Page 47 of Coast to Coast

After placing the salads and sides in the refrigerator, I used the bathroom, only to get caught up looking at the family photos that decorated the walls in the hallway. There were photos spanning many years, both here in the US and of their time in the Czech Republic. Alex had been on at least two NHL teams,evidenced by the framed jerseys hung on the wall and their family photos in each of the arenas.

“How do you manage it?” I asked when Mariana noticed me looking at the wall of photos and joined me in the hallway.

“It’s not always easy, but we have been together since high school. We adapted to this life together, and I don’t know of any other way. At some point, he will retire, and when that happens, we can move on to the next phase.”

“Do you want to stay in the US? Or move back home?” I asked, wondering if Tom would move back to Vancouver at the end of his career or stay with Crew.

“It depends. It’s not easy for them to give up the game. Alex may want to coach, which could mean we would move to another city, state, or country. I’m open to it. My family once feared that I was going to lose myself, and they didn’t want me to give up my life solely to support my husband. But I love everything about my life. I love traveling, I love the game, and I love the family of women I’ve met. I also find a lot of fulfillment just helping women adjust to the lifestyle.”

“Britney?” I asked, still concerned after watching Jonah attempt to make amends for tossing her in the pool.

“Ah, my boy Jonah. He’s had a series of failed relationships; he has been trying so hard to find the right woman that he can’t discern when they are just after his status. We hear so much about when the guys behave badly, but no one bats an eye when they get run through the wringer by a woman. If Britney lasts, they won’t be happy.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” I said.

“The players are from all over the world and from very different circumstances. Some of them have a harder time adjusting than others. Especially with budgeting. We have some of the most complicated tax returns in existence, and if theydon’t know how to manage their money, they can easily end up in trouble.”

I thought back to Tom’s situation. Yes, I looked up his salary online, and seven figures was a lot of money, but then I saw Sam’s salary, and I wondered if that created issues. Everything I had seen showed a respectful and supportive relationship between the two men. But what would happen as Crew got older? What if Crew got tired of traveling back and forth between the two households and picked his mother? I felt a painful clench deep in my chest and a lurch in my stomach. Tom was an amazing father and loved his son; he’d be devastated.

“What are you thinking about?” Mariana asked, interrupting my silence.

“Have you ever met another player in Tom’s situation?” I asked, hoping Mariana could share a happy ending or two.

She nodded and paused before speaking.

“Most of the time, the child ends up with their mother full-time. And the lucky ones get summer visitation.”

I swallowed down the lump that had grown in my throat. “That would be terrible.”

“For Tom, yes. But in the majority of those situations, the children need stability. I work hard to teach my kids that we are their home. I can only do that because I have a partner. Imagine your worst relationship, and then imagine that you are forever tied together with a child. People can’t always separate their emotions from the situation; the kids are mixed up in the chaos. This is more real for you than you expected, isn’t it?” Mariana asked, referencing the fake dating situation.

“I’m not sure what it is, to be completely honest. None of this was part of my plan. I lost my job and a relationship recently, and yes, both events were directly related to each other. I showed up for the interview knowing very little about theposition. And here we are. Would I protect that little boy with my life? Absolutely. And Tom is a complication I wasn’t expecting.”

“So you’re interested?” Mariana asked.

“Ugh, it’s messy, right?” I responded to her question with another question, catching myself wondering why I was ready to spill everything to this woman I barely knew.

“It’s always messy. It just depends on whether it’s worth it. Tom is the one I worry about the most. He’s so committed to making this situation work for his son that he doesn’t take much time for himself. He is either with Crew or he’s training. He doesn’t date. I haven’t known him to have one-night stands, either. I think he’s so afraid of losing his son that he’s afraid.”

“That tracks,” I said.

“I used to joke with Alex that the only way any woman would get close to Tom would be if she were Crew’s nanny. It’s almost like I manifested you,” she laughed.

“Well, I’m still wondering how I ended up here myself. Maybe I am in a story someone else is writing. But to answer your question, he’s hard to resist. For so many reasons.”

“We should probably get back outside, but I want you to know you can talk to me. But that comes with a warning: I don’t hide anything major from my husband, which means if I think either Tom or Crew will get hurt, he will know about it. And vice versa, I will let you know if I see something that might put you at risk.”

Back at the pool, Tom was managing an over-exhausted Crew who desperately needed a nap.

“No nap, Dada! No, go.” Crew tossed his towel and floats on the ground, and when Tom took his hand, he went limp, dropping his body so that Tom would need to either drag him or carry him.

I ran over to help, scooping Crew in my arms, “Let’s make a deal, bud. How about we go back and lie down long enough for me to sing two songs?”

There was no way he’d stay awake through one song, never mind two.

“Then come back?” he asked, thinking seriously about the deal.

“Yes, you lay down while I sing two songs, and when you get up, we can come back.”

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