Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 81

Cole

“Luci!” I run to her as she walks in the door. Marco waves to me and I see another man standing in the hall.

“Cole, that’s Vince. You can wave to him right now, but he’s like a secret agent and we have to pretend we don’t see him other times, ok?”

“Ok. Hi.” I whisper and wave to him. He smiles and waves back. Grandpappy’s big friends are very nice. “Will he have cookies with us too?”

“Maybe. But not today. Just Marco today. Let’s get you home. I got you something fun for us to make today.”

“Ok Luci. Bye Mrs. Hutchins.” I turn to whisper. “Bye Mr. Vince.”

Luci asks me about my day and I tell her everything. Even how Mason put glue in his hair and tried to make me do it. “I told him no Luci because I didn’t want you to get mad at me.”

“It’s good you did, because sometimes you have to cut all your hair off if you put glue in it.” She makes a frowny face.

“And then Jill cut her hair with her scissors.”

“Oh dear. A lot of her hair?” Luci parks in front of our house.

“Like this much.” I show her and she wrinkles her whole face.

“Her mommy might not be happy. Let’s go have our snack and then I’ll show you what we’re going to build.” I skip by her inside. I hug Baker before getting on my stool. He sets my peanut butter crackers and strawberries down. “Thank you, Baker. Can I have milk too? Lunch was yucky today.”

“What was it?” Luci opens the fridge and has the milk carton. “I checked and thought it was grilled cheese sandwiches today.”

“They change it. Bean burritos. Yucky. No cheese on them.” I stick out my tongue.

“I’m sorry Coco. I’d have packed your lunch if I’d known.” Luci makes a sad face and hands me the milk.

“Not Luci’s fault.” I pick up a big strawberry.

“Not the whole thing, Coco. Bite it smaller.” She says in a mom voice. I hear it when other kids’s moms come to things.

“Ok.” Baker adds cheese to my plate. “Thank you.”

He nods and smiles. “We can’t have our Cole going hungry.”

Luci shows me her surprise in the playroom. She holds up a felt Spiderman. “Superheros wearing Christmas sweaters that we can make a hanging banner to decorate with. Want to put them on the string?”

I laugh. “Yes. Barrett be upset Batman is in a sweater with reindeer.”

“I think he’d laugh. He’ll see it tomorrow. He’s coming here with us. His daddy has to work extra.”

“I love Barrett.”

Luci smiles at me and puts her fingers in my hair. “I know. He loves you too. Maybe you two could have a sleepover on Friday after the hockey game. I’ll ask his daddy. He could stay here.

I can watch you two.”

“You are the best Luci.” I wait a minute. “Luci, can I ask something?”

“Always Coco.” Her eyes look at me.

“Could I ask my mom to the Christmas play?” I hope she’s not mad.

“You want her to come watch the play on Friday?” Luci sounds like Luci.

“Maybe. I never had both Daddy and her.” I stop. “I don’t know how to say it.”

“You’ve never had your mom and your daddy together at something before.”

“Yes! I knew you’d know.”

“Did something happen Coco?” Luci’s hand holds mine. I go climb in her lap.

“Jeremy says moms and daddies come to things. I said my daddy comes to all things, not my mom. He said I has to tell her they both come watch. Even if they not togever. I said I has a Luci and a Sydney and Nanna, Mr. Banning and he……..”

Luci wraps me in her arms and rubs my head. “Coco, slow down sweetie. You’re getting upset. It’s ok. You aren’t doing anything wrong or hurting anyone or making anyone mad. We are talking about something important to Coco. Do you want your mom to come watch or are you asking because Jeremy said that?”

‘I want to ask her, but I don’t want to make you mad.”

“I wouldn’t get mad sweetie. Nor would your daddy. But she might be busy. It’s in two days. Do you want to talk to her too? See her?”

I feel better. Luci always knows. “I want to. I has to ask her things.”

Luci puts her hands on my cheeks. “Ok. When do you want to see her and ask her things? On the phone or like me and you right now?”

“Like me and you right now. I think Daddy not like it. I not hurt him Luci.” My stomach hurts when I say that.

“Coco, I want you to listen to me real good. Do you remember when you asked about her picture and he didn’t get mad?”

I nod. “You think he might not like it because they were not nice to each other the day you saw her.”

“Uh huh.”

“Do you remember me saying that your daddy will do what YOU need him to do and he won’t get mad?”

“He might.”

“No, Coco he won’t. I’ll show you he won’t. What if I ask her to the Christmas play and then you can see her after that? Or do you want to see her first and then the play?”

“After play. You not mad, Luci?” I look at her face. She smiles at me like she always does.

“No Coco. She’s your mom. I thought you’d want to see her and talk to her. That’s why I told you it was up to you how and when. This is what you really want?”

I hug her harder. “I need it. I get to keep you too, right? My Luci.”

“I’m here, Coco. Right here.” She whispers.

“That’s good.” I lean against her. She rocks me and hums softly. “I love you Luci.”

“I love you Cole Reed. With my whole heart.” She whispers.

Luci

I sit staring blankly at the wall waiting for Easton to come back. If only my mind was blank… my fingers scrape rapidly across my thumb nails.

My thoughts race from picturing Cole in his costume at the play; everything peaceful and then chaos ensues. Volcanoes erupting, seas in turmoil while earthquakes split the ground apart.

Not your smartest idea, Luci. Making decisions about someone else’s child. Encouraging the exact thing his father probably wants to avoid especially knowing you each need a bodyguard now in case she’s up to no good.

“”Irresponsible.” I mutter to myself before I close my eyes and slowly refocus. Their voices and footsteps pull me completely out.

“Luci…sweetness, what’s wrong? Something happen?” Easton’s hands are covering my fingers. “You’re going to put a hole in your nails.”

“I did something that I don’t think you are going to like.” I admit to him.

“Did you elope with Vince?” Becker asks behind him.

“Umm nooo.” I almost laugh.

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