Page 64 of Cold as (N)ice

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IRENE

Walking around quietly,Irene nodded and smiled at all the unfamiliar faces. It was so strange to think that these people, these strangers, were now a part of her extended family in some way, shape, or form – and to think that she had a ‘leg-up’ on some of the people gathered, meeting the team for the first time as she looked around the room.

Barrett was standing in the distance talking with Boucher, Lafreniere, and some brunette who looked like she would rather be anywhere else in the world right now. She looked so crestfallen that Irene almost turned to go fish her away, except she saw Stephen run past, laughing, with the little girl, who immediately ran to her mother. The woman said something, nodded, and the little girl ran off – with her son in tow –again.

“Hello,” Irene began easily, trying to be outgoing and helpful. “I hear you are Boucher’s new wife, Constance. I’m Irene Coeur and…”

“Ah, so you are the one.”

“Excuse me?”

“I hear ‘Irene-this’ and ‘Irene-that’ – and frankly, it’s a little frustrating Miss Perfect,” Constance frowned, glaring at her. “Life isn’t perfect, and the fact that you have it so easy is just…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Irene interrupted quickly, shocked. “First off, I will never say that life is perfect or easy, because it’s certainly not. I’ve spent the last few years in a hellish marriage that finally ended and yes - I lucked out.”

Irene paused and looked back at Barrett, realizing the truth of it. She had truly lucked out because if Theo Batiste had referred her to anyone else, things would have been so different. Not only had he offered her a job and attempted to include her son, but he was everything she could have wished for in a friend, partner, and spouse.

“The only thing perfect is realizing that neither of us is, but we’re flawed enough to need each other and found our way somehow,” Irene said softly, realizing it was true.

Barrett wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for her because she could look past the childishness that he displayed at times. He played video games too much, left his clothes on the floor, probably spent too much money on things that just weren’t necessary… like her new van, but he tried. He genuinely tried to make her feel special, and that was worth it all.

“My ex drew back to hit me,” Irene whispered, unable to take her eyes from her husband as she talked. “Barrett’s not perfect, but he’s what I need. He’s careful, accepting of my son, quiet, and would never hurt me. Sure, he’s not Prince Charming, but he gave me a kingdom and treats me like a queen.”

“Did you marry him so he could land this job?” Constance snapped.

“Sure did,” Irene replied, not bothering to hide her triumphant tone because it almost felt like bragging at this point. The other woman looked frazzled, rattled, and a little afraid.

“They are just people like us. Remember that,” she smiled at Constance, moving to stand beside her. “Tell me how you met Keith – and we can exchange sob stories about how we ended up in this mess together.”

“Oh, it’s a mess all right,” Constance said thickly and looked at her. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Let’s start at the beginning, my friend,” Irene urged gently seeing that the woman was near tears. and she put an arm around her shoulder. “You’ve got to have someone to talk to and considering how limited English is around here, us Wolverines have to stick together – don’t we?”

The evening had turned out better than Irene could have hoped. Two hours had passed in a blur of easy conversation and laughter, the kind she hadn’t indulged in for far too long. Sitting at one of the round tables in the large convention center, she and Constance were enjoying their meals from the buffet set up for the hockey team and their families.

The scent of rich, hearty food lingered in the air, mingling with the distant sounds of children’s laughter and the occasional cheer from one of the players goofing off with their kids. Irene felt lighter than she had in weeks—maybe months.

She glanced toward the play area where the children were gathered, her heart swelling at the sight of them safe, happy, and oblivious to the storm she had been bracing herself against for so long. But for tonight, she allowed herself to relax.

Then, Barrett appeared.

She felt him before she saw him—the solid presence of him, the quiet strength that somehow always made her feel safer than she ever had before. His deep voice reached her ears, warm and steady.

“How are you doing?”

She looked up at him, smiling, and meant every word when she said, “Wonderful.”

And she was—at least in this moment.

Then, her phone chimed.

A sharp, unwelcome reminder that peace could always be fleeting – if you let it. Her smile faltered for only a second, her gaze instinctively meeting Barrett’s. There was something unreadable in his expression, something firm and knowing, as if he already suspected who it was. Irene didn’t even bother checking the screen. Instead, she simply picked up her phone and placed it in his waiting hand without hesitation, turning back to Constance as if the interruption hadn’t even happened.

“Would next week be okay?” she asked, her voice smooth, determined to stay in the moment. “I would love to see what you are?—”

“You just gave him your phone… like that?” Constance’s voice broke through, laced with disbelief. Irene could feel her friend’s stare, wide-eyed and incredulous. “Doesn’t he trust you?”

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