Fresh Ice

by Sarah J. Bradley

  “My mom was such a fan. We would sit there and watch every minute of every figure skating program we could find. And Jenna, your mother, well, she was like some little fairy flitting all over the ice. She had this one partner he was okay. But then your mom paired up with, well, you dad. It was magic. And it was a little scandalous, right, because your mom was so young and your dad was so not. And bigger scandal, your dad was supposedly in a big romantic thing with Serena Shipley and that blew up big time when he went to skate with your ma. And then there were stories about Serena having Jason’s baby and all that, but by that time, your parents were gone.”

  “Cat, the tape?” No need to go that far down that road.

  Cat took a breath. “Sure, sure. My mom was so heartbroken after your parents passed on goin’ to the Olympics, ‘cause they would have totally won because the only competition that year was some snaggle toothed Korean couple that completely died during the short program…”

  “Cat! The tape already!” Jenna pointed to the VHS player under Izzy’s TV. “I’d love to see it. Mom, are you okay with this?”

  Izzy turned a blank gaze to her daughter. “Yeah, go ahead.” She blinked. Secret baby? It was all tabloid silliness. That’s what Jason always said.

  And Jason never lied, right?

  Izzy tried to shove the thought away as the opening bars of the music rose.

  “Okay, so this is Serena Shipley and her partner. Wanna see her temper tantrum?”

  “No, that’s not really necessary.”

  “Mom, I’d like to see it. I mean, why not, it sort of made what you guys did that much better, right?”

  Cat grinned. “Cool. You would not believe this. There’s Serena. You know she lives in Nashville now. Married some super rich guy, he died and now she travels a lot.”

  Good thing Nashville is a big town. Izzy studied the pair on the tape and realized she’d never actually seen Serena Shipley up close. Coach never allowed me to watch anyone in a competition, and he never let me watch tape on other teams. Funny, I never realized her hair was so red.

  “Wait for it….wait for it…and bam!” Cat cheered as Serena’s partner hit the ice, clearly injured. “Now go ahead, feel sorry for the guy, but watch Serena’s reaction. Priceless.”

  “You can almost read her lips.”

  “Almost nothing, Jenna. The mouth on that woman!” Cat doubled up laughing.

  “Is the crowd actually booing?”

  Did they boo? I don’t remember. I was so nervous.

  “Geez, Mom, look at you!” Jenna breathed. “You’re both so young!”

  The three of them sat, entranced, for four minutes. Tears sprang to Izzy’s eyes, remembering the feeling of complete connection she felt with Jason that night it was a feeling she never felt again with another person.

  Until this afternoon.

  “Mom?”

  “Yeah, Jen?”

  “You and Dad, you were really good. I’m so-so sorry.” Jenna bit her lip.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for.” Izzy hugged Jenna and tears welled.

  “Wait, if you’re going to have a big cry fest, I want in.” Cat wrapped her arms around them both. “Okay, so we have got to get you ready for the big date. And now that I know what I’m working with, I’ll be right back!”

  Left alone to wipe her daughter’s tears, Izzy smiled. “You know no matter what, your father loved you. He stayed with me because he loved you.”

  “I know, it’s just so hard seeing the two of you so connected on the ice like that. Skating was so much a part of you.”

  “You were a bigger part.” Izzy hugged her. “Never forget that, okay?”

  “I won’t.” Jenna wiped a tear from her eye then stared at the screen. “Mom, look at that crowd shot. Look at that tall guy in the back. Is that…?”

  Izzy rewound the tape a few frames and watched. “Look at that. Quinn Murray.”

  “Holy carp Mom. He’s hot! I mean he was back when this was taped.”

  “No, Jens, he’s still hot. You’re just too young to appreciate a slow simmered hotness like that.” Cat trotted back into the room carrying a garment bag. “Yep, aged to perfection. That’s him in a nutshell.”

  I agree. “Why on earth would he be there, watching figure skating?”

  “Well, where was this? The Twin Cities? So okay, he’s there because the Preds are playin’ a game the next night or something.”

  “No, he wasn’t in the league that far back. He would still have been in college.”

