Page 47 of Press Your Luck

“Did you see the news about Coach Withers?” Bo asked.

My gut clenched. The last thing I wanted to do was talk about Naomi.

“I don’t buy it,” Analyn said.

“Why?” I asked, curious about the vehemence in her voice.

“I just don’t. She doesn’t strike me as a woman who’d compromise her integrity or goals.”

“Analyn and Ruby have befriended Naomi,” Reed explained.

My initial thought was that I was glad Naomi had nice friends like Analyn and Ruby. But then annoyance grew. She could be friends with the enemy but not date one?

“Is that a function of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer?” I asked.

“Not at all,” Ruby said. “Hockey business isn’t between us.”

I looked over at Reed and Bo, both of whom didn’t seem bothered by their wives hanging out with a rival team’s coach.

“How are things going with Porter?” Bo asked.

"Porter is struggling. I'm not quite sure how to handle it."

"It can't be easy for Porter either. It must be just as shocking for him to be thrust into your life, with a father he doesn't know, as it is for you to suddenly have a son,” Bo said.

"I know," I agreed, watching my wine as I swirled my glass. "But we need to find a way to connect."

“Sometimes, it just takes time, I imagine,” Ruby said, her eyes shining with sympathy.

Before I could respond, the sound of rapid footsteps interrupted our conversation. Laina burst into the room, her face red with anger.

She went straight to Bo and Ruby. "Porter said girls can't do what boys do. But I told him how you beat Daddy in hockey when you were kids. And the Silver Nuggets have a girl coach who beat Pierce in their last game."

I felt a mix of embarrassment and anger bubble inside me. "He said that?"

Laina nodded. "And then he called me a name and pushed me."

"Okay, Laina. We'll handle this." But Ruby looked at me to do something. As she should. Porter was my son.

"Porter," I called out, summoning him from the playroom. He appeared in the doorway, his expression a mixture of defiance and annoyance. "Did you say those things to Laina and push her?"

“No.”

“He did so,” Laina insisted.

I took a deep breath, struggling to find the right balance between supporting my son and addressing his behavior. My heart ached for him. I knew he was feeling just as lost and confused as I was. But I couldn't let him hurt others.

"Porter, I want you to go to your room," I ordered. "We’ll talk about this later." I wasn’t sure that was the right answer, but I didn’t know what else to say or do at that moment.

"Fine." He stormed off to his room, slamming his door.

As the echo of the slam subsided, I turned back to my friends. "I'm sorry about that."

"Being a parent is tough," Bo said sympathetically, his arm still around Laina. "Especially when you're thrown into it like you were."

I suppose he’d know since he’d only recently learned he was Laina’s father. But Laina had Ruby, who’d done a great job raising Laina for the first nine years alone. Porter wouldn’t talk about his mom, but my sense was that he hadn’t had that.

"Thanks, Bo.” I stood up. “It’s time to eat.”

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