“Cheese, well then that explains it!” I giggled. “That’s why you’re such a cheese factory out there.” I was laughing so hard I had to hold my tummy. “That explains why your entire rookie year you wore that damn cheese grater.”
It had some very nice neighborhoods. It was spotless, a very clean town. With buildings old and new mixed together. We finally reached his parents home.
They welcomed me graciously into their home. His mother had prepared us a huge turkey dinner with all the fixings. It was delicious. It was nice to have a home cooked meal. His brother was just like Joe had described him to me. A huge nerd. He spent most of the dinner discussing some computer chip that was going to be the next new big thing. I had no idea what he was talking about. From the looks of every one else’s face no one else did either.
His brother pretty much talked throughout the entire meal. He was even talking when others were talking and tuning him out. It was almost as if he didn’t care if he just sat there talking to himself. Very strange I thought.
Joe leaned over to me and said ”I’m sorry Chrissy, he’s got some serious issues upstairs if you get what I mean.” He seemed almost embarrassed by his brother.
“No worries, Joe. We all have one of those in our family.” I whispered. He started to chuckle.
I thanked Joe’s parents for a lovely meal and we headed back to Toronto. It was late and I was tired. I just wanted to take a long hot bath and crawl into bed.
Joe finally dropped me off at the Peat’s house around midnight. All the lights were off upstairs, the basement living room light was on, but Erik’s car wasn’t in the driveway.
I threw my bag into my bedroom and grabbed my toiletries and my pj’s and headed towards the bathroom. I poured in lots of bubble bath, it was a lavender smell. I decided to also drop in one of the bath bombs Cathy had given me for Christmas. I had never used one before. It started to fizz and move rapidly throughout the tub. It was quite amusing to watch. Once the tub was full, I slowly slid into it.
The water was extremely hot, but it was nice as the water engulfed my body. I completely submerged myself. Slid all the way under the water, letting the bath take over my entire body. It felt so soothing and relaxing. The bath bomb released something into the water that made my skin feel so smooth and soft. I was enjoying this bath immensely. I vowed that I would take a bath with bath bombs at least once a week from now on. It was heaven.
I didn’t want to come out of the bath, but I was starting to fall asleep in there. I dried myself off and put on my pajamas and went out into the living room. Erik had just gotten home. We sat up and talked for about twenty minutes before I managed to dragged myself into my bedroom and flopped on my bed. I was out right away; as soon as my head hit the pillow.
March came fast this year. I had been kept so busy all season that the months seemed to fly by. Alex and I had gotten even closer. I wanted to get back together with him. I just wasn’t fully ready yet. He was acting like we already were together. Boston was still treating him like a human yo-yo.
He was continuously shipped back and forth between Boston and Providence. Last week he had to get off the bus in the middle of nowhere, jump on a plane to play a game that night. It was starting to take it’s toll on him. He wasn’t complaining much, but I could tell. The last time we were on web cam together he looked drained. I would hate to be in the situation he was in, but on the bright side he was playing a lot of NHL games. I would kill for that kind of chance.
We had a good team this season and all of us had great chemistry. We didn’t have the best players in the league on our team, but what we did have was consistency. We were sitting 5th in the CHL standings. I was still 2nd in scoring in the OHL, and 4th in the CHL.
We won the first round of playoffs taking out Trenton in five games. In the second round we scraped through, finally winning the 7th game against Oshawa. The third round we took out Brampton in five games.
We were heading into the finals for the playing for the Bobby Orr Trophy in the East. We were going to play Barrie. They had done outstanding this season and going into the tournament they had the upper hand. They had home ice advantage and they had beaten us five of the eight games we had played them this season. However, we were the stronger team and sitting higher up in the CHL standings with more wins under our belt.
The coach gave us a pep talk before heading out onto the ice. His normal words of wisdom, some swearing about never giving up and some famous quotes.
Today’s quote, I had heard many times before. It was a quote from the General Manager of the New York Rangers, and of course he played all over the NHL from Boston to Edmonton and every where in between, Glen Sather. “You can have all the talent in the world, but if the pumper’s not there, it doesn’t matter”.
“So guys get out there and kick some Barrie Ass!” He yelled and he motioned for us to get out of the room. I laughed on my way out of the dressing room. He was a good coach, but on game days he was in his own little coaching world.
I didn’t start today’s game. Instead I was playing on the second line. My back was still a little sore and coach felt I would be better playing on the second line. I didn’t argue. It didn’t really matter to me where I played; as long as I got my ice time. My back had improved a lot but I still had my days.
The first period opened with a few chances that we managed to create, even with Barrie getting an early power play. Finally Joe Sim started the scoring with under four minutes left in the first when he tipped in Erik Wilson’s pass. Brett Welsh got the second assist on that goal.
Barrie got themselves into penalty trouble at the end of the first period and were down two men for 1:09 to start the second. I took quick advantage of it, when I flipped in a rebound that the Barrie goalie had just given up. Then Barrie came back and got one past Tyler Plouffe and we lost our two goal lead.
