Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64493 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“Hey, I have an idea. How about if you and I go book shopping in Pinecrest? We can stop for ice cream on the way home.”
She swiveled on her stool and gasped gleefully. “For real? Now?”
I winced. “I have to work now, but…how about tomorrow?”
Mary-Kate jumped off her stool and lunged for me. “Yes, yes, yes! Thank you! What time?”
I mentally ran through my calendar. “I’m free after practice tomorrow. Four-thirty.”
“Perfect,” Mom chimed in. “I’ll drop you off at the rink to save Uncle Nol a second trip.”
Mary-Kate grinned. “Yay! Let’s shake on it.”
We both shimmied, flailing our arms like the Gumby inflatable in front of the tire store on Main Street. This was our sacred uncle-niece version of a secret handshake. I hoped we were still doing it when she had kids of her own someday.
“Sounds like a lovely date.” Mom smiled and primly tucked a stray piece of her short gray hair behind her ear.
“I can’t wait!” Mary-Kate pushed her red-framed glasses into place on her freckled nose with her forefinger in a move that made her look just like her grandmother. Yeah, the kid was spending way too much time with adults. “I’m going to tell JC and see if he needs help in the kitchen, okay?”
“Yeah, but make sure it’s okay with him. You know how he gets,” I warned.
Mary-Kate beamed. “Mais oui. Merci!”
“And wash your hands,” Mom called out, sliding onto the stool Mary-Kate had abandoned and leaning against my side. “You, my darling, just made that girl’s day.”
“Sorry I didn’t think of it sooner. I’ve been…busy.” I stole a cold french fry from her plate to give my hands something to do.
“I bet. I haven’t seen much of you. Ronnie said he hasn’t, either. I hope you’re not overworking yourself,” she chided.
“No, I’m fine. Just doing the usual stuff…you know, here and at the rink,” I babbled.
Stupid move. My mom shot an eagle-eyed glance my way. “How are things going with Vinnie?”
“Fine,” I squeaked, clearing my throat noisily before trying again. “Fine. Why?”
“Just wondering. I’m glad to hear that. It makes it easier to ask you a favor.”
I frowned. “What kind of favor?”
She fiddled with the top button of her pink cardigan and swiveled till our knees bumped. “Town council wants to throw a welcome home parade in Vinnie’s honor. We’d start at the firehouse on Washington, go down Main Street, and end up…here.”
“At the diner?”
“Yes. Your brother has all kinds of ideas about how to generate business at the rink, but a parade would generate revenue for the entire town. We could ask that social media gal who helped you with your website to put together a little campaign.”
“Mom…”
“Your father would have loved to give Vinnie a hero’s welcome. You know how much he loved that boy…and hockey. He’s gone and this place is yours, which makes it your decision, of course. So, what do you think? I was going to ask Ronnie to talk to him, but you see Vinnie just as often, if not more. Maybe you could do the honors…unless you’re still angry at him?”
Oh. Weird.
“No, we’re…we’re good.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that. Resentment is bad for the soul. In the words of Buddha…holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
I gaped incredulously. “You’re quoting Buddha now?”
“I don’t know really if that was from Buddha, but I have to keep you on your toes!” She gathered her laptop and kissed my cheek, the familiar scent of her favorite perfume wafted between us. “I’m off to take Mary-Kate home.”
“All right. Love you, Mom.”
Mom waved as she skirted the counter, bursting into the kitchen as if she owned the place…which, she kind of did. Only twenty percent, but it was a weighty twenty. If she wanted to throw a parade and party for Vinnie, I’d figure out a way to make it work.
Assuming he wouldn’t laugh at the idea.
9
VINNIE
“A parade? You’re fuckin’ with me.” I tapped my stick on the ice and looked up at the rafters, a huge smile splitting my face in two.
“Yep. It’s an idea my mom had to drum up business for the town, but you’re already doing this.” Nolan gestured to the group of hockey hooligans practicing a passing drill nearby. “So, no pressure. We can let my mom down easy.”
“Are you nuts? I’m honored and…stuff.”
Nolan punched my biceps lightly. “You mean you’re touched?”
“Yeah, that too.” And overwhelmed. I had a healthy ego for sure, but the idea of a hero’s parade in my honor was…humbling.
“That’s cool. She’ll be thrilled. Seriously. She said it’s something my dad would have wanted to do for you, and that’s true. He wouldn’t have cared if the celebration generated a dime. He’d just—”
“Uncle Nolan! Hi!”
We pivoted to the bench and waved at Mary-Kate, whose wide grin rivaled mine.