On the Rebound

by Anna Albo

“Let me start by apologizing. I may have come off a little strong at our first meeting and that wasn’t my intention. I’d like to stress that all of you have done amazing work. I’ve heard from many people that the gala is a lovely evening, and I don’t want to change anything about it other than finding ways to generate revenue. So, if you all want to continue planning the event, I would bow down to your experience. What I’d like to be in charge of is the night-of fundraising aspect.”

  Tiffani listened, her gaze never leaving Allie’s face. She sat up straight in her chair and Allie expected fireworks.

  “Fine.”

  And that was it. Allie didn’t know what to make of it.

  “Great. I’ll put together some people to help me with the fundraiser. I’d like to have a silent and live auction so if any of you could get prizes that would be appreciated. I’m guessing you all have connections here, more so than me.”

  “I’ll help you with the fundraiser,” Will said. “And I can get a lot of prizes. I can ask some of the single guys as well. I’m assuming you’ll all ask your husbands?” he said, looking around the room.

  Most nodded.

  “And if any of you would like to help, we could use any assistance.”

  Blank expressions stared back. Allie wasn’t surprised until Riley Ducharme raised her hand. She and her husband John were new to the team and she hadn’t yet been swallowed up by the wives.

  “Thank you, Riley. We’re happy to have your help.”

  “I don’t know anyone in the city yet, but I can make phone calls. I can also pick up prizes and do any other errands you’d need me for,” she said.

  “Wonderful. We’ll keep you busy.”

  Allie turned the next item over to Tiffani which was the planning of the actual event. Allie remained silent, allowing Tiffani to have her moment in the sun. It wasn’t that Tiffani didn’t have great ideas, the problem was that they were all expensive.

  “I love everything you have planned, but we need to stick to our budget. We can’t overspend. I’ve handed you all the budget for this year and what the gala’s budget should be. We need to stay within those parameters.”

  Again, Allie expected a tirade.

  “We will stay on budget,” Tiffani said. “I know you think I’m a dumb blonde, but I can read, and I’ve read all your emails and all the printouts from the last meeting. I went to every team’s website and looked at their charitable foundations and the donations they made, and I can see what you’re saying. I want us to make money too.”

  Allie hid her surprise. She was impressed that Tiffani cared. “No, Tiffani, I don’t think that at all. I think you’ve done a wonderful job. I’m glad we’re all on the same page.”

  “No one has ever helped us before. They just told us to do things, so we did it. I had no idea we raised so little. It’s not like anyone showed us the numbers.”

  “I’m hoping to right the ship, so to speak. I think we have an excellent team here, and I’m going to make sure everyone knows what’s going on at all times.”

  “And we’re all going to get prizes,” Tiffani said, pointing her finger around the room. “Each person here is going to get five prizes, and I don’t mean some shitty gift certificates. Everyone in this room better come back with five decent prizes. That’s the minimum.”

  Allie had newfound respect for Tiffani. “Great. If we have attractive prizes, people will spend money.”

  “And another thing. About this auction, I was thinking about your idea of spending the day with a player, you know, auctioning that off. I say we should do it. All the guys can sacrifice a few hours,” Tiffani added.

  “I can talk to them,” Will said.

  “Now, can we talk about the carnival that’s coming up next month?”

  Tiffani rolled her blue eyes. “Before you even go there, the event has always been free. And we aren’t going to change that now. So don’t even try.”

  “I wasn’t going to suggest that at all. I know it’s important to keep the event free, but it operates at a loss.”

  “Well, of course it does! It’s free.” If she could, Allie was convinced Tiffani would catapult herself across the boardroom table and strangle her. “And we have to buy prizes for the games. Why are the Falcons complaining? They make a ridiculous amount of money on concession sales.”

  “I don’t want to give the impression that the Falcons are complaining. I’m just trying to find ways to get people to spend money other than concessions. Incidentally, concession sales don’t come to the foundation.”

