Page 33 of Peak of Love
“Now, since I have yet to calm down from talking to that incompetent referee—”
“She was ejected from the game,” Jonas said, barely containing a snort.
“Like I said. Consequences,” she piped.
“Anyway, since I’ve had enough heated conversations today, how about you go ahead with your lunch plans and I’ll see you at home in a few hours. You still good with that, Dane?”
Dane was watching, amazed and amused. “Yeah, of course. And Parker said he would come along. It’ll be fun.”
“Alrighty then. Here are some wipes to clean your face and antibiotic ointment,” she said to Jerome. She gave an extra kiss to the boys before getting into her SUV. What a woman.
Dane didn’t know that as soon as Celina drove away, she started to feel overwhelmed. Her body slumped with relief that her sons remained physically unharmed. She felt the choking grip of anger for a game that didn’t need to get violent if adults modeled better behavior. There was no way for Dane to know Celina was racked with anxiety that she didn’t manage the right balance of punishment and understanding that would get through to Jerome. No one witnessed her eyes burn as adrenaline evacuated her system.
Though, if Dane knew all of this, he would still repeat his constant refrain. What. A. Woman.
When the kids saw how fancy Grilled Goose was, they begged to go elsewhere. The group ended up in Main Event—an arcade extravaganza with bowling, laser tag, and rock climbing—because apparently the boys still had energy to spare. Dane was glad for food choices beyond mediocre pizza. Jerome and Jonas ate their weight in wings and fries while the adults had decent salads.
Parker took pictures of the boys eating and sent them to his wife, Grace. When the boys excused themselves to play a round of laser tag, Dane ventured what he thought were harmless inquiries. “Was Grace busy this morning? How is she?”
Parker was quiet for a moment and then mumbled, “Grace has a hard time watching the sports events. Especially soccer. Since… ” The older man’s voice weakened before he managed, “well, you know.”
He did. Dane could imagine how difficult it would be for them to constantly be reminded of how strong and athletic Asher was. When you raise a local soccer star, you basically live in tournament venues like the one they’d been in today. There’s not a field in the Northwest that wouldn’t remind Grace of her son. In their own ways, Jerome and Jonas exuded their father’s talents. Jerome had his stalwart presence and sharp intuition. Jonas moved like his father, as if he had wings instead of feet.
And yet, Celina managed to be there for her boys, didn’t she? Dane shook the comparison away. Everyone approached grief differently.
Who was he to judge when, at the moment, his grief was marinating in guilt? Guilt because he’d survived all the reckless adventures of his past when Asher didn’t. Guilt because nothing made him happier than being the man to put the boys to bed and hold Celina last night (fleeting and frustrating as it was). Guilt because every moment with her confirmed she wasn’t just an amazing woman. She was simplythewoman.
“I’m sorry, Parker. Every day is—”
“Hell. Every day without Asher is hell.” It was the way he said it, with almost no emotion. It was a father’s simple statement of fact.
“The boys, though, they’re incredible. They’re growing up so fast.”
“Yes,” Parker agreed.
They watched from their vantage point as the boys got out of the laser tag room and lined back up for another round. They had the unlimited pass for the day and seemed intent on making use of the privilege.
“Celina stayed at your vacation property in Canada after Christmas. She told us it was beautiful.”
Dane felt heat flood his veins. “Yeah. She wanted to try it out before letting the kids go. I think she, um, she didn’t want them to associate skiing with anything other than their dad. So they probably won’t go there any time soon. At least not during the winter. We’ll see.”
Parker nodded solemnly. “She’s always thinking about how to keep Asher’s memory alive for the twins. Grace and I had meant to have the boys over to look at some albums we stumbled on when cleaning.”
“That’s great. They’re hungry to hear about Asher.”
“Celina didn’t ask us to take care of them while she was away. She had her sister come.”
The younger man wasn’t sure where this was going. Dane’s parents were never as affectionate and involved as the Whittaker family, so caretaking politics was foreign to him. “Well, did you offer?”
Parker’s face pulled back as if he was slapped. “She knows the boys are always welcome. She didn’t have to ask her sister to come all the way from Arizona.”
Something about Parker’s indignation rattled Dane’s nerves. “Did you offer?” he asked again.
“She knows that—”
“Offer tonight,” he blurted. “If they’re always welcome, get the boys to stay over with you and Grace. You saw how stressed Celina is. And everyone knows Jerome isn’t in a hurry to write those letters. When you take the boys back to Celina, offer to have them overnight.”
“You think she’ll say yes?”
