Page 7 of Grace on the Rocks

“Probably what we discussed last night,” her father said, though his attention was elsewhere. “The whole business aspect of owning a hockey team can’t be completely forgotten by personal belief. People were protesting and booing. If they stop coming to games and buying merchandise, that’s a lot of money the Gulls lose, which normally goes into the players’ salaries. And if the players can’t be paid, they’re going to play somewhere else.”

“Okay, then why did she play him again?” Emma was confused. Even if her father’s logic was sound and everything he was saying was true, it didn’t make anything less complicated. If her father was right about pulling Thorpe, it didn’t make sense that she play him. “If she’s going to lose money and everything.”

“I can only speculate but I think that putting him in again showed that she is committed to his innocence,” Jeremy said, flipping the page. “And if she believes in him, the fans should believe in him. It also gives the team a lot of motivation, knowing that their owner is going to back them unless proven otherwise. Like a said, the girl has balls. She’s risking loss in revenue, in fans, but she’s taking a stand and not looking back. I kind of wish she didn’t have to learn it by pulling Thorpe in the second, but maybe it’s better that way.”

Emma nodded, trying to understand everything her father said. It was hard to pretend to be interested in something she didn’t care about, and even though hockey wasn’t exactly on the top of her favorite list, she found that she wanted to learn the ins and outs of the sport. And she found that she was fascinated by Seraphina Hanson and what she was going through, and how she held herself with such... Perhaps grace was the right word. And to have to make those decisions with the entire world watching while dealing with the loss of her grandfather... Like her father said, the girl had balls.

“Oh my God.”

Emma looked up at her father once again, this time waiting for him to speak. He had this habit of commenting aloud on whatever he was reading. Knowing that his daughter sat directly across from him, Jeremy would certainly share what caused his hushed outburst eventually.

“Listen to this, Em,” he said. His eyes lit up and he was smiling with obvious excitement. Suddenly, his face changed and the smile suddenly disappeared from his face. “I don’t know why I’m smiling. This news isn’t great, but I’m fascinated by the turn of events this case is taking.”

“What are you talking about?” Emma asked, her patience suddenly slipping through her fingers.

“Oh. Sorry.” Jeremy shook his head once more and brought his eyes over to his daughter. “Apparently, the police have just released more information about the suspects in Ken’s murder, and actually listed a primary suspect. If we had a television in here, I’m sure that it would be breaking news. It isn’t Thorpe that’s number one, though they do admit they’re looking into him. It’s Alan Brown. His son.”

“What?” Emma asked. She wasn’t normally surprised, but this actually shocked her.

“Yeah,” Jeremy said, that excited sparkle back in his eye. “They don’t give any information except that they have a reasonable amount of evidence to suspect him above everyone else. But it’s not a secret that Alan wanted his father to sell the team.”

“Why?”

“Alan has troubles,” Jeremy said. “I don’t know what they are, but they’re there. And selling the team to someone else would generate a lot of money for him. If Ken chose to give him any.”

“That’s so sad,” Emma murmured. “I don’t understand –“ She stopped herself from saying anything. Instead, her eyes focused on the wooden table and without any particular reason, began to pick at the smooth surface.

Because, in fact, Emma did understand. She understood better than many people. Family wasn’t supposed to do that to other family, but not everybody followed the rules. Her mother didn’t and it sounded like Seraphina’s uncle didn’t either. Emma had no idea why her mother left, but to have an uncle whose own greed outweighed his family was something surely the Hanson girls were affected by. And now, to learn that not only was Ken’s death ruled as a homicide, but that the main suspect was her uncle? How could they handle something like this?

Jeremy seemed to be able to read his daughter’s mind because he reached over and gave Emma a gentle squeeze on the hand. Thankfully, he knew her well enough not to say anything, and for a moment, the two sat in a comfortable silence.

“But I thought you read somewhere that Ken was going to sell the team,” Emma said. Luckily, her voice came out normal, as though she hadn’t just thought about why her mother abandoned her. Again. “Why would Alan kill his father if Ken was going to do what Alan wanted?”

“Again, just because Ken was going to sell the team didn’t mean Alan would get anything from it,” her father pointed out. “Now, his motive, if he did do it, is most likely financial. I would love to get my hands on Ken’s will to see just how much money he gave to his sons verses his granddaughters. Obviously Alan didn’t get the hockey team, which says a lot. He gives his recently graduated granddaughter the team over his grown son? Why? Ken had to know Alan’s problems and didn’t want to enable him which could enrage a guy who cares more about money than his family. And I’m not entirely convinced Ken was going to retire. He loves this game, this team. He seemed coherent and there. No way he just sells it, especially if he gives Seraphina his team after his death. And he never made an official statement. Ken wanting to sell the team is all speculation.”

Emma nodded but didn’t say anything. She continued to pick at the table, allowing everything to sink in.

“So,” Jeremy said, finished with the paper. He waited a moment until Emma looked up in order to make eye contact with her, to show her that she had his full attention. “Are you coming to the game tonight?” He took a sip of his coffee, never breaking that contact.

“Yeah,” Emma said, a telling smile curling onto her face.

“I’m glad.” He grinned. “You seem to want to know a lot more about hockey. Knowing you, you’ll probably go buy a book about it and read it in an hour, and on top of that, remember everything about it. Is there any particular reason for this sudden craving of knowledge?”

He was teasing her, she knew, but that didn’t stop the blush from caressing her cheeks. It was like her father knew Kyle Underwood was the reason. Which was not something she was willing to admit to herself. She wasn’t some adolescent girl who went over the moon because the cute, popular jock talked to her. She was Emma Winsor, scholarship student, dancer. Boys didn’t factor in her world just yet.

Ugh, she was screwed unless she didn’t retain some sort of control over herself.

“No major reason,” she said, carefully avoiding her father’s eyes. She continued to pick, pick, pick at it more and more though there wasn’t anything there to be picked at. “I have a little more time and I thought I might as well learn about it now.”

His smile only showed that he knew she was lying to him, and perhaps he knew the real reason behind the sudden fascination with his favorite sport, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he finished his coffee and stood up. “Well, I for one am not complaining.” He slid on his blazer and his smile was suddenly harmless, genuine. “Have a good first day at school. I’ll see you later tonight, okay?”

And then, before he left the dining room, he winked.

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