Read Online Icing by Ashley Stanton - Free Book Online Page A

dealing with heartache and advice – a lot of that.
    “Yeah, when my Mom had a mastectomy I felt helpless and disoriented.  I needed someone to reach out to.  It was my Aunt who had an instinct.  She let me open up to her and provided unbelievable support.  She died of breast cancer herself this past summer.  You need to find that person – your true North.
    “Mark, why am I just hearing this now?  You’re Mom? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I was 14 and I thought it was better kept as some sort of secret.  You weren’t supposed to talk about breasts and death.  It was personal.  I’ve been there Kyle. If you need me at any-time I’m here for you.  I can hitch a ride back here or come all the way to UMass.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Keep making Mrs. C proud.”
    Crying, Kyle reached out and embraced Mark.  He breathed – it had been a couple of hours. 
    “Hey guys. I’m gonna bounce.  I’ll be in town more often so I’ll call when I’m around.  No more tats Nelson – we get it.  Christmas will be longer.  No drop-outs yet so we must be doing something right?”
    Kyle had a peaceful jaunt on his journey back to the house.  Home was different now but it’s all part of it.  He was ready to face what the future held.  He has been blessed with an easy road up until now and he had what it took to be the man his parents raised him to be.  Was there a choice?  He thought of Coach who knew he was sick Last week but expected him to practice.  Focus, what he had learned in hockey was necessary as his Mom struggled.
    The Caldwell’s gathered together in their cozy nest for the rest of the weekend.  Drawing on each other for strength and humor.  They were a team.
    “Mr. Cohen.  Good to see you