by Mandy Baggot
“I can do a bit better than that. I’ve got something for you,” Cole replied.
“What?” Robyn asked.
“Come on, it’s outside,” he informed her with a smile.
“This better be good,” Robyn said as they arrived in the parking lot.
“I think it’s good. Here,” Cole announced, gesturing to an old car in front of them.
“Oh my God! This is a Mustang, circa 1984,” Robyn said, approaching it with excitement in every step.
“1985, actually,” Cole answered.
He watched as Robyn went around the red car, fondly rubbing the rusty fender and looking inside the windows.
“This is a classic. I mean, some people hate the look of this compared to the first editions, but to me, it totally sums up the eighties,” Robyn told him.
“I’m glad you think like that because…it’s yours,” Cole informed her. He’d said the last two words in a whisper she had barely heard.
“What?” Robyn questioned, turning around to look at him.
“I saw it in the Gen-All car park, for sale notice stuck on it. I knew you were looking for a car so…” Cole trailed off.
“You bought me a car,” Robyn remarked, eyeing him with suspicion.
“Yeah, I know how that sounds. But it was a great price and it isn’t a prologue to anything. If you don’t want it, I’ll…”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want it,” Robyn said quickly.
“Try her out,” Cole suggested and he threw Robyn the keys.
“Her?” Robyn asked, holding the keys and still admiring the car.
“I’m afraid so. One previous owner, a guy named Gerry who works in maintenance. She’s called Leonora. First love, first wife—she died,” Cole explained.
“God, you’re kidding me, that’s tragic. I don’t know if I want a tragic car.”
“Think of the history. I bet Gerry and Leonora had a whole pile of fun in her.”
“I’m not sure I want to think about that, either,” Robyn admitted.
“Are you going to get in?”
Robyn eagerly wrenched open the door and jumped into the driver’s seat. She put the keys into the ignition and the engine roared to life.
“Will you listen to that!” she screamed excitedly.
The hum and rattle of the engine was like music to her ears. She revved it up, enjoying the sounds of 1980s manufacturing.
“She might need some TLC, especially on those rust patches, but…” Cole shouted over the engine.
“It’ll be fun, and it will give me a chance to get Uncle Bob’s welder out. I’m always looking for an excuse to get the welder out!” Robyn yelled back.
“So you think you might keep her?” Cole asked.
“We’re going to be inseparable, me and you, aren’t we?” Robyn said, patting the steering wheel affectionately.
Cole smiled as Robyn put her foot to the floor again. The other players arrived, appearing eager to find out what all the noise was about.
“Hey, a Mustang!” Mickey exclaimed, touching the curves and looking at it in appreciation.
“Actually, she’s my Mustang,” Robyn answered, taking her foot off the accelerator.
“What is Mustang?” Henrik asked, looking puzzled.
“Henrik, you have to be kidding me! It’s an American classic. They must have American classics in your town in Austria,” Brad replied, opening the door and jumping into the passenger seat.
“It’s actually my American classic,” Robyn said, wearing a smile from ear to ear.
“Where d’you get it?” Wes asked.
“Cole got it,” Robyn announced.
“Yeah? What you trying to do? Buy your way into the team?” Brad questioned accusingly.
“Brad!” Robyn exclaimed.
“No, of course not. It was a steal of a price and I…” Cole began.
“You barely know her and you’re buying her a car, that’s weird man,” Brad said, getting out of the car and squaring up to Cole.
“It was a good deal, Robyn needed a car…” Cole responded.
“You’ve known her what? A day?” Brad exploded.
“What has that got to do with anything?” Cole asked.
“What has it got to do with anything? I’ll tell you, shall I? You don’t know Robyn yet and we don’t know jack shit about you. Who are you anyway?” Brad yelled. He was pointing at Cole, his finger shaking, his face contorted with anger.
“Brad! Have you gone crazy? Leave him alone,” Robyn screamed, jumping out of the car and attempting to diffuse the situation.
