Page 42 of Goalie Interference

“I took courses and apprenticed with Diane. She’s one of the top luthiers in the state, maybe the country.”

His head tilted. “So you’re good.”

Was I? My family didn’t seem to think so, but… “Yeah. I am. Diane wants me to take over her shop when she retires.”

Remy was the first person I’d told this to. I’d been keeping it close to the chest, secretly afraid if I told anyone, they’d laugh or suggest it was more than I could handle. But no one in my circleof family and friends thought I was successful other than Remy. And he knew nothing about music.

“Is that what you want to do? Take over her place?”

“I don’t know. But I’ve got time to think about it. What about you—what are you doing when you’re done playing?”

His face closed up. That was the wrong thing to ask. But hockey players didn’t have long careers. Ollie was an example of that.

“I shouldn’t have asked.”

He shrugged. He did that a lot. “I don’t know. I just keep playing so I don’t have to decide.”

I got to my feet. I’d intruded long enough. Goober had curled up in a ball, eyes closed, so it was time to take her and get out of Remy and Beast’s hair. “Thanks for the drink—and the chance to see these two as…not enemies. Neighbors? I’ll take Goober now so you and Beast can get back to your evening.”

I needed to leave because I was enjoying being here too much. There was no pressure, nobody looking to leverage my company into getting closer to my father or brother, but that was selfish of me. Ollie had no say over what I did with my time or who I spent it with, but he had a lot of power over Remy. And with the relationship they already had, I didn’t need to add any more tension to it.

Chapter 18

Bad luck

Remy

We finished the preseason with five wins and a loss. I played a couple of periods, but mostly against the wannabes on the other teams, so it wasn’t much of a test. It was nice to have a winning record, but it meant nothing since those wins didn’t count for our season record.

The team settled on the three goalies they’d planned on from the beginning: Keats, Lappy and me. The regular season began, the familiar routines of my adult life. Warm-ups and practice, afternoon naps and games, with travel shaking up the groove.

The team was putting Lappy in for most games, either on the bench or a starter. Keats and I rotated as the other goalie suited up. I was in net for every sixth game. Not enough time to get into a routine, but it also kept us fresh. As the oldest of the goalies, I appreciated that.

We had a good team, with strong forwards, so we were winning even if sometimes Lappy struggled. I mentioned to Otts that he didn’t understand English very well, which could be affecting his play, but the team didn’t seem worried. Theywere sure he’d pick it up. Learning a second language in the locker room meant he had an impressive vocabulary of swear words, but I wasn’t sure he was comfortable enough to share any problems he had.

The second time I was tapped to start, I looked up from lacing my skates to find Lappy in the stall beside me, watching me with a frown.

He pointed at my skate. “You do dat one first, other time.”

I took a minute to work that out. “Did I?” Had he been watching me?

He waved his hand. “You not do de same, tout le temps?”

I finished lacing up the skate and shrugged. “Not now.”

“Now?”

“Maintenant.”

I’d seen how Lappy got ready. He’d kiss his St. Christopher medal, cross himself, and put on his gear left to right, exactly the same order every time. He double-checked his skate laces and stomped the mat three times. If something went wrong, he’d start the whole process over again.

“I used to…” How did I say “have quirks” in French so that he could understand with his limited English? “I used to tape my stick.” I mimed it. “Always the same. Got dressed, always the same. Skated around the net, three times, always the same.”

And if any of those routines didn’t go right, it threw me off mentally.

“Not now?”

I sighed. “I was injured.” I pointed to my groin. He nodded, quite aware of the risks with those muscles for ice hockey goalies. “After, I played different.”

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