Icing (9 page)

They lost the game to BC 2-1 but Kyle scored a short-handed goal.  Rumors were swirling that scouts from Connecticut had their eye on him.  He had a presence and quickness on the ice that made him stand out.  Coach knew this and also thought of him as a good guy, always an asset to the team.  Word got around.  Notice was taken.

****

Kyle was up and out early on Sunday. It was a free day and classes were set to begin on Monday.  He was taking micro economics, advanced calculus, history through film (one of those athletic department rumors), psychology 101 and a marketing graphics class.  It was a mixed bag as often was the case with freshman schedules.  He was not looking forward to calculus again but he managed a “B” the previous semester and he thought continuing while he was hot was a good idea.  His GPA was a 3.2 and both he and his Parents were satisfied.

He headed to the Newman Center.  He was raised Catholic and he thought he would give it a visit.  They had a good cafeteria adjacent to the hall where services were held so he would check that out afterwards.

“See you at about ten Taryn.”  Tim yelled as he was galloping down the hallway.

“Sure. See you then.  Say hi to God for me.”

Tim was heading to the Newman Center for mass.  No need to lie to Mom anymore.  He liked the Sunday tradition. It was a lot more welcoming than church at home and grounded him for the week ahead.

Tim snugged into the back pew next to another sleepy student.  It was Kyle.  Mass went on as planned.  During the exchange of peace Tim introduced himself and apologized for sitting so close and offered to move.

“No man.  It’s cool.  I was running late too. 8am is early on a Sunday.  The campus is a ghost town except good Catholics like us.  I was just curious and I wanted to grab breakfast next door anyways.”

Tim smiled,

“Hi Taryn.  You made it. Want to grab something to eat or at least some coffee?  The older man can wait.”

“Tim, he has a name.  Just call him Devon.  He’s got something going on. Coffee and a bagel sound perfect.  We can catch up.”

“Hey, we meet again. Go on ahead of us were in no rush.  Are you a football player or maybe lacrosse?  Just a guess.”

“I play hockey.  I don’t look like a football player do I? I certainly don’t play lax but it would be nice.  They get all the babes on campus.”

Taryn was amused by this guy.  He was the guy with the nice teeth and unbroken nose from the library.  He looked nothing like a linebacker and 100% hockey player.  They were speaking amongst themselves and Taryn felt invisible – odd for her.  She was accustomed to but never demanded attention.  She would have to do the work.

“Hi, I’m Tim’s friend Taryn”

She offered her hand.  Kyle smiled like there was some joke they shared.  He took her hand.

“I’m Kyle Caldwell. I’ve seen you on campus.  In the library.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen you.  You’re like a fixture there.  It’s nice to know you exist outside of that place.”

Kyle wanted to stay in that place for a long time.  Just linger in this space with her.  He had changed over the past months. He thought of his instant reaction upon seeing her the first time was that of a foolish boy.  His Mom and 2/3’s of a hockey season changed that boy into a man.  His reaction was the same.

“I’ll just grab a bagel and get out of your way.  Maybe next week Tim.  Nice meeting you Taryn.  I’ll see you in the library.”

“What the hell Tim?  Where have you been hiding hockey boy? I thought he was my secret library crush, not a friend of yours from church.”

“Slow down there Taryn.  First of all” Tim was a little astonished at Taryn’s reaction. ”I just met the guy, by the way, he has a name, its Kyle.  Secondly, you are clearly taken by that older coach of yours, oh, I mean Devon,”

“Forget Devon, that guy has a certain “it” factor.  I’m just glad I know him enough now to pull a chair up next to him in the library.  He’s my mystery guy…fun.  He just made my day.”

“O.K. Taryn.  Easy does it.  Get your coffee and tell me about your course load for the spring.”

****

Tru was out gallivanting around campus with some woman he had been spending time with.  Kyle didn’t have the details on this latest conquest.   Tru liked the ladies and it was apparently mutual.  He would occasionally bring one back to the room and they were all nice but they all ended as “just friends”.  Kyle knew not to ask anymore questions at this point because someone was bound to have suffered a broken heart and it was an off-limits topic among guys.  He thought back to the time he had told Truman he had fallen in love at the library. 

