Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 12

Luci

The day before Halloween, I’m walking into the Reed house thinking over what we can play today. I didn’t collect Cole from preschool Imogen texted me that she was picking him up. Something happened at school with a bigger kid and a block. Hopefully Coco wasn’t hurt. Which reminds me I need to finish my paper for basic health class. And I need to finish my to do list for projects, write out the prioritization and then “chunk each one. Such a weird word to use for breaking down stuff to make it easier. All I could hear was “Sloth love Chunk every time the therapist helped me do it and hear Chunk screaming. I think we watched that movie… The sound of Cole sobbing reaches my ears and I refocus, going on alert. I sprint toward the kitchen as it gets louder.

I stop the second I round the comer. He’s in a fetal position on the floor crying his heart out. His face is buried in his hands.

“Cole, that is enough. Get up.” Imogen stands over him, impatiently giving orders.

“I don’t want to do that! I want to go trick or treating. My Dark Vader costume…” He wails and my heart breaks.

“Cole, that is too bad. Your father and uncles have practice until late and then a party downtown with some pretty ladies. I have a party too with my friends. You will come with me and be with Eloise and her nanny. It’ll be fun.” She barely tries to sound convincing. She’d already given me the day off tomorrow. I assumed it was because they would take Cole trick or treating.

“Mrs. Reed, sorry to interrupt.” Her head snaps my way. “I could take Cole trick or treating. I take Barrett with his Aunt Sydney. He could come with us. I’d pick him up from school and bring him here to get dressed. Or I can take his costume today and he can come with me to Sydney’s to get ready.”

Her eyes narrow on me. Cole has gone mostly silent, sniffling hard, but he raises his head with cautious optimism.

“Where would you take him? I don’t want him going to just any neighborhood.” She sounds disdainful. Like you actually care, lady, I want to say.

“We always go to Hedgewood Estates. My old boss lives there and she sets up an entire yard full of fun activities. All the adults go all out and dress in costumes. It’s very safe.”

And it’s nice enough for her standards. The houses are anywhere from three quarter of a million to a full million there. The difference being the people are kind and love to do this for the kids every year. Real parents and grandparents to all kids.

The brief surprise that flits across her face is to be expected. “That…that would be acceptable. Get up Cole, and thank Luci for her kindness. If it is going to be an issue, Luci, inform me as soon as possible.”

“I don’t think it will, Mrs. Reed.” She nods and leaves.

Cole watches her leave before coming and hugging my legs. “Thank you, Luci.” He whispers still hiccuping as he tries to calm down.

I grip his arms loosening them before I crouch to his level. “Now there is a price for me taking you.”

He frowns thinking hard. I have to contain my smile. “I get three pieces of chocolate from your bag.”

He laughs with delight, that pure sound going straight to my soul. “You can have four Luci.” He throws his arms around me.

“Well then, I made a really good choice inviting you. Come eat your snack and then we are going to build a fort with those tube things you have.”

Baker sets two plates down and I see homemade chocolate chip cookies next to the grapes and cheese crackers. He winks at me. “For a job well done, Luci.”

I look into his kind face. “Baker, how long have you worked here?”

“Since Mr. Easton and Jackson were born. When I retired from the military, I needed a certain type of job and I came to pay off a favor. You see Luci, I didn’t always have all my eggs in one basket either. That’s how I met Jason Reed. When my eggs got fried.” He says softly before walking away. Empathy for him fills me. It’s not easy to admit something like that to a stranger. Maybe because I confided that in him too.

I turn to Cole, who is naturally eating his cookie first. Which is exactly what I’m going to do too. Not sure who made rules like dessert is last, but they should be checked for signs of intelligent life.

“Would you like to get ready here or at my house tomorrow?” I ask him and he immediately answers.

“Your house.” Baker returns to wash his hands hearing Cole’s answer.

I nod and Baker turns to me. “I will make sure his costume goes home with you along with a change of clothes.”

“His pajamas, Baker. That way I can change him before we drive back here in case he falls asleep. Lots of walking involved for little legs.”

“Now can I ask who Eloise is?” I glance at Baker.

of an old classmate of Easton and Jackson’s. He plays He leans forward. “She is the year–old daughter of an old classmate of Easton and Jackson’s. He plays basketball and his parents are having a masquerade charity event tomorrow night. It is at their home so Eloise will be spending the night with her nanny.”

“I see.” Sounds stuffy and like nothing a four–year–old who had his heart set on being the dark Jedi Lord would want to do. Even for an hour.

Baker tells me to go home once Cole is asleep. He packed his bag for me.

“Thank you, Baker.”

He hands me a large cooler bag. “There are healthy snacks in here with lots of protein and fat to head off the sugar crash for him and Mr. Barrett. I also added a lasagna. Already cooked, just needs to be warmed up.” “You are a treasure, Baker. I’ll bring the bag back in two days.” I tell him sincerely and he smiles. Sydney meets us at my place not long after I get the two vibrating boys home on Halloween. They are so excited and I admit I am too. Cole’s enthusiasm is infectious.

We all get dressed in our costumes with Cole and Barrett teasing us about not matching them.

“Um I match Luci, so it works.” Syd tells them laughing. I drive us to Hedgewood and park near the entrance. “Time to walk guys. Unless Lord Vader, you can make us float.”

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