Page 38 of Playoff
My parents came over from Victoria to join me for dinner. They reserved a table at a nearby restaurant—an expensive one. I was first at the restaurant, and once I was seated I ordered a glass of wine without waiting for them. I didn’t expect to enjoy this meeting.
Mom and Dad arrived, and I stood for air kisses as we said hello. We settled into our seats around the table. Mom smiled. “How are you? And Justin?”
Mom and Dad weren’t monsters, just self-absorbed. They did love us, in their own way, and she was asking because she wanted to know. Still…
He’s freaking out because the name Denbrowski brings up so many bad memories. And I slept with the guy without knowing who he is so I’m a little freaked out too.
I didn’t say that. “We’re good. And you?”
Mom gave a recap of what they’d been doing lately. Not working, not using their travel agency background. She complained that they couldn’t fly south with someone they knew, and that their place was too small. It wasn’t as big as the one we used to have in downtown Vancouver, but they had two bedrooms and a study. For two people, it was ample.
Mom grew up with wealth. Her parents died when we were still preschoolers, and she was their only child and heir. She’d never known what it was like to budget and pinch pennies. Not till the Denbrowskis took that money from her.
Dad grew up with Grandma and Grandpa, solidly middle class. I’d always thought he was so grateful that Mom chose to be with him all those years ago that he was willing to agree to anything she wanted since.
Losing all her money had been difficult. I got that. But we went through it too and didn’t take advantage of family to try to get what we wanted. Justin had given up college and Mia to help the family. I took care of Justin and Grandma. I had limited bandwidth left for Mom and Dad’s troubles.
“Justin isn’t playing in the All-Star Game?”
The game was scheduled in Dallas after the team returned from this road trip. Justin was going to the game but hadn’t been invited to participate. He’d been chosen twice in previous seasons, but I didn’t think he was too upset about missing it. “Only going as a fan.”
Her lips pulled. Justin got a bonus if he was selected as an all-star. Mom knew his contract inside and out.
“Have you reached out to the Denbrowski boy?” she asked as our dinners were served.
I knew Justin and Denny had talked, but Justin still was uncomfortable with him. Too many negative associations. “Justin is his teammate, so they see each other all the time.”
“But they aren’t getting close?”
“Mom, Alek Denbrowski reminds Justin of all he lost ten years ago. He doesn’t want to spend time with him.” How was she unable to grasp that?
“We all lost.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Some more than others.”
Her mouth opened to argue, but catching my glare, she stopped. We’d all lost money. Mom had taken the biggest hit, since she had the most money, but she’d also invested our college funds with the Denbrowskis. I’d taken an extra year to get my degree, since I had no money and no job experience. I’d switched from an impractical English degree to finance, and got a waitressing job to help pay for expenses, but Justin had paid for my tuition and anything I couldn’t cover.
Mom and Dad had lost some friends. Some of those had also lost money, while others found it awkward to be with our parents when Mom and Dad couldn’t afford expensive restaurants and trips. They’d moved in with Grandma after the houses were sold, so were no longer close to the vibrant culture of Vancouver they’d been used to. Now they had a condo in Victoria, but they weren’t happy with it.
But Justin had lost his girlfriend. The woman he’d loved deeply. He’d married Sharleen out of loneliness and desperation, and that had blown up in his face as well.
When our parents had taken money from him for fake expenses, he’d lost his faith in his family too. He trusted me—had given me power of attorney over his money just to keep Mom and Dad from manipulating him. They thought it was because of Sharleen,, but their betrayal had been worse in some ways.
They tried the same on me, but I was tougher than Justin when it came to standing up to them. He could body check big hockey players without a flinch, but he hated confrontations with people. After all he’d done to keep us going after the financial disaster, I’d do anything he needed, including buffering him from Mom and Dad.
To change the subject, I asked if they thought Grandma had changed. “She was barely responsive when I saw her today.”
Mom set down her fork. “I know I should visit more often, but…it’s hard. Too hard.”
I knew it was hard—I’d just been there.
Before I could respond, Dad spoke. “I’ve seen subtle changes in her.”
“You’ve been?”
He nodded. “Usually every week.”
I studied his face, but he seemed sincere. “I read her some P and P.”
