by Karin Baine
‘I’ve got you. Don’t worry.’ He grabbed Alfie’s arm to steady him as he began to lose his balance. One heavy fall could be all it took for him to lose interest in the idea of skating altogether and he wanted this to be the one thing he could do for his son that no one else could.
Alfie was still getting his bearings, clinging onto the barrier with one hand and Hunter with the other, as he tottered around the rink.
‘Hi. I just thought I’d call in and let you know I’ve been up to the hospital to see Colton. He’s doing well, all things considered, though he’s not happy about missing Nottingham.’ Charlotte skated out to meet them halfway around.
‘That’s good. I’ll try and get up to see him myself at some point.’ For some reason he felt as skittish as a boy on his first date. He was glad to hear his teammate was on the mend but he couldn’t get past the worry over this meeting to truly relax. He’d spent more hours lying awake fretting over this than he’d ever had before a big game.
There weren’t many women he imagined would’ve been willing to take on a hockey reject and his grieving son with such understanding. He was almost afraid to think his luck might be changing for the better since moving back here. Now he’d made amends for his past misdeeds perhaps karma had decided to give him a break after all.
‘Hi!’ Alfie too greeted her, giving Hunter the opening for an introduction.
To his credit, the boy wasn’t shy about meeting new people, not even with the man who’d turned up after eight years, claiming to be his father.
‘Alfie, this is Charlotte. She’s the doctor for the Demons. Charlotte, this is Alfie, my son.’ It still choked him up to say it out loud and held such significance the words deserved a choir of angels and light splitting the heavens to accompany them.
There was pride in being able to claim this beautiful boy as his own. The best thing he’d ever accomplished in his life was being his father, albeit a recent surprise. It also made him question his parents’ behaviour more than ever. By blood, or through adoption, being a parent was a privilege, not a right, and those who’d professed to be his guardians had taken it for granted, abused that position.
After being declined the role and the chance of being there for Alfie’s milestones, he couldn’t imagine treating a child with the disdain he’d been subjected to. He hated all of those involved, or not, in his upbringing yet there was still a morsel of sympathy to be found in the situation. They’d never experienced the love and special bond between parent and child, and never would. More than that, they’d never know their grandson. He’d let them all know about Alfie’s existence because there had been too many secrets to date but their selfishness would never let them accept another child into their lives. It was better for Alfie, and him, that it remain that way. He was just so afraid of making the same mistakes he was literally tongue-tied around him.
‘Cool. Hi, Charlotte.’ Alfie reached out to shake her hand and Hunter was pleasantly surprised that Sara and her parents had raised such a well-mannered young man. It made life easier for him and gave him more reason to be proud, even though he didn’t deserve any credit for how he’d turned out. All he could do was continue to raise him in a manner of which Sara would’ve approved.
‘Well, hello, Alfie.’ Charlotte too appeared completely bowled over by his charm, which boded well for the afternoon ahead.
Hunter didn’t know what he would’ve done if Alfie had blanked her or taken umbrage to her being here with them because he was sure as hell glad to have her here.
Unfortunately, Alfie’s gesture left him off balance since he’d let go of the barrier. His blades slid from underneath him and Hunter had a job keeping him upright.
‘Whoa, there.’ Luckily Charlotte was there too to take his other arm and help steady him.
‘I’m not very good at this.’ Alfie’s head went down and Hunter was afraid this wasn’t as much fun for him as they’d both anticipated.
‘It’s all about balance. If you hold your arms out straight and bend your knees a little, you shouldn’t need to hold onto anything.’
‘Like this?’ He recognised that stubborn tilt of the chin as his son gradually let go of his hand. That independent streak had definitely made its way into the next generation.
‘You’re a natural. Now just push off with one foot and follow it with the other. Good lad.’ Hunter thought he would literally burst with pride at how quickly his boy was learning and following in his footsteps.
‘I’m doing it!’ The over-exuberance at his success set Alfie off kilter again and the wobble was enough to bring Hunter and Charlotte back to catch hold of him again.
‘This is your first time, right? Well, you’re already doing better than I did. The first time I stepped onto the ice I ended up flat on my backside, with a bruise the size of a dinner plate.’ Charlotte moved in before his confidence was too dented with one of her own painful tales.
‘Well, they do say the most important thing to learn is how to fall properly. If you do feel yourself falling, bend your knees and sort of squat. Put your hands out to break your fall but make sure you clench your fingers into fists first.’ He demonstrated the safest way to fall because it was a key part of the learning experience.
‘Do you know something? I was able to skate by the end of that first lesson. All it takes is a bit of courage. Something I’m sure you have oodles of. Then someday you might even be able to play your dad at hockey.’ She gave Hunter a wink and he almost lost his own footing. He’d been right to take her up on her offer today. If it was possible he could have both of these fantastic people in his life he would find a way to do it. As much as Alfie demanded he fulfil his responsibilities as a father, Charlotte was there to remind him he was still a man with his own wants and needs. He was able to be himself here today in their company, a whole person and not just someone playing the role he thought people wanted.