“Hey, listen, this is just about finding a ride for someone. If that’s out of line in this town, then I apologize,” Cole replied, standing his ground.
“I don’t trust him,” Brad announced to everyone.
“What did you say?” Robyn asked, narrowing her eyes at Brad.
“I said I don’t trust him. What do you know about him, Robyn? Nothing. And he’s buying you a car!” Brad exclaimed, his eyes fixed on Cole.
“I know enough to know that I trust him,” Robyn responded angrily.
Brad just continued to stare at Cole, his blue eyes cold and full of anger.
“And, just so we’re clear, not that it’s anybody’s business, but I will be paying him back for the car. Just like I’ll pay you back for the alarm system,” Robyn retorted.
“Hey, everyone, come on, she is beautiful, isn’t she?” Mickey interjected, trying to change the mood.
“Want to help me weld her up?” Robyn asked him.
“Sure, if Sarah lets me out. She’s taken to dragging me past bridal boutiques on weekends lately,” Mickey informed her with a sigh.
“Oh man, have you not given in yet? Give the poor girl a ring,” Wade said with a laugh.
“She want to get married?” Henrik queried.
“I think so, Henrik. She talks about nothing else. Like, did I know that American Woman magazine states that any woman not married before thirty is considered one of life’s rejects? Or did I know that all wedding gowns at Pollards are sixty percent off and, if she bought one now, did I think it would go out of fashion before we set a date.”
“I am not listening,” Robyn announced, clamping her hands down over her ears.
“Women aren’t worth the bother man; no woman is worth the bother,” Brad said, staring at Robyn and throwing his bag over his shoulder.
“Maybe that’s why Michelle left you for the ugliest kid in school,” Robyn blurted out before she could stop herself.
She bit down hard on her lips, instantly regretting the statement, but it was too late. She stood on the outside edge of her tennis shoes and tried not to meet his eyes.
She didn’t need to look up to imagine his expression. He would look wounded and she had caused that by not keeping her mouth in check. Pam had told her he was still working through his troubles, and she’d said something stupid to hurt him just because she didn’t want to go on a date with him.
She raised her head and met his eyes. It was like a light had gone out somewhere inside him.
“I’m out of here,” he said, turning his back on the group and heading off across the parking lot.
Chapter Eleven
“Listen, I’m sorry if the car thing has caused a problem. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just saw it, and I thought of your whole no car issue and…” Cole began.
Robyn was at the wheel of Leonora, driving Cole back to his house. She was enjoying every moment of the classic car’s ride but was trying not to show too much delight in case he thought she was weird. She loved cars—all cars. Small, large, monster trucks, anything with four wheels and an engine she could tinker with. She had been helping her dad with cars since she was old enough to balance on the toolbox and get a wrench in the engine.
“There’s nothing wrong with the car. I love her and I’m going to pay you back for her, every cent, no matter how much she cost. How much did she cost?” Robyn asked, glancing over at him.
“Five hundred dollars,” Cole informed her.
“Wow! You officially got the deal of the century,” Robyn squeaked.
“I know,” Cole replied.
“It wasn’t you buying the car that made Brad flip out, not really. He asked me out to dinner and I said no. Well, I said something stupid like I don’t really do dinners and then ran away from him. I think that pissed him off, seeing as he bought me an expensive alarm system. What is it with guy’s buying me stuff today? Not that I’m complaining,” Robyn informed him quickly.
“I can understand it in a way. I mean, I’ve only just come onto the team, it could have looked like I was trying to buy my place,” Cole admitted.
“Or trying to hit on me,” Robyn spoke without thinking.
He glanced over at her and she met his eyes. She had to turn away because her chest was tightening.
“I wasn’t trying to hit on you,” he said.
“I know. You’re so not over the whole brother stealing your girlfriend thing,” Robyn replied.
“Believe me, I am.”
“I don’t believe you. If you were, you’d be trying to hit on me,” Robyn said, stealing another look at him.
“So, why no dinner with Brad? I mean, he seemed cool, before the whole going all redneck on me,” Cole said, changing the subject.
