Page 25 of Hockey Heart

My cheeks had burned. I knew exactly what she meant by that therapy jibe. She could take Maiden any time she wanted. I had no bargaining power here.

“Two days, tops,” I’d told her coldly, at least trying to salvage something and not just be kicked around by her.

“Three days. Unless you want me to stay longer? I could do a couple of weeks instead. I mean, it ismyhome andmykid too, Hay-Ray.”

And that was that. I knew when I was beaten. If I pushed my luck, she would just make it worse for me.

“And pick me up from the airport. I land at two.”

So, there we were. Going to help the one person in the goddamn world that I would rather push off a bridge. I groaned as we hit the airport traffic that slowed us to a crawl.

“It’s just a few days, Champ. Don’t you wanna see your mom?”

Maiden’s silence answered the question.

“Makes two of us,” I muttered under my breath.

Cara was late. Nothing new there. You always had to wait around for her. Finally, she emerged, swaggering through the departure gate like a movie star in white gloves and dark shades, with two athletic-looking college kids pushing carts of her designer luggage that she’d roped in from somewhere.

“Darlings!” she exclaimed in a faux-British accent as she air-kissed me extravagantly.

“Yeah. We’re late, so let’s get going Cara,” I huffed back at her.

“Aw, so pent up. You really need to relax a little Hay-Ray.”

If I’d wanted to do weights, Cara’s bags were as good as any.

“Do you need all this?” I asked as I loaded the cases into the trunk. “I thought it was a flying visit.”

“Better to be prepared, isn’t it?” Cara said, putting her hands on Maiden’s shoulder. I smirked a little, seeing him shrink away from her clutches.

“Do we need to tip them?” I nodded toward her cart pushers.

“Oh, no. These gentlemen were just kind enough to help a frail young woman out. Isn’t that right, boys?”

The two guys shyly beamed back at her while flashing nervous glances at me, before Cara dismissed them with a wave of her white leather-gloved hand.

“Sure,” I sighed, “Let’s get going.”

“Oh, let’s stop at Handerson’s. I need something to match the perfume I got at the airport.”

“How do you match bags with perfume, exactly?” I snorted back at her.

“You wouldn’t understand,” she said with an air of superiority. “It’s a taste thing.”

“Oh, how I’ve missed you Cara, but we can’t stop. Maiden’s got practice, then I’ve got… A thing.”

Cara laughed, and I pursed my lips. Someone my size isn’t used to being made to feel three-feet tall and stepped on. I never liked how she could do that to me.

“I hope you remembered to get my favorite ranch water in Hay-Ray.”

“I did not. Get your own medication, Cara.”

She sighed in annoyance, and I felt a small prickle of satisfaction.

“Guess we’re stopping then.”

“No! We’re not stopping. I already told you.”

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