Now he knew her name so it was reasonable – Kyle thought.  Either way, his meeting with Taryn would be kept to himself.  He kicked off his moccasins and covered his head with a pillow for a nap, the kind enjoyed best by a played out college guy.  He would dream of his future.  Of hockey and of lovely Taryn.

****

Spring break was approaching and Devon and Taryn were going to Philadelphia.  They were flying out of Logan which included a quick stop in Concord.  The Wright’s had not met Devon.  Sleepless nights were upon Taryn as she imagined the worst, particularly from her Mom.  They could have taken Devon’s car but Taryn had access to frequent flyer miles her Grandparents had acquired.  She had a t-shirt from each of their stops from Mexico to Chernobyl.  The flight would be just over an hour and the plane was more reliable than Devon’s 1976 VW Bus.  Parking the relic in her parent’s driveway would have sent Mrs. Wright over the edge.

“Dad.  I haven’t seen you since Christmas.  You look all tan and healthy.  How was St. Lucia?  Well, tell me later.  I want you to meet Devon.”

“Hello Mr. Wright, or can I call you Ed?”

It was awkward because he was closer in age to Taryn’s Father than he was to her.  The two men exchanged pleasantries.  Mrs. Wright followed with a broad smile and welcoming hug.  It was appropriate and purposely veiled her trepidation on welcoming this older man into her home.  They admired the symmetry of the garden lining the path to the front door.  The bulbs had given way to a row of tulips and daffodils.  

The foursome made their way into the white early American and took a seat in the formal living room.  It was museum like with a sky blue carpet and indigo couch.  The chairs were antique.  Mrs. Wright had covered the seats with a cream and rose needlepoint cushion that she had stitched herself.  It was half expected that a butler was waiting in the wings.  It was the antithesis of Devon’s artsy place back in Amherst.  It appeared a devilish prank on poor Devon.

Taryn had a glass of Chardonnay and Devon drank a lager from the bottle in an attempt to survive the onslaught of questions thrown by her Parents.

“So, Devon, where are you from?  How did you arrive in Amherst?  Is there a career path you are on or are your happy being a voice coach?”

Mrs. Wright was asking questions as quickly as she could get them out.  Answers followed as Devon rapidly threw out replies.  It was a bombardment of words.  Finally dinner was ready.  Drinks were refreshed and they ate the tender lamb with applicable sides.  Mrs. Wright knew Devon’s family tree by this point but she forgot to ask if he ate meat.  He was a vegan.

Devon slept in the guest bedroom which served as Ed Wright’s office as well.  Taryn stayed in her lavender room.  It was all very appropriate.  Logan Airport could not be more anticipated.

Upon arriving in Philadelphia they were met at the gate by Devon’s sister Irene.  She was a welcoming figure.  It appeared she had just arrived from some dead end office job.  She was dressed business casual.  Taryn quivered at the thought of herself answering phones in a cubicle for a living.  Taryn should not have judged Irene because she appeared to be a bone fide fan of her brother.  They were staying at her house in the Belmont section of town near St. Joes University.  Taryn knew of the area having been nearby while looking at schools.  History was not her favorite subject but couldn’t help but get caught up in it while they drove through town. She was more apt to visit the steps from the Rocky movies than the Liberty Bell.  She had enough of that growing up near Boston.

“Well Taryn this is it.  Home to I guess.  My sister and the kids are the only family I have so I always consider this home base. “

“I like it Dev.  Your sister is a nice woman and she obviously adores you.  I can’t wait to meet her four kids.  They must be a handful.  This is certainly more inviting than our overnight in Concord.  Sorry about that.”

“I only wish my folks were still around.  I would give anything to have them here to butt heads with.  They’re from a different generation.  Just love ‘em while they’re still here.  You will miss them when they’re gone.  I actually like your Mom.  She’s interesting to observe.”

