Page 11 of Inside the Penalty Box

Then he turned to me. “Aurora, nice to meet you as well. Your mother has told me lots about both of you, and I look forward to getting to know each of you better. I also look forward to being your stepfather,” he said, coming over and hugging me.

He smiled at me and then went back over to finish making the drinks while Mom started going on about how proud she was of both of us. We looked at one another as we listened to her go on like she was the one responsible for our schooling and career decisions, when the truth was, if you asked her, she’d barely even know what I was in school for.

“My dear, how about the four of us retire out back by the pool?” Joe said. “Dylan will be here shortly, I’m sure. Then I’ll get some food on the barbeque. I know he’s looking forward to meeting you both,” Joe said, putting his hand on Mom’s lower back and guiding her toward the back door.

Mom grabbed the tray of drinks and carried them outside while we followed. The backyard was amazing. A huge in-ground pool sat in the centre of a very well landscaped backyard. Walker and I took a seat at the table and helped ourselves to a drink.

“Oh, I know the two of you are going to love Dylan. He’s been looking forward to meeting you both as well,” Mom said, giggling as Joe tapped her behind.

I glanced at my brother, who gave me a look of disbelief before taking a drink.

“We are looking forward to meeting him. What does he do?” Walker asked.

“Dylan is the centre for the Vancouver Dominators,” Joe announced.

“Holy hell. Seriously?” Walker asked. “Now I’ll know two of them.”

I shook my head. It looked like Walker was going to be pulled to the dark side with our mother, leaving me to fend for myself in this nightmare. Lorelai’s brother played for the Dominators as well, and since they were and had always been Walker’s favourite team, I could only imagine how excited he was.

“Yep.” Joe smiled. “Who else do you know?” he questioned.

I cleared my throat. “Phil Anderson is my best friend’s brother. He plays for them as well.”

“Ah, yes, he plays right defense. He’s an excellent player,” Joe said.

Instantly, my brother began asking him questions, and his eyes lit up at every answer. He was beaming by the time Joe invited him inside to show him some things, leaving me alone outside with Mom.

I stood there looking around the backyard, tension building between us. She’d been on me for the past few months about dating. I let out a sigh as I looked at the gardens, praying for Walker to return, when she cleared her throat.

“So, have you met anyone at school?” she asked, pouring me another drink.

I shook my head.

“You know, you really should take some time to get to know some guys in your classes.”

“I’m just trying to focus on getting good grades, Penelope.”

“I ran into Willow the other day. She asked how you were doing. She says you’ve been distant since Cozumel.”

I rolled my eyes. It was just like my mother to try and pull information out of me. She’d never even asked me how that trip had gone. It didn’t matter anyway because she was the last person I’d tell anything about that trip.

“Is that so? Did she say anything else?” I said, fishing to find out if she’d told my mother about my lack of judgment on that trip.

“Nothing,” she answered, looking at me. “Did something happen on that trip between the two of you that you’d like to talk about?”

I almost choked on the lemonade as those words fell from her mouth. I wasn’t sure if it was the fact she asked or the fact that she actually thought I’d talk to her about it. Regardless, I grabbed a napkin, wiped the lemonade from my chin, and shook my head.

“No, Mom. All is fine. We’re just on different paths. So why don’t you tell me where you met Joe?”

I sat there listening to her every once in a while, zoning out as I thought about my friends. Since we’d returned, I’d only kept in touch with Lorelai, but then we were the only ones who were finishing up our classes at the University of Victoria. The others had gone to the University of Toronto, but I’d heard through the grapevine Willow had dropped out of her program because of family issues and had returned to Vancouver.

“So that is why you are here,” my mother said loud enough to pull me away from my thoughts.

I hadn’t heard a word she said, but judging from her smile, I was sure I’d find out without having to ask again.

“I see.”

The sliding door to the patio opened and out walked Joe and Walker, both talking up a storm. Mom smiled while I shifted in my seat. Walker looked like he was walking on cloud nine.

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