In the third, I managed to restore the two-goal lead when my backhand shot just barely managed to beat the Barrie goalie. The rest of the third was a lot of back and forth. Many penalties called but no goals. We won the first game of the series 3-1.
We battled hard through this series and took Barrie out in seven. We won the Bobby Orr Trophy. Now we would play the Winner in the West for the J. Ross Robertson Cup - OHL Playoffs Championships. We had to wait a few days to find out which team that would be.
My father called to congratulate me on our win, as did Alex. This season was different without Moose and Alex. I still had some of my close friends, but it didn’t feel the same.
Two days later we found out that we would be playing against London. They were a solid team. A much bigger team. They liked to throw their bodies around a lot out there.
They took us out in five games. The season was over just like that. They were moving on to play in the Memorial Cup Tournament, and our season was done. We all said our goodbyes at our team dinner with our billets.
I had this summer’s NHL Draft to look forward to. I was hoping that it would go well. I said goodbye to the Peats and shipped my things home.
I debated for a day whether I would fly to Providence and surprise Alex. I knew what happened the last time I did that. However, I did want him back. I missed him. He was my best friend.
I told my parents I wouldn’t be home for a while. They never argued with me about things like that anymore. To them I was an adult. They let me do what I wanted. I was mature enough to handle the situations I put before myself. They knew I wasn’t going to ruin any chance I had by doing foolish things.
I boarded the plane at Pearson International Airport and glanced down at the city of Toronto as the plane took off. Toronto was such a huge city.
When I arrived in Providence, I took a cab over to the team’s apartment complex. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. God only knew what kind of surprise might be waiting for me on the other side of the door.
Alex opened the door. He was standing there in only his boxers. His hair still wet from the shower. I just smi
led. He was shocked to see me. He grabbed me up in his arms and swung me around. He kissed me.
“What a nice surprise. I am so happy you’re here Christine.” He cheered.
“I wasn’t sure about coming. It was kind of a last minute decision,” I said meekly.
“It was the right decision. Will you stay with me for the rest of the season?” He asked with excitement.
“Well that would be hard with you traveling back and forth to Boston all the time. What about you’re new roommate. I don’t think he’d like that at all.” I explained.
“If you promise to stay I will move us into our own place by the end of the week. I swear it won’t be an issue at all.” He was beaming with excitement.
“And I suppose you want an answer this minute?” I questioned him.
“No, how about by tomorrow morning?” He laughed. He pulled me into the bedroom and threw me on the bed and collapsed on top of me.
“If you stay this means you and me are back together and you have to take your ring back.” He insisted.
I pushed him off of me. “How about you go get dressed and take me out for some supper. I am famished.” I told him.
He went to his dresser and pulled something out of the top drawer. He walked back over to me and took my left hand. “Are we back together?” He asked me with those big green eyes. I couldn’t say no. I missed him and I did love him.
“Yes, I will stay, and yes we are back together Alex.” I leaned forward and kissed him. He slid the ring onto my finger. It was my promise ring. I looked down at it and smiled.
He took me out to the Waterplace. It’s a great restaurant. We had been there before. It has a wonderful view of the water and the city.
I ordered the decadent lobster rangoon. It was a lobster with cream cheese, chives, with a rice wine vinegar filling, and an apricot horseradish dipping sauce. Alex ordered the grilled 14 oz. ribeye, with baby spinach, red bliss mashed potatoes, whole grain mustard shallot, Cabernet butter and fresh vegetables. We always ordered two completely different dishes and shared.
Throughout the dinner we talked about the two of us living together until I figured out what I would be doing next season. Hopefully I would get drafted somewhere. He told me we could figure things out for that later. For now we would take it one day at a time and just deal with things as they were handed to us. He told me he would get me into the gym where they trained and that I would be able to book some ice time at a local arena. He would work out with me when he could.
He also insisted that I could go out and furnish the apartment how I wanted to. He told me it would be best to go with American Furniture Rentals. They had everything we needed for an apartment. We could just rent it for however long we needed it. All the guys did that. He told me to give Sarabella a call and her and I could go check it out.
I wondered what my parents would say. I was almost nineteen. They loved Alex dearly. I would call them tomorrow and let them know what was happening. Then Alex said something to surprise me.
“Christine, I want total trust between us this time. I will give you all my passwords to all my online accounts. You can go in and look at everything I am doing, and just delete whoever you want to.” He nodded to confirm what he had just said to me.
“Alex, I don’t want to do that. You are entitled to your privacy. You know right from wrong. You also know who should or should not be on any of your contact lists. I will leave it to your discretion. However, know this - if anything happens this time around; any form of cheating whatsoever, I will never give you another chance.” I told him firmly.
“I understand and it will never happen again. I learned first hand what it was like to lose the one you love. Now that I have you back I will never do anything to lose you again.” He smiled and took my hand in his and squeezed “I love you Christine.”
“I love you also Alex.” I smiled back at him.
