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I sit next to her as Frank comes in last and plops down in his chair. The pleather groans at his weight.
“So, I hear we have a wedding coming up. Congratulations. I saw the proposal on the ice. That was quite the spectacle,” he says, giving me a nod of approval.
“Thank you. I’d been meaning to propose for a while—“ like the night I met her in the parking lot “—and what better time than Valentine's Day? We want to get married as soon as possible,” I say, reaching out for Juliet's hand and taking it into mine.
I smile at her, and she smiles back, though her smile is guarded and coated in professionalism. Not that Frank would know the difference in her smile but I’m getting better and better at reading my future wife.
“Well, let's get some more information. How long have you two been dating?” he asks, pulling a yellow legal notepad and pen in front of him.
“Our relationship has been a bit of a whirlwind. But when you know, you know,” I say.
“I suppose you’re right.” Frank chuckles. “And Juliet, is your family excited about the upcoming nuptials? How do they feel about you marrying into a legendary hockey family and to a soon to be two-time Stanley Cup winner?” He gleams, sending a wink my way.
If only he knew that what I do for a living is one of the reasons Juliet almost didn’t agree to this arrangement. And it’s the sole reason why her mother doesn’t approve of me.
I can see Juliet swallow hard, her hand unintentionally squeezing mine a little tighter. “They were surprised,” she says honestly. “But my brother is now Ryker’s biggest fan.”
Frank looks down at his legal pad as he jots down a note.
I glance over at her and give her a reassuring squeeze of my hand. I know very well that her mom isn’t happy about this but she’s doing well to hide that fact.
“And Ryker, how about your family? How do they feel about your wedding plans?”
“They're ecstatic. We're headed to go celebrate our engagement next week in Canada. My mom can’t wait to meet the woman who finally got me to pop the question,” I tell him.
“Very good,” Frank says back with a nod, again writing our answers to his questions. “As you know, we have to conduct these interviews to ensure that your relationship is on the up and up. And that you're not just getting married for a green card to stay in the country,” he says, looking at Juliet and then me.
“No sir, we’re very much in love.”
I pull her hand up to my lips and kiss the top of her hand in a show of affection.
“And where will you two be residing?” he asks.
“In my penthouse downtown. Juliet is moving in just after the wedding. Her family is old-fashioned, so we’ve been waiting until after the wedding to live together,” I say.
“Sure, I see. We don’t want to piss off the in-laws early on. Smart,” he tells me, jotting down another note. “And when do you two plan on tying the knot?” Frank asks, still staring down at his legal pad as he writes.
I don't want to seem too eager by standing up to look over the desk, though I wish I knew what he was writing down.
“As soon as possible. I want her last name to match the one on the jersey she wears to my games,” I say.
“Your contract with the Hawkeyes is up in four years. You’ve mentioned possible retirement after this last contract if you win a Stanley Cup. If you retire, where will you two reside then?” he asks.
“We’ll stay in the United States until after retirement. Then we’ll move back to Canada to start a family.”
Juliet snaps her head toward me, her eyebrows raised as if taken aback by my answer. I want to remind her that this is all fictional and that we’ll be divorced before I retire but now isn’t the time. Juliet’s reaction to moving to Canada to start a life with me is Amelia all over again, and every other woman who hasn’t wanted to make it work living a split life in both countries.
Juliet and I never had the conversation about my plans for retirement—that I intend to move back to Vancouver and coach my dad’s team, the Vancouver Vikings. At least until I fulfill my father’s legacy and bring them a championship at the hands of a Haynes coach. Something he never quite accomplished while he was alive, though they made it to the playoffs many times before.
This is the way I’ll honor my father and everything he’s given me.
The love for hockey.
“I see,” Frank says. “That sounds like a great plan.”
He jots down a few more notes and then he drops his pen down on the pad and pushes it out in front of him.
He leans back into his pleather chair. It tips back for him and again groans at his weight.
