Taking Charge (20 page)

“You think the news might make him have another
coronary,” Cole said with a smile.

“I don’t know, maybe, I mean, it’s almost making me
have one,” Robyn admitted.

“I’m not perfect, Robyn,” Cole whispered, looking at
her.

“You’re not?”

“No. But I think we might be pretty perfect for each
other,” he said, linking his hand with hers.

“I’m really not very good with the vacuum, is it
going to be a deal breaker with your mom?”

“How about I do the vacuuming and you fix
Leonora.”

“And you’ll cook, right? And fold sheets.”

“Right, that’s it. I’m turning off the light.”

The doorbell rang.

Robyn opened her eyes and closed her mouth. For a
second she couldn’t remember where she was, and then she felt
Cole’s arm around her and suddenly memories of the previous night
came flooding back, along with a banging headache.

“Cole, there’s someone at the door. What time is it?”
Robyn asked, nudging him awake.

He opened his eyes and looked at his watch.

“It’s not even nine,” he replied with a groan.

The doorbell rang again.

“It might be important. Go and see who it is,” Robyn
urged, tugging at his arm.

“Man, if I’m vacuuming in this relationship, can’t
you be the one who opens the door when people call too early?” Cole
asked, reluctantly getting up and throwing a t-shirt over his
head.

“Is this our first row?” Robyn asked innocently.

He hurried down the stairs as the doorbell rang
again, this time incessantly. He opened the door.

“Hey Sarah. Robyn, Sarah’s here!” Cole called up the
stairs.

She couldn’t hear what Sarah was saying to him, but
it sounded probing. Poor Cole, having to endure a hundred questions
from her inquisitive friend who could very easily have got a job
with the FBI. She grabbed the closest thing and made her way down
the stairs.

“…it just made sense,” Robyn heard Cole say.

“What made sense?” Robyn asked as she entered the
kitchen, wrapping Cole’s robe around her.

“Cole was just telling me about you moving in
here.”

“Oh yeah, old news,” Robyn replied stiffly.

“Oh Robyn, I am so sorry about everything I said
about Jason. Mickey told me about last night, said he turned up at
the go-kart center,” Sarah said, tears pricking her eyes.

“Yeah,” Robyn answered.

“Are you okay? I mean, Mickey said he basically
attacked you, insisted he speak with you,” Sarah carried on.

“I’m okay,” Robyn replied, knowing she didn’t sound
very convincing.

“I’m going to call Grant; I’m going to tell him what
I think of him. He should have told you he was back, he should have
told us he was coming back,” Sarah exclaimed.

“No. Don’t do that. I’ll be seeing Grant later at the
arena. I don’t want anyone to do anything on my behalf. I can deal
with it,” Robyn insisted.

“Can you?”

“Yes.”

“It might be worth speaking to the cops. I mean, it
is harassment,” Cole told her.

“Haven’t you made coffee yet?” Robyn asked,
tightening the robe around her.

“Shall I remind you where the vacuum lives?” he
retorted.

“God, you two sound like a couple,” Sarah remarked,
looking at Robyn with wide eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous, we’ve…” Robyn began.

“Only known each other four days,” Cole added.

“Do you want to listen to the fridge? If I open the
door, it’ll say something really cool,” Robyn said, heading for the
door.

“Robyn, you should have called the police. He can’t
be hassling you like that,” Sarah said.

“I don’t want the police, I just want to—I don’t
know—make a fresh start, move on,” Robyn said, looking up at
Cole.

“And you can do that now?”

“I don’t know, I hope so. We’ll have to see, won’t
we,” Robyn answered.

She wasn’t sure of anything. She only had to hear his
name and bile rose in her throat. She didn’t know whether she could
move on yet, especially now that he was back in town. But what else
could she do? She was so tired of being a victim.

“I’ll look after her,” Cole stated, looking at
Sarah.

“You will not! I don’t need looking after, I told you
that! Why does everyone want to look after me all of a sudden?”
Robyn exclaimed, letting out a frustrated breath.

“Okay, okay, no looking after. How about shopping? I
finish work at lunchtime. We could hit the mall. We haven’t done
that since the time we set the fire alarm off in that snooty
handbag shop,” Sarah reminded her.

