“Thank you for the invite, but I have a plane to catch,” he said, smiling to take the sting out of the rejection.
As he climbed into the Uber that Ward had called for them, Kenton breathed a sigh of relief. He was on his way home, and Avery didn’t even know. He planned to show up at her house during the interview the next night, and he couldn’t wait.
His flight out of LAX left just after one, and this time he was making the trip in the suit he’d worn for the interview. It wasn’t the most comfortable travel attire, but he hadn’t had time to change between leaving the station and heading to the airport. This was a flight he didn’t want to miss. Plus, everything else he owned had been shipped out earlier in the week.
Eight hours and two time zones later, he was back in Winnipeg. Tristan had been the one, once again, to meet him at the airport. It was well after midnight when they finally got back to the house, so there’d been no conversation beyond what they held in the car. He fell into bed, eager to get some sleep ahead of what the next day would hold.
Avery glanced at the clock. Kenton’s interview was set to air during the sports’ update show at seven o’clock. She couldn’t wait for the news of his retirement to be official so that he could begin the process of moving his life from LA to Winnipeg. She knew that she wasn’t the only one eager for that either.
Benjie fidgeted on the couch beside her. The boy had alternately been ecstatic about Kenton returning to Winnipeg and disappointed that his hockey hero was retiring from the game. Avery knew that once Kenton was back with them, Benjie wouldn’t be disappointed anymore.
Her mom and Elliot came into the family room as the program started. As was expected, his interview was the lure to keep people tuned in, so it didn’t start until nearly the end of the program.
As the interview began, Avery drank in the sight of Kenton looking so handsome and at ease in his light gray suit. He wore a white shirt with a paisley tie in shades of blue and green that brought out the blue of his eyes. She fought down a surge of jealousy when the beautiful woman interviewing him turned on the charm.
Avery knew she had no one but herself to blame for the fact that women thought Kenton was available. A few months ago, she’d made the mistake of reading a gossip site for hockey players where people seemed to take great joy in speculating on the personal lives of hockey players. She’d read through all the theories of who Kenton was dating with a sick feeling in her stomach.
That had been her first and last time on that site and any others like it. She trusted Kenton, and he’d given her no reason not to. Still, she’d be glad to have him off the radar of sites like that. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be long until Kenton Callaghan would be old news where those sites were concerned. Having him live a lower-profile life would be a bonus all around, although his high profile didn’t worry her like it once had.
Julian had been released as Max had predicted, but it appeared he hadn’t been interested in trying to reconnect with her. There had been a couple of reporters who had attempted to contact her, but somehow, they’d been directed to the PR firm Max had hired to deal with the inquiries. What had been said in response to the inquiries, Avery didn’t know, and frankly, she didn’t care. All that mattered was that they had left her alone.
Of course, it helped that Julian couldn’t seem to keep out of trouble. It wasn’t long after his release that he’d been picked up for attempting to buy drugs. Next time, it had been a solicitation charge. Finally, he’d been arrested for assault, and that had been enough so that even his dad’s high-priced lawyers couldn’t keep him out of jail.
It had been a huge relief for Avery to be able to tell Benjie that his dad was back in jail, and would be there for the foreseeable future. Though she wouldn’t have hesitated to be part of Kenton’s life regardless, it was easier to consider it now with Julian apparently not interested in finding her or keeping himself out of jail.
“Did he say how long it will be before he comes home?” Benjie asked as the interview ended.
“He didn’t have a definite date, but I would imagine it won’t be too long. Just remember he has his whole life to pack up, and with the playoffs, he wouldn’t have had time to pack until the season was over.”
“Well, I hope it’s soon,” Benjie said.
“Is now soon enough?”
Avery jerked around to look at the entrance to the family room then jumped to her feet when she spotted Kenton. Her heart pounding, she hurried to where he stood, a grin on his face, and flung herself into his arms. Without hesitation, he bent his head so that they were able to kiss.
Even though they had seen each other briefly a couple of months earlier, it seemed like forever since she’d felt his arms around her, holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world to him. The unsettled feeling that seemed to be constantly present slowly dissipated the longer Kenton held her in his arms.
When their kiss ended, she raised her hands to cup his face. “Are you home for good?”
“I am,” he said with a grin. “And all my stuff is now here in Winnipeg.”
“That is the best thing you’ve said to me in a long time.” Avery wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his neck, breathing in his familiar scent as she held him tight.
“Well, how about I see if I can beat that,” Kenton said, pulling back a bit.
“What do you mean?” Avery leaned away from him so she could look up into his face.
“I mean,” Kenton began. “That I want to spend the rest of my life with you. There’s nothing I want more than to be with you for as long as God allows. Would you do me the honor of being my wife, love?”
Avery stared at Kenton in shock. “You want to marry me?”
“Why are you so surprised? Is that not what you want too?”
“Of course, I do.” As the reality of the situation sank in, excitement and joy filled Avery. “Yes. Yes, I do want to marry you. I love you so much. You have no idea.”
Kenton lifted his hands to her face, brushing his thumbs across her cheeks. There was a gentle look in his eyes as he smiled down at her. “Oh, I think I do. If it’s anything like how much I love you, then I do.”
“Pssst! The ring!” They both turned at the loud whisper to see Benjie grinning at them. “You need to give her the ring.”
“So I do.” Kenton laughed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black jeweler’s box. He popped the lid open and pulled the ring free. Then, apparently deciding he needed to do it right, Kenton lowered himself to one knee. “Avery Walker, will you marry me?”
This time, tears sprung to her eyes as she nodded. “You could ask me a thousand times, and every time my answer would be the same. Yes. I will marry you.”
Kenton slid the ring onto her finger, then closed his hands around hers as he got to his feet. He took her into his arms again. “Thank you. For this…for everything. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Hockey was my first love, but you will be my last and best. I feel like I just crossed the center ice of my life and scored the only goal I needed to win when you said yes.”
Avery laughed at the hockey metaphor, aware that while Kenton had left professional hockey behind, the sport was always going to be a part of their lives.
Suddenly they were engulfed in hugs from her mom, Elliot, and Benjie, each of them eager to share in the joy and happiness of the moment. Though they had always been a small family unit, Avery knew that would change the day she and Kenton’s lives intertwined through marriage, and she found she could hardly wait.
The fear that had permeated her life for so long had given way to hope and a belief that she and Benjie were where they were supposed to be. The decision to trust in God and in the promise of Kenton’s love had brought her happiness far beyond what she had ever imagined. Instead of fearing the future, Avery knew that whatever lay ahead for them, the love and faith she and Kenton shared would get them through it.
Note to the Reader
Though I’ve done research on the subjects in this story, I have taken some creative license with certain things while still trying to stay true to them overall. At the time of research and writing, HGH was still not listed as banned by the NHL, although there has been plenty of discussion about it. I realize this may change in the future, so I wanted to write this as way of explanation in case that should happen and you’re aware of it when reading this book.
Some of the NHL players listed in this book are among my favorites—namely those on the Winnipeg Jets—but as with all professional sports, they may not remain as part of the team. So, while at the time of writing they are still playing for the Jets, it may not stay that way. Other players listed from the Kings’ team are simply a product of my imagination.
Coming Spring 2018
A Touch of Romance
Mitch Callaghan is ready to settle down.
He’s seen his siblings find love and he wants that for himself.
He’s prepared to romance the woman of his dreams.
Except that when he finally meets her,
romance & love are the last things she’s interested in.
Available now for pre-order.
A Touch of Romance
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FAMILY TREE
Crossing Center Ice Page 33