“She’s not what I hope to become.  I’m scared to turn out just like her.  I should approach it with your attitude.  Thanks for the advice and for being a gracious guest.”

“Here we sleep in the same room – cool with you Wright?

Taryn smiled and the pair took a nap in his nephew’s queen bed.

The days that followed were spent visiting Devon’s old haunts from the Blaine Conservatory to South Street.  They ate melt-in-your-mouth cheesesteaks and chewy bagels.  Nights were spent catching some live music and exploring the club scene.  Taryn loved Philadelphia and was sure a return trip would be in her future.

****

Kyle and Truman were packing up with the first semester of college behind them.  Hockey had come to an end for the season, unofficially.  Kyle was heading back to Buffalo for the summer and planned on picking up work serving tacos and finding a second job to line the bank account.  His Dad could use respite from the constant role of caretaker as Mom remained week.  Keith and Kyle planned on creating a schedule to work around their commitments.  They would take care of business on Admiral Road.

Juliet’s best friend Jackie lived around the corner on Vorhees Ave.  Her Dad was involved at Canisius College athletics and he could help him out with his connections to the hockey team.  Dr. Albertson was one of those stand out guys always ready to help out.  He knew the Caldwell family well and would surely assist Kyle.  It did not hurt that Jackie was the youngest of four girls.

“All we have to get is the rubber stamp from housing and we will have another year together.  I’m glad we decided on one of the low rise dorms.  2012 will be a part of history.  I’m always worrying that the elevators will jam and we will be left with 20 flights of stairs to climb.”

“I realize you’ll be busy in Buffalo with work and your Mom but please come to Needham if you get the shot.  We can wreak some havoc at the Cape.  I have a lot of friends down there.”

“I’ll give it a try.  No sleeping in for me this summer.  I want to earn the cash to buy a car.  In my dreams it was going to be fast and sleek.  Now I just want anything to get me from point “A” to point “B”.”

“Sounds good man.  Let’s hit town tonight and grab a beer.”

False I.D.’s would be their ticket into one of the many taverns.   Very few of the patrons were of legal age.  This was just a matter of fact in Amherst and raids were seldom. 

Kyle thought about Taryn while he was prepping for the trip back home.  Maybe he would run into her next year.  The anticipation of their next meeting would make for some good daydreams for the summer ahead.

****

Taryn was heading to Concord for a week in June and planned to spend the balance of summer with Devon on Main Street.  She would feel take a course and continue her studies with Devon. She had raised her octave four tones so progress was definitely.  Piano was also on the agenda.  She would fit a job in there somewhere, although that was yet to be obtained.

“How about a walk through the woods around the pond.”

“Sounds like a plan Love”

Taryn threw on some shorts and a t-shirt displaying support of a political cause she was pursuing back at school.  She wanted to touch base with her Dad before spending her summer at UMass.  Her Dad was her touchstone.  She needed a reality check.  Things were moving so fast and she needed words of wisdom from the only man she really trusted.

“Taryn we have decided you should take the wagon to school it’s yours.  Your grades are way above our expectations and we feel you can handle the added responsibility of a car.  We will still pay your insurance but gas is up to you.  It will allow you to expand your job search and consider the larger surroundings.  Northampton is culturally more diverse.  It would be a good place to explore music theater if you are interested.  The bus travels there free of charge but we will rest easier if you have a safer way to travel at night,”

“Very generous Dad but that would leave Josh without a car and I can’t do that to him.  I had the car in high school and so should he.”

“Rest easy Sweetie.  We would never do that to your brother. We plan to get him a new set of wheels.  Our choice – he better not have high expectations.  It’ll be used and it will remain here when he goes to school.  He will have to prove his responsibility during his freshman year.  Just as you did.”

“Thanks Dad.  Unexpected but totally appreciated.  I feel like there is so much happing for me.  It’s all good but I question whether I am doing too much and not enabling myself to enjoy the whole college experience.  Devon is great but he is drawing me into his adult world.”