  “Where did he go to college?”

  “North Dakota State.”

  “So, then, why is he at the Nationals in the Twin Cities?”

  Just add it to the list of mysteries I have to solve.

  “Okay, Izzy, I’m back and I have the outfit for you. It’s classy. It says, ‘I’m someone you should know,’ but it’s subtle like, ‘you should know me but if you don’t, that’s cool because I’m not here to be a celebrity.’ But, and here’s the kicker about this outfit, it also says, ‘I want you to treat me like a lady…and wait until we’re at your place for a nightcap to completely ravish me.’”

  Izzy sighed and got off the bed. “An outfit that says that much, what will be left for me to say?” She took the garment bag from Cat. A moment later she emerged from the bathroom, wearing a very chic knee length midnight blue sheath that moved with her in all the right places. “I don’t know what to say, Cat. This is gorgeous!”

  “You like it? Yeah, someone left the garment bag here last week. I’d put it in the lost and found, but usually if anyone leaves stuff here, it’s left for good. Here are the shoes to match. They aren’t super matchy-match like some kind of 1980’s prom dress, so you’re good. Oh, do you need nylons?”

  Izzy looked at herself in the mirror. “What do you think, Jenna?”

  “I think it might be wrong that my mom has such great legs. No to the nylons.”

  “Okay,” Cat looked at her watch. “What time is he picking you up?”

  “Ten.”

  “That gives us three hours. I just hope we have enough time. Jenna, go to my room and get my make up kit. Not the little one, the big one, with the industrial paints and what not. Izzy, get yourself into the shower. We don’t want you smelling like the Waffle House.”

  “Very funny!” Izzy shouted, as she slammed the bathroom door and turned on the shower. The hiss of the water did nothing to drown out the jumbled thoughts in her head, and hot steam on her skin only conjured the feel of Quinn’s lips on hers.

  I was so young when Jason and I got together. I never went on a date. My first real kiss, my first everything, happened that night with Jason.

  Izzy rinsed her hair and let the water cascade around her face. Now I’m going on my very first date. I’m thirty-six and I’m going on my first date.

  By the time Cat and Jenna were done with her, Izzy barely recognized herself. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. “Are you sure about this?”

  “This is exactly what Audrey Hepburn would do with her hair, if she were about to go on a date with a hockey player, if she was wearing that dress.”

  “You look great, Mom. The hair is amazing!”

  Izzy eyed herself critically. “The hair seems a little tall.”

  Cat signed. “It’s a Nashville thing, honey. It has to be big or it’s not special.”

  “But the make up?”

  “It’s night. You’re going on a romantic date with a man, I should probably tell you, who has been out with a lot of women. He’s come to expect a certain look.”

  No pressure there. Izzy sighed again.

  The back door bell downstairs jangled and all three women jumped.

  “You look amazing.” Jenna hugged her. “I’ll go answer the door.”

  Izzy turned to Cat. “Do I really look okay?”

  Cat smiled gently. “Iz, you are my best friend. I would never lie to you.” She frowned. “So I can tell you, that make-up makes you look like a clown streetwa
lker.”

  “You put it on me! You’re telling me this now?”

  “Oh, stop with the panic. Let me just dab here and brush there.” Cat wiped brushes and cotton balls on her face. “Okay. Now, you’re perfect.”

  Izzy glanced in the mirror. Except for the big hair, she did look more like herself. “I think I’m ready.”

  “No, go forth and get some!” Cat shouted as Izzy walked down the stairs.

  ***

  Quinn tapped his toe on the concrete step. He didn’t want to walk into the coffee shop. For some reason, though he’d walked through the door a hundred times, tonight he wanted to wait out on the back stoop. What am I, sixteen, borrowing the old man’s car?

  When was the last time I took a woman out on an actual date?

  Which brings us back to being sixteen, borrowing the old man’s car.

  “Hi, Quinn.”

  “Oh, hello, Jenna.”

  “So, you’re taking my mom out?”

  Quinn smiled. “I guess that’s what I’m doing.”