‘And beat him?’ Alfie’s eyes were wide at the prospect, as if it was the coolest thing he’d ever heard.
‘Probably.’ Hunter wouldn’t care. It would mean the world to him simply to be able to play hockey with his son.
‘Can I try again on my own?’
‘Sure.’
He happily stepped aside to let burgeoning confidence take flight, every shaky step bringing him closer to his son.
The three of them began to make their way slowly around the ice, he and Charlotte on standby to catch their student if he fell, but it wasn’t long before Alfie was striking out on his own. Watching his son skate out onto centre ice could’ve been a scene straight out of Hunter’s dreams about the future come true. A future which he was hoping Charlotte might become a part of.
He did what he always did to distract his mind and grabbed an abandoned stick left from practice and lined up an attempt on goal. There was nothing like smashing pucks into the net to prevent him from getting soppy about finding someone who really understood and accepted him, chequered history and all.
Before his stick made contact with the rubber disc, Charlotte appeared from nowhere with another hockey stick and intercepted the puck from him. She took off behind the net to slot in a wraparound goal herself.
‘Easy,’ she taunted, skating backwards down the ice, leaving him with his mouth hanging open and Alfie cheering.
‘Where did you learn to skate like that?’ He was impressed. She had proper hockey skills that went beyond the remit of the team doctor. Usually, all that was required for that position was an ability not to fall over if and when they attended casualties on the ice, and even then that was with assistance.
Just when he thought he knew everything about her, she went and surprised him again.
‘I took some lessons when I was a teenager.’ Things had been getting a bit too cosy for Charlotte, too much like a family day out, and she’d decided to break out a few of her moves to shake thing
s up. She wanted Hunter and Alfie to bond but she was worried she was becoming too involved.
Goodness knew why she’d volunteered to crash this father-son bonding session. It wasn’t as if she had any more experience than Hunter did in these matters. She just knew by making the effort he was a good dad and she wanted to encourage the sort of relationship she’d always dreamed of with her own father. This waver in Hunter’s confidence over his parenting made him all the more human and less of that two-dimensional pin-up on her wall with no real feelings or worth.
In the space of a few days he’d become so much more to so many people. The team needed him as their physio and friend, Alfie needed him as a father and, well, she just needed him. He’d invaded all areas of her life and suddenly she couldn’t imagine not having him there to talk to, to have fun with, and to kiss when the urge took her. Yet meeting Alfie today represented a commitment of sorts on both sides and that terrified the hell out of her.
Today was simply about being emotional support for Hunter. By all accounts, it was the first time anyone had stepped up for him in that way. She was keen to make a good impression on Alfie too. The fact Hunter had kept him a secret told her exactly how much he meant to him.
She’d never contemplated having a child of her own, much less someone else’s. That responsibility for another’s well-being wasn’t something she was prepared to take on when this thing with Hunter would probably fade before it got serious anyway. He had his son, she had her career, and those were totally conflicting priorities that could never gel long term.
No, she’d let this attraction play out until it became obvious they were still a world apart. That’s why it was probably best for this informal meeting with Alfie here at the rink where there was no pressure. She didn’t want him confused into thinking she was going to be a potential mother figure. That would be too much, too soon, for all of them. He’d end up hating her before getting to know her if he thought she was staking a claim on his father when he’d only just found him. It was a minefield already.
With a flick of the wrist she scooped up another puck and tapped it from side to side, daring him to take it from her. Okay, she was showing off but she could see Alfie was enjoying the sparring. He’d even picked up a stick himself and she knew there was nothing father and son would love more than to face each other on the ice. Leaving her out of it.
Hunter suddenly set off down the ice towards her, and she gave an inward yelp whilst briefly thinking about making a run for it. Face on, he made an intimidating opponent, shoulders broad even without the padding of his kit, and thickly muscled thighs driving his every move. It was no wonder he’d struck fear into the opposition and love hearts into the eyes of his fans.
In this game you couldn’t show any weakness, even when a powerhouse was headed straight for you. She stood her ground, hands clenched around the stick, bracing herself for the hit. At the last second before inevitable impact, he pivoted his hips and came to a slow stop, scooting ice over her skates.
‘Just remember, us brutes have skills of our own,’ he said, easily reclaiming the puck now she’d been rendered immobile.
Some men might have been miffed at getting challenged by a girl, many had in various aspects of her life when they’d underestimated her abilities. Not Hunter. That oh-so-kissable mouth was turned up at the corners as he squared up to her. Charlotte tried to come up with a smart comment to get him to back out of her personal space but he was so close, giving her that tachycardia-inducing smoulder, she could barely think straight.
‘I think it’s Alfie’s turn to take a few shots.’ She turned away from Hunter so she was no longer under his thrall. This exercise was supposed to cool things down, not turn her and the ice into a puddle with the heat they were generating.
‘Sure.’ Hunter adopted the goalie position, almost filling the net with his broad frame, whilst she skated back to find him a new challenger.