“I don’t know, I don’t think I’m going to have time.
I’m going to see my dad this morning, then I’ve got to get to the
roadhouse, and then it’s the game tonight. Anyway, I’m surprised
you want to go anywhere with me after what I said about Mickey not
wanting to get married,” Robyn said, taking the milk out of the
fridge and tightening the lid.

“It isn’t like I didn’t know that already, is it? You
just told me the truth,” Sarah said with a swallow.

“I said it to hurt you, though,” Robyn admitted.

“I know.”

“But you’re my best friend. I don’t want to hurt
you.”

“I know that, too,” Sarah said, looking up at Robyn
and offering her a faint smile.

“What d’you need to do at the roadhouse?” Cole
asked.

“I need to oversee. We’re supposed to be opening next
Friday, and half the new stuff hasn’t arrived yet and the place
still isn’t how I want it. Does Mickey have some car parts I can
have?”

“Car parts?”

“Yeah like a fender or some hub caps. I was going to
hang some stuff on the walls.”

“I’ll ask him.”

“I can oversee whatever needs overseeing if you want
to go to the mall.”

“You think you can keep an eye on Milo and Nancy?
Alone?” Robyn commented.

“What’s the worst that could happen?” Cole asked
her.

“Er, let me think. Nancy invites all her low life
friends over, they ruin the new décor, fill the place full of
marijuana plants, and start bare knuckle fighting,” Robyn
suggested.

“That’s the worst you got? I might even join in,”
Cole joked.

“That’s settled then. I’ll meet you outside the
entrance to the mall about one,” Sarah said, heading toward the
door to the hall.

“Coffee’s nearly ready,” Cole announced.

“Oh thanks, but I’d better not. Got a nine thirty
appointment out at Vicksburg,” Sarah informed him.

“He needs to make it quicker. I’m still training
him,” Robyn said as she walked Sarah to the door.

“I heard that!” Cole called.

“So, are you and Cole…”

“Are me and Cole what?”

“You know, like together?”

“No! God, no! Of course not, I mean we’ve only known
each other four days!” Robyn exclaimed dramatically, clutching her
throat for effect.

“I know. You said. It’s just, you seem very
comfortable with each other.”

“Wouldn’t you be comfortable in a million dollar
house? Look at it! Plasma TVs in every room and a talking Smeg!”
Robyn said quickly.

“Does it have a movie theatre?”

“No, but the basement is huge! We’re going to set up
goals and practice hockey,” Robyn informed her with a grin.

“That’s so you.”

“Actually, it was Cole’s idea.”

“God, Robyn, he’s so cute. You should make a move on
him,” Sarah told her.

“Yeah, well, he’s not all that when it comes to
personal hygiene. He leaves his toenail clippings on the arm of the
sofa and he doesn’t shower much,” Robyn said.

“No! But he looks so…” Sarah began.

“Groomed, I know. Well, they say you never really
know someone until you live with them. Okay, so I’ll see you at the
mall at one,” Robyn said, opening the door.

“Great, it’s been ages since I went shopping, we’ll
have ice cream too,” Sarah continued.

“Great! Now go, will you? I have a sick dad to get to
this morning.”

“Bye,” Sarah said, hurrying down the driveway to her
car.

Robyn closed the door and walked into the kitchen
where Cole was pouring two cups of coffee.

She took the pot from him, put it on the counter, and
kissed him.

“Sarah thinks we look comfortable together,” she said
between kisses, running her hands through his hair.

“And that’s bad because?”

“Because it’s too soon for us to look comfortable
together. We have to make everything seem normal,” Robyn
suggested.

Cole kissed her lips and shook his head at her.

“What?”

“Everything is normal.”

“No, it isn’t. Sarah says we look comfortable, you
asked me to marry you, and I said yes.”

“No one knows that yet. No one has to know that yet.
We’re friends, that’s all we’re going to look like…unless you can’t
keep your hands off me, of course.”

“It’s so the other way around, I mean, you
practically undress me with your eyes whenever I walk into a
room.”

“You’ve noticed.”

Robyn smiled at him.

“Here, want to tighten up the lid?” Cole asked,
passing her the milk carton.

“Can we go on a date?”

Cole looked at her, unsure.

“Can we go on a date?” Robyn repeated.

“But you don’t do dates,” Cole reminded her.

“I’m changing my mind.”

