Page 60 of He Has Game (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
“You beefcake-trap. Ingenius plan,” Mary says. I know she was in on it, but I’m not going to bother accusing her since she’ll take it as a compliment.
Something else hits me about that day at the Veteran’s Shelter, Vivvie was nervous and cozier with my mother than she needed to be in spite of my warnings. She was more than civil or polite.
“You don’t think Vivvie had anything to do with this do you?” The idea makes me nauseous. Vivvie wouldn’t stoop to scheming with my mother, she’s too good for that.
Mary shrugs, sporting a cat and canary grin and eyeing old man Boylston as if she plans to cook him for dinner. She’d make me shudder with fear if she weren’t on my team.
“You’ll have to ask her that.”
I turn to go because I want no part of a conversation with Edwin about his wife’s affairs.
“Where are you going? Ed wants to talk.”
“Tell him to talk to his wife. I don’t owe him anything.”
“No, but you do owe the team. We’ve stuck by you on this and at no small amount of trouble on our part. For instance, I bought Vivvie a new wardrove and make-over out of my own pocket.”
“You did? Tell me how much and I’ll write you a check.”
“It wasn’t just the money and you know it. I worried about you. I might have even had a sleepless night or two.”
I laugh, because now I know she’s pulling my leg. Glancing over at the old man, Moroni catches my eye with expectation jumping out at me.
“Fine. I’ll talk to him. But tell me what the hell the press is all about—what’s with all the crazy questions?”
“Oh that. Well it turns out Edwin opted to divorce his wife and in retaliation, Sherry has released the photos and her version of the story accusing you of being behind it all.”
My mouth opens, but I have not one single word to say to that. “This is too much to process.”
“No, this is very easy to process,” Mary says. “You saynoin answer to every single question. You don’t know who the guy is, never met him before the day at the VS, had nothing to do with Sherry or her hotel room mix up and have no idea why she would accuse you of having somehow anything to do with her having an affair with some guy.”
“Yes, Mam. Nothing to do with it. Which happens to be the fucking truth.” I hope to hell Vivvie can say the same thing.
“I hope to hell no one asks your mother any questions. Maybe you should keep her under wraps.”
I laugh, a deep crazy belly laugh, and once I get rolling, I can’t stop for a good three minutes until my eyes water and my stomach seizes in pains.Me keep my mother under wraps?
Mary gives me a look of disgust and takes my arm pulling me into the cement floored room which I’m sure will ruin the blades of my skates.
“Time for a pow wow with Edwin,” she says.
If that’s what she wants, that’s what I’ll give her. We all stand in the front of the room near the podium and I enjoy towering over everyone. I look straight into shrunken old Edwin’s eyes.
“Congratulations on your upcoming divorce,” I say.
Joe Moroni is not amused. Mary laughs and Edwin, well he looks sad. That makes me wonder and reminds me of something my mother always said.It takes all kinds of love to make the world go around.
The conversation is short after that.
“Did you have anything to do with setting up my Sherry?”
I raise my middle finger and swivel around on my skates and don’t stop until I’m out the door. I hear Mary apologizing and know she’s right behind me, so I’m not surprised that she catches up to me before I can escape into the locker room.
“Remember what I said. The answer to everything isNo.I know nothing. Got it?”
I nod. What else can I do?
But as the implications of everything she’s said sink in, I get that burn in my chest, the one that wonders what Vivvie might have had to do with this. Whether or not she’s in league with my mother. And what it means if she is.