  “Well, they should. Why aren’t they?”

  “I don’t know,” Allie said a little flummoxed.

  “I think that needs to come up at the next meeting. I’m assuming you’ll bring that up,” Tiffani said in her motherly voice.

  “I will, and it’s a fair point. As for prizes at the carnival, maybe we can get some companies to donate them. Or have them sponsor the games.”

  Tiffani tapped her fingers on the table, an intense look on her face. “I suppose we could. I’m not sure there’s enough time, but we could try.”

  “As for donations, what if we set up some donation boxes?” one of the quieter wives said.

  “We could, but people tend to only donate loose change,” Allie said. “We’re looking for something more substantial.”

  “All the game-worn or used equipment the team has, do you think they could donate some of it? We could raffle it off,” Riley suggested.

  “Not a bad idea,” Tiffani said. “Jeff has a ton of stuff lying around the house. I’m sure you all do. And I can ask Henry to give us things. I can’t see why the Falcons couldn’t part with a signed jersey. But do you think that will interfere with getting donations for the gala?”

  Allie realized Tiffani was asking her the question. Were they making some kind of breakthrough?

  “I don’t think so. I guess it depends on what we’re asking for. But if we could get twenty or thirty items amongst ourselves, I don’t think it matters. And the carnival isn’t for our big-ticket items. We’ll save those for the gala. And I think it’s important to stress to carnival goers that all monies raised go to charity.”

  “Okay, ladies, we’ll have to move fast. See what you can scrounge up. And this is the kind of event where I will take your crappy gift certificates. Riley, can I put you in charge of the auction?” Tiffani asked.

  “Yes, I’d be happy to do it,” she replied.

  “Great. And I’m working on a schedule. I’d like us all to pair off with our significant others. We’ll find partners for the single guys.” Tiffani turned her attention to Allie. “Since Will is single, you can pair with him. That’s one less thing I have to worry about.”

  “Sure. Is there anything I can help with?” Allie made sure to keep her giddiness in check. Spending the day with Will at the carnival was something she could easily get behind.

  “I’d like you to assist Riley. I think it will be a huge job, and I don’t want to overwhelm her.”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  They hashed out other ideas for over an hour before Allie adjourned the meeting. The ladies left and once again Will stayed behind.

  “What the hell just happened?” Allie asked, allowing herself to laugh for the first time.

  “Did hell freeze over?”

  “Could they have had an epiphany?”

  Will shrugged. “I think at Tiffani’s core she does care, and when she thought about it, she understood the numbers. And I like how she is willing to see the carnival in a different light.”

  “I’m glad it all worked out. It’s best this way. Do we really want to keep fighting each other?”

  “No.”

  They headed for the door. “One thing I didn’t ask today. Why is the gala in January? Why not October or November?”

  “It used to be in November, but then Tiffani thought it was better in January when people don’t have as much to do. I tried to point out that people might be more generous in November,
you know, before Christmas, but it was a no-go.”

  “It’s too late to change it this year, but next year it will definitely be in the fall.”

  Will glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to go. Thursday, right?”

  “Yes, of course. I’d say I was looking forward to it, but that would be a lie.”

  “You won’t fall,” he said and winked. “See you later.”

  NEVER IN HER LIFE HAD Allie worn a pair of skates. She picked up the duffel bag she’d bought just for them and ventured to the elevator. She took it down to the basement, the bowels of the arena, and made her way down past the Falcons’ dressing room to ice level. Will was skating around, in a Falcons tracksuit, phone in hand, browsing something. He made the art of skating look so effortless. When he saw Allie he waved.

  “I didn’t put my skates on,” she said, but she had put on her yoga pants. Comfort was important.

  Though she’d had her skates professionally fitted by the team trainer who’d been expecting her, as per Will’s request, she didn’t know a thing about how tight they needed to be laced. Will skated over and pointed to the bench.

  “Put them on and sit. I’ll lace them up.”

