Page 58 of Dirty Puck

“They’re good, but we’re here for you.”

“I didn’t want my boy to worry.”

“Ma, hockey is my job. I love it, but I love you more.” That was some serious single-mother energy right there. A strong, burly man like Reece expressing such sensitivity, not caring about witnesses. I had to fight back the strong surge of emotion his words caused in me.

“Well…” She struggled to take in a breath. “Thank you.”

“Your nurse said you stopped teaching,” he said and Char winced. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me—but that is what it is. You’re moving down to Charleston so I can take care of you.”

“I’m supposed to take care ofyou.”

“For an educated woman, that was the dumbest thing you’ve ever said to me. I can’t keep up with hockey if I have to stay up here with you, and I’mnotleaving you again.”

“If it helps, Char, I’ll be around to hang out with you when Baker”—I almost slipped and called him Reece again—“is working. We had such a good weekend that Benny, Claudia and I want to get to know you more.”

“I—”

She started to speak, but Reece cut her off. “She quit her job to be here today.”

“You shouldn’t have…”

“Family is more important,” I replied. Yes, she wasn’t actually my family, but this was what Reece wanted from me. I planned to give it my all.

As Char looked between us, she reached a hand out to both Reece and me. I wasted no time taking it in one of mine. Reece used both of his.

She sighed low, resigned. “I’ll move to Charleston with you,” she said, “if I won’t be a burden.”

Reece visibly relaxed. His taut shoulders fell, and he sat back in his seat. No fight required. I was glad to help give him this peace. Though I really couldn’t understand why she’d refused to stay with Reece, especially once she’d had to stop teaching.

We weren’t in there but ten minutes when the doctor came in to talk with Reece. I stood from my chair to give them privacy when Reece shot me a ‘What in the hell are you doing?’ look that would’ve dropped any normal man, but I was noman and apparently not normal because it failed to hit its fear mark.

“I’m giving you privacy,” I explained.

“Did I ask for privacy?”

“No. But it’s your mom’s health stuff.”

“Bree, sit your ass down. You’ll be spending time with her. You need to know what’s going on.”

Well, he had a point. I still felt like an invader of privacy, but the thought of putting any more stress on the guy bothered me more than the idea of being intrusive, so I dropped back into the seat to listen to the good, the bad, and the downright ugly news the doctor delivered.

As it happened with too many good people stricken with this illness, Char’s cancer had spread to both lungs and her left kidney. Once they felt she was stabilized enough to go home, the in-home nurses would be responsible for managing her pain, along with giving meds for nausea and administering a cocktail of supplements to help boost her energy. I heard the phantom ticking of the clock with every new word spoken by Reece or the doctor. Char’s eyes glassed over, but she otherwise remained stoic until the doctor left, and then she just looked tired.

When I brought up moving her to Charleston, the doctor said, “Given we’re talking about end-of-life care and I believe she’ll be well looked after for her remaining time, as long as she feels up for the move, it’s fine. We’re now talking about quality over quantity. I believe spending this time with her family will be beneficial to all of you.”

Reece made this strangled sound but tried to cover it up by coughing. “Sorry. Choked on saliva,” he said.

I stayed silent because what words of comfort could I offer? The man’s world—his precious mother—was actively dying. Yes, I knew this, but I felt it slapped across my face now. I felt the pulsing handprint the doctor’s words left. Still,I had a job to do, and even without words, I planned to do it. He needed me.

Char let me hold her hand, but Reece, he needed comfort, just maybe not a hand. I touched his thigh to show him that I was there if he needed me. I gave us about ten minutes of quiet before deciding we were done.

“Right,” I said, standing and clapping my hands together. “Keys.”

Reece cocked his head at me like he thought I’d gone round the bend.

“Keys,” I repeated, making grabby hands. “You haven’t eaten, and I don’t want to hear any argument. You need to keep your strength up so we can get done what has to get done.”

He blinked. Then he smiled. “You are so damn sexy when you get all take charge.”

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