“She’s brilliant, Bryce. She’s kind and smart and so fucking beautiful it makes my chest hurt every time I look at her.” I laugh. “She disnae let me get away with anything. She calls me on my bullshit every time.”
“I adore her already.” Bryce laughs, watching me. “Finlay described her in much the same way.”
“She’s so warm and loving,” I add as my face falls. “Except now she’s just quiet. I dunno how tae fix the sadness in her, Bryce. It’s fucking gutting me.”
“Alex, ye can’t fix it. All ye can dae is be there while she finds her way back.” Bryce squeezes my hand as we pull into the driveway. Stepping out of the car, I see Claire in the window watching us. In the past, if she saw me pull up, she would meet me at the door with a kiss.
She opens the door, but steps back away, sending a sharp pain through me. I want my Claire back. It might be selfish, but I need that fierce girl back who was ready to take on the world with me by her side.
After introducing the two women, I carry Bryce’s case into the guest bedroom before swinging by our bathroom. On closer inspection, I notice that Claire’s towel is wet, her hairdryer is on the counter by the sink where she leaves it to cool off.
“Claire,” I call, stalking back into the living room. “Ye took a shower while I was gan?” I growl at her. Her eyes grow big as she watches me. “The doctor said tae be careful for the next couple of days. Ye could have passed oot. Why did ye naw wait for me tae get back tae help ye?”
“Oh for Christ’s sake, Alex,” Bryce says, rolling her eyes at me. “Dinnae ye have some ball ye can go kick or a weight ye can lift? We can dae withoot yer blethering for a while.” I bow up at Bryce ready for a fight, but when my eyes cut to Claire I see the corners of her mouth tweak up slightly. If my sister reprimanding me is what it takes to make her smile, I’ll take all I can get.
“Fine,” I say in mock indignation. Grabbing up my keys, I stalk to the door. “I’ll be at the club if ye need me. I’ll expect dinner at nineteen hundred, Bryce. Dainnae think ye’re flopping here for free.” My sister calls me a very nasty word in Gaelic before pushing me out the door.
I stand very still, listening when the door shuts. I can hear a small laugh from Claire making my shoulders relax for the first time since I ran out of publicity day.
After several hours of kicking the ball at one of the young goalies so hard that our trainer finally came outside to make me stop before one of us got hurt, I return home. Opening the door quietly, in case Claire is sleeping, I hear her laugh coming from the kitchen.
Rounding the corner, I find her sitting on one of the stools watching Bryce make dinner. She’s regaling Claire with stories about me growing up. I lean against the doorframe, taking it in for several minutes before they notice me.
“How was playing with yer wee balls, brother?” Bryce asks. I roll my eyes at her before placing a kiss on Claire’s forehead.
“Really? I thought having so many wee ones would tame that wicked tongue in ye.” Walking around the end of the counter, I look in the cookie jar, finding it full to the brim. Grabbing two, I run around the counter when Bryce tries to take them from me. She gives up when I shove them both into my mouth at the same time, trying to stick my tongue out at her around the impressive mouthful of cookie.
“It’s like ye never grew oot of yer nappies! Honestly, Claire, whit dae ye see in him?” She shakes her head, returning to the range. I hear the best sound in the world assault my ears. Claire laughs then looks at me.
“I think it has something to do with those aforementioned balls.” Bryce throws her head back in laughter as Claire smiles softly at me. I can’t hold back my grin at her. Maybe we’ll make it through this after all.
We put Bryce back on the train several days later. They’ve stayed up late talking every night until I’m already asleep. Every morning I slip out of bed so I don’t wake Claire before heading to practice.
Many of my teammate’s wives have dropped food off and several of Claire’s coworkers have dropped by to see her. We haven’t really had to interact with each other much, letting Bryce do most of it for us, but now we have to get back to living our life again.
I take Claire for her follow-up visit with the doctor the next day before taking her to lunch. “So, ye’re returning tae work tomorrow?” I ask, trying to find something to talk about. He’s cleared her for normal activities, to our relief.
“Maybe. I need to get out of the house. It will be too quiet with your sister gone.” I nod my head, searching my brain for something else to discuss. “Alex, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.” My breath catches when she looks at me, the sadness having returned to her eyes.
“Okay, aye.”
“You know Izzy had her baby last week?” she asked quietly, looking over my shoulder.
“Aye, Matt texted me.” I set my fork down, bracing for what she is leading to.
“I thought I might fly home next week. I’d like to stay for a while, see the baby, maybe visit Aiden while I’m there. I plan on talking to my boss tomorrow about taking some extended personal time.” She still hasn’t met my eyes. The thing that terrifies me about this is the fact she referred to the States as home.
“When will ye be back?” I ask, receiving no response. “Ye are coming back, aye?” Her eyes finally cut to mine as tears brim in them.
“I want to,” she whispers. I nod my head. She knows I can’t leave with my season about to start, but I don’t think I’m invited anyway. “I was going to tell you when I knew for sure.” I have to look at her closely to even hear what she’s saying. I reach out, wiping the single tear that’s managed to escape off her cheek.
“Do you still believe that together we can survive anything?” she ask. I don’t even have to think about my answer.
“I do, Claire. I love ye. We’ll be okay, we can get past this.” I sound desperate, even to my own ears. She nods at me before looking away again.
Several days later, I take her to the airport. I help her check her case in, going through the motions in a daze. She wraps her arms around me in a hug before placing a gentle kiss on the corner of my mouth. I watch her disappear past security, standing there until I begin getting odd looks from guards.
She sends me a text the next morning to let me know she made it okay.
