by Mandy Baggot
‘A little.’
‘Good, you can come along tonight. The Panthers are meeting at seven at the arena. Apparently we only have a squad of ten. Want to try out?’ Robyn asked him.
‘Sure,’ Cole agreed.
‘So what are you? Forward? Defense?’
‘I played center.’
‘Oh yeah? Who for?’
‘Chicago Wolves,’ Cole answered.
Robyn’s jaw almost dropped to the table, and she had to stop herself from spitting out the mouthful of coffee she’d not quite ingested. The Chicago Wolves were a team doing well in the American Hockey League and they were a division above the Portage Panthers.
‘Is that good?’ Sarah asked. ‘I still don’t know that much about rankings.’
‘Yeah, it’s good. Good, wow, you’re full of surprises,’ Robyn said when she had regained her ability to speak.
‘Right back’atcha,’ he replied, his dark eyes meeting hers.
Robyn smiled and then took to concentrating on her brunch. There was something very young Freddie Prinze Jr about him. Maybe it was the dark eyes, or perhaps the black, glossy hair. Or it could be the chiseled jaw and friendly smile. It was a memory from her youth, a poster on her wall, a pin-up to be admired. A crush! She felt immediately better at this realization. A crush was fine because a crush was far removed from reality. She’d had a long flight and fantasizing went hand-in-hand with jetlag. This wasn’t real attraction.
But would she really know? What markers did she have for that?
‘Shall I go? I’m feeling like a spare part in this double act,’ Sarah spoke up.
‘Eat your nutritious devil’s food,’ Robyn ordered, smiling at Cole.
‘So, how’s the roadhouse? As bad as you thought?’ Cole asked, changing the subject.
‘Worse. Are you any good with wallpaper?’ Robyn asked him.
‘Never tried it before.’
‘Do you want to? I remember you saying you like new experiences.’
‘Don’t feel obliged, she does this. She’s been asking everyone about their decorating skills,’ Sarah said, pushing her salad around the plate.
‘Well, I wouldn’t be if Old Man Harrison hadn’t gone and died,’ Robyn said, pouting.
‘Someone died?’ Cole queried.
‘It was a few years ago,’ Sarah informed him.
‘I’m off to the roadhouse next, wanna come?’ Robyn invited.
‘I have an appointment later this afternoon but… sure,’ Cole replied.
‘Can I drive your car?’ Robyn asked with a grin.
Eight
It wasn’t far to Shaver Road, and soon Robyn was pulling into the parking lot of Eddie’s Roadhouse. A large security van was parked outside, and a man in overalls looked to be installing new locks on the front door. It was all the sunshine in Michigan today and everyone, including this guy, was in short sleeves.
‘New locks, huh?’ Cole remarked as Robyn pulled up by the entrance.
‘Looks that way. Hey there!’ Robyn called, opening the window and greeting the man.
‘Afternoon ma’am,’ he replied.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Fitting new locks, ma’am. You work here?’
‘Yeah, I’m the manager.’
‘Ah, you must be Miss Matthers. Officer Willis said you might be by. I’ve fitted new locks, front and back, and I’ve installed a new alarm system. Shall I run you through it?’ he asked.
‘Oh man, is it expensive? I have money, but it’s kind of tied up at the moment,’ Robyn began, pulling on the handbrake and getting out of the car.
‘No need to worry, ma’am. It’s all been paid for, Officer Willis settled everything up already,’ the locksmith informed her.
‘Brad paid for it?’ Robyn said, looking at the man for clarification.
‘Yep. You’re all square with me. Wanna see what I’ve done?’ he queried.
‘I think I’d like that. Come on Cole, come and see the place,’ Robyn called to him.
*
‘So? What do you think?’ Robyn asked, bringing Cole a bottle of beer and brushing dirt off of one of the chairs.
The locksmith had given her new keys and run her through the intricate workings of the new security system. She had no doubt she was going to fail hopelessly at working it. She never remembered her PIN number and had it written on a piece of paper under the insole of her left shoe.
‘I think you definitely need to find a decorating firm,’ Cole answered, accepting the drink.
