Page 39 of Hometown Heart

The bleachers groaned beneath the weight of more bodies as new arrivals filled in the empty spaces. The buttery aroma ofpopcorn purchased from the concession stand drifted past me. Looking around, I spotted many thermoses full of coffee, fellow dads wearing weathered team caps, and moms prepping their scorebooks for the game.

Camden was a tough opponent. They'd ruled the junior league for three seasons in a row, and their coach—a former college player—ran drills with military precision.

The advantage Whistleport had? We had heart. And Cody. He was still new enough that other teams weren't quite sure how to defend against him.

I watched Cody join his teammates as they gathered around Rory. He jostled Tyler with an elbow and then leaned in close, listening carefully to the coach's words.

My son was ten and going on twenty-five when it came to hockey. His fierce concentration reminded me of myself when I was his age.

The biggest surprise of the day happened when Silas unexpectedly slid into the seat beside me. He handed over a Tidal Ground coffee without a word. He'd shown up at a few junior practices, but Brooks told me not to expect him at the games. He needed to prep for a rush after the game.

I turned my head. "Didn't expect to see you here."

He shrugged. "I'm a man of endless surprises."

That was true, and I shouldn't have been surprised to see him at the game. He knew a lot about hockey like every other adult male in Whistleport. What surprised me the most was that he didn't tell me ahead of time.

Brooks chuckled softly in front of us. "Thought you had a rush to prep for, Brewster. Those Camden folk are gonna need a scone or two."

Silas sipped his coffee. "Sarah's got it under control."

The coffee he'd brought was top-notch, as always. He'd added an extra shot of espresso. Surprisingly, I felt like I needed it as the caffeine raced to my toes.

Silas ran his thumb along the rim of his cup. It was an unconscious gesture that usually meant he was thinking hard about something. His knee brushed mine as he settled into his seat, leaning against the bleacher behind him.

"And Sarah didn't mind you leaving her on her own?"

"She threatened to mutiny if I didn't take a break." Silas continued to stare at the ice as he spoke. He watched Cody closely. "She said I was hovering too much, and then she complained about me being too fussy about the scone placement."

"Heaven forbid they be misaligned."

"Make fun all you want, but presentation is important." He smiled. "I also heard Camden's goalie has a weak glove side. I needed to see that firsthand when we have such a strong shooter in Cody."

I looked around and spotted a few people glancing our way. Some were staring. They tried to be subtle, but they weren't nuanced enough.

Dottie's group had already gotten an eyeful.

Even some of the dads, guys I'd shared beers with, looked at Silas briefly and then away.

I did my best to tell myself it didn't matter.

Whistleport didn't whisper. They spoke openly. Tyler's mom, Shannon, kept glancing in our direction. Two rows down, Mr. Peterson, owner of the hardware store, tilted his head toward his wife while keeping an eye on me. The awareness of Silas sitting with his leg tucked up against mine spread through the crowd.

I didn't worry that people would disapprove. Brooks and Rory proved every day that Whistleport was an accepting community. What I saw was different. It was a collective curiosity machinecoming to life, gathering information to share as soon as the game ended.

Silas gestured toward Dottie, Vi, and Ruthie. "I give it seven minutes until they start swarming around us with questions."

"That long?

"Dottie needs to finish her cocoa first."

I smiled despite feeling a little discomfort. The stakes were small. Silas's warm presence beside me made it all bearable.c

The puck dropped to start the game, and I instantly zeroed in on the action and Cody.

He had a good first shift—fast and aggressive while sticking close to his linemate Tyler. I turned to explain something to Silas, and he was already launching into a game analysis.

"Rory's got them playing tight on the blue line. That's a good read—Camden's got speed. Still, they get flustered when you take away their passing lanes."

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