“Yes, Greta is our live-in au pair.She’s the second one we’ve had this year, and so far, she’s working out great.She helps me with the girls and basic chores when Nils is gone or when I need a break to run errands or whatever,” she explains.I stare dreamily at her, wondering what it would be like to have a break.“But it’s also weird to have someone else living in your space.You know what I mean?”
Not really.
Pulling two coffee mugs down from a cabinet shelf, I say, “I don’t know what you want to drink, but I have a Keurig.You could have some very strong coffee—with or without the booze.You choose.”I wink, and it draws out an elegant laugh from her mouth.
As I prepare the drinks, I notice Helena scanning the room, taking in my home.It feels like she’s searching for something, some kind of inside scoop about our lives.
“Helena, I want to thank you again for helping me with Lenni today.You obviously have enough on your plate, and I feel awful you had to get involved.But Dane was adamant I stay home and rest.”
She swings her gaze back to me, her blond ponytail flipping over her shoulder, and she taps her fingers on her chin.
“Speaking of involved—and please forgive me, but no one has ever considered me tactful—are you and Dane together?”
The spoon in my hand slips from my fingers and clatters to the floor, bouncing off the wood floor and splattering creamer on my leggings.
“Buckets,” I curse, avoiding a real swear word in case the girls are listening.I kneel down to pick up the spoon and dab away the droplets that paint my leg like abstract art.I take the time to consider the best way to answer that.
I mean, Dane and I are nottogethertogether.We have a shared past and a shared child now, soinvolvedis one way to explain our relationship.No one else knows about that second aspect of our connection, and I don’t know enough about Helena to divulge that secret.
When I stand back up, I paste on what I hope is an honest smile.
“I like a woman who gets to the point and doesn’t beat around the bush,” I acknowledge as Helena moves toward me and stops at the other end of the island.I hand her the hot mug of coffee and a clean spoon to use.
She accepts the mug and immediately places it down on the counter before leaning forward in a conspiratorial fashion.
I shake my head, uncertain how to respond.“Dane and I have history, but we’re not together now.We’re just friends.”
She cocks her head to the side and pins me with a skeptical look.
“Just friends...hmm.”She cups her delicate chin in her palm, planting her elbow on the countertop.“That’s interesting because I’ve known Dane for a while now, and I’ve never known him to be ‘just friends’ with a woman.And I’ve never witnessed this side of him.”
I can’t help myself.“What side is that?”
She chuckles.“The side where he goes out of his way to help a woman and her child.Unless, that is, there’s some benefit in it for him.Wink.Wink.”
I stir some creamer in my cup and worry my lip.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” I say, using an innocent tone.“But I promise, there are no benefits being had.”
“Hmm… not yet anyhow.”She waggles her perfectly shaped brows.“But it’s clear you’re someone very special to him.”
With each additional question she asks, Helena uncovers more of the story, getting closer and closer to the truth.I need to find a way to steer this ship in another direction and quick.
“So how did you and Nils meet?”
Helena takes a sip of her coffee, her bright eyes and eyebrows softening in understanding.“Okay, I get it… change of subject matter.Point taken.I’ll butt out.”She sets her coffee back on the counter and lifts both hands in the air.“I won’t pry anymore.At least, not until you want to share.Then watch out.”
She grins broadly, extending her hand to pat the top of mine.We both glance over to the girls, who are now dancing along to a Taylor Swift song.
“I’m sorry, I know I come on so strong,” Helena says.“I’ve just moved so much with Nils that I don’t waste time anymore with the subtleties when developing friendships.”
I laugh.“You’re fine.And you didn’t waste any time in coming to our aid today.I want you to know I will return the favor anytime you need it.That’s what friends are for.”
Helena squeezes my mind.
Her crystal blue eyes sparkle.“Establishing meaningful local female friendships as hockey wives can be difficult.If we do find friends, we’re forced to leave them behind the minute our partners get traded.”
Her sentiments convey exactly my concern over letting Dane get close to Lenni.My worst fear is that she learns that Dane is her dad, she gets attached to him, and he gets traded, leaves her behind, and becomes an absent father.
