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Lynn unstrapped Oscar from his car seat, shouldered the diaper bag, and raced through the back door into the cramped laundry room that opened onto the kitchen. “Stephanie! Are you here?”
No answer. She didn’t really expect one, as she lived in the basement suite. But when she was invited for dinner, as she was tonight, she sometimes came up early.
“We’ve got to hurry, bud.” Discarding the bag on top of the dryer, she sat Oscar on the washer, slid off his boots, unzipped his tiny parka, pulled off his toque, and set him on his feet. By the time she’d divested herself of similar clothing, he had toddled into the living room in search of his toy box. Not bothering to unlock the baby gate at the top of the stairs, she stepped over, hustled down the two short flights, and knocked on Stephanie’s door before opening it a few inches.
She called through the crack. “Stephanie! I need help.”
The door swung wider and her housemate came into view. As usual she was dressed with taste and flair, hair and makeup perfect. “What’s the panic? Everything okay?”
“Benjamin’s coming for dinner.” Realizing she was wringing her hands like a Victorian virgin, she took a breath and relaxed her fingers. “My place is a disaster. Can you help me tidy up?”
“Benjamin?” One plucked eyebrow rose. “That Benjamin?”
While Lynn hadn’t told her about the one-night stand or the kiss, he had come up in conversation occasionally since he’d reappeared in her life. She’d kept it cool, just casual work talk, but Stephanie had obviously caught other vibes. “Yes, that Benjamin. There’s no time to explain. He’ll be here in less than an hour.”
“Of course I can help.” Stephanie followed her upstairs.
In the kitchen, dirty meal prep dishes and utensils were piled next to the sink and Lynn turned on the hot water. “Will you give the hall bathroom a good wipe and put out fresh towels? And tidy the living room, as much as Oscar will allow you?”
“I’m on it.” Stephanie vanished.
Lynn hadn’t been out of the arena parking lot before she’d regretted her impulsive invitation. Yet he’d looked so forlorn after what had to be another frustrating loss that her heart had tugged and her mouth had spoken before she’d thought it through. She’d needed to do something to take that look off his face. But inviting him for dinner? She scrubbed a dish with unnecessary violence. Bringing him to her home was a level of intimacy she should never have considered, let alone encouraged. At least Stephanie would be around to provide a buffer.
Once she was done the dishes she laid out the table with placemats and napkins. It looked rather bare and unwelcoming so she set out a couple of candles as a centrepiece.
And immediately removed them, hiding them in a drawer. She didn’t want it to appear even remotely romantic.
Stephanie was distracting Oscar from scattering toys about the now well-ordered living room by reading him a book. Lynn spoke over her shoulder as she headed down the hall. “I’m going to freshen up. I’ll be right back.”
In her bedroom she tugged off the T-shirt she’d worn to the game and shrugged into a blouse. Tossing the discarded shirt as well as the socks, underwear, and other clothing scattered about the room into the hamper in her closet, she tidied the top of her dresser, freezing with her fingers on the lid of her jewellry box.
What the hell was she doing? Benjamin wasn’t going to be anywhere near her bedroom. Sinking onto the end of the bed she dropped her head into her hands and groaned. Time to get a grip.
The house she owned and Stephanie shared was in an older neighbourhood with small homes and large yards. She’d bought it shortly after confirming her pregnancy, wanting security for her baby-to-be. It was the second house she’d owned, as she and Lance had bought one together—at Lynn’s instigation—after they’d been engaged for a couple of years. But that house had been sold when he’d driven off to find fame and fortune.
Normally she avoided thinking of Lance. Tonight he was an excellent reminder of why she couldn’t wish for anything more than friendship with Benjamin. She’d thought she had a stable, solid future with her accountant ex-fiancé, and look how that had turned out. Coaching junior hockey had to be one of the most unstable careers around. She shouldn’t even be considering a relationship with someone in that industry.
And yet, here she was, preparing to have a cozy family meal with a man whose kisses tingled all her good parts. Was she really willing to risk heartbreak...again? He wouldn’t even commit to a pet, for crying out loud. She couldn’t expect him to commit to a single mother.
There. That was settled. She stood, smoothed the material of her blouse, and headed back down the hall. Stephanie looked up from the chair where she and Oscar were cuddled.
“Do you mind keeping an eye on him a little longer? I’m going to make a green salad. It can fill the gaps if necessary.” The sausage and peppers she’d prepped that morning bubbled under the slow cooker’s glass lid and the savoury scent filled the house. It was more than enough for her and Stephanie—and Oscar now he was eating so much solid food—but she had no idea what Benjamin’s appetite was like. She opened the fridge and took out ingredients. “We need a dessert, too. If we have ice cream we can make sundaes.”
“Take a breath, Lynn.” Stephanie’s voice carried, disembodied, from the living room. “I haven’t seen you this flustered since...well, ever. You really like this guy, don’t you?”
Lynn paused in tearing the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Following Stephanie’s advice, she drew in a long, steadying breath through her nose, let it out through her mouth. “I do like him. I just don’t know if I should.” So much for having made her decision. She was going to give herself motion sickness if she didn’t pick a lane.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing. Not in a general sense.” She ran the salad spinner under water, whipped the handle, and let it slow naturally as she thought. “He’s not a stayer. His entire career he’s moved from place to place, and if he wants to make a go of it as a coach that will continue all his life. I grew up that way. I won’t subject Oscar to a childhood like that.”
