Page 70 of From Ice to Home
Father, I hear You. I look toward Megan, really look at her. She’s alone here, not really talking to anybody else, glued to her phone. I’m not sure what to pray, so I go with what I feel led to say. Trying to clear my mind, I try to pray for Megan.
I have no idea who the woman beside me is, Father. But I know that she’s important to You, and that’s all that matters. That’s all that should matter. So I ask that You reveal Yourself to her in some way. Show her where she can find all she’s ever looked for in her life. Show her that she’ll only ever find life, love, and comfort in You, in Jesus our Savior.
Avah touches my shoulder, startling me out of my prayer.
“Let’s get new drinks,” she suggests, then pauses, a grin spreading on her face. “Or wait, on second thought…”
She points toward the jumbotron above the rink. The first period ended and the cameras found me. They’re showing me and Lucas, side by side.
Just as he gets off the ice and starts heading toward the locker rooms, he looks back. The crowd roars and Lucas’s smile widens as he takes a second. His dark hair is wet, curling in the nape of his neck, his eyes sparking with adrenaline—and something softer too. I feel my cheeks heat from the attention and I fight against the urge to sink lower into my seat. My heart is pounding, butterflies surging in my stomach as he winks at me. As my gaze zeroes in on the man God gave back to me, I blow him a kiss, watching as the words on the jumbotron read:
‘Congrats to Our Newlyweds #RangersFamily’
The announcer's voice booms through the arena. “And now for a special shout-out to our very own Lucas Walker and his new bride, Hannah Walker!”
The crowd goes wild and I try to keep my composure, my hands trembling slightly as I settle back into my chair when the jumbotron switches back to ads and sponsors.
“You two are too cute,” Avah says next to me, her voice light and teasing.
“You’re the newwife?” Megan says, tilting her head like she’s trying to solve a puzzle. “How on earth is that possible?” Her eyes dip straight to my hand.
Myemptyhand.
“You’re not even wearing a ring.”
I resist the urge to hide my hand, like I’ve been caught in some kind of lie. Because it’s not true. Despite my ringless finger, I’m Lucas’s wife. The reason I’m not wearing my wedding ring has more to do with my own insecurities than anything else.
I open my mouth to give her some sort of explanation when Avah comes to my aid.
“She doesn’t have to wear a ring for it to be true,” Avah says, leaning forward with a raised brow. “Not everyone needs to tie their man down with a rope.”
“Yes, they do,” Megan replies flatly, her voice laced with something darker. “Especially in this world. Every woman wants in, and they’re like a pack of dogs out there waiting for a spot. Some of them won’t even be that nice to wait, they’ll rip your throat out and take it.”
Her words hit hard, the truth in them ringing in my ears. It’s a harsh unspoken reality that I don’t want to accept, even though I know it’s out there.
“Guess it takes one to know one, doesn’t it,” Avah shoots back. The conversation has taken a turn it shouldn’t have and before I can step in, Megan gets up.
“I’m done,” she says, lifting her hands in surrender before grabbing her bag and heading toward the back of the suite. “I don’t have to sit here and listen to this.”
She heads toward the back of the suite and the tension lingers long after she’s gone.
Avah buries her face in her hands.
“I did it again,” she says, her words muffled and sincere. “I shouldn’t have said any of that.”
“Well, maybe that wasn’t your finest moment either,” I say, still trying to shake off the unease left by Megan’s words.
“I seriously need to work on my temper,” she says, looking at me with a rueful grin. “I have no idea why that woman brings it out in me.”
She shakes her head, a small frown forming between her eyes as her voice grows quiet. “Or, maybe I do, but it’s not something I’m willing to unpack.”
Looking at Avah, it’s obvious she’s dealing with a few things and I can only hope that I can help her work through some of it in some meaningful way.
The whistle blows, drawing our attention to the second period starting. Within the first few minutes, the intensity of the game ramps up. The Leafs’ offense goes on a tear, hammering shot after shot at Nikolai Petrov, who seems to be an impenetrable wall in the goal. He drops to his knees to block one slapshot, deflecting the puck with his pads, then spins just in time to glove another shot aimed at the top corner.
The Leafs are growing more aggressive, more desperate with each passing second. Their right wing loses the puck as EJ intercepts it in the defensive zone, heading in the opposite direction at an incredible speed. Their goalie isn’t prepared for EJ and Lucas who team up and speed down the ice for the third goal of the game.
The red light flashes and the crowd erupts. ’Hey! Hey! Hey!’ echoes through the arena as Lucas and EJ ease up, clapping their sticks together in celebration of their excellent teamwork.