“Good morning! Wakey wakey! Half the day is gone!
Max, is that the form guide you’re studying! Do you have someone
who comes and puts in bets for you?” Robyn exclaimed in horror as
the old man shoved the papers under his covers.

“None of your business. Who’s this?” Max questioned,
narrowing his eyes and staring at Cole.

“This is Cole. Cole this is my dad’s roommate, Max,”
Robyn introduced.

“Pleased to meet you, sir,” Cole greeted.

“What’s this? Manners? He can’t be with you, gal, if
he has manners. Eddie! Someone with manners! Got any Twinkies?” Max
questioned, grabbing Cole’s arm as he passed the bed.

“Don’t answer that. Whatever you say, he’ll want to
strip search you. Hi Dad, brought you some more juice,” Robyn said,
putting a bottle of apple squash on top of his locker.

“It tastes like gnat’s pee,” Eddie grumbled, trying
to sit up in bed.

“Shall I prop up your pillows?” Robyn offered.

“No! Get off! I’m not helpless, I can do it,” Eddie
insisted, swaying left and right and trying to get comfortable.

“He can’t. He had the nurse in three times yesterday
to do it, gave her Hell, he did,” Max informed them.

“They don’t know how I like to sit. So, this is Cole,
is it?” Eddie said, looking him up and down.

“Yes. Cole, this is my dad, Eddie,” Robyn
introduced.

“It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Cole said, holding out
his hand.

Eddie shook it.

“So, you played for the Wolves, huh?” Eddie
asked.

“Yes, for three seasons.”

“Robyn says you’re a center.”

“That’s right.”

“What’s your strike rate?”

“I average two goals a game.”

“Why aren’t you playing pro?”

“I had other priorities.”

“Like what?”

“Dad! Why are you interrogating him?” Robyn
exclaimed.

“If he has talent, he should be playing in the NHL. I
want to know why he isn’t in the NHL,” Eddie replied.

“It’s none of your business. You should just be
grateful he’s playing for the Panthers,” Robyn answered.

“It’s okay, Robyn. My father died. I decided to study
and now I work for Gen-All,” Cole explained.

Eddie didn’t respond.

“I had a trial for the Red Wings once, though,” Cole
informed him quickly.

“The Wings!” Eddie said, his face lighting up.

“Yeah, I actually played alongside Zetterberg for
about five minutes.”

“Man! How about that! Did you hear that, Robyn,
played alongside Zetterberg,” Eddie said, obviously impressed.

“I heard. I’m totally jealous. What I’d give to share
some ice with him,” Robyn said with a sigh.

“It’s a big game today. Max and I have been studying
Reading’s form. They’re unbeaten,” Eddie informed them.

“I know that. That just means they’re due a
loss.”

“It means they’re good, and you’re only going to beat
them if you’re better,” Max piped up.

“Ignore him, he doesn’t know too much about hockey,”
Eddie said.

“I know about averages, though, and my money isn’t
going on the Panthers tonight,” Max answered with a throaty
chuckle.

“You’re not helping,” Robyn told him.

“You’re going to have to play hard. I mean, really
hard. It’s no use putting out your best, most skilled players.
These suckers are sluggers. You want your biggest, strongest
players. I’m not sure Henrik’s going to be your best option,” Eddie
told her seriously.

“If we play Henrik, I could cover him,” Cole
suggested.

“That would never work. You can’t be two places at
the same time. Who’s going to cover you?” Eddie wanted to know.

“I just think we need strength and skill,” Cole
said.

“What you need is a miracle,” Max announced, laughing
so hard he started to cough.

“Shut up, Max!” Eddie bellowed.

“Dad, don’t get worked up over it. It’s going to be
fine; I have a good feeling about tonight,” Robyn assured him.

“Yeah? You said that the night you punched out that
girl from Grand Rapids,” Eddie said.

“She did what?” Cole exclaimed.

“Best punch I ever saw.”

“I need to hear more,” Cole replied.

“No, you don’t. Listen, I’ll talk to Grant, see what
he thinks about the line up,” Robyn said, picking up Eddie’s chart
from the bottom of the bed and looking at it.

“Don’t ask him! Waste of time. He might be a pal and
everything, but he was never as good a tactician as me,” Eddie
boasted.

“Hark at him! Anyone would think he was trying to
plan the Iraq invasion,” Max remarked.

“Dad, don’t worry, we’re going to win. I promise
you,” Robyn said. She was determined to.