Page 3 of Dreams
“What are you doing in there?” He didn’t bother answering her question as he took a few steps towards the pool.
“Swimming,” she said. “You can go back inside now.”
He didn’t listen to her. Instead, he kicked off his shoes and rolled up the bottoms of his slacks.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
As he moved closer, she started to make out his features. He was tall, with broad shoulders. All man, except that his face still held the roundness of youth. A mop of blond hair sat on top of his head, falling into his eyes.
He hiked his pants up further and sat down with his feet over the edge.
“You looked like you could use some company,” he finally said.
“What if I want to be alone?”
“What you want isn’t always what you need.” He gave her a sad smile. “I’m Josh, by the way.”
* * *
“Yo, Walker!”
Josh heard his name as soon as he entered the house and turned to find his old teammate, Garret, looming nearby. Josh was a tall guy, but Garret was massive. He was only seventeen when Josh left junior hockey for the big leagues and had filled out considerably.
“Hey, man,” Josh wheezed as he was wrapped in a bear-hug. The last time he’d seen Garret was a year ago at the funeral, and his friend hadn’t been doing so well. He was close with the kid who died.
“How are you, buddy?” Garret finally released him. “I saw you at the service. I’m glad you came.”
Josh shrugged, but was saved from the traditional “sorries” that he was sure Danny’s friends and family had heard constantly for the past year. He felt an arm tugging on his and looked down to find a short girl with ear-length black hair and red-rimmed eyes looking up at him. She sniffled, and Josh pulled her into a hug as Garret gave them space.
“Sarah Jones,” Josh cooed, smoothing her hair. “This is a memorial service. We’re supposed to be celebrating him.”
“I know.” A harsh laugh escaped her quivering lips. “I just can’t seem to stop crying. I’ve had to hold it together for everyone else, but I can’t stop missing him. It was easier when I was away at school, but now that I’m home and there’s someone new living in his room…”
“I get it.”
“I’m so glad you came.” She clung to him, burying her face in his shirt.
“I promised you I would.”
Josh hadn’t really known Danny. He’d met him once when he was visiting Sarah and her family. But he was there a year ago at the funeral, and he came back for this because he wanted to be there for them. Sarah was like a little sister to him. For the two years he played hockey in Portland, they housed him, or as they called it, ‘billeting’. But they were more than his hosts. They were family. Sarah was more of a sibling than his own brother, Ethan.
Sarah sniffled once more and then wiped her face. “Come on. Mom and Dad will want to see you.”
They found her parents talking to a smartly dressed couple in the kitchen. “Josh, honey,” Mrs. Jones said, holding her arms out for a hug.
He obliged before shaking Mr. Jones’s hand.
“These are the Scotts,” Mr. Jones made the introductions. “Douglas and Robin.”
The name sounded familiar, but he didn’t get a chance to think on it before a little girl came barreling by him. Robin Scott stuck out her arm and caught the back of the girl’s shirt. She squirmed and giggled.
“And this,” Robin said, “is Evie.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you,” Josh said politely.
“Coach Scott here has done wonders for the team.” Mr. Jones put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “We’re sad to see him go.”
It all clicked into place in Josh’s mind. “You’re Coach Scott?” he asked. When the man nodded, he stuck out his hand. “Let me be the first to welcome you to Columbus.”