After dinner we went back to his place. It was still early. He was out in the living room making arrangements to move into another one of the apartments in the team’s building.
I decided to take the opportunity and I called my parents. At first they weren’t all that happy with the idea, but they knew that it would happen at some point. They liked Alex, and thought we were perfect together. They also knew that I would be able to focus more on my hockey in Providence, then back home in Dryden. They agreed to the arrangement. Alex was happy when I told him the news.
Providence, Rhode Island
The next afternoon I gave Sarabella a call. She was happy I was back in town and that Alex and I were back together. Her and I seemed to really hit it off the first time we had met. She was older, in her early 30’s, beautiful, and young at heart. Mike and her made a great couple although Mike was much younger, only twenty-eight. There was a much bigger age difference between her and Mike, than Alex and myself. She couldn’t wait to go with me to pick out the furniture. I was happy to have her help me since I was a terrible shopper.
It was 5:30 p.m., when Alex arrived home from practice. He rushed into the apartment bouncing into the living room. I was sitting on the couch, bored, watching some talk show that wasn’t doing a very good job at keeping my interest. He was dangling something from his hand with a big grin on his face.
“Madame, are you ready to see our new place?” He asked with the excitement of a fat kid eating cake.
“Seriously?” I asked stunned on how fast he had gotten everything worked out. “You got it already?”
“Grab your purse and jacket Hun.” He instructed me. I looked at him surprised.
“Is the apartment not in this building?” I questioned him. I knew the team owned the building and it was specifically for the players.
“No, I rented us a house right on the water.” He revealed.
“A house?” I was puzzled over his choice. “Why a house Alex?”
“Because you are the woman I love, and you deserve nothing but the best.” He grinned that crooked grin I loved so much.
I ran out the door much more excited then before. I couldn’t wait to see this house. On the way to the house he started to tell me about it. “It’s a three bedroom, two bathrooms, water front home in Island Park, Portsmouth. This house has been renovated with beautiful new wood floors, new kitchen appliances and counter tops, it has a full bath with a whirlpool tub. I know how you love your baths. It also has a gas fireplace, and a second floor deck. The family room is separate from the dining room, there is an office also. We can handle our hockey stuff out of there. It also has a big basement. I thought we could also rent some exercise equipment so we can workout together at home. What do you think?” He asked me smiling.
“It sounds amazing Alex. You said it’s right on the water?” I inquired.
“Yeah, it’s just a quaint little white house, but the view is spectacular. One of the guys on my team said he saw it on his way to the rink and mentioned it to me. So I left after practice and rented it on the spot as soon as I saw it.” He was smiling, like he was a kid in a candy store.
We pulled up in front of the house. It did look like a small older home. I could see the water from the driveway. I started to walk towards the water to check out the view but Alex stopped me. “You have to see the view from inside the house first Hun.” He demanded.
I agreed. I walked through the double front door and into the living room. There was a huge window with five separate window panels. I could see the water and the surrounding hills across the bay. The view was beautiful.
I walked slowly into the kitchen, and on the far left of the eating area were patio doors. I walked through them out onto the huge porch that had the most breathtaking view. I walked along the porch to another set of patio doors and walked through them back into the house and found myself standing in the master bedroom.
The bedroom was average size, but it did have a his and her closet and a full bathroom. I loved the house. It was perfect. It’s something I would have picked out if I had the money to purchas
e myself a home. It was scary how well Alex knew me.
I pulled Alex close to me and I wrapped my arms around him. I leaned up and gently kissed him on the lips. I could feel the tears swelling in my eyes.
“You like it?” He asked.
“Alex, it’s perfect. I absolutely love it.” I confirmed. “You are just to good to me sometimes. I love you”.
“I was thinking that maybe you and me could spend tonight here. We could light a fire, spread out a blanket, order some food and sleep on the floor in front of the fire. What do you think?” He proposed the idea with an evil dirty smirk on his face. I knew what he was thinking.
“I think that would be a great idea.” I smiled and hugged him tighter.
That night was the most magical night of my life. It was more romantic than any book I had ever read. Something changed inside me that night. I wanted to be with Alex forever and I knew it. He became my life. I didn’t realize I could love anyone as much as I loved Alex.
He had to fly up to Boston the next day. I drove him to the airport so I could use his truck. I would have to get myself a little car, because driving the truck around was awkward for me. It was so big and I had problems parking it. I had gotten my license the week I had turned 16, in Dryden; however, I hadn’t done much driving over the last two years. Canada had a different driving rules, something about restrictions, so I never changed my license over. Now I was back in the United States, those restrictions didn’t apply here.
I met Sarabella at the furniture rental place. Alex was right. They had everything from furniture to kitchen utensils and we needed it all.
“I’m so excited that you’re living here now.” Sarabella exclaimed as she rushed up to give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “You are going to love it here.”
“I love the house Alex picked out. Wait until you see it. It’s perfect. It’s not huge, in fact its quaint, but I love it and the view is to die for.” I told her.