Page 139 of Stealing for Keeps
Snow is falling softly outside as we hurry from the door of the school to my car. We get in, shivering, and I start up the engine and get the heat going. It isn’t the first time I’ve seen snow fall, but watching it accumulate on the side of the road as I drive is a novelty.
I drop off Claire, spend entirely too much time kissing her before letting her go, and then have to drive home going slow so I don’t slide off into a ditch.
Wyatt and Torrance are in the living room staring out the front window, watching the accumulation cover the yard. I kick off my snowy shoes and strip out of my coat and hat.
“Shouldn’t you be asleep?” I ruffle Wyatt’s hair as I take a seat next to them on the couch.
“Mom said I could stay up since it’s snowing.” He barely takes his eyes off the window to glance at me. “Do you think we’ll be able to build a snowman tomorrow or have a snowball fight or make snow angels?”
Every idea makes his face light up more.
“I hope so.” Once, we drove up into the mountains to play in the snow all day. Wyatt was just three or four, so I doubt he remembers it. “Come on, little man. Let’s get some sleep. It’ll still be there in the morning.” I stand and then scoop him up into my arms. He rarely lets me carry him around anymore. I won’t be able to for that much longer. “You too.” I nudge Torrance’s leg with my socked foot.
“I just want to watch it fall for a little bit longer.” She rests her head on her elbow and keeps staring out at the snowflakes glistening under the moonlight.
* * *
The next day, there is more snow than any of us could have imagined, at least eight inches, and it’s so cold that it squeaks under our shoes. I spend all morning with Wyatt outside, building an entire snowman family and having an epic snowball fight. Torrance sits at the window, watching more than playing, but she helped Wyatt pack his snowballs good and tight so they hurt worse when he managed to hit me.
By afternoon, we’re all too cold and tired to stay out, and we watch movies together and have the snow day we always imagined. The rest of Frost Lake is going about their normal routines. The roads are clear, and this isn’t that much snow for them, but for the day, we just enjoy it.
“Do you want to come with me to the hockey game?” I ask Torrance as I’m about to head out.
“No.” She looks up from the book she’s reading. We haven’t talked more about how she’s fitting in here, but I’ve noticed she’s home more often. Bobby Boone had another party last weekend, and I fully expected her to go and sneak in late, but she was home the entire time. I know I can’t take on the guilt of that, but I hope she’ll find friends here like I have.
Before I drive to the arena, I make a stop. The large brick house is quiet, but lights stream out the downstairs windows. I hit the doorbell, and then shove my hands in my pockets.
It takes a solid two minutes of me standing outside in the cold before Ms. Crawford answers the door.
“Austin.” She says my name with a hint of surprise and a lot of dislike. I have not managed to win her over since Claire and I started seeing each other again. “What are you doing here? Claire isn’t home.”
“I know,” I say. “That’s why I’m here. I’m hoping I can convince you to come to the hockey game to watch her cheer.”
“She sent you here to ask me to go to the game?” She crosses her arms over her chest.
I can tell she wants to shut the door and tell me to get lost, but if I don’t say what I came here to say, it’ll weigh on me for not doing everything I could to make Claire happy. I know what it’s like to have the love and support of my family. It’s better than any trophy or victory.
“No, of course not. She wouldn’t. Claire knows how you feel about her joining the cheerleading squad, so I doubt she’ll ever ask you to come, but I know it would mean so much to her. She just wants you to be proud of her and to know you’re going to love and support her no matter what she does.”
The annoyed stare Claire’s mother aims at me doesn’t waver, but she doesn’t say anything.
“Your daughter is so talented. I never got to watch her compete, but she puts her all into everything she does. I know you probably worry about what she’ll do or who she’ll become without figure skating, but you don’t need to. She’s already the most incredible person I’ve ever met. She’s good and kind, and I know she had to have gotten some of that from you. Anyway, I just thought you should know how much you showing up for her would mean. She wants to make you proud, even if she won’t say it.”
Claire’s mom doesn’t look any more convinced than when she opened the door, but at least I’ve said what I wanted. With a smile and a nod, I back off her steps and then hurry to the game.
Rowan and Vaughn are sitting in their usual seats, Lacey and Andie in front of them. The girls have signs made with a lot of glitter. Lacey hands me one, and I grin at theGo, Claire!written in big, bubble letters.
“We’re cheering for the cheerleaders?” Vaughn quirks a brow but smiles.
“We’re cheering for our friend.” Lacey glares at him. I can’t tell when she’s teasing and when she’s serious, but I would not want to be on the receiving end of one of those looks.
I don’t spot Claire until a time-out. The cheer squad skates out onto the ice in their blue-and-white pleated skirts with matching blue sweaters. Claire’s cheeks are pink from the cold, and her whole face is lit up as she cheers along with the others.
The way she glides across the ice is beautiful. Her movements have an ease to them that speaks to the many hours she’s practiced.
We wait until they’re done with the cheer, and then the five of us stand, screaming and yelling for Claire. The embarrassment splashed across her face is dimmed with a pleased smile.
The game becomes the sideshow, and I perk up every time Claire steps onto the ice. She’s amazing. And the look on her face is pure joy.
