Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 65

Cole

“Coco…” I rub my eyes and find Daddy sitting on the side of my bed.

“Daddy, Luci calls me Coco.”

“Only Luci?” He lays next to me on my pillow with his face looking at me.

“It’s ok for Daddy too.” I touch his face. “Morning Daddy.”

“Morning buddy. I need to talk to you.”

“Did you kiss Luci? It worked?” Daddy runs his hand through my hair.

“That’s what we need to talk about. Do you know that last night was called a date?”

I nod. “Baker and Nanna explained that. You have to date and kiss and if you really like her, she could be my mom. If she likes you too.”

He smiles at me. “That’s right. But you have to date for a while. Lots of dates. Longer than Christmas for me to ask her. And then Luci has to say yes to be part of us. And you would come on some of our dates. Those are called family dates because you are half of the family she would join. We can’t leave Cole out.”

“You like her Daddy, don’t you? I saw you kiss her at the tree lighting.”

Luci seems to make Daddy happy too.

“I really, really like Luci. And I hope she’s going to want to be part of our family. We have to take her out and show her we can take care of her. Show her she can give us her heart and we won’t hurt it.” I think about that.

“I know how to do that Daddy. That’s easy.” He laughs a little bit.

“How do we do that? Daddy can use all the help to keep Luci.”

“We give her our hearts first. She’ll know we won’t break hers if she has ours.” I run my fingers over his cheeks.

He hugs me tight to him. “You know what Cole. That is a fantastic idea. And I know just how to do that for her. You are very smart, do you know that?”

“I know Daddy. Nanna says Barrett and I have more sense than most adults. I have that many pennies Daddy?”

He laughs really loud at that making his chest feel funny against me. “Nanna is very right. Sense like you use your brain, buddy. Means you are smart. I love you forever, Cole. No matter what happens with Luci.”

“I know Daddy. But I want Luci to love us too. Luci love is special. It’s real love she gives me like she said. Her hugs make my heart smile.”

“Mine too.” He whispers. “Is that how Luci explained real love to you? That it makes your heart smile?”

“Yes. It’s very special she said. I can see it. She showed me how. Like when Mr. Logan was singing to Mrs. Isabelle and made her laugh before she kissed him. When Mr. Banning lets us chase him with swords and played with us all night. When you let me sleep in your bed because I have bad dreams and don’t fuss. Sydney came to my turkey play even though she’s not my real family. Luci becomes my size to talk to me.”

“All the little things….yeah Luci is the smartest of us. We need her to join our family. Let’s get you dressed and have breakfast. Daddy needs to go talk to Grandpappy.”

Easton

Cole skips happily down the hall to breakfast. I know he wants to tell Baker what I said. I swear the world should be mostly run by kids. Jackson’s already at the island as he types away furiously. “Finishing that essay?” I ask and he nods.

“Last paragraph.” He continues to type and I make his plate along with Cole’s.

He briefly glances up. “Thanks. You’re being talked about.”

“I know. I can hear him.”

Cole is whispering to Baker that I said Luci needs to join our family. “Wait, Daddy you didn’t tell me if you kissed her?”

Jackson loses it and I shake my head. I had skipped that question on purpose. “Barrett said that means it worked like in the movies. Did you?”

“Yeah Easton, don’t leave details out. We gotta know if this was movie–worthy.” Becker appears around the corner chuckling.

“Cole, when your uncles find nice ladies, you and Barrett need to help them with their dates.” I threaten.

“Still not an answer.” Kingston joins in.

“It’s a freaking ambush around here.” I mutter. “Yes, Cole. I did.”

“Like at the tree lighting?” He asks. I sigh loudly, where’s a phone call or loud crash to interrupt when you need it.

Before I know it, Dad walks in too, and he looks far too innocent. “What happened at the tree lighting?”

“Daddy kissed Luci.” Cole fires off, happily running to Dad. “And he took her on a date last night.”

I close my eyes and slowly shake my head. “If any of you shared your present ideas with people less than four feet tall in this house, you are screwed.” I declare as Dad laughs.

“I think he likes her Cole. What do you think?” Dad asks him like it’s a secret.

“He does. Barrett and I had to help him though.”

Dad grins. “How about I take you to school today and you tell me how you helped him? I think I need to talk to your Daddy first. You can eat with your uncles, and then I’ll drive you.”

“Sure.” He scrambles down and runs to his plate.

“Breakfast in my office, Easton?” His voice is tinged with amusement.

“Might as well have it here so I don’t have to repeat it later.” I say with resignation. Becker cackles but then points to Cole. I nod knowingly. I make my plate and follow behind him.

“What date number are you on?” He slowly grins at me.

“I don’t know. Like five. Depends on when I officially start counting and what I count. Mother had a clause in her contract that said she could not come near any of us or try to attract us.”

He scowls at that. “Of course she did. Because she picked such winners to introduce you boys to. That contract is dead, so Luci is safe. Imogen is probably spitting nails but whatever. She’s called Lorna three times a day, every day since I kicked her out.”

“Where is she Dad?” None of us have dared broach her name so far.

“She’s at the corporate apartment. I wouldn’t put her out on the streets. Though I did suggest she could simply move in with Vivienne. They could start a venomous domestic partnership where they teach others how to miscommunicate and misconstrue simple activities.” He takes a bite of his pancakes before continuing. “We need to have an adult Reed men dinner again, but she’s fighting the separation agreement. Claiming she wants to go to counseling and needs to see me. My lawyer has more than earned his paycheck in the last week. As of right now, I refuse to even speak to her. Let her see what that feels like. And that’s petty but I’ve never pretended not to be vengeful. I probably already know the answer to this, but I will ask all of you anyway. Do you want to see her for any holiday reasons?”

“I have no reason to right now, Dad. I understand that might be painful being a parent myself.

However, she took her issue with you out on us. At least I guess that’s what she did. She didn’t really explain that part, and I wasn’t interested in talking to her. And she hasn’t exactly been a real grandmother to Cole.”

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