‘Yeah? You don’t fancy helping me strip? Wallpaper. Strip wallpaper,’ Robyn said, her cheeks glowing.
What the hell was wrong with her? She was acting like a teenager around him. Any second now she might ask him who his favorite member of The A-Team was. She’d done that a lot in the Nineties. Boys had been keen to tell her, girls had looked at her pitifully.
‘I think you need professional help,’ Cole said.
‘I know that, but what about the decorating?’ Robyn replied with a nervous laugh.
‘Are you sure you want to take this on? I mean, it’s going to take a lot of work to get it straight,’ Cole told her.
‘I have to take it on. This and the hockey team, they’re what Dad lives for. He may say he isn’t interested, but he doesn’t mean it. When I was young, this place was buzzing. It had a great reputation for food and we had bands here and everything. I need to get that back,’ Robyn explained.
She didn’t just want it back for Eddie; she wanted it back that way for her. The roadhouse was where she had some of her best memories; she didn’t want to lose those. The good memories were what she clung to.
‘It might take some time,’ Cole said.
‘I’ve got a couple of weeks,’ Robyn informed him.
‘Man, you’ve got your work cut out.’
‘Well, I need to make a list, don’t I? I need to find someone to decorate, I need to hire a chef and some more bar staff, and I need to organize some posters telling people we’re back in business. What else?’ Robyn asked.
‘You need to call suppliers, hammer them down on the price of beer, and talk to the people at the diner… ask them the best place to get produce. You’re going to need a menu, too,’ Cole said.
‘I’ll find a pen and paper, there must be some here somewhere, among all the dirt and grime and years of neglect,’ Robyn said, getting up and going behind the bar.
‘So who’s this Officer Willis who’s kindly paid for your new security? He your guy?’ Cole asked.
‘My guy? No! I don’t have a guy. Listen, about the kiss yesterday. It was just a thing, you know, just because you were really nice, and I just wanted to see what it would be like. I mean, it wasn’t a prologue to anything,’ Robyn explained, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other.
‘Sure, I get it,’ Cole responded, watching her.
‘Cool. I mean, not that it wasn’t great or anything, because it was…’
What had it been? She didn’t know. Her big mouth had called him to a halt, and then she’d just kissed him, without warning. She’d done some pretty out there things before but never that.
‘It was…?’ Cole prodded, waiting for her to finish her sentence.
She was blushing now. A whole, full-on body blush like someone had caught her in her underwear, dancing to Madonna.
‘To be honest, I get girls on planes kissing me all the time. I think it’s customary, actually,’ Cole said, easing the tension.
‘It is! You’re right, I read it somewhere,’ Robyn replied gratefully.
‘So, Officer Willis…’
‘Yes, Brad. He’s an old friend, you’ll see him tonight at the arena. He plays for the Panthers. I’ll pay him back for the alarm. I have money. I just need to get to the bank. Anyways, soon I’ll be making a profit here, won’t I?’ Robyn said as she carefully peeled the label from her beer bottle so she had something to write on.
‘I like your optimism,’ Cole replied.
�
��You being funny?’ Robyn asked, returning to her seat.
‘No, I wasn’t. I meant it. It’s good to have a project,’ Cole answered.
‘Yeah? And what’s yours?’
‘At the moment, I’m trying to find a cure for cancer,’ Cole said straight-faced.
Robyn looked up at him, waiting for the smile and the laughter as he admitted to the joke.
‘That’s what I do… at Gen-All Pharmaceutical,’ he added.
She watched him nod, and then he cleared his throat, almost nervously. Was he for real?
Then he smiled. ‘But hey, running a roadhouse sounds much more fun. Bands. You need to book some bands,’ Cole said quickly, pointing to the list Robyn was compiling.
‘You’re really clever, aren’t you? No wonder girls are kissing you any chance they get,’ Robyn said, locking eyes with him.
‘You’ll need furniture,’ Cole added, gazing back at her.
‘Yep, furniture. I’m going to need new tables and chairs,’ Robyn said, writing it down.
‘And a TV, there’s no TV in here. You need to show sports.’