  “You know…my mom…she’s…my mom.” Jenna grinned, and for the first time Quinn saw Izzy in her face. “I don’t think you and I need to have a talk about what she means to me, do we?”

  Quinn laughed. “I haven’t had a predate talk since I was younger than you!”

  Jenna giggled, another trait she’d inherited from her mother. “Well, I guess I wanted you to know; Mom hasn’t gone out a lot.”

  Quinn nodded, matching her serious turn of mood. “Jenna, on my honor, I will be a gentleman tonight.”

  A wail emitted from the upstairs. Quinn tried to see if someone was watching them from the upstairs window, but saw no one. “What was that?”

  Jenna grinned. “That was a very naughty, very nosy Cat.”

  Quinn sensed there was a double meaning in her words, but chose to ignore it. The screen door creaked and there Izzy was, standing in front of him. Slim and perfect in a midnight blue dress just short enough to show off her amazing legs. Legs that carried her smoothly over the ice. Legs that, if everything went well, could be wrapped…

  Stop it! What did I just promise this woman’s daughter? I’m going to be the perfect gentleman. Even though I’ve wanted her my entire life.

  Be fair. It wasn’t my entire life. Just in college. And the last several weeks. And at her husband’s funeral.

  “Quinn?”

  Quinn shook himself out of his internal argument. “You look amazing.”

  She struck a pose and grinned. “Lost and found wins again.”

  “Okay. Well, then, my car is right there.” He moved to one side and let her glide down the steps to the back lot.

  “I see that.” She scuffed her shoe against the pavement.

  This was so much easier when we both had skates on and no one was watching.

  Izzy cleared her throat. “We have some very interested children watching us.”

  “Well, then let’s get out of here.” He took her hand and walked her to the car, then opened the door and waited as she slid into the seat before closing the door. There was a slit in the skirt that rode up just a tiny bit as she shifted in the seat…

  Do I really need another cold shower? He ran around the front of the car and got in. “So, I did some thinking, and I hope you don’t mind, but I have a dinner arranged at my place. I thought it would be nicer than going to a restaurant so late.”

  If it bothered her, Izzy didn’t let it show. “I don’t think I’ve ever been to a dinner that’s been arranged. It sounds mysterious.”

  “I mean, normally I would cook for you. But with the game…”

  “Quinn, dinner at your place sounds great.”

  “I can cook, you know.”

  “I’m sure it will be very nice.”

  After this brilliant exchange, they drove in silence for several minutes, the lights of Nashville washing over Quinn’s car as they cruised.

  “That’s my building.” Quinn pointed.

  “Wow, you are right downtown, aren’t you?”

  “At the heart of it all. It seemed like a great idea to live so close to the arena, you know, walk to practice, that sort of thing. Turns out, it was just more of a necessity.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  Quinn pulled into the parking garage and eased the car into his assigned spot. Let’s not open with the worst part of my history. “Oh, nothing.”

  He ushered Izzy to the elevator where he pushed his floor number and stood opposight from her as the doors slid closed. Cripes, if we were complete strangers, we wouldn’t be this awkward.

  This was the last thought he had before she stood on her toes and kissed him.

  It wasn’t a long kiss, but it was enough to reset something in his brain, and Quinn relaxed. “What was that for?”

  “I was just checking.”

  “For?”

  “Well, see, I know this cool guy. His name is Quinn. Quinn eats at Waffle House and does really awesome stuff for kids. Sort of a fair hockey player.”

  “Just fair?”

  “And see, he’s a really good friend of mine. I think I’m standing next to him, but he’s all weird around me.”

  “Maybe he’s nervous?”

  “No, he’s a pretty fearless guy. I’m thinking it might have something to do,” she pulled her hair away from her face and banded it in a smooth pony tail, “with this hair.”

  “How did you…where were you hiding…?”

  Izzy laughed. “A skater is never without a pony tail band. Trust me.”

  “Well you still look fantastic. But now you look like you.”

  “I’ll take that as a good thing.”

  Quinn looked at her up and down again. “Oh, it is, trust me.”