  She dutifully obeyed and as he tightened the laces, almost to the point of cutting off the circulation, she took in the faint smell of his cologne. He didn’t overdo it like most jocks, he had a light scent of pine and citrus that made her lean in closer. She snapped out of it. She had a job to do. How could she, a Falcons employee and niece of the owner, not know how to skate?

  “Okay, tight enough?” he asked.

  “I’d say so,” Allie said with a grimace. She stood, grabbing onto the boards to keep herself from tipping over. The skates felt like elastic bands, cutting off all circulation below her ankles.

  “Sorry, had to make them tight. You need the stability.”

  She clomped to the edge of the bench, trying to get used to her new footwear. Will stepped down onto the ice and held out both arms for her to grab.

  “I don’t want to fall,” she said, looking straight into his large, dark eyes. They looked so innocent, but she didn’t trust them.

  A large, sly smile spread across his face. “You won’t fall. Not on my watch.”

  She grasped onto both his forearms and held on with a vise-like grip. She put her right skate on the ice then the left. She nearly fell back and Will righted her with little effort.

  “See. I said I wouldn’t let you fall. Now, what I want you to do is get acquainted with the ice. Let your body relax and trust me. I’ll do all the skating. Today you’re just gliding.”

  “What if you fall?” Allie asked, wide-eyed.

  An incredulous look washed over his face. “Me? Fall? I do this for a living, you know.”

  “Yes, and you fall. I’ve seen it. I’m a bit worried.”

  “Yes, obviously.” He rolled his eyes.

  “I saw that.”

  “Hmm, you were supposed to.”

  She took a few deep breaths, let her body relax a bit and focused on her feet. Will loudly cleared his throat and she glanced up at him.

  “Eyes on me, Allie. Don’t stare at your skates. You want to forget where you are. We aren’t skating today. This is for you to get your bearings.”

  “Okay, you’re the boss. You should probably divert my attention from worrying how much it’s going to hurt when I first land on my ass.”

  “It’ll hurt a lot, but we won’t think about that. Let’s talk about the foundation meeting. Did you hear from Tiffani?”

  “Yes, she sent a few emails. She’s already got some prizes. A weekend at some resort, and a jeweler donated a pair of diamond earrings. The woman knows how to solicit donations, I’ll grant her that. She would also like to meet with the caterers to see if they can cut us a break on the meal. Apparently, the food was dismal last year?”

  “Dismal is being kind. I’d say completely inedible.”

  “She seems to be on top of it, so I’m not going to worry about it.”

  “And the carnival?”

  “She said she’s in the final planning stages. She’s sending out a schedule next week. I wish I’d had more time to work on that event, but I have to pick my battles and not fight her on everything.”

  “Are you trying to keep your troublemaker side under wraps?”

  “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you, tough guy?”

  “Ha! Never.”

  “Why are we skating to the middle of the ice? Can’t we stay close to the boards?”

  “No, we can’t. You’re a control freak, aren’t you? But the kind who’s slyer about it.”

  “Isn’t that the best kind of control freak?”

  “Yeah, probably.” A smile crept up on his lips. “If there’s one thing I know about control freaks, they are either the firstborn or they are an only child. Which category do you fall into?”

  “I’m an only child.”

  He nodded. “Figures. Spoiled then?”

  His soft tone didn’t give off any bitterness. Allie shrugged it off. “You know the history with my mom. And there was nothing lavish when we moved in with Eddie and Aunt Eileen. Eddie’s frugal with every aspect life. As for Mom, she’s always been more interested in her pills, so she had no time to spoil me or to have any other kids.”

  Will’s brown eyes stared at her, as if weighing what to say next. She searched his face, trying to figure out what he was grappling with. Or was he about to blow off her story with an eye roll?

  “My brother is an alcoholic and painkiller addict, so I get where you’re coming from.” His voice was heavy, like it carried years of shame and regret.

  “Hey, that’s not your fault.”