‘Mr Ryan, may I officially make you the first member of Team Matthers?’ Robyn asked him.
‘Definitely, count me in,’ he answered with a smile.
*
He’d told her what he did. Actually told someone what he really wanted to achieve. She obviously thought he was crazy, but she hadn’t laughed out loud. In fact, she had looked at him as if she could see right inside him. She was so different. She always spoke before she thought about what she was going to say. She was honest too and, if he was honest, he was disappointed the kiss wasn’t a prologue to anything. Not that he was looking for anything serious. A few months had gone by but, well, it was too soon to think about anything else, wasn’t it? Besides, he had work to do. He didn’t have the time or the headspace to get involved in anything else. Look at what had happened the last time he had let someone in.
She was cute though.
Nine
‘So, honey how was your day?’ Pam asked.
It was 6 p.m. and Pam, Bob, Robyn, and the twins were all seated around the dining room table behind mountainous portions of meatball stew. Robyn wasn’t sure whether to try and eat it or climb it. The twins sat opposite her, swinging their legs and catching her shin any chance they got.
‘Good. I’ve got two decorating firms coming to look at the roadhouse tomorrow and give me quotes. I’ve shaved five per cent off the beer prices, and I’m advertising for staff in the paper,’ Robyn informed her aunt.
‘My, you have been busy! She’s been busy, hasn’t she, Bob? Girls, stop swinging your legs like that and eat your food,’ Pam ordered.
‘We never eat at the table. It’s because she’s here, isn’t it? Why does everything have to change because she’s here?’ Sierra glared at Robyn.
‘Sierra!’ Pam exclaimed in horror.
‘Pam, if it’s too much having me stay, I understand. I mean, you have your routines and things and…’ Robyn began.
‘It’s not too much having you stay, Robyn. You’re always welcome in this house, you know that, you’re family. I didn’t realize how rude my daughters had gotten. Frankly, I’m embarrassed,’ Bob said sternly, looking at Sienna and Sierra.
‘So am I. What’s gotten into you two?’ Pam wanted to know.
Sierra and Sienna just looked sullenly back at their parents and offered no response.
‘It’s fine. Kids are kids,’ Robyn insisted.
‘No, it’s not fine. Come on you two, out with it!’ Pam ordered in a voice usually reserved for price-checking at Meijer’s.
‘People at school say she’s a witch. They said someone took her into the woods and hurt her. They say, because she’s our cousin, they’re gonna come and take us to the woods, too,’ Sierra blurted out, her eyes wide.
‘Sierra, you’re not supposed to tell!’ Sienna exclaimed in fear.
Robyn looked at her plate of food and swallowed. A familiar feeling of fear washed over her, and she adjusted her position in the seat to disguise the visible shiver. There she was again, transported back to another time when she was lost, alone and vulnerable.
‘That is enough! Now, I don’t know who told you this, but it’s not true. Come on girls, you’re nearly nine, you know witches aren’t real! Who are these people? I’ll speak to the teacher and we’ll put a stop to this,’ Pam said, flustered.
‘Listen, thanks for the dinner, Pam, but I’d better go. I’ve got to be at the arena at seven,’ Robyn said to her as she stood up from the table, her meal untouched.
‘Want a ride?’ Bob offered.
‘Oh no, don’t worry, I can walk,’ Robyn said.
‘You will not walk that road, Robyn,’ Pam ordered, her tone severe.
‘I’ll be fine,’ Robyn answered, ignoring the loaded response.
‘No, let Bob take you. He wants to come anyway, don’t you, Bob?’ Pam urged him.
‘If that’s okay with the new manager,’ Bob said, looking at Robyn and smiling.
‘Sure,’ Robyn accepted gratefully.
‘Come on then, let’s go see what these Panthers are made of,’ Bob said, standing up.
*
Her cell phone rang again on the drive. It had been ringing all afternoon and she had switched it to silent. It still vibrated though, reminding her she had to answer some time or make a call. She didn’t want to talk, though, not even a polite ‘checking in’ conversation. It felt wrong now that she was back here. All the justification she had accumulated over the years was fading fast since her return.
