Page 52 of His Jersey

Ella’s smile falters as if she weren’t expecting him to be so specific or so prickly.

“Don’t mind him. The man is like a walking, talking cactus,” I murmur.

Ella smiles and without skipping a beat, she says, “That you treasured your late wife, treated her like a queen. That says a lot about a man’s character and the son he raised.”

My father and I both straighten as if chastised or chastened, I’m not sure which.

Dad adjusts his tie. “Oh, well, yes. Jewel was a lovely woman. May she rest in peace.” Turning back to me, my father says, “So what’s it going to be? I didn’t raise a quitter, but I think it’s time you join Team Bouchelle.”

“I’ve always been on Team Bouchelle.” But after tonight, the Knights are looking more and more appealing.

“It’s a boys’ game you’re playing,” he says.

“But it’s also work that I take seriously.”

“Oh, so now you’ve decided that playtime is over?”

I yawn so I don’t get caught rolling my eyes at my father’s blustering.

Ella notices but wears a friendly smile. “There’s quite a spread inside the party room if anyone is hungry, refreshments too, and a beautiful vista of the city.”

Never mind working as a housekeeper, she should be the hospitality lead at Jewel Island.

Having caught a scent, my father isn’t deterred by her hospitality. “Jack, you’re finally going to get your head in the game? You’ve never won the Cup. You think if you start fresh with another team, you stand a chance?”

Ella adds, “Having been with the Storm so long, Jack has brought so many guys up with him, in a ‘rising tide lifts all boats’ kind of way. He pushed them to compete at a higher level, so perhaps playing with another team will align him with a set of players who’ve moved beyond his present team’s skill set, and together they’ll get the Stanley.”

Everyone is quiet for a long moment. Apparently, she absorbed more hockey in the last few hours than most people do in years of being fans.

My father grunts as if he just hit a speed bump. “Jack, be careful who you align yourself with. Badaszek is a chess mastermoving players into positions on the board. I’d hate to see him take advantage of you.”

Ella glances at me. “Jack could also retire. Having scored three goals in the game—the only goals for the team—is a strong goodbye. Either way, I trust he’ll make a good decision.”

“Who asked you?” my father says.

Ella shrinks slightly.

I lengthen my spine. “Actually, I did and I appreciate Ella’s insight. Ultimately, the decision is mine. If I remember correctly, I didn’t ask you to come here tonight and give me your opinion either.”

“I’ve said my piece, but I’d hate to see you lose a fortune by making a bad call. There’s a lot at stake.” My father looks at the dog as if only just noticing him, snorts, and storms off.

“Why do you care?” I holler down the hall.

He gets a hitch in his step but doesn’t break stride. Now would be the time for him to say,Because I have your best interest in mind,or something wise along the lines of how a person can be so close to a situation that it’s hard to see clearly. But I don’t get so much as a response.

Ella squeezes my arm. Carlos exhales as if he’d been holding his breath the whole time.

Leah sticks her tongue out behind my father’s back. “Sorry. That’s on your behalf,” she says.

“No worries. I stick my tongue out at him in my head all the time.”

She and her brother laugh nervously.

“And roll your eyes,” Ella says.

I knew she’d noticed.

After that uncomfortable encounter, we head outside and say goodnight to the Smith siblings. Ella stands on the sidewalk like she’s not sure how she’s going to get home.

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