by Mandy Baggot
*
‘Now listen to me, the game plan’s the same as we played against Reading. Henrik, you’re our main man up front. I’m gonna sit just off you and feed you everything I get. Mickey and Wes, I want you going in and going in hard the second they’re in the danger zone. Cole, I want you working in the middle, going forward when you can, tracking back when you need to,’ Robyn instructed her team as they grouped together in a huddle.
‘Let’s do this,’ Mickey said encouragingly.
‘Go Panthers,’ Henrik yelled, punching his fist into the middle of the group.
‘Okay, let’s go,’ Robyn said, encouraging them to get into position.
‘Hey, listen. You might need to cover me a little,’ Cole said to Wes and Mickey.
‘You carrying a knock?’ Mickey questioned.
‘No, I’m gonna be covering her,’ Cole said, indicating Robyn.
‘Hey man, this is Robyn we’re talking about. You’ve never seen her play, have you?’ Mickey said with a laugh.
Cole shook his head.
‘The only thing we’re gonna have to worry about is how long it is before she’s sent off,’ Mickey told him.
*
Robyn was absolutely terrified. She hadn’t played a competitive game since her teens, and as well as hoping none of the rules had changed too much, she hoped she was going to be able to keep pace with the other players. Ice hockey was a complete physical workout and the Panthers were already down in numbers.
She warmed up her blades and turned just past the middle of the rink. She looked into the crowd and there was her family. Bob, Pam, Sierra and Sienna in full uniform and Sarah too, sat next to Brad. He had a hot dog in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other.
She could hear Pam raising her voice at Bob and him trying desperately to quiet her. Then Sierra and Sienna pointed at her and waved their pompoms in the air. They knew she was playing. One of the team must have told Bob, No wonder Pam was going nuts. The sooner the game started and finished, the better.
‘You good?’ Cole asked, skating up to her.
‘Yeah, sure, let’s go,’ Robyn replied, pushing her mouth guard in and pushing off toward the center.
*
Robyn had to admit the Grand Rapids team was good. They had plenty of players to swap in and out and they were quick. She had been out of breath from the five-minute mark and as play went on she feared for her lungs.
‘Are you okay?’ Cole asked Robyn. Play had stopped for one of the Grand Rapids team members to reclaim their stick.
‘I might need a bath and some painkillers when we get home, that number twenty-two caught me,’ Robyn admitted, still trying to catch her breath.
‘I’m on him, don’t worry,’ Cole responded.
‘Yeah, man, cool, let’s go, go Panthers!’ Robyn said in a gruff, manly voice as one of her opponents approached them.
Play restarted, and within seconds, Grand Rapids had out-run the tired Mickey and slotted a neat goal past Scott. Robyn ached with disappointment as the opposing team began to celebrate and hug their squad on the bench. The Panthers had played so well, but a stupid error because of fatigue had cost them.
‘It’s just one, we can get that back,’ Cole called to her. She knew he could sense her frustration.
Robyn nodded, picked up her stick and prepared to recommence play.
*
It was still one to zero Grand Rapids at the end of the first period, but given the small number in the Panthers’ team and how exhausted they all were, it was amazing they were only one goal down.
‘Listen, I really appreciate your hard work out there guys, you’re doing an amazing job. One-nil is okay. If we can keep it like that, I’ll be okay with it. If we can sneak an equalizer, I’ll be more than okay with it,’ Robyn said as they skated up the tunnel and back onto the ice.
‘You need to keep away from number twenty-two. He either hates the fact you’re beating him to everything or he knows you’re a girl,’ Cole told her seriously.
‘Yeah, he’s caught me a couple of times, but it won’t happen again. I’ve got the measure of him,’ Robyn assured him.
‘Look, we’ve only got the last period to go, just don’t do anything crazy,’ Cole said.
‘And I thought I was the manager,’ Robyn said, skating away from him to take up her position.
*
Play continued, Robyn out-turned her opponent and came away with the puck. She looked up, saw Henrik trying to get away from his marker, and she sped off toward goal, number twenty-two in hot pursuit.
Henrik couldn’t find any space, Cole was trying to shake off another player at his side, and Robyn was left with no options.
