms and was the closest to the house I was interested in. I wondered if the owner knew anything about the home.
Both Brett and Lily Chisolm were waiting on a porch swing when I pulled into their driveway.
I exited the truck with the pie in one hand and the flowers in the other, my mind immediately floating back to the woman that had selected the bouquet.
“Colton, glad you made it,” Brett said as he came close and retrieved the pie from my grip. “We were afraid you got lost.”
We exchanged a one arm hug just as Lily joined us.
“I made a detour along the way. These are for you,” I stated, as I held the flowers out for Brett’s wife. She gleefully accepted and raved about the arrangement.
That woman from earlier definitely knew what she was doing.
I followed both of them into their ranch style home. Their two kids left the nest and were off with their own families. So I wasn’t going to be bothered non-stop while I stayed in their home.
The house smelled amazing, a mix of freshly cut grass and Italian food.
“Brett can show you to your room. We’re having lasagna for dinner. Obviously, you don’t have to join us, but we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to all these years. It’s not often one of our favorite players comes to visit,” Lily said as she moved further into the house, to where I expected was the kitchen, leaving me and Brett in the hall.
Sometimes it was strange to call my old coach and mentor by his first name, but he insisted. He was pushing his mid-sixties but didn’t look a day over forty. He and his wife had the market on an incredible gene pool. Lily looked no older than the first time I met her.
“You’re in here.” Brett opened the door and ushered me inside. “We weren’t sure how long you were staying, but you know our house is yours.”
“I don’t want to be in the way. I just need to figure out a few things and lie low.” With the settlement fresh off the printing press, the false claims made against me were still hot news. And the official mention of my retirement only added fuel to the fire. There were also a few personal things I needed to discuss with Brett, but I wasn’t ready to delve into any of it yet. I wanted to pretend I had no worries for at least a few days.
“You do what you have to. Lily is thrilled to have someone to cook for. I’m usually holed up in my office or on the road. She always thought of you like another son.”
That’s what I loved most about making this trip. Both Brett and Lily treated me like they did their natural-born children. I was just another addition to their brood. We talked every week like a real family or at least the kind I imagined growing up.
“The feeling is mutual.” Eyeing the room, I wondered if there would be enough space for some workout equipment. But it was too small. At most, I could add some dumbbells. The town was sure to have a gym, though.
“You actually gave me an excuse to install a gym in one of the kid’s bedrooms. Lily finally caved when I told her you would probably want to continue your workouts.”
“That was really nice of both of you. But I’m not sure I need to keep up with my old routine.”
“Sure, you do. Just because you have considered no longer playing doesn’t mean that’s the final straw for you. Once a hockey player, always a hockey player. It’s in our blood.”
The coach stood just inside the room, leaning against the threshold. His impressive arms bulged against the thin material of his shirt. I sent a silent prayer out into the universe that I have his physique when I reach his age.
I homed in on his eyes. They were staring at me with worry and intrigue. Like he wasn’t quite sure what to make of me and the situation.
“You have something up your sleeve.”
Standing to his full height, just a few inches shy of my six-foot-six, Brett released his arms and rubbed his hand nervously along the back of his neck.
“Maybe.”
Chuckling, I tossed my phone onto the bed, then settled next to it to listen to his proposition.
“Get on with it, old man.”
“Old man? I could still kick your ass if I had to.”
“No doubt.”
“Fine. You know we have a recreational hockey team. All different ages from little ones just learning to skate up to old men, like me. And if you’re interested, I’d love to have you join us. Even if it’s not to play, I’m sure all the players could use some words of wisdom.”
I didn’t want to make any promises, especially if I didn’t stay long in Ashfield. The house I saw earlier was the only thing that sparked my interest in the small town. But I wanted back in the game, somehow. My agent emailed this morning stating that I impressed a few news agencies with my guest spots and they were considering bringing me on full time. They also wanted to try me as a host of a baking and cooking show. I just wanted to do something to keep myself busy. I didn’t do well with idle time and this town had it in spades.
I thought back to the woman from the store. She was also an intriguing option to spend my time with here. That is, if I could find her.
“I’ll think about it. My agent sent me some things to consider. I need to return to New York in a couple of weeks for some test spots, but I’ll be back. I just don’t want to make any promises, you know?”
“I know, kid. I always admired that about you. Can’t break a promise if you never made it in the first place. Anyway, I’ll help you with your bags and let you relax for a bit. Later I can take you to the high school if you’re up for watching some unruly teens practice.”
“Sure thing, Coach,” I replied as I stood from the bed and followed him back out of the house toward my truck.
It didn’t take us long to bring the few bags inside. I never needed much. Something I learned as a foster kid. Another point of contention between myself and Nina. She wanted the world to know how much she had and could afford.
I unpacked what I could into the dresser the Chisolm’s provided, then scrolled on my phone for a bit before deciding to reply to my agent. I let him know I had found a place to lie low and to send over any potential contracts that came his way. In the meantime, I would read over the scripts he provided in his email this morning.
But that wasn’t going to be today.
Ducking out of my room, I noticed the bedroom across the hall had been converted into a gym with all the equipment I’d need to stay in shape. I bet if I asked Brett, they’d let me use the rink at the high school when I needed to be on the ice. Which was something that was a necessity almost daily.