  “Good, because today, my friend sort of acted like he might be interested in more than friendship.” She nudged him with her hip. “There was some fairly awesome kissing involved.”

  “But he might be a complete moron, if he risks a stellar friendship for a couple kisses, no matter how awesome.”

  “Maybe I’m a little nervous about that, too.” She settled against his arm and cleared her throat. “Maybe that’s why I thought, ‘If I kiss this person who looks like Quinn, then maybe, just maybe, the real Quinn will emerge and we can have a conversation.’”

  “About the kissing?”

  Izzy laughed as the elevator doors slid open. “If that’s what you’d like to discuss.” She took a step into his apartment. “But first, let’s talk about the fact that the elevator opens right into your place!”

  “Hey, your door opens right into your bedroom.” Quinn followed her. “At least I have the decency to have a living room before introducing my guests to the love den.”

  “Oh, love den, that’s what we’re calling my efficiency over the coffee shop?”

  “Mr. Murray, drinks are served on the balcony.” A young man in a stiff white shirt greeted them.

  “Thank you. I’ll have the ginger ale and Izzy, what would you like?”

  “The same, thanks.” Izzy stared at the waiter. When he walked away, she turned her stare to Quinn.

  Her amazement made him smile. “Now, if you’d like to follow me, I’ll show you a view of Nashville that will blow your socks off.”

  “Would it disappoint you to know I’m not wearing socks?”

  She’s regained her humor quickly. Quinn slid the glass door open and watched her step onto the balcony. “Doubtful, since a woman’s socks have never been held much interest for me. Now, if you were to tell me what else you aren’t wearing, I might be interested.” He gave her a lecherous grin.

  “There’s the real Quinn. Wow, this is amazing!” Izzy leaned on the steel railing. “You get to see this every day?”

  “I doubt I appreciate it as much as I should. Sometimes the scene down there seems cheap. Some of the romance of the Music City has worn off, for me.”

  Izzy turned and faced him. “Sounds like we have some talkin’ to do, my friend.” />
  “If you’re up for it.” Quinn stepped aside so the waiter could set down two glasses of ginger ale. “But first, a toast.”

  Izzy took her glass. “Okay, how about this: To seeing things differently.”

  “That’s a loaded sentence.” Quinn took a sip. “So you want to hang out here, or should I send the help home early?”

  Izzy laughed, nearly spewing ginger ale through her nose. “Send the help home early? Isn’t that a little pretentious?”

  “I always thought it would be cool to say that. You know, if I had a beautiful woman up to my place to look at the lights. Maybe I’d nuzzle her hair,” Quinn wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. The warm scent of honey met him as he kissed the top of her head. “And I’d say, ‘How about if I send the help home early?’ And it would be very, very cool.”

  Izzy leaned into his embrace. “It is very, very cool. Let’s send the help home.”

  “Give me five minutes.”

  The look in her eyes left no doubt about her sincerity. “I’m not going any place.”

  He stepped inside quickly. Before she changes her mind…or comes to her senses.

  NINETEEN

  Izzy couldn’t hear what Quinn said to the waiter and his two helpers, but within moments they cleared everything out of the kitchen and left. She watched as if riveted to a silent movie, and sipped the ginger ale. It wasn’t like the normal ginger ale, it was a deeper color, and had a very pleasing bite.

  Probably better I’m drinking this than wine. I have to keep a clear head.

  Am I really going to go through with this?

  I haven’t been with a man since Jason.

  I hadn’t been with a man before Jason.

  “There, everyone is gone, and dinner is served.” Quinn opened the sliding door and ushered her back into the apartment. “I hope you like surf and turf. Somehow it seemed appropriate for the two of us.”

  He pulled a chair out for her and Izzy sat down to an elegantly set table. Candle light sparkled off the perfectly placed silverware and crystal glasses. “This is beautiful.”

  “Surprised?” He sat across from her.

  “Maybe a little. I mean, I rarely see you outside Waffle House.”

  “I never struck you as a crystal/candle/silverware owning sort of guy. I suppose that’s fair. My mom sort of set me up when I moved here.”