Page 73 of Pucker Up
A few hours later,Mom and I made the trek from the carriage house to the main house. All I wanted to do was curl up in bed and wish that the call from Ace had been a dream, a nightmare, but Mom wouldn’t let me.
My face was red and raw and I looked puffy and tired.
“Ladies.” Dad opened the door to let us in. “What is all this?”
Our arms were piled high with glass casserole dishes. “Mom didn’t want to order takeout.”
Dad cut his eyes to me and I didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what he was thinking. “Great!” A forced smile spread across his face. “There’s nothing better than a home-cooked meal.” He took the stack of dishes from my arms and mouthed,Oh no. “Is this tofu?” He took the lid off one of the dishes.
“And raisins,” I said.
“Stop it, you two.” Mom laughed and took the dish from Dad. “Quit with your sarcasm and try to have an open mind.” Mom opened and closed several cupboards before she found the plates.
“Wine?” Dad held up a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, which was out of character, but timely. He was a red wine man, but white would go well with dinner.
“I think that will pair nicely with kale and cabbage.” My face hurt, and I didn’t feel like talking to anyone, but I was going to try to make the best of the night.
Dad poured three glasses while Mom dished up the food. “Is everything all right, Goldie?” He screwed the cap back on the wine and put it in the fridge.
“Everything is fine, Dad,” I lied.
Mom cast a glance at me but didn’t say anything. She was angry with my advisor and my father for suggesting that I keep the whole Coach’s daughter thing confidential. The more I thought about it, the more I agreed.
I took a bite of the tofu raisin curry and was shocked. “This is…”
“Delicious,” Dad finished my sentence.
“Are you two playing with me?” Mom pointed at each of us with her fork.
“No.” I enthusiastically took another bite, a big one. And then proceeded to try everything. “It’s all so good!”
A satisfied look spread across Mom’s face. “I knew you’d like it.” She pointed to Dad. “You, on the other hand? This is a surprise.”
“You’re telling me.” Dad laughed.
He finished his entire plate and went for seconds. My appetite wasn’t as voracious as my father’s, and while the food actually tasted good, after trying it all, I didn’t feel like eating. “Are you sure you’re all right, kiddo?” Dad asked. “You don’t seem like yourself.”
“I’ve just got a lot on my mind.” It was the truth. “How did things go at the rink today?”
I wasn’t sure how Ace had discovered I was the coach’s daughter, but the likely culprit was sitting across the kitchen island, eating his tofu raisin curry in ignorant bliss. “Good. A few of the players showed up to practice on their own, which is always a good sign.”
“Which players?”
Mom’s eyes followed the conversation between me and my dad like someone watching a tennis match. “Ethan Turner and Ace Bailey. They even met Mortman.”
Morton. Of course. Dad wouldn’t have told them his daughter’s name, he wasn’t a dummy, but there was no mistaking the big malamute. I glanced over to where he was sleeping on the sofa. The secret was going to come out, and maybe it would’ve been bad no matter how I’d told Ace, but I hated that he had discovered that I was the coach’s daughter this way.
“I had an interesting conversation with Gideon Bailey.” Dad filled our wineglasses, finishing off the bottle. “I also had a talk with management. We’re going to do a mid-season trade.”
I blinked. “Really? Management is willing to let him go?”
“I was as shocked as you are. He’s unhappy in Toronto, and management has started to hate him for what he’s done to the team. It’s a win-win. Saturday is going to be his last game with the Tigers.”
It was good news for the team, and for Gideon. I wondered if our discussion was what prompted him to reach out to my dad. I was relieved he had done it. I wanted to tell Dad myself, but I hadn’t figured out a way to do it that wasn’t betraying Gideon’s confidence. Luckily, it turned out, I didn’t have to.
“Do you know where he’s going?” I asked.
“Miami.” Dad held up his finger. “Don’t tell anyone. This isn’t going to be public knowledge until after the game.”
