Page 10 of Hearts on Ice
“Colby?” Meghan’s voice went shrill, almost sounding like one of her kids. “Why?”
Declan sighed and looked from one to the other, his support system who’d gotten him through the divorce. Why did he feel like he was letting them down? “Josh and Lexi’s moms hired her. They said they had trouble finding someone who was taking on new clients, and Colby was, and I verified it.”
“So they can wait until someone is taking on new clients,” Meghan said, her voice still high and tight.
“The thing is, no, they can’t. There’s a window of opportunity to get to the United States team, and they’re in it,” Declan said on a sigh. “It’s only a couple of weeks. Once we have the routine, she moves on.”
“I thought these families liked you,” Meghan went on. “It’s not a secret what Colby did to you. Why would they want to put you through that? The whole world knows, and the skating world even more.”
“Like I said, the window is limited. The kids need a routine to move up, better than any one I can come up with.”
“And Colby has more experience than you?”
Declan frowned. “Not professionally, but she did all our routines and got us onto the U.S. team.”
“And these parents are paying her, an inexperienced choreographer, to get their kids their one shot at the big time?” Evan shook his head. “I don’t think these people like you as much as you think they do.”
“I think my feelings are just inconsequential to their goals. Look, I was upset at first, but now I’m resigned to it. I can get through it.”
“Have you seen her?” Meghan sat at the table, her hands folded in front of her. “How was it?”
“Mom! I need to rinse my hair!” Nicole cried from upstairs.
Meghan pushed to her feet and jabbed a finger at first Declan, then Evan. “Not another word until I get back. I want to know everything.”
Evan and Declan exchanged a look, and went back to the dishes. Declan would have thought it funny that they honored Meghan’s wishes, but really, they were mostly just scared not to.
But when she returned, she was carrying Tristan, and Declan really didn’t want to discuss his ex-wife in front of his nephew. He took the young man and carried him into the living room.
“It’s almost bedtime,” Meghan chided when Tristan pulled out a board game.
“Ah, just a few minutes,” Declan said.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Only because you haven’t been in a while. But only one game.” To her son, she said, “You get an extra half hour only.”
Declan couldn’t help his grin when Tristan winked at him.
The game was based more on luck of the spin than skill, so Declan tried not to feel too bad when his five-year-old nephew kicked his ass.
“I’ll tuck them in,” Declan offered, standing and swinging Tristan like a potato sack over his shoulder, nudging Nicole ahead of him.
“Thanks,” Evan said, as Meghan said, “One story each, that’s it. They have school in the morning.”
And Declan had early practice, and wasn’t sure if Colby would be there or not, but he didn’t mind tucking in the kids.
Only Tristan took forever to pick out a book. And Nicole picked out the longest book on her shelf.
But his brother and sister-in-law were sitting on the couch waiting for him when he came downstairs, an open bottle of wine on the coffee table in front of them, three glasses, Meghan’s almost empty as she leaned against her husband.
“So you’ve seen her,” Meghan said, sitting up straight and pouring a glass for Declan and pushed it toward him.
“Ah. Yeah.” He took the wine, though he wasn’t really a wine guy. “A couple of times.”
“Oh my God, what did she say? I mean, did she just show up?”
“Ah, yeah.” He took a sip, winced at the sharp taste. “She just showed up with Josh and Lexi’s moms, tried to talk to me after, but I admit, I wasn’t really hearing what she said.”
“How do you feel, though? Seeing her?”