“I’ve only just got here, I’ve barely had time to indulge myself in dill pickles and monster trucks, let alone think about dating. It didn’t seem right. So, do I take a right here?” Robyn asked.
“No, keep going. What didn’t seem right? Going on a date? Or going on a date with Brad?” Cole inquired.
“You never asked this many questions on the plane.”
“I couldn’t get a word in. And you haven’t answered me.”
Robyn let out a sigh. He was making her feel vulnerable. She needed to speak, but she didn’t know what to say. If she actually thought long enough, she would do her usual nervous trick of reciting notable events from the Portage Panthers’ history books. She didn’t want to do that.
“There’s something in my life I’m not quite over yet. I don’t do dating in the normal sense right now,” Robyn said quickly as if forcing the words out as fast as she could would make it sound better.
She closed her eyes and took a breath.
“In the normal sense?” Cole asked.
“Yeah, you know, hand-holding, going to the movies, sharing a sofa in front of re-runs of The Gilmore Girls,” Robyn told him stiffly.
“Okay, got it,” Cole answered with a nod.
Robyn swallowed and chanced a glance at him. His hair was still wet from the shower and he smelt of something fresh and oriental. He glanced over at her and she jerked her head back.
“So, how did you find the team? I mean, I know they’re not exactly the Wolves but…”
“I enjoyed tonight and Henrik’s awesome. He could play at a much higher level.”
“Please don’t tell him that. I don’t want you both getting poached before I’ve even had one game in charge,” Robyn said.
“I wouldn’t do that—here it is, just on the left,” Cole said, indicating to a house.
“This house? You live on this street?” Robyn said, sounding shocked as she pulled over to the side of the road.
“You can pull into the drive, if you like,” Cole offered.
“You mean the drive that’s almost as big as the road,” Robyn commented.
“That’s the one.”
“I can’t believe you live here. This house is huge, and you must back right up to the lake,” Robyn exclaimed, staring up at the beautiful white wood house in front of them.
“I’ve also got a Jacuzzi, a boat, and a refrigerator that talks to me,” Cole informed her.
“The rent on this must be extortionate. I know how much these places cost to buy, Sarah sold one for a million once. She rang me up twice to tell me.”
“Do you want to come in? Have a conversation with my kitchen appliances?” Cole offered.
“No, thanks. I’d better get back; I’ve got an eight a.m. delivery at the roadhouse. How many bedrooms?” Robyn asked, still looking at the property in awe.
“Four.”
“Wow! They must think highly of you at Gen-All.”
“I guess they must,” Cole agreed.
“Right, well, I’d better go. Thank you so much for Leonora. I’ll pay you back and I’m gonna take the best care of her,” Robyn said as Cole got out of the car.
“I know you are.”
“So, shall I see you for lunch tomorrow? About one? Theo & Stacey’s?” Robyn suggested.
“Yeah, sure, why not,” he agreed with a smile.
“Not that it’s a date or anything, because you know, I don’t do dates,” Robyn clarified.
“Sure.”
“Okay then, I’ll see you…go talk to your fridge,” Robyn called.
“Goodnight,” Cole said, waving a hand.
“Hello!” Robyn called as she entered the house, jingling the car keys in the air.
She was excited to tell Pam about Leonora. The car was her own piece of American automobile history, and she loved it. She couldn’t wait to buy a motor manual on her and read it cover to cover.
“Oh, hi, honey, how was the training?” Pam asked, fidgeting and not meeting her eyes.
Something wasn’t right. Pam looked flustered and she was wearing rubber gloves. She did love to clean but not usually at night.
“Not too bad, they’re a bit rough around the edges, but I can iron them out. Is Bob back yet? Did he tell you about my car?” Robyn asked, shaking the keys even harder.
“Yes, he did. Wow, that’s great,” Pam said unenthusiastically.
“It’s so cool, come and see it.”
“I will, honey, in a while. I’m just in the middle of something,” Pam said, pausing at the sink and wringing out a cloth.
