Page 65 of Hearts on Ice
Colby opened her mouth to say she didn’t know if she wanted that, but she wouldn’t do that to Declan.
“Mom.” This time Evan interrupted. “This is Tristan’s birthday party. Can we celebrate that instead of bringing family drama up in front of everyone?”
Declan’s mother pressed her lips together as she looked from one son to the other. “She came here.”
“As Declan’s guest. I think this discussion can wait for another time. Our friends, and Tristan’s friends, don’t need to hear our family drama.”
As much as Colby appreciated Evan’s intervention, she didn’t think this was family drama at all. Not her family, not her drama. Yes, she wanted Declan to feel at peace with their relationship, but she didn’t feel a need to make peace with a woman who would attack her in front of strangers, who would embarrass her son in front of them.
But apparently she was willing to listen to her older son, and she settled back into her chair. Colby wanted to get up and walk away, to pull Declan away and calm them both down. But she felt like doing so would be giving ground. His thigh beneath her hand seemed to ease a little, and she felt him take another sip of beer. She passed him her bottle to open for her, and took a testing sip, tried not to make a face at the bitter taste. But she needed something to calm her nerves after that confrontation.
Evan caught her eye and she gave him a nod of thanks. He was right, though. They needed to have this conversation at some point, if she and Declan decided they were going to have a future.
If.
Meghan walkedout the back door with a tray of hamburger patties, looking flustered. Colby had been so focused on her confrontation with Cecily that she hadn’t realized Meghan wasn’t out here. But of course she wasn’t, she had tons of work to do.
Colby pushed to her feet and handed Declan her beer.
“Do you need some help?” she asked, brushing her butt off.
Conversation screeched to a halt. Meghan stared at her a moment, then nodded, inclining her head toward the back door, indicating she wanted Colby to follow her.
“Thanks for offering.” Meghan put the counter between them and ripped open a package of paper plates. “I know Evan would have offered, but he’s kind of torn between cooking and helping and visiting his parents.”
“How long are they here?”
“They just got in this morning and I think they’re leaving Monday or maybe Tuesday. I don’t know. They set their own schedule. Must be nice.”
Colby was not imaging the resentment in Meghan’s voice, but she wasn’t naive enough to add her thoughts. Instead, she opened the hamburger buns on the tray as instructed, and spread butter on each. Not at all healthy, but they would taste delicious.
She carried the buns out to Evan, who took them with a distracted “thanks.” She met Declan’s gaze when she turned back into the house, saw the question in his eyes, but she didn’t take the time to respond. She ducked back into the kitchen, where Meghan handed her a ceramic platter.
“Give this to Evan for the burgers.”
“Are you going to be able to enjoy Tristan’s birthday party at all?”
“Once everyone is fed.”
Colby looked around at the chaotic kitchen, then into the living room where the presents were stacked, several with the same wrapping, so probably the gifts from Meghan and Evan. And the deck had been decorated, as well as the long tables with the paper tablecloths and centerpieces with the popular kids’ show characters.
“You did so much work. It’s a shame you can’t enjoy it.”
“That’s just how it goes, while the kids are little, anyway.” Meghan tugged open a bag of chips and placed a handful on each of several paper plates. “So what about you and Declan? Are you going to have kids this time around?”
Colby’s heart lurched. When they were married, they’d talked about having kids someday, after they retired from skating. Colby really hadn’t seen herself as a mom then, but the “someday” aspect of their conversations had been far enough away that she’d felt comfortable talking about it.
“Declan would be a great dad,” Meghan said just as Colby thought the same.
He would. He was so good with the kids at the rink. She just couldn’t imagine herself as a mother, even to see that.
God, what was she doing here? She should walk away now, let Declan move on with his life, move on with someone who would do this kind of party thing, would make the sacrifice so her kids would have a good time.
She forced a smile in Meghan’s direction, though her eyes couldn’t really focus. She was trying to imagine a future where she could give up that much of herself. She just didn’t think she had it in her. She would be too much like her own mother.
So she turned the topic to Josh and Lexi, and their progress, and how great a coach Declan was. She really believed it. She wasn’t just saying it because Meghan was his family. Colby had grown up skating, as he had, and she’d seen her share of short-tempered, impatient coaches. Maybe that was what made Declan act the way he did.
“We’ve done three videos online, also, just some simple instructional ones. They’re fun to make, and we’re getting a decent response.” Over a hundred views the last time she’d checked, though she hadn’t been able to bring herself to read the comments yet.
