Salem's Sight (21 page)

“
We need to get to work
right away. I’ve told his coach to be patient, but there’s not much
time left. They were planning on him being the captain this year.
But now it’s too late. That can’t happen now and the team captain
isn’t that happy with Robby. They’ve had captain’s practice since
the start of the school year. It’s okay for Rob to miss those, but
once they start their regular practices he’d have to be there or he
wouldn’t be able to play in the games.”

“
What’s the difference?
Between the two types of practice, I mean.”

“
There’s only so much time
any team can practice before the games. With a coach on the ice,
that is. So the only way to get around it is what’s called a
captain’s practice. There the captain of the team gets the members
together on the ice without the coach or anyone that’s paid to help
the team. Salem, Robby’s running out of time. We’ve got to move
fast.”

Great. Let’s add a ticking clock.
That’ll surely take some of the pressure off. “I don’t know how
fast I can work, but I’ll see if I can help. Do you mind if I talk
to Berkley about this?”

“
Are you sure she won’t say
anything to Robby?” He was so intense. Like he was talking about
trusting someone with international security.

“
She’s my best friend, it’s
her job to keep my secrets. Anyway, I don’t have to go into all the
details if you don’t want me to.”

“
I trust you, so I’ll go
with your judgment on this. Just remember, he won’t be too happy if
he knows you’re helping me. Call me at the office with any
information, questions, anything.” Doctor Martin stood up like he
did at the end of any session. “And Salem, thanks.”

He trusted me. With his son. Wow. I
suddenly felt uber important. “Anything for Robby. And for you
too,” I said as I stood and walked around the side of the desk to
give Dr. Martin a needed hug. I felt the unexpected shiver again as
I did it. And I didn’t think it was a shiver from cold. But like I
said, Grandma was being quiet.

A gust of wind suddenly burst through
the open window and the picture of Robby’s mom teetered on his
desk. It wobbled for a few seconds before it fell face up on his
desk for me to see. Her smile, warm and sunny, spoke volumes. I
wasn’t exactly sure what I was being told, but I had no doubt she
was sending a message.