Page 97 of Broken Ice, Mended Hearts

After raising my hand to his mouth for a kiss, he said, “We’ll deal with it. If nothing else, I’ve learned that life is full of changes, and we can either pretend they don’t exist or roll with them. I used to bury my head in the sand a lot, but that didn’t work anymore after I met you.”

We stopped and faced each other while I ran a finger down the zipper of his open jacket. The happiness I got from being with Pip was something I could never have imagined in the past. “It didn’t for me, either. I think we were meant to be together.”

“I’d bet a year’s salary on it.”

We looked into each other’s eyes, and his gray depths beckoned. I was where I belonged. There, in his eyes; here, by his side. Having faith that we could weather the joys and storms, whatever happened.

A Week Later

“Where the hell is Jacob?” Pip was pacing around the master suite, stopping to look out the window every time he passed it. “He’s never late.”

The Cudas had won the first two games against the Condors, which they’d played in Bethesda, and Pip had to get to theairport so he didn’t miss the Barracudas’ flight to New York. Game three would be tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.

“I told you he’s caught in traffic. It’s four-thirty in the afternoon. What did you expect?”

“For him to leave earlier.”

I patted the mattress beside me, and when Pip sat down, I reached for his hand. “You should go. Jacob is on his way.”

“I know, but I don’t want you to be by yourself.”

“Why?” I paused to be sure my voice remained even. “I can take care of myself now. I don’t need anyone staying with me.”

“How would you get to your appointments?”

“Jacob would still drive me, but he could stay home the rest of the time.”

Pip glanced at his watch, then back at me. “As long as he’s able to help us, stop complaining and let him.”

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang, and we went downstairs to let Jacob in. After we all exchanged hugs, Pip placed a hand on Jacob’s back. “Let’s go in the kitchen so I can show you the calendar. I also updated the Everything Sven book because they dropped another of his meds. He’s down to one pill a day now.”

“That’s fantastic,” Jacob said, then smiled at me. “I know how much you hate taking medicine, and I’ll bet they’ll drop the other one soon.”

I held up crossed fingers. “I sure hope so.”

Jacob let Pip guide him into the kitchen, and on their way out of the room, Pip said, “I just changed the sheets this morning, so unless something weird happens, you won’t need to do that. We’ll only be in New York for a few days.”

I sat on a sofa arm until they returned. This time, Jacob was talking. “Tuesday will have three appointments? Rehab at the PT place in the morning, skating at the Congressmen’sfacility in Alexandria after lunch, and the orthopedist later in the afternoon?”

Pip nodded. “Yes. Do you remember how to rub his back if his leg aches? There’s that trigger point.”

Jacob remembered everything because he’d been helping us for a while. I started to interrupt Pip’s monologue, but Jacob met my eye and gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

He was right. Doing this was part of how Pip showed he loved me, and I needed to be quiet and enjoy knowing I was the center of his universe. It was part of the way I could keep him in the center of mine.

Ten minutes later, after Pip had finished his instructions, I walked him to the door.

He smiled. “You’ll be fine. Jacob will take good care of you, and I’ll call every chance I get.”

“I know.” I wrapped my arms around him. “Concentrate on taking care of yourself. Have fun with the guys and win these two games. If you come back with them in the bag, you’ll win the series next week in Cuda Arena, then have more time to rest before round two.”

“I’ll do my best.” He gave me the first of what I knew would be two or three kisses.

“Score some goals for me?” I asked.

“You know it. Take care of yourself?”

“It’s a promise.”

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