hadn’t even replied, but at least, Kaylie told herself, Stephen had made the effort. She was terribly proud of him.
Aaron made his way to the front of the box, towing Dora behind. When they reached the double row of seats overlooking the ice, however, it was Dora who spoke first.
“Lemme see! Lemme see!” Grabbing Kaylie’s hand from Stephen’s, she gasped at the elegantly simple two-carat, marquis-cut diamond on Kaylie’s dainty finger. “Ooh, classic. I’m so happy for you.” She smacked Stephen on the cheek, adding, “I’m happier for you.”
“Thanks.” He and Aaron shook hands, Stephen saying, “I thought you were hobnobbing with team management tonight.”
“Oh, yeah, and brother are you going to be happy when you hear my news.” Aaron bounced on the pads of his feet.
“What news?”
Aaron leaned close and muttered in a voice audible by everyone in the suite, “Kapimsky’s going to Canada.”
“No kidding!”
“They’re rebuilding up there and need a hotshot young goalie to get ’em into the playoffs.” He pounded Stephen on the shoulder and, grinning, added, “They wanted you, but the team won’t let you go.”
Stephen closed his eyes, hugging Kaylie tight with his right arm. Stephen sighed as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders. He brought his hand around and clapped palms with Aaron. “Thanks, man. That’s a great wedding present.”
“Speaking of presents, the team’s got something for you. Will you come down to the locker room right after the game and bring the better half with you?”
Stephen uneasily shifted in his seat, his cast knocking against the half wall at the edge of the box. “I don’t know. It would mean running the press gauntlet, and Kaylie may not be ready for that.”
“We’ll be there,” she said confidently, and Stephen’s arm tightened.
“Thanks, babe,” he whispered.
Half an hour later, it was all over. The team had lost by a single point, their opponents advancing on to the finals, but no one could expect them to hang their heads. They’d come a long way fast, and the future looked bright. Kaylie and Stephen rose to make their way downstairs, taking their leave of the family with kisses and pats and handclasps.
Hubner came over to squeeze Stephen’s shoulder and say, “Next year, son. Next year.”
Smiling, Stephen nodded. Kaylie knew that her father would never be a hockey fan, but he showed signs of becoming a Stephen fan, and that was what counted most.
Aaron returned to run interference for the happy couple, keeping the press from eating them alive and checking the locker room to make sure that everyone was still decent before ushering them inside. Stephen paused, his weight balanced on his crutches. Kaylie’s slipped her hand supportively into the curve of his elbow. Instantly, they were swamped by sweaty skaters speaking half a dozen different languages. The team captain called for order and got it.
“These are yours, man,” he said to Stephen, producing three battered pucks. “One for every game we won in this series.”
Stephen shook his head. “No, I can’t. Kapimsky should get those. He—”
Kapimsky stepped forward. “You got us here, dude, and you gave me my shot. Those pucks are yours.”
Kaylie beamed as the two shook hands, and Stephen congratulated Kapimsky on his new contract.
“Next year, all the way!” someone called.
A cheer went up. After it died down, Stephen made introductions. The men congratulated him and joked with Kaylie about being the team nurse.
“Well, I have specialized in pediatrics,” she quipped. “That ought to qualify me for the position.”
Stephen laughed with everyone else. They stayed a few moments longer, then got out so the guys could strip and shower. Monday morning, Stephen said, they’d start cleaning out their lockers, the season finally having come to a close. He seemed at peace with that.
Aaron pocketed his phone, saying, “I called your car around. Head on out back. They’ll be waiting for you.”
Stephen had hired a series of limos to ferry the family to and from the game so no one would have to worry about getting lost or finding a decent parking place. He passed the hockey pucks to Kaylie, saying, “Can you hold these for me, babe?”
She dropped them into her purse. “I can’t imagine they’ll be the only ones.”
“Let’s hope not!” Aaron quipped. “I’ll pick them up later and get them into the display case.”
The case had been moved to Aaron’s office for safekeeping while Stephen’s Fort Worth house was being repaired and put on the market. He and Kaylie, meanwhile, had an appointment with an architect for the following week