Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 73

Luci

The snow is coming down hard as we leave the rink. “This should only last for about an hour, and then it’ll start waning.” Easton says as we leave and drive towards some of the downtown shops. He helps us out and we walk into a store that says “PYOP” above the door. I glance around and see it’s a pottery painting place.

Cole grabs my hand. “You like it, Luci? We pick something and all paint it, then we take it home later.”

“That’s fun.” I answer him as I take in all the ready to paint pieces.

“What are we painting?” Easton asks us and I keep my face blank. I don’t picture the blonde hockey captain painting pottery at all.

“We let Luci pick.” Cole says quickly, but I see how he has his eyes fixated on one piece.

“Why don’t you pick, Coco?” I offer.

He walks over to a big flower vase. “This. For Luci’s flowers.”

“Pretty good idea.” Easton says before whispering in my ear. “You’re doubting my painting abilities.”

“A little skeptical of your enjoyment is all.” I smile up at him.

“It will be good for a laugh for you if nothing else.” He talks to the person at the desk who sets us up in a small room with aprons and all the supplies we need. We each start painting a section of it and I smother my laugh as Cole whispers about needing more black paint and if Easton can help him make a bat symbol. Easton keeps a straight face though it’s tenuous.

“I need to spell Coco. She said we write our name.”

I lean over and help him with that one.

“Let me see what you painted.” Easton turns it, seeing my flowers and a sun on my section. Cole has added bat symbols, and a stick figure family of the three of us with snow falling over our heads along with his name. I spin it more to find Easton put the date with our names under it and then painted it like a mosaic with long thin strokes in four colors. He raises an eyebrow questioningly.

“I like it.” I tell him honestly.

“I thought about the stick figures, but Cole beat me to them.” He adds dryly.

We leave with them promising to glaze and fire it before calling us to pick it up.

“Can we go eat now?” Cole asks the minute we walk out the door.

“We can. Let’s go to the deli and have soup.” Easton tells him and he agrees happily. You can tell he’s loving his day out at two restaurants.

“Alright, everyone is fed and warm. Let’s go for the last part of our family date.” Easton announces as we leave the restaurant. He drives toward the main park near downtown. The snow is barely falling. Easton grabs a thick blanket before helping us out. “I’ll carry you Cole.”

He lifts him up and I grab the blanket from him. We step through the trees into an open area and I see two giant red sleighs complete with large horses ready to go.

“Christmas sleigh ride, Luci.” Cole says excitedly. I smile at them.

“I had no idea they did this.” I say as Easton hands them tickets before setting Cole on the seats.

“Every year starting this weekend as long as there’s snow on the ground. We thought this might be something you’ve never done before. And before you give me lots of credit, the preschool sent home a flyer about this on Friday. I had no idea it existed either.” He lifts me into the seat before climbing in and spreading the blanket over the two of us.

“You could have completely lied to me.” I tease and he shakes his head.

“Never. You’ll get unrealistic expectations for me.” He jokes.

The driver turns around. “I’m Nathan. I sit here and pretend I’m in charge. The two real drivers are Brutus and Max up there.” He points to the white and black horse respectively. Cole calls their names and both turn their heads slightly. Nathan dramatically whispers behind his hand.

“And if they do a good job, I have some carrots and apples you might want to feed them at the end, young man. Along with some nose scratches.”

“I can feed them?”

“Yes. They are very gentle beasts.” Nathan says with a big smile. Cole laughs at the description. I lean back and watch the snow fall as we ride all over the park. I won’t forget this, I know. Cole leans against me and Easton wraps his arm behind both of us. At the end, I’m truly sad to leave. We help Cole feed the friendly beasts and scratch their noses. They blow their hot breath over him, making him laugh.

I lean my head against Easton’s arm as we walk back to the parking lot. We get back to their house and work together to get a sleepy Cole bathed and into bed. I’m not far behind him, I think as I yawn while tucking him in. “Luci, how’d we do?” He asks, his little eyes barely open.