“What are you doing?” Robyn asked.
“Just cleaning up.”
“Cleaning up what? Where’s Bob?” Robyn wanted to know.
“He’s, er, in the garage,” Pam said quickly.
“No he’s not, I parked Leonora in there. Why can I hear scrubbing?” Robyn asked her.
“Oh, it’s nothing, honey. Why don’t you make us all a pot of coffee?” Pam suggested.
“It’s coming from my room,” Robyn said, moving toward the sound.
“Robyn, don’t go in there. Bob’s fixing it. Robyn…” Pam began, hurrying down the hallway after her.
Robyn entered her bedroom to find Bob fiercely rubbing at the wall of the room with a hard-bristled brush. On one wall, the words “Jason loves Robyn” were daubed in three foot high red letters.
“Robyn, I don’t know what’s gotten into them. This isn’t like them at all. I am so sorry. Bob is going to get this off the wall even if we have to buy every product Meijer has to offer, or even redecorate. We could do with redecorating anyway and wallpaper is twenty percent off right now,” Pam babbled.
“It’s okay,” Robyn replied, swallowing a lump in her throat.
“No, it isn’t okay, Robyn. Their privileges have been taken away for a month; it’s no TV in their room, no candy, and no weekend trips. And they are going to apologize to you,” Bob told her as he continued to scrub.
“And we’re going to go to the school and see the principal. We’re going to get to the bottom of who’s been filling their head with all this stuff,” Pam added.
“I’m just going to go. It’s too much having me here. I should have realized that when you offered,” Robyn said, picking up her backpack and scanning the room for her things.
“No, honey! Don’t do that! We want you to stay,” Pam insisted.
“I know you do, but I’ll be fine. It can’t be easy for the twins having someone else sharing their space, especially a strange cousin from England who everyone still thinks is a witch,” Robyn added with half a smile.
“Robyn, this is as much your home as theirs, I hope you know tha
t,” Bob told her.
“Thank you for saying that, but it isn’t, not really, not now. I’m going to go, it’s just easier for everyone,” Robyn replied, putting her baseball cap into her bag.
“Robyn, please don’t. Tell her Bob, tell her she can’t go,” Pam blubbered, tears forming in her eyes.
“Robyn, we don’t want you to go. I’m going to speak to those two monsters I’ve raised and…” Bob began.
“You don’t have to do that. Honestly, it’s fine,” Robyn insisted.
The situation was just too awkward and she needed to get out of it. She was used to standing on her own two feet…well, to a certain extent. How hard could it be?
“But where will you go?” Pam asked, wiping at her eyes.
“I’ll stay with Sarah,” Robyn said confidently.
“But her place is really small, and the last time I went, there was a motorcycle in the spare room,” Pam informed her.
“It’ll be fine, I’ll be fine,” Robyn assured her, hoisting her backpack onto her back and picking up her case.
“I don’t want you to go, this isn’t right. Bob, this isn’t right. Make her stay, at least until the morning. Stay until the morning, honey,” Pam said, shaking her head and dabbing at her eyes.
“I’ll give you a call tomorrow, and Bob, I’ll speak to you about arrangements for our night out on Friday,” Robyn said, backing out of the room.
“Er, yeah, sure, Friday,” Bob replied, not daring to look at Pam.
“See you!” Robyn called as cheerily as she could as she headed out toward the garage.
She closed the door behind her, threw her luggage into Leonora, and let out a heavy sigh. Who was she trying to kid? She couldn’t stay with Sarah and Mickey, not after her friend had poured her heart out over lunch and what she had heard Mickey say at training. It would be like living in a melting pot of tension the whole time and that was the last thing she needed at the moment.
She could go to her dad’s, but that would mean confronting Nancy, and she wasn’t sure the woman would welcome her with open arms after what had gone on at the roadhouse. In fact, she would probably get the door slammed in her face while being subjected to quite a few well-chosen words, most of them beginning with the letter “F”.