She shuffled the puck from side-to-side against her stick and hit it toward goal with every ounce of strength she had left. It flew across the ice, the keeper dropped to his knees, but the puck was quicker and it hit the back of the net before he could get down to the ground.
The light lit up, the crowd went crazy, and the celebratory music filled the air as Robyn was bundled by her team-mates.
*
Mickey howled as he hugged Robyn and the team celebrated their equalizing goal.
‘Goal was… how you say? Incredability!’ Henrik said, slapping Robyn on the back.
‘Way to go, Boss,’ Wade said, giving Robyn a high five.
‘We need to get back into position, last five,’ Robyn said, urging them back into the middle section of the rink and dismissing their congratulations.
She was wired and elated, but there was a game to see out and the nature of hockey was that things changed in seconds.
‘That was something else,’ Cole told her as he skated back.
‘We’ll relive it later, at least fifty times, and I’ll talk you through it, but we need to keep focused. A draw would be a great result given the whole no-player scenario,’ Robyn growled in a low tone as a Grand Rapids player got near.
‘Hey! Henrik! Look sharp, yeah?’ Cole called as he watched Henrik dip his head and seem to lose concentration briefly.
The game restarted and the Portage team was immediately under attack as Grand Rapids desperately tried to regain their lead.
Mickey pushed the puck forward and Robyn sped toward it, shielding it with her stick. She was about to turn around and look to pass it off to Cole, when suddenly she was hit by what felt like a truck.
Number twenty-two hammered into Robyn, his whole body-weight crushing her into the boards. Robyn crashed against the hoardings, fell backwards, and landed face-down on the ice with a dull thud. Blackness filled her up.
*
His heart dropped out of his chest like someone had just dumped a concrete block on it. She was motionless, completely lifeless and still, laid out on the rink like a rag doll. He yanked the gloves from his hands and tore off his helmet as he sprinted across the ice to reach her. He felt sick, he couldn’t focus, why was she so far away? Why hadn’t he been right in that zone with her? He fell down onto his knees as he got to her and flipped up the visor on her helmet.
‘Robyn, can you hear me?’ Cole asked, looking down at her. His mouth could barely form the words.
There was no response.
‘Get the mouth guard out! Check for her tongue.’ Bob, who had rushed down onto the ice from the stands, yelled at Cole.
Cole swiftly opened her mouth, removed the mouth guard, and made sure her tongue hadn’t slipped down the back of her throat.
‘Is he breathing?’ the medic asked as he arrived at the scene.
‘I’m not sure, I think so. We took the mouth guard out, the tongue hasn’t slipped,’ Bob answered.
‘Okay, let’s get his helmet off,’ the medic instructed.
‘No!’ Robyn exclaimed in a deep, throaty roar, her eyes flickering open.
‘We have breathing. Gurney over here!’ the medic called.
‘I’m okay,’ Robyn said.
Bob was taking her pulse, Cole held her other hand, and the medic began to s
trap a head brace around her. Henrik had removed his helmet and was waving his gloved hands up and down in a bid to see if her eyes were working, and Mickey had the number twenty-two for Grand Rapids in a headlock at the side of the ice where a referee was trying to part them.
‘You’re going to the ER,’ Cole informed her.
‘I’m okay,’ Robyn said, still trying hard with her male voice.
‘No arguments, young man, we need to get you checked out,’ the medic informed her.
‘There’s only a minute left. I can last a minute,’ Robyn said, trying to sit up but flailing back down. ‘I have to last a minute and end the game.’
‘Do as you’re told for once. Pam would kill me if I let you play out the game. She’s going nuts over there,’ Bob said to her.
Robyn tried to sit up, then, putting her hands to the ice she desperately propelled herself into a standing position. ‘I’m good.’
‘Are you sure, buddy?’ the medic asked.
‘Yeah,’ Robyn growled. ‘Let’s get the spectators off the rink.’ She sent Bob a pleading look that Cole caught. She really wanted to see this out and, he guessed if she didn’t, the game would be abandoned and all their hard work would have been for nothing.
