Page 89 of Broken Promises

“It’s Sally, Willa. You’re Mrs. Monroe now too.” She was ecstatic when I told her over the phone. Swore she was just waiting for us to figure it out.

Sally sits, and then Ted pulls me into a hug. His hugs are warm and comforting like Declan’s are. “We’re so happy you’re officially family now,” he says before letting me go.

I introduce them to Maggie. She and Sally get along immediately and before I know it, they’re exchanging recipes.

“What’s going on, W?” Ted asks me. He’s the guy that needs to give a nickname and it’s always just the first letter of your name.

I bite my lip and stare at him. I don’t want to freak him out, but they’re going to be staying with us for the next week until they fly out again, so it’s not like they won’t hear about it. Leaning closer to him, I whisper a short, condensed version of what’s been happening and why I’m now nervous about how Declan is going to react to it. To his credit, Ted nods along and doesn’t freak out like I thought he would.

“Text D. Let him know we’re here before he hits the ice. He’s an emotional player, always has been.”

I pull my phone out and text him immediately.

I had a surprise for you, but after last night the timing is bad.

Hockey Boy

What is it? Does it involve you being naked?

Your parents are here. They’re sitting with Maggie and me in her parents’ seats.

What? How? Why?

I’m excited and worried and nervous and sad it’s not you naked, but happy because I miss them.

It was going to be a happy surprise. I talked to them last week.

I am happy, Princess. Thank you for telling me before I got out there.

Your dad told me to.

I have to get on the ice. I love you, Princess.

I love you too, baby.

“Well?” Ted asks me when I put my phone away.

“He’s happy you’re here but thanked me for warning him.”

Ted smiles like he knew that was going to be exactly what Declan said. He probably did.

Boston piles onto the ice, and I watch as Declan skates a few laps around the rink before coming to a stop in front of us. He smiles at me before turning and waving to his parents. His smile is happy, but I can see the concern in his eyes. He misses them, which is why I called them in the first place.

“I love you, Princess,” Declan shouts so that I can hear him through the glass and over the crowd.

“I love you too, hockey boy!”

He blows me a kiss and skates back to warm up with his team. Martinez shoots me a wink and then one to Maggie. Gideon glares at him, but then waves to Maggie with a sweet smile on his face.

“Your mom knew the two of you would end up together,” Sally says from my right. Ted is to my left, and I’m just now realizing they may have wanted to sit next to each other.

“She did?” I ask, surprised.

Sally nods. “She did. She would always say our little darlings were destined.”

“Sounds like her,” I say with a smile. It’s not often I get to speak with people who knew my mom. My friends did and so did Declan, but we were all so young when I lost her that there isn’t much they remember.

“She’s part of the reason we’ve been traveling so much. She was always one to love to live life. Any curveball the world threw at her, she would take in stride and turn it into something new and beautiful.”

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