Page 96 of Sin Bin

Chapter Fifteen

MEADOW

When meadow walked into the kitchen later that morning, her aunt was standing at the French doors cradling a mug of coffee as she stared out across the backyard.

“Good morning,” Meadow greeted her.

Aunt Rosalie glanced over her shoulder and gave her a tired smile. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?”

“Like a rock.” Meadow poured herself a cup of coffee and joined her aunt at the French doors. “How was the charity gala?”

“It was lovely. Practically all of Denver’s movers and shakers were there, including Hunter Duchene.”

“Really? Hunter was there?”

“Yes, but that’s not surprising. I’ve seen him at other charity galas. He’s involved in a number of philanthropic projects, and he serves on various leadership councils here and back in Canada.”

“Wow,” Meadow said warmly. “I’m impressed.”

“Oh, he’s very impressive. But so are many of his teammates—particularly Logan, Reid Holden and Viggo Sandström. They’re all very active in the community, and during the offseason they run a youth hockey camp that I’m planning to enroll Cam in next year when he turns six.” Rosalie smiled. “Of the four of them, I think Hunter’s the only one who feels totally in his element at these high-society galas. He’s very polished and sophisticated. When you talk to him, you forget that he’s a professional athlete. I’m not suggesting that athletes are dumb, but few can carry on an intellectual conversation the way Hunter can.” Her lips twitched. “If I were fifteen years younger, he’d be in trouble.”

“I doubt it,” Meadow said with a chuckle. “You’ve always had a thing for older men. The gray hair at the temples makes you weak in the knees.”

“Every single time.” Her aunt sighed. “It stems from my teenage crush on my brother’s best friend. If he’d ever given me the time of day, I would have run off with him in a heartbeat.”

Meadow laughed and sipped from her steaming cup. Aunt Rosalie wasn’t the best cook, but she made a mean pot of coffee.

She watched as her aunt rubbed her temples and winced. “What’s wrong?”

“I had a bit too much to drink last night. Don’t tell your father,” she added wryly.

Meadow grinned. “Your secret’s safe with me. Do you want me to pick up Cam from Jaxon’s house?”

“No, that’s okay. We can go together and take him to get ice cream since it’s supposed to be pretty warm today.”

“Oh, he’ll like that.” Meadow smiled and sipped more coffee, studying her aunt’s troubled profile. “Is something else bothering you? Besides the hangover?”

Rosalie’s fingers tightened around her coffee mug. “Cam’s father called me before the gala last night.”

Meadow instinctively tensed. Rosalie’s conversations with her ex-husband rarely ended well. “What did he say?”

“He wanted to tell me that he enjoyed having Cam last week. So much so that he’s thinking of suing me for full custody.”

“What?” Meadow exclaimed in disbelief. “He can’t do that!”

“He can, unfortunately.”

“But he shouldn’t!”

“Since when has that ever stopped him?” Rosalie said with bitter cynicism. “We’re talking about the same man who was caught in bed with another woman. Even after getting caught bare-assed, he had the audacity to demand the house as part of the divorce settlement because his mistress wanted to live there.” She snorted harshly. “Gibson has never had any qualms about doing things he damn well shouldn’t.”

Meadow frowned, her chest tightening with renewed fury. “I’m glad he didn’t get the house.”

“So am I. Of course,” her aunt said sardonically, “I only wanted the house so I could burn it to the ground. I probably would have done just that if Trish hadn’t talked me out of it. She told me to sell the house, take the money and start over in a new home where Cam and I could create new memories.”

Meadow smiled. “I’m glad you listened to her. I love this house. It’s so warm and cozy, and it feels more like a home than that McMansion you and Gibson had.” She brought her cup to her mouth and paused. “I’m also relieved you took her advice because you would have gone to prison for arson, and seeing you in an orange jumpsuit would have been super depressing. You know orange is not your color.”

They both laughed, enjoying the moment of levity.

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