by Barbara Gee
The game began and it was thrilling—a perfect first game for her and her friends. The Wild scored in the first two minutes, thanks to a beautiful backhand pass from Boone to Jax, who slipped the puck below the goalie’s blocker for the goal. The crowd went wild, and again when their team scored with twenty seconds left in the first period, to put them up 2-0.
The second period was scoreless, although both teams continued to play hard and fast. Callie flinched every time Vince was driven into the boards, but the man gave as good as he got, maybe even a little more. Being in the stands and seeing the intensely physical play, hearing the resounding thuds of bodies hitting the boards, gave her a new appreciation for the toughness of the men who played.
At the start of the third period, the Wild came out a little bit flat. The visitors took advantage, scoring at the three minute mark. The crowd tensed, uneasy with just a one goal lead and the momentum currently favoring the other team. Twelve more scoreless minutes passed, and then, with only five minutes to go in the game, one of the Wild players high-sticked his opponent, which meant he was headed to the penalty box and the Wild would be playing a man short for two minutes.
It was a key point in the game, and Callie clasped her hands together tightly, almost scared to watch.
Then it happened. The visitors had the puck in the Wild zone, making sharp, crisp passes back and forth as they waited for an opening to shoot. Vince was on the ice helping to kill the penalty, and in a split second his well-placed stick broke up a pass that was just a little off. He jumped after the puck on a picture-perfect breakaway, speeding down the ice with the other team in fruitless pursuit. He expertly moved the puck from side to side as he approached the net, then drug his back foot and made a perfect deke to get the goalie to over commit to his left. That gave Vince a split second to get off a perfect shot and bury the puck in the top right corner of the net. It was the most beautiful short-handed goal Callie had ever seen.
The roar from the crowd was deafening. Absolutely deafening. Callie hugged Brit and jumped, tears rolling down her face. Vince’s teammates out on the ice surrounded him in a jubilant group hug, huge smiles on their faces. The group celebration following goals had always been Callie’s favorite thing about hockey, and seeing Vince in the middle of it was amazing.
The Wild kept their two goal lead until the last buzzer. When the last cheer had gone up and the crowd began to disperse, Brit, Rose and Kim left to go back to the condo. Larry and Linda came down to share ecstatic hugs with Callie before they too left, headed back to Vince’s house for the night.
A few minutes later a glowing Jolene ran up, arms wide for yet another hug.
“What a game, what a game! Oh my word, Vince’s breakaway was a thing of beauty. I’m so glad you got to see that in person.”
“I’ll never forget it,” Callie said, her voice hoarse from cheering.
Jolene laughed when she heard it. “Come on, we’ll go get some water before we head down to meet the guys. Oh man, I’m so excited for Vince to have someone to hug him when he comes out. He’s never taken anyone down there, Callie. Not since he came to this team. He probably can hardly wait for the coach to finish saying his piece so he can get to you.”
“This is so overwhelming,” Callie said as they climbed the steps to the exit for their section. “I’m so proud of him. Seeing his arms go up when that puck went in, and all the others skating up to celebrate—and his smile. Holy cow, Jolene. His smile just about made my heart burst. That was better than the goal itself, you know? Seeing how happy he was to be able to do that for his team and all the fans.”
“It’s truly a team effort. That’s why they put in so much work.”
“And that roar from the crowd! I had no idea. You don’t get that aspect when you’re watching on TV.”
“It was such a great first game for you,” Jolene said happily, buying two bottles of water from a concession stand as they passed and handing one to Callie.
“Thanks.” Callie took a long drink, the cool liquid feeling wonderful going down her scratchy throat.
“Now for the really fun part,” Jolene said with a happy grin as they stopped at a gate manned by a security guard. He smiled at Jolene and opened the gate.
“Tell your husband he had a good game, Ms. Kendall,” he said as they walked through.
“Thanks, Boyd. I’ll do that. This is my friend Callie Green, by the way. She’s here with Vince.”
The man’s eyebrows rose and his eyes locked on Callie in an assessing stare. After a moment he gave a nod, his eyes twinkling as if he knew something she didn’t.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Green,” he said. “Vince is a favorite around here.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Boyd. I’ll see you again soon, I hope.”
“Oh yes, you most definitely will,” he said with a chuckle.
Callie looked at Jolene, not certain what to make of the guard, but the other woman was already a few steps ahead. She turned to look back at Callie, sweeping her arm forward. “Welcome to the tunnel, Callie. Your first time here, but definitely not your last.”
She had to be dreaming. Walking through the tunnel and down the hallway toward the actual Wild locker room was another incredible first. A large group of women and kids were already in the hallway, and they looked at her curiously as Jolene led her toward them.
She saw recognition dawn on some of their faces as they realized she was the girl they’d been reading about, but they were all too polite to mention it as Jolene made the introductions. They made her feel welcome, several of them teasing her about finally giving Vince a warm body to hug after a game.
“I already told her it’s a first,” Jolene joked, “but trust me ladies, she’ll be a fixture from now on. Vince is head over heels for this one.”
