Page 136 of Taking Sides

“You’re still here,” Grady says when he spots me sitting in the locker room.

“Yeah. I’m too tired to move.” I haven’t been sleeping well anyway, but it was worse in a hotel room. And Conrad is out of town for a game until late tonight so there isn’t much motivation to hurry. “I have some ideas for next week’s practices.”

“Already thinking about next week?” His mouth hitches up on one side. “Enjoy your day off. You need your rest.” He smiles as he glances at my stomach. “We’ll talk about the schedule Monday.”

“Okay,” I relent, but then think of something else. “Wait. I keep meaning to ask about Landon. How’s he doing?”

“Good.” Grady smiles. “He’s a great kid. It’s fun having him around. You should see him eat. We can’t keep enough food in the house. You’ll see for yourself someday, I guess.”

It’s so weird to think that I’ll have a child someday, let alone a teenager. But I suppose Grady is right. The visual makes me smile. “It’s a really nice thing you’re doing for him.”

“Nah. It’s nothing. I’m happy to have him. Mary and I tried for a baby for a few years, then gave up. The disappointments got to be too much for her. I never thought I’d get the chance, and while he’s not ours, it’s a glimpse into a future I didn’t think I’d get.”

I smile at the big, burly head coach. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so joyful. Especially considering our place in the tournament. “Any word on another family in the school district?”

“Not yet, but they’re still looking. No one wants to pull him out during the middle of the school year. Or hockey season. I’m going to need him come the playoffs.”

I laugh softly. I do love having him on the team, but more than that I want him to have all the support and love he needs to thrive. He’s already this amazing kid, but he’s taken on way more than anyone his age should.

“Okay. I’m out of here.” Grady gives me a salute. “Enjoy what’s left of the weekend.”

I nod, but as he turns to leave, I can’t help but say one last thing. It’s been weighing on me since our first tournament loss. “I’m sorry if I was too hardheaded about trying to incorporate some fun and games into practices. I think I might have been wrong.”

He studies me, hands on his hips. I like Grady. I respect him. I should have listened to him. What the hell do I know? It’s my first time coaching. Whereas, he’s been doing it for almost ten years.

“Anyway. I wanted you to know that I won’t fight you on the practice plans from now on.”

“Come with me.” Grady motions for me to follow him and heads out of the locker room.

I do but my heart isn’t really in it. My steps are purposely slow. I’m rethinking Grady’s plan to get more game-time scenarios into practice and trying to figure out how I can help. I was so busy with my own agenda, fueled by my bad experiences, when I could have been brainstorming ways to add on to his ideas.

As we get farther from the locker room down the tunnel to the rink, Grady glances back. It’s then that I realize there are people out on the ice. The noise of skates and sticks moving across the ice, voices echoing in the rafters, and the puck hitting the boards.

We creep up slowly and stay out of sight. Landon, Pepper, and three varsity players are on one end. They’re laughing and talking, but I can tell they’re working too.

It brings a smile to my lips to see them out there, carefree and having fun.

Grady stands beside me, watching them as well. “The tournament didn’t go how we wanted, but these boys can win. I’m more certain of that than ever.”

“How?”

“They’re here, aren’t they? They could be home or out partying with their friends. Instead, they’re fighting to improve. They’re hungry for it. They remember why they started playing and what it’s all about. That’s your doing.”

“Our doing,” I correct him.

“Sure.” He chuckles as his lips part into a wide smile. “I’ll take the credit if you don’t want it.”

Landon shoots the puck into the net around the other players and when it goes in, he lifts his arms up over his head and lets out a whoop. Hockey should be fun. If it isn’t, then what’s the point?

“Trust your judgment as a coach,” Grady says. “You’re good at it and you’ll only get better.”

I’m too stunned to speak, but pride zips through me.

“They’re lucky to have you. I am too.” Grady squeezes me on the shoulder, then steps out of our hiding spot and calls out to Landon on the ice. “Five minutes, gentlemen. I have a date with my recliner.”

Grady turns back and heads away from the rink. “See you Monday, Coach.”

The following weekend, Conrad invites me to the Moonshot Hockey arena. The doctor recommended that I limit my skating so that I’m not putting myself at risk of falls. It’s been harder than I thought. I’m so used to lacing up and being out there with my team all the time, but Conrad assured me that tonight he would hold my hand and throw himself in front of me, if necessary, to keep anything from happening to me or our baby.