Page 51 of Goalie Interference

Diane’s mouth pulled down. “I wish you had as much confidence in yourself as I do.”

Sophie huffed. “This isn’t just insecurity. Anyone taking over for you would have high expectations to meet.”

Diane narrowed her eyes. “While you’re considering, why don’t you do a custom build guitar, just to see how it goes?”

“What?”

“Make a guitar. Test your skills. Face your fears.”

Sophie’s mouth dropped open. “I don’t have the supplies or equipment. My shop is fitted for repair work, not building instruments.”

“Come over here every week, work on it for a while, and we can talk. I’ll tell you what you need to know about the business and you can ask questions.”

“We could carpool when I’m coming to the shelter,” I offered.

Sophie glared at me. “I don’t need more pressure, thank you very much.”

Diane, however, gave me a big smile. “I like this guy.”

“So, are we eating or what?” Sophie obviously wanted to change the subject, and Diane let her. But the expression on her face showed she thought she was winning.

By the time our food arrived, Diane had convinced Sophie to at least make a guitar.

“You have to tell me, honestly, if it’s any good once I’ve got it done. I don’t want to make shitty guitars. There are enough of those around. I’d rather fix good ones than make bad ones.”

Diane just smiled. “I promise, but I’m confident.”

Sophie

Cash didn’t make it home for Thanksgiving, so I went on my own. It wasn’t unusual—Cash was often away, and though it had been nice to go as a couple with Ollie when we were together, that hadn’t been the norm. This year my dad and stepmother were hosting. A catering service provided the food, but it was at the house I’d grown up in.

I brought a couple of bottles of nice wine from Cash’s collection, and some craft beer for those who didn’t like wine. I knew Joanna, my stepmother, would have everything else covered.

I rang the bell—I might have grown up in the house, but I didn’t consider it my home any longer. Dad let me in, returned myHappy Thanksgivinggreeting, and took the beer from me. I followed him through the foyer, past the double curving staircase and a couple of more formal rooms into the great room, where the TV was already on. Ollie’s dad and mom were there with him, as well as an uncle and family. Joanna hadinvited friends over as well. They were a couple of years younger than me and obviously spent more time on their appearance than I did. They looked camera ready. My nails were clean but cut ruthlessly short for my work, and while I was wearing my nicest clothing, following the unwritten dress code, I wasn’t showing cleavage and my skirt fell almost to my knees. I didn’t normally worry about how I looked, but I felt judged. After polite greetings, the women didn’t talk to me, instead focusing on Ollie.

A petty side of me wanted to pay Ollie back for his hissy fit about Remy. At that point, I’d barely talked to his goalie while these women were brazenly flirting with him in front of me, but I reined it in. There was no reason to spoil Joanna’s event. She and I had nothing in common, but she and Dad seemed happy together. Dad had given Cash and I money when we turned eighteen, and I didn’t expect anything more. I’d replaced everything I’d taken from my trust, so I had a hefty safety net. Cash had made way more money with his band and producing, so for all the ways we didn’t work as a healthy family, money wasn’t the problem.

I greeted Ollie politely. We hadn’t talked much since he found out Remy was living in the carriage house, but that was probably less because of any lingering anger on his part and more that he was busy with the hockey season. He smiled warmly at me and asked how I was.

We weren’t going to continue the estrangement, it seemed. I told him things were going well, and then Joanna’s friends distracted him again. I poured myself some wine and let Ollie’s aunt tell me about her troubles at the country club.

The caterers set up a buffet, and once everyone was ready we moved to the table to pick up a glass of champagne. Dad made a toast saying how thankful he was for friends and family, even those far away.Cash.The men headed for the buffet first, ofcourse, before finding a seat around the large dining room table that was only used for big events like this.

Ollie stepped in behind me, rather than going ahead with his dad and uncle and my dad.

“How’s the business going? Keeping busy?” he asked. Not a very personal question, but it was the first one anyone had asked since I’d arrived.

“Good. I’ve got all the work I can handle.” This was not the time and place to mention Diane’s offer, even if I wanted Ollie’s opinion. So far only Remy and Diane knew. “Hockey going well?”

He nodded. “The team isn’t quite where it should be, but I think we can get there.”

“I love hockey.” One of Joanna’s friends stood in front of Ollie. “I loved watching you play.”

Ollie put on his polite public mask, but once he’d filled a plate, he joined me at the table. I could have told the blonde that Ollie didn’t like thinking about his playing days and dwelling on what he’d lost. He especially didn’t want his dad to overhear and get onto that familiar topic of how much more Trent Senior had accomplished in his career. If she really wanted to attract his attention, she should ask about the coaching he was doing now.

“I owe you an apology,” he said quietly, so no one heard him. “I overreacted about Remy being at the carriage house, but I know it’s not your fault.”

“My fault,” I repeated.

---