Jolene motioned her over to the wall a little beyond the group, and they leaned against it, talking quietly as they waited for the guys to emerge. Twenty minutes later, the door opened and the happy, victorious players began to file out to greet their equally happy loved ones.
Callie’s heart was pounding as she waited. She saw Boone first, and then suddenly Vince was there in the doorway, dressed once more in his suit, his eyes scanning the group, looking for her. For her.
She froze at that incredible realization, unable to get her legs to move so she could go to him, but wanting desperately to touch him. To feel his tired, beat up, hockey-playing body in her arms.
Then he saw her and broke away from the crowd, coming toward her, his smile faltering a bit when she just stood there instead of coming to meet him. When he reached her, she couldn’t stop her tears and she held out her arms as they rolled down her face.
“Amazing, Vince,” she whispered when she was tight against him, just where she wanted to be. “You were amazing. The team and the crowd were amazing. I’ll never forget how it felt to be here. To see you out on the ice doing what you love. What you work so hard for.”
She felt him breathe in and let it out slowly. “It’s so much better with you here,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “Best game of my life, and the goal had nothing to do with it.”
“I love you, superstar. You inspire me.”
“It’s just a game,” he said modestly.
She shook her head and pressed her cheek against his chest. “It’s not. It’s so much more.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” he said with a low chuckle. “And guess what? I have another surprise for you.”
She tilted her head back to look at him, reaching up to touch the soft, shower-damp hair at the back of his neck. “One surprise a day is my limit,” she said sternly.
“But the first surprise wasn’t even mine. Mom and Dad just showed up. This one I did plan, and it wouldn’t be fair to take this one away, just because another one happened that I couldn’t control.”
Callie laughed at his reasoning and smoothed a fingertip down along the frown line that had appeared between his dark brows. “Okay, I’ll allow a seco
nd surprise just this once,” she acquiesced. “But only if you can promise me it’s a super good one.”
He pretended to have second thoughts. “Well, maybe I should reconsider. I mean, I don’t know if going out to stand at center ice qualifies as super good.”
She gripped his shoulders, unable to hold back her ear-to-ear grin. “Seriously, Vince? You can take me out there?”
“Of course,” he said with a grin. “I promised a guard I’d score a short-handed goal in return for five minutes on center ice with you, after the game.”
“Sure you did,” she said with a laugh. “But I don’t need to know how you did it. Just take me out there before someone changes their mind.”
He took her hand and they walked down the rapidly clearing hall, to the now completely empty tunnel. When they got to the entrance to the ice, the stands were also completely empty. It seemed strange after the raucous crowd of earlier.
“Shouldn’t there be a clean-up crew or something?” Callie asked as he drew her out onto the ice.
“They’ll get started soon I’m sure.”
She took a careful step, holding tightly to his hand.
“It’s not that slick because it’s still torn up from the game. Just go slow. If you slip, I’ll catch you.”
Callie quickly got her footing and by the time they were halfway to the Wild logo in the middle, she was walking confidently. She looked around in awe.
“The arena looks so much bigger from down here. Did you get stage fright in the beginning?”
“My first NHL game was pretty crazy. I was nervous and played like crap. After that, I had to tune everything out and only focus on the game. It took a while, but I gradually got to the point where I could enjoy the crowd and their enthusiasm without my nerves getting the best of me.”
Callie leaned against his arm as they walked. “When you scored that goal and the crowd went crazy, oh man, it was totally electric. I screamed myself hoarse, as you can tell.”
“I think I heard you,” he teased.
As they reached the edge of the Wild logo painted under the surface of the ice, Callie pulled him to a stop. “Wait,” she said. “I need to make this moment last.”
She smiled and slowly lifted her foot, putting it down in the paint almost reverently. “This is a great way to cap off a perfect day, Vince.” She walked to the very center and turned to face him. “I’m not normally a selfie person, but I need to document this. Come pose with me.”
“Just a minute, baby. I have something I want to say.”
He walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “You know I love you, Callie.”
She nodded. “I do know. You tell me, and more importantly you show me.” She smiled. “Like you’re doing right now, by bringing me out here.”
“I had a pretty good life before I met you, but you’ve made it so much better. Immeasurably better. I had no idea what I was missing.”
Callie’s heart swelled at his words and she reached up and hooked her hands around his forearms. “I can say the same thing,” she said softly. “I had absolutely no idea.”
He bent down and brushed his lips softly across hers. “I have a souvenir from the game for you.”
“You do?” she asked, trying not to appear too eager. “Not that I need anything else to help me remember this night. It’s permanently etched in my brain.”
He lifted a corner of his suit jacket and pointed at his pants pocket, where she could see the outline of a puck.
Her jaw dropped and she looked up at him hopefully. “Is that the puck?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Yeah, if by the puck you mean the one I blasted over that goalie’s right shoulder.”
She laughed and held out her hand. “Let me see it. I’ve never actually held a hockey puck. I’m going to frame it, or whatever you do to a puck. I can’t believe I got to see it happen in person.”