“One of the best days I’ve ever had Coco. I will never forget any of it. Now you dream about horses having a snowball fight.”

We tiptoe out and Easton wraps his arms around me. “Movie in the game room? You can go get a hot shower and change into pajamas first.”

“Sure if I can stay awake.” I tell him honestly.

“If you fall asleep, I’ll tuck you into your bed.”

I nod before lifting on my tiptoes to kiss him. “Thank you for today. I loved all of it.”

“Success then. I enjoyed it too. Even the painting, but don’t tell anyone. Go change. I’ll meet you back out here in twenty minutes.”

I only make it through thirty minutes of the movie before the next thing I see is sunlight streaming through unfamiliar blinds with Cole sitting on my bed, reading a book. “Morning Luci. Daddy said I couldn’t wake you up, but I could wait for you.”

“Morning.” I hold my arms out, and he comes to hug me. “Is it late?” I check my phone. Only 7 thank goodness.

“Baker was making pancakes, but then he’s leaving for his day off with Miss Kylie.”

“Ok. Let me get dressed and we’ll go eat.” I hurry and we head for the kitchen to join everyone.

They act like it’s nothing strange for me to be at breakfast. Mr. Reed tells us he’s going to check out some things at the arena for his team after he eats.

After Baker leaves, Easton asks if I’ll watch Cole so they can get their workout done early. We head for the playroom until he comes to join us before lunch.

“Do you mind if Syd drops Barrett off for a little while this afternoon? She needs to finish one of her final projects and Banning is working with her parents gone out of town for the day.” I hold up my phone as I read the message.

“He’s welcome anytime, Luci.” Easton says quietly. I send her back a thumbs up and read her message, suppressing the laugh.

“Mr. Logan is going to send over some sugar and snickerdoodle cookie dough for us to make cookies as p****** for watching Barrett.” I read with a laugh. “He told Syd to raid his freezer stash for us. That is a high honor for the snickerdoodle one.” I tell him seriously.

Easton watches my face. “You really love them.”

I nod as I think about all the times they opened their home and arms for me. “They are amazingly loving people and I’m beyond blessed I got to have them in my life. Mrs. Isabelle helped heal me when I wanted to turn my back on the world.” I admit to him.

“How?” He asks quietly.

“I had decided I was worth nothing. That I was less than other kids. I didn’t care about traditions or think that I deserved to ask for anything. She showed me I was wrong. Mrs. Isabelle loves hard and she’s fierce about it.” I think of the lesson she gave me and smile.

“Janet did a lot for me too but Mrs. Isabelle had her own methods and between the two of them, they shaped my outlook on the world more than anyone else ever did.”

“Then I will make an exception for Banning hugging you sometimes. And I’m happy to keep Barrett anytime they need help.”

Syd drops him off and I offer to bring him home later if she needs me to. “I think Banning is going to pick him up here. But he’ll text you. Cookie dough, should be thawed by now. Three pounds and cookie cutters.” She gives me a sly smirk.

“Your dad was serious. I’ll text him later to thank him.”

She hugs me. “Bye babe. Thank you for watching him.”

“Anytime. You know that.” We watch her leave, before I shut the door.

I head for the kitchen with the two boys and start the oven. I grab the cookie cutters and set the two of them up. On a hunch, I set out more parchment paper and baking trays. “Are the big guys joining us?” Barrett asks as he watches me.‘

“I bet they will.” I wink at him.

Sure enough, all four come around the corner ten minutes later. They laugh as I point to the dough rolled out ready for them with cookie cutters. “Oh you’ve got fun cookie cutters. These are hockey sticks and helmets.” Kingston notes holding them up.

“And Batman and Star Wars. Grampy has the best boy cookie cutters.” Barrett tells him proudly.

“We have to put them back in the fridge after you cut them out or they might become ahem interesting shapes.” I warn them.

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