‘I’m not sure I can...’ Alfie was managing to balance with his stick resting on the ice but they all knew it would be a different story if he took a swing at a puck.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you.’ This was about him and his father having fun together and she wouldn’t let this time end on anything but a high. She wanted him to make the memories she’d never had with her dad so he always had something to look back on fondly.
She skated behind Alfie and placed her hands either side of his waist. ‘You keep your feet on the ice and I’ll push. When we get close enough to the net you slide that puck in wherever you think you can get it past your dad.’
‘Got it.’ Alfie leaned over, knees bent and hockey stick in hand.
‘We’re coming for ya, Hunter!’ she bellowed, getting caught up in Alfie’s determination to show off his new skills.
‘Bring it on.’ The Demons’ sexy substitute goalie grinned, urging his opponents to take their best shot.
She steered Alfie on a steady course to meet him and as soon as they reached the goal crease, he guided the puck to the tiny space uncovered to Hunter’s left. Hunter stretched too late to prevent it from going in and Charlotte wasn’t sure if she or Alfie cheered loudest.
In their race for a goal, no one managed to think about how they were going to stop and they collided with Hunter, all three tumbling into a heap. He took the brunt of the fall so they landed on top of him, laughing, in the back of the net.
‘This is the best day ever!’ Alfie took turns to hug them, the unsolicited affection taking her by surprise. She was like a rabbit in the headlights, unsure how to proceed for her own safety in case one wrong move spelled the end of life as she knew it. This was supposed to bring Hunter and his son closer, not pull her into the relationship. Yet she couldn’t seem to help herself hugging him back, her heart melted by the gesture.
Hunter mouthed a thank you over the head of his son and she found she no longer noticed the cold seeping in through her clothes. The duo of Torrance smiles was more than enough to keep her warm. She was sure it was Hunter who’d become suddenly misty-eyed, not her, but the ball of emotion almost blocking her airway told a different story.
This was how a father was supposed to love his child and it highlighted even more what she’d missed out on all of these years. Parenting wasn’t something that could be done from a distance. These two needed each other to feel complete and it was a revelation to someone who, up until now, had been content in her own company.
Family time was much more fun than she remembered.
* * *
Hunter couldn’t remember his life ever being so full, or being so at ease with everything in it. It had been a busy few days and not solely because they were preparing for the play-offs. The afternoon he’d spent with Alfie had been such a success he’d been granted more access by the O’Reillys. It was all down to Charlotte. She’d had more faith in his abilities as a father than he’d had and simply having her there had helped put him at ease. That skating session had almost been like watching Alfie walk for the first time in hockey terms and as close to those missed milestones as he’d ever get. He’d be grateful to her for ever for facilitating that special day. It just wouldn’t have been the same without her.
Since then he’d been able to pick his son up from school, take him out for pizza and generally do all the other things dads took for granted. As cautious as the O’Reillys were about his credentials as a reliable adult, he got the impression they were glad to have someone to share the childcare with and get some of their freedom back too.
The only downside of the whole situation was that he hadn’t been able to spend as much time with Charlotte alone as he’d expected. It would be a balancing act of his time, trying to make sure neither was too freaked out by the other’s presence in his life, but if Charlotte was going to be in his life she’d have to understand that Alfie came first. He was wary of letting things get too serious when he couldn’t fully comm
it to her. Experience had taught him a very harsh lesson—a romantic relationship impacted on more than just him.
It was one thing to risk his heart again but he was a dad now. He’d hurt Sara by being so cavalier with her emotions and he wasn’t about to do that to his son too. Unlike his parents, he cared about the damage he could inflict with a careless attitude towards his charge. He just hoped Charlotte was on board with his parenting approach too. Especially since he’d had to cancel their date tonight at short notice to babysit Alfie so the O’Reillys could visit a friend in hospital.
‘Can we watch this one, Dad?’ His companion for the evening selected a movie for them to watch together, a hugely popular animation that ordinarily would have seen him reaching for the remote control. Not tonight. He’d be content to sit on the couch with his son even if there was nothing but a blank screen in front of them.
‘Anything you want, bud. Your choice.’
‘Did you watch this when you were my age?’ Alfie tilted his head to one side with that quizzical look Hunter had come to recognise. He’d become increasingly curious about his father’s background, and whilst it was heart-warming that he had an interest in getting to know him better, Hunter didn’t want him to delve too deeply. If possible, he’d prefer to avoid conversations about his family as long as possible.
‘No. This wasn’t out when I was a kid.’
‘But you had cartoons in Canada, right?’
‘Sure. Although the graphics are better these days.’ And not the billion-dollar merchandise factory they were now. At least, he’d never had any expensive movie franchise toys but that could’ve been entirely down to his adoptive parents’ refusal to spend that kind of money on a son they barely cared existed.
On the flip side, if he and Alfie enjoyed watching this together, Santa Claus would be raiding the workshop for every related item he could find this Christmas.
‘Does it snow all the time in Canada? We only get it here sometimes and then the rain washes it away.’