Cole replaced his helmet then slipped his gloves back on. ‘You stay out of trouble,’ he told her. ‘Against the barrier until time’s up. Got it?’
Robyn nodded, her breath still sounding like it was mainly absent from her chest cavity.
Cole skated towards his teammates as Bob and the medics left the play. ‘We’ve got sixty seconds, guys. We see this out for Robyn, right?’
‘Right there with you, man,’ Mickey answered.
‘I am also here,’ Henrik replied, nodding.
*
‘We drew,’ Robyn said, a smile of satisfaction crossing her face as the game finally came to an end after what had felt like the longest sixty seconds of her life.
‘Yeah, we did. That Matthers determination did it again,’ Mickey said, letting out a howl of elation.
‘I think I want to pass out again now,’ Robyn said, her eyes flickering closed.
‘Medic! Can we get some oxygen over here!’ Mickey called, waving a hand in the air.
‘I’m not leaving you, Robyn, you hear me?’ Cole said, holding her up.
Thirty-Nine
‘Hey! You in the bed! Wake up! We’ve got raisins! People say they’re the nearest thing on God’s Earth to sweets and much better for you!’
Robyn groaned. Her whole body hurt like hell. It felt like someone had pounded her over and over with a boulder. She opened her eyes and saw a paper bag being jiggled up and down near her face. Shaking the bag was a wrinkled arm poking out from a navy-blue gown.
‘Max. What are you doing here?’ Robyn asked, attempting to move herself into sitting position.
‘Keeping an eye on you for your pop. He nearly burst his stitches trying to get out of bed when your uncle told him you were in here. Took four people to hold him down,’ Max announced, putting the bag of raisins in her lap.
‘So how did you get down here? Don’t tell me they let you wheel yourself? You can’t have a license for that thing,’ Robyn said, looking at the wheelchair.
‘Nancy…’ Max began.
‘Morning! How you doing, honey? I got you coffee, real stuff from the diner across the street, not that shit we had yesterday from the machine. That stuff gave me gas,’ Nancy announced as she burst into the room with three cups.
‘It’s morning? Where did the night go?’ Robyn asked.
‘You spent that tossing and turning and muttering under your breath,’ Nancy informed her, putting a cup on Robyn’s table and passing a cup to Max.
‘And Cole says you grind your teeth,’ Max added, opening up the bag of raisins and helping himself.
‘He was here all night. I sent him home a couple hours ago to get some rest,’ Nancy said as she threw open the curtains, letting the Michigan sunlight flood the room.
Robyn screwed up her eyes and reached over for her coffee.
‘You’re one crazy lady thinking you can play hockey with the guys,’ Max told her, shaking his head.
‘I did play hockey with the guys; I have the bruises to prove it. When can I get out of here?’ Robyn asked, shifting herself up the bed.
‘Not until the doctor’s checked you over. He’s waiting for test results,’ Nancy said, fluffing up the pillows behind Robyn’s head.
‘What are you doing?’ Robyn asked as Nancy helped her to lie back against them.
‘Looking after you, like I look after your equally stubborn father,’ Nancy said, tucking Robyn back into her sheets.
‘I have an appointment today, to go through my statement,’ Robyn said.
‘I’m gonna call whoever and I’m gonna cancel. You’re not up to that right now,’ Nancy said firmly.
‘You shouldn’t have to go through all that again, it’s criminal,’ Max told her, his eyes watery.
‘Dad told you,’ Robyn said, looking at the old man.
‘Broke down in tears, he did. Said he wished he’d killed this Jason back in the day. I don’t blame him. If I ever see him…’ Max began, getting upset.
‘Now you listen to me, I don’t want anyone wallowing in upset over this any more. And I don’t want you to cancel, Nancy. I’m gonna give my statement and then it’s gonna be over, no matter what. I’ve wasted too much time reliving it; I don’t wanna waste a second more,’ Robyn said determinedly.
There was a knock on the door and Sarah cautiously opened it and looked in. She smiled at Robyn.
‘Hi. I hope I’m not disturbing anything. I just wanted to see…’ She stepped into the room.
‘She’s fine; blow to the head did her the world of good as far as I’m concerned,’ Nancy answered smartly, taking hold of Max’s wheelchair.
‘We’d better check on your dad. Keep eating the good stuff, girl,’ Max said, gesturing to the half-eaten packet of raisins.
‘We need to talk about the roadhouse!’ Robyn called as Nancy and Max made for the door.
‘Later, honey, Milo’s got it covered,’ Nancy said dismissively.
‘Nancy!’ Robyn yelled.
‘Rest! Or the doc will keep you here longer. I’ll be back in an hour to check on you,’ she replied, and she closed the door behind her.
Robyn let out an irritated sigh and then focused on her friend who was still standing rather awkwardly too far away from the bed.
‘We’re fighting, aren’t we?’ Robyn said, as if not completely sure.
‘Yes. But I don’t want to,’ Sarah answered.
‘Yeah, well, me neither. I haven’t got the energy,’ Robyn said.
‘I’ve been an idiot. Just, so stupid,’ Sarah continued.
‘Me too.’
‘I’m pregnant, Robyn,’ Sarah admitted with a wide smile.
‘Oh my God! You’re kidding, right?’
Sarah shook her head, still beaming.
‘Oh my God,’ Robyn repeated.
‘Be happy for me,’ Sarah begged, taking hold of Robyn’s hands.
‘I am. I mean, I am if you are and you seem like you are. So I’m happy. God, that’s really like—wow—full on,’ Robyn said with a loud expiration.
‘I know, but it’s just the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t tell you how I feel. It’s just like everything’s clicked into place. I’ve got a purpose now, I know what I’m doing, and I know where I’m going… it’s just incredible,’ Sarah announced, her eyes shining with expectant anticipation.
‘Have you told Mickey?’
‘Not yet.’
‘Why not? I mean, if this news doesn’t prompt a proposal then nothing will.’
‘I don’t want that.’
‘What?’
‘I don’t want a proposal. Not now. I would love for us to get back together and be together as a family, but I don’t want us to get back together because of the baby. Every couple that does that ends u
p hating each other and resenting each other, and I don’t want that for me and I don’t want that for Mickey, either.’
‘Jeez, did you get all grown up and sensible while I was being flattened by the big guy from Grand Rapids?’ Robyn asked, sipping her coffee.
‘I just wanna do right by this little person,’ Sarah said, rubbing her stomach protectively.
‘Man, don’t rub your guts like that, not yet. It’s not natural until you’re at least six months gone and you have a backache as an excuse.’
‘Anyway, how are you doing? When can you come home?’ Sarah asked.
‘Who knows? When they’ve decided whether my body’s still in one piece, I guess. I think it is. I’m just not sure how long some bits are gonna stay hanging on for,’ Robyn answered.
*
He knocked a glass slide with his elbow and it smashed on the floor. The sound jerked him awake and Maggie dutifully came running to his side.
‘You should go home,’ she said, bending down and sweeping up the shards.
‘I can’t sleep,’ Cole admitted.
‘Then you should go to the hospital,’ she suggested.
‘Robyn needs rest, I don’t want to stop her resting. If I’m there, she’ll have us watching monster trucks and you haven’t seen her when she’s watching monster trucks. It isn’t relaxing,’ Cole remarked with a smile.
‘Shall I make us some more coffee?’ Maggie suggested.
‘Sure, that would be great,’ he answered.
*
‘Hi, honey! Oh, look at you! You look so pale. She looks pale, Bob. Doesn’t she look pale?’ Pam fussed as she, Bob, Sienna and Sierra entered Robyn’s room.
‘She looks a lot better now than she did on that gurney last night,’ Bob said, smiling at his niece.
‘We bought you a program. Daddy says you like to read the programs and there’s a cool picture of you from the game against Reading,’ Sierra announced, holding the brochure out to her.
‘Yeah, you’re screaming at Brad. It was right when he gave the puck away and they almost scored,’ Sienna added.
‘Am I drooling?’
‘Almost,’ Bob answered.
‘What you did last night, Robyn, was really stupid and dangerous,’ Pam said as she sat in the chair next to Robyn’s bed.