As if hearing his name, her son let out a long, irritated squawk. Stephanie carried him into the kitchen. “Is he hungry?”
“Probably. Dinner’s going to be a little later than he’s used to. We’ll have to distract him until Benjamin gets here.”
Stephanie stood at her shoulder so Oscar could see what she was doing. “Is it possible you are using this little man as an excuse? I know dating as a single mom can be tough, but—”
She shot her an ironic glance. “At least he’s a valid excuse. What’s yours? I don’t see you out there in the dating pool either.”
Stephanie had been married for several years. During her gender affirmation surgery, her wife had been understanding and supportive even though they’d decided a divorce would be best for both of them. That had all happened well before Lynn had met Stephanie, but she had yet to see her friend go on a date.
“I’m getting there.” Lynn watched in fascination as a blush swept up Stephanie’s neck. “In fact, I’m having dinner with someone tomorrow night.”
“Good for you!” She gave her a one-armed hug, holding the knife she’d been chopping tomatoes with far out of Oscar’s reach. “I’m so glad.”
“Thanks. My point stands. Thinking too far into the future is borrowing trouble. Just take things slow, see what happens. It’s not like you’re sleeping with the guy.”
Lynn’s rhythmic motions as she sliced a cucumber stuttered and she hunched her shoulder in a reflexive deflection. Stephanie knew her too well to miss the signs. “You are sleeping with him? How did I not know this?”
“I’m not sleeping with him. Now. But I did. Once.” Lynn concentrated on dissecting the hapless cucumber. “A couple years ago.”
“What?” Stephanie straightened, looming over Lynn, five-eleven in her ballet-slippered feet. “Tell Auntie Stephanie all.”
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BENJAMIN CHECKED THE house numbers as he drove slowly up the street. Early evening in mid-November meant porch lights were on and curtains closed against the dark. The first snow had fallen a few days ago and still lay in a thin white layer, though warmer temperatures were forecast and there was a good chance it would melt. Winter hadn’t quite settled into full-on mode yet.
In an odd touch of serendipity, Lynn’s home was only a couple of blocks from the house he’d grown up in and where his mother still lived. He’d passed it on his way, averting his gaze guiltily. He’d only seen her once in the almost two weeks since Halloween, despite his renewed intention to see her often now she’d returned from her sister’s. Not that he hadn’t tried, but something always seemed to come up to prevent a meeting. He wasn’t chalking it up in the loss column yet. He would just have to try harder.
He pulled to the curb in front of Lynn’s home and turned off the engine. Solar lights lined the walkway to the front of the house. A wreath made of evergreen boughs and sparkling with shiny red ornaments and white lights hung on the door and a tall rustic wood plank with the word Welcome painted on it leaned against the bottle glass side panel. Chinks of light showed through the loosely drawn drapes, winking off and on as if someone was pacing inside.
If he’d had more time, he would have gone home to change out of his game suit. It had taken him longer to wrap things up at the arena than he’d expected and he hadn’t wanted to be late. He’d delayed only long enough to pick up a bottle of wine at the grocery store that was on his direct route.
Gripping the narrow neck, he approached the front door and knocked. It opened almost instantly, revealing Lynn.
“I saw you pull up.” She stepped back and gestured him into the foyer. “Come on in.”
Short flights of stairs led up and down. A safety gate barricaded the opening on the upper floor. The living room was visible through wooden banisters on the left and a kitchen through an open archway directly ahead.
He stepped to the side to allow Lynn to shut the door and held out the bottle. “I didn’t want to come empty handed. I hope you like red.”
She took it. “That’s great, thanks. You can hang your coat in the closet if you like.” Her tone was formal and he wondered if she was feeling the same awkwardness he was. This was a new stage in their relationship and he wasn’t exactly sure what it meant or where it might lead.
He just knew it was an opportunity he didn’t want to screw up. Unlike so much in the rest of his life.
He shrugged out of his wool overcoat and suit jacket and found an empty hanger. Lynn led him up the stairs and through the baby gate, securing it behind them. “Where’s Oscar?” Other than soft acoustic music playing from an unseen speaker, the house was quiet. “Is he in bed?” He’d looked forward to seeing the little guy again and was disappointed he might have missed him.
“Here he is.” From a doorway down the hall a tall woman emerged. She wore slim fitted pants and a colourfully patterned blouse and carried a naked but for his diaper Oscar.
“Benjamin, this is Stephanie, my friend and housemate.”
“Nice to meet you.” Stephanie held out her free hand and shook Benjamin’s with a firm grip. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Steph!” Lynn’s hissed warning made Benjamin lift an eyebrow.
Amusement gleamed in Stephanie’s eyes. “It was all good. Don’t worry.” Her glance flicked from him to Lynn and back again.
Benjamin wasn’t sure what to make of Stephanie’s reassurances. What exactly had Lynn said?
“I hope you don’t mind if we eat right away.” Lynn retrieved the baby from her friend and turned to Benjamin. “Oscar’s hungry and the food is ready.”
A faint tinge of red coloured her cheekbones and he wondered again how much she had shared with Stephanie. “Of course not. I’m hungry, too. Lead the way.”