Page 19 of Triple Puck Valentines

Kat jumps to her feet, “Noah. Stop.”

Brakes squeal, twenty cars race through the parking lot, slamming to spots haphazardly.

People squeal and shout, doors slam open, men and women in various police uniforms and plain clothes jump out of their cars. My hand is pressing against my slick shoulder. I glance down to find blood pumping out between my fingers. That must be why I’m so lightheaded.

“Kat. Hutch.” Voices roar, the blood weaves in and out with the voices.

“Jeremiah? Noah?” Ma?

A second gunshot. This time not tearing through my body. Screams closer, but further away.

“Ma!” I shake my head, trying to get the brain particles inside to work with one brain cell. My eyelids flutter, my body threatens to crumble to the ground, but someone holds me up.

“Ma!” I tighten one corner of my jaw, forcing myself to stay upright and awake. Black still laces through my vision.

Mama lies on the ground, Noah sits beside her. His hands clutch her in his arms. Hers limp, drop to the asphalt. Mama?

Five men and women sink to the ground next to them. One woman murmurs to my brother, trying to get him to move away. A man in a uniform helps her drag Noah away, he stares down at our mother’s bleeding body. She’s not moving. More uniformed persons descend on the body. She’s dead. I know. How I know, I don’t know.

One man rests two fingers against her throat, and another moves her dress aside at the neck. The first man, a face still, shakes his head. Noah roars, and a clamor fills my head.

How can this happen?

“Hutch.”

More hands clutch at me. Black over takes me.

* * *

Kat,Noah and me surround a coffin in the ground. No one else besides a minister. Not from Ma’s church. They are finally dismantled. Kind of anticlimactic. I was unconscious, but Abel and Jesse filled me in.

They have left again. Leaving to head to Utah to play against the Utah Wolves. Ma. Poor Ma.

We found out she had been lead most of her life. First by her father. Then her husband Noah’s father. Then Brother Hamilton. I find out who is my father. I’m still reeling from that revelation. He thought it was his life’s goal to multiply the world with his young.

When I looked into his face I found an older mirror image. Thank God I’m not a megalomaniac like he is. This town is filled with my half-brothers and sisters.

“Hutch are you okay?” Kat places her hand on my uninjured arm, her face scrunched, with worry.

I nod, not ready to talk yet. We’re leaving in a few minutes. I’m going to help Noah more on the ranch on off season months. The four of us decided it would be great to get away from the city at times. So, a house is being built for us. A modest 4 bedroom. The master a suite with room for a massive bed. Can you believe it? They sell them? Who knew. Also one of the other rooms for anyone that needs alone time.

“Let’s go.” Noah and I need to process Ma’s death and everything we knew. Which was nothing. We shake hands, not ready for man hugs yet. We’ll build up to that.

“I’ll call you in a couple days Hutch.” He slaps me on my back on my good side. At least he did that. And he called me Hutch for the first time. Maybe we can work out a relationship.

“See you in a few months brother.” I grab Kat’s hand with the one not in a sling and we walk to the rental.

* * *

I sitin the stands behind our penalty box. Abel and Jesse slide the puck between them, keeping it away from the other team. My teeth are gritted, my hands twitch to hold my stick. This is torture. I should be there. The three of us made a great team keeping the puck away from the other team.

There it is. That moment with only a glance Abel sends it to Jesse who with a hard slam of his stick sends it flying into the opposing teams goal. The goalie drops to his knees, arms spread wide, but too late. We win again. We’re on our way for another championship. I scream and stomp with everyone else in the stands for the Bay City Brawlers.

14

KATHRINA

This will be a celebratory night for the three men. It’s also Valentine’s Day night. They’ve been working so hard. Especially Hutch. Trying to get back in shape to play. It’s been two weeks and he’s out of that sling. The guys went to their favorite watering hole for a drink. It doesn’t matter to me if they forgot this night. We’re together and that’s what’s important.

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