  “Sometimes it feels like it is. But anyway, let’s get back to skating.”

  He changed the topic so briskly that Allie made no attempt to go back to it. He didn’t want to talk about it and she respected that. They wrapped up the lesson and he said he’d text her again with the next time they could get free ice.

  “Thanks for taking the time to teach me,” Allie said, massaging the blood back into her throbbing feet. She didn’t dare put on her pumps just yet.

  “It was my pleasure. You did well today. I should have you skating in no time.”

  They parted ways at the elevator. She couldn’t believe how fast forty-five minutes went by. She wished it lasted much longer. As she made her way back to her office, all she could think about was going wherever Will was going, longing to spend more time with him . . . and that thought scared her.

  CHAPTER 12

  Tiffani emailed the carnival schedule a week before the event. It popped up in Allie’s inbox and she opened it. There were three pages of instructions and Allie waded through it looking for the schedule. Then she found it. She’d be working with Will for one hour at the dunk tank station—Will would be in the dunk tank—and one hour on the ice teaching kids to skate. Allie had to read that twice. On the ice? She’d only had three lessons and while she could skate short distances, she still hadn’t mastered the art of stopping. There was no way she was going to make a fool of herself.

  And then it hit her. Had Will arranged it?

  Allie: Have you seen the schedule?

  It took him an hour to reply.

  Will: Haven’t had a chance. Has Tiff given us crappy jobs?

  Allie stared at her phone a long time. Was he playing around with her, or did he have no idea?

  Allie: We are on dunk tank duty.

  Will: So one of the crappiest games. Figures. I’ll bring a change of clothes since I’ll be wet and miserable.

  She waited to see if he would text anything else. When he didn’t, she replied.

  Allie: We are also on ice duty. Teaching kids to skate. YOU will be teaching kids to skate and I’ll be looking like a total tool.

  Will: She has us doing two things? I can ask her to switch it. I can do the dunk tank for two hours. No big deal.

  She smiled. He didn’t know and h
e cared enough to prevent her total humiliation.

  Allie: Don’t worry about it. It’s one hour of my life. I can live with it.

  Will: You sure?

  Allie: Totally. And if I fall, I’m going to buy a Tiffani voodoo doll and poke her a million times.

  He replied with a laughing emoji.

  She set her phone down and pondered. Maybe they could fit in a few more lessons before the carnival, and if they couldn’t, well, she’d be making as ass of herself and giving the kids an hour of entertainment.

  ALLIE COULD EASILY see why the wives’ carnival was one of the most popular Falcons projects. Kids and their parents got to meet their idols and Allie watched as many awestruck children sought out autographs with their equally enamored parents. The concourse was packed and she slowly made her way to the dunk tank. She still had another fifteen minutes, so she watched kids play games, have their faces painted and chum around with Falcon players.

  The wives were in their element. All of them embraced the idea of making sure the kids had fun while their husbands provided the entertainment, whether that was an autograph, administering various games or giving them some hockey tips. Everyone in the Stewart Center had a smile on their face.

  Allie passed Tiffani at the hockey shot game. If the kids could get a puck past the cardboard goalie, they got a prize. Tiffani caught sight of Allie and gave her a polite nod. Was their relationship taking a turn for the better? Allie nodded back.

  She arrived at the dunk tank five minutes early. No sign of Will, but she wasn’t surprised. Brad Patterson and his wife were manning the station. Julie was collecting tickets and Brad was in the tank. So far he’d only been dunked once.

  “I think the game is too hard for the kids,” Julie said with only a modicum of distaste at seeing Allie. She, like Tiffani, was slowly coming around to liking Allie. Slowly.

  “Is there a way to make it easier?”

  “Only if we let the parents throw the balls, but what fun is that? The target is too high and too far away.”

  “Next year we’ll have to find a way to make it easier.”

  Time ticked by and still no Will. Allie checked her phone and saw a missed text from him.