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Whatever it was, it changed everything. After my dad was charged with a DUI and put in the drunk tank, my mom recounted her version of the events of the night she fell. Some of it was still murky, but she was clear enough to indicate that while my dad didn’t physically push her over, he did hit her, and he used intimidation to corner her. And he didn’t back off until it was too late.
After that he was also charged with assault and battery, and aggravated domestic battery, and we put an order of protection in place so he can’t be in Pearl Lake anymore. He had to move to the trailer outside of town. A few weeks later, he was driving under the influence again and lost his license for a year.
All this feels like a win. But I worry about the ripple effect. Because there’s always good with bad. And I fear the universe will balance it all out in the opposite direction.
After my dad was charged, Clover suggested that my mom and I attend a support group for battered women. During the first meeting, as we listened to women share their stories, I realized how we’d normalized the abuse. And it scared the hell out of me. I share half of Dad’s DNA, and I don’t want to be like him. I don’t ever want to hurt the people I care about with words, or violence. And I don’t ever want to go back to a life where every day is a battle.
So for now, I’m holding on to hope that this peace will last. And it feels like it could, especially when my mom gets a part-time job at the library. She’s working behind the desk, checking out books and managing returns. She adores Clover, and Clover has a real soft spot for her too.
As July rolls into August, new fears bubble up. My mom is set to have her casts removed in a couple of weeks, and after that, she’ll move back to the cabin. So will I. I could go now, but I don’t want to be there on my own, and the Ballistics have continued to be great about me staying with them.
But beyond that, BJ will return to college in a handful of weeks, and so will most of my new friends, so I’m inclined to spend as much time with him as I can. Coach Waters and Coach Ballistic have mentioned the scholarship a couple of times, but with my mom on her own once she leaves the Sunshine Center, I can’t see being able to go to Chicago.
It’s a Saturday in early August, and we have a game this morning. I’m up early, along with Coach Ballistic. I can’t get used to calling him Randy when we’re off the ice, so I just call him Coach, and he rolls with it. We eat egg sandwiches for breakfast and hop into his truck.
“How you feeling about the game today?” he asks as we make the short drive to the rink.
“Good, I think. I don’t want to get cocky because we’ve beaten this team before. But I watched their last couple of games, and their forward is still making the same mistakes. Their best defensive player is out with an injury, so unless something has changed since last week, we should be able to capitalize on their weaknesses.”
He chuckles. “You sound like a true hockey player. Keep an eye on their right wing, number twenty-two. She’s made a couple of questionable plays the past few games, and I’m worried now that we’re getting close to the playoffs, she’ll get chippy out of desperation.”
“I noticed that too. I’ll be careful. Don’t want any more stitches to round out this summer.” It feels like a year has passed, rather than a month since that happened.
We arrive at the rink, and I go to the locker room to change into my gear. Coach Waters and Ballistic give us a pep talk, and then we’re clomping down the hall to the ice.
I scan the stands as we warm up and wave when I see my mom sitting with Clover. She’s been coming regularly, and sometimes she even attends practices when she’s not working, or in class, or having one-on-one sessions with Clover. Rose and Lovey are in the stands too. BJ is at his competition today, and his mom is with him and Adele in the city, but they’ll be back tonight. They ended up adjusting the combination, so I’m crossing my fingers they still place.
Fern skates up and nudges me. “A couple of college scouts just took a seat at center ice, on our side.”
“Are you serious?” I glance furtively in their direction.
“Sure am. They’re from Monarch. I bet you a six-pack of fritters they’re here for you.”
I frown. “Why would they be here for me?”
She laughs. “Girl, you’ve been playing for the team for a little better than a month, and you have the fourth-best scoring record. The coaches want you on a college team, and I’m pretty sure they’re looking to get you a sweet deal. I’ll introduce you after the game if our coaches don’t beat me to it.”
“Jeez, talk about pressure,” I mutter.
As we make another lap around the rink, she waves at them. “Just play like you always do, and you’ll be fine.”
I try to keep my head in the game, but by the middle of the second period, there are four sets of scouts from different colleges in the arena.
“Is this even normal? Isn’t it kind of late in the summer to be scouting for players?” I ask Fern when we’re rotated off after scoring another goal. This time I got the assist, and she made the goal, but earlier in the game, I scored our first goal.
“I already told you, they’re here for you. And they probably know another college doesn’t have you yet,” Fern says, her grin wide. “I hope we’re playing together in the fall.”
“We’ll see. They could be here for another reason.”
“They could be, but they aren’t.”
We’re called back onto the ice, ending the conversation. We win the game six-two. My teammates are buzzing because of the scout action, and when I leave the locker room with Fern, Coach Waters and Ballistic are waiting with the scouts from Monarch.
“Fern, great game tonight. Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on our ice in a few weeks,” one of the women says.
She smiles. “I can’t wait. I think we’re on track for an amazing season.”
“No doubt.” The woman turns her attention to me. “And you, Miss Marks, are just magnificent to watch. Your coaches tell me you’re not playing for a college team in the fall yet.”