‘I can’t apologize enough for the girls, Robyn,’ Bob said.
‘It’s okay. I have kind of invaded, and they’ve never met me before.’
‘That’s no excuse for it and what they said about Jason—’
‘That all happened a very long time ago, eons ago, almost a decade… it’s forgotten,’ Robyn interrupted quickly.
‘But still, it wasn’t nice to bring up bad memories and—’
‘So do you go and watch the Panthers every game?’ Robyn cut him off.
‘Sure, I’m not one of those supporters who only watch a team when they’re doing well. I’ve been to every game since 1987,’ Bob reminded her.
‘Are they really awful?’ Robyn asked, putting some chewing gum in her mouth.
‘No, not awful… well, you know…’
‘No, Bob, I don’t know, and that’s half the problem.’
‘Well, they lost the main sponsor, and then money was short for wages and players, so people went elsewhere. We have a great new guy, though, Henrik. He’s Swedish, I think.’
‘And how is the actual play on the ice? What sort of a job has Grant been doing?’ she asked.
‘The best he could with what he had to work with. Eddie’s better, because he’s more vocal and he lives and breathes the Panthers, but Grant’s done okay,’ Bob told her.
‘Okay isn’t good enough, though, is it?’ Robyn remarked, looking out the window as the arena came into view.
Driving into the parking lot of the stadium was like going back in time. She had seen her last Panthers match the night before she left. She had stuffed herself full of hotdogs and pickles, thinking she might never taste either again. The team had lost, her dad had almost burst a blood vessel shouting at the players and, when they got home, her mother had finished packing.
‘So, has the old place changed?’ Bob asked as they got out of the car.
‘It’s been painted,’ Robyn remarked, looking up at the building and putting her baseball cap on her head.
‘A few years ago now,’ Bob said.
‘The sign’s the same, but… where’s the “Home of the Portage Panthers” banner?’ Robyn asked him.
‘Ah, went missing a while ago, probably kids,’ Bob admitted.
‘Well, it needs to be replaced. I’ll get it replaced,’ Robyn told him firmly.
‘Come on, let’s go and get you reacquainted with that i
ce. You been on it in England?’ Bob asked.
She shook her head.
It was weird being back. Just seeing the building she had spent so many of her high school days in was making her heart pump faster.
‘You know people still talk about the night you knocked out that girl from the Grand Rapids team. Best punch I ever saw,’ Bob told her with a laugh.
‘I got sent off, they had a five-minute power play, and we lost,’ Robyn reminded him.
‘But it was worth it and she deserved it. Took out Lindsay Jacobs and didn’t even get a warning,’ Bob recalled.
‘I never really liked Lindsay Jacobs. Before the Grand Rapids girl wiped her out, I was thinking about doing it myself,’ Robyn admitted.
*
Getting his hockey things together had felt weird. He hadn’t even thought about the game since he’d quit the Chicago Wolves. He’d just got back on track before he found out about Bryn and Veronica, and then he’d thrown in the towel again. But it had seemed natural to say yes to Robyn. When he said he could play, she’d assumed he would help her out, and it seemed natural for her to assume. Perhaps that was what he needed right now.
He parked the car and fondly rubbed the steering wheel. The Mustang had been parked in the next bay when he’d got back from the roadhouse visit. That had to be something like fate.
Now it was time to meet another team. Even though he knew they’d look him up and down, meeting new people was a good thing, he could start over. He grabbed his kit bag from the passenger seat and noticed Robyn up ahead. She was wearing a baseball cap, a Red Wings T-shirt, and jeans. He smiled and locked the car.
‘Hey!’ he called out.
*
Robyn turned around and was met with the sight of Cole running across the parking lot toward them.
Why did he always look so hot? He was wearing jeans, Converse tennis shoes and a gray Chicago Wolves T-shirt. Robyn felt something inside her lurch. It was obviously the huge breakfast she’d eaten repeating on her. It couldn’t be anything else. She didn’t know anything else. Apart from the crush thing. It was just that Freddie Prinze Jr. in I Know What You Did Last Summer thing.