“The first of many, I hope.” He put his hand in his pocket and slowly drew the puck out, then took her hand and placed her palm on the surface of the black disk adorned with the Wild logo in the center. Her hand on the top and his on the bottom.
“All the game pucks are identical, but this really is the one I scored with. Boone got it from the official for me on the way off the ice.”
“I’ll treasure it,” Callie declared.
“I hope so.” His voice came out rough and a little uneven, causing Callie to look up at him curiously. His eyes met hers and she saw her own love reflected in their beautiful blue depths. Her throat got tight and it felt like her heart rolled over in her chest.
He slowly let go of the puck so she was clutching it on her own. “Turn it over, Callie,” he said, his voice low, a muscle in his jaw jumping as he waited for her to follow his request.
More curious than ever, she slowly flipped her hand over.
She stared.
And stared some more.
She saw the puck start to shake, because her hand was trembling that much. She looked wide-eyed up at Vince, then dropped her gaze back to the most gorgeous diamond ring she’d ever seen taped to the bottom of the puck.
“You’re the girl I’ve been praying for,” he said softly. “I asked God to send me the girl I’d want to be with forever, and He did. It’s you. I know it’s you. Everything we’ve shared so far has proven that. I love everything about you. The way you loved and cared for Jeremiah. Your loyalty to your friends. The way you overcame a brutal attack and refused to let it define you. Your love and acceptance of a stranger who is also your father, and the unselfish way you’ve made the time he has left on earth worth living. And especially your willingness to move away from the ranch you love to be with me.” He stopped and took a breath. “You’re the whole package. Everything I want and need. And the thing is, Callie, I want to make it permanent. I’m more than ready to make it permanent.”
Tears stung and her heart pounded so hard, she felt like her whole body was vibrating with each beat. She looked into his eyes, seeing all the love his words had just expressed. She could hardly breathe, much less say anything back to him. She’d hoped for this moment, imagined it, but then he’d gone and made it so much better than even her wildest fantasy. Out here on the ice—it was so perfect.
Permanent. That’s what he’d said, and the word was every bit as beautiful as the emerald cut diamond sparkling up at her from the black background of the puck. Both of them, the word and the ring, meant forever. Which was exactly what she wanted with this man.
He took her hand in both of his, puck and all, and sank to his knee, right there on the ice. “Marry me, Callie Green. Marry me, Lila Tate. I want all of you, every part of who you are. I want the girl who will always be a cowgirl at heart, and I want the girl who’s gonna give away her inheritance to those who need it. I want you to be my wife, and the mother of my children, with God at the center of everything we do. I want to put this ring on your finger and know you’re mine for as long as we both shall live. Nothing about the future scares me, because I know our love is strong enough to get through it.” He paused, his hands tightening around hers. “I want to spend the rest of my life loving you like you deserve to be loved. Will you be my wife, Callie?”
She swiped the tears from her cheeks with her free hand and smiled down at him, her knees threatening to give out and put her right down there on the ice with him.
“Of course, Vince,” she said. “Of course I will. I love you beyond reason. I can’t even picture my future without you.” She pulled him up and put one arm around his waist, clutching the puck to her chest with the other. “This is perfect. You’re perfect. I thought nothing could top that hockey game. I was so wrong.”
He pulled her close and kissed her, and she could actually feel the tension draining from his body. She broke the kiss, giving him an incredulous look.
“Vince, you didn’t think I’d say no, did you?”
He winced. “Not really, but there’s something about being down on one knee, you know? Once I got down
there, I started to get nervous.”
“Well there was never even the slightest chance of a no,” she said softly.
His smile was slow and happy. “Music to my ears, baby,” he said, before claiming her lips in a slow, deep kiss that sealed the deal in just the right way.
Was it crazy to believe Vince had been created just for her? Maybe, but that’s how it felt. He was everything she wanted and needed—her heart felt so full.
She could kiss him forever, but she had something that needed to be addressed. She reluctantly broke the kiss and poked a finger into his chest, trying to look stern.
“This is the best night of my life, but I feel compelled to point out that I just signed a twelve-month lease on that condo, and you let me. Are you planning to make me wait that long to be Callie Abbot?”
He chuckled. “Not a chance. I let you sign because this way your friends will have a place to stay when they come visit, without having to crash with us. They’ve assured me they’ll be here often.”
She tilted her head suspiciously. “They knew you were going to do this?”
“Yep. I told them yesterday.”
A male voice came from over by the tunnel. “Come on, you two. The question’s been asked and answered, and we’re starving.”
“You’re going to be a beautiful bride, Callie,” a female voice added.
Callie’s jaw dropped again. “Boone and Jolene are over there!”
“Mm hmm. Boone said he wanted to be here to support me in case I was crushed by your refusal, and Jolene thought you might like some pictures.”
“Oh, I definitely want pictures.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Do you think they could hear us?” She loved them both, but she hoped their private moment hadn’t been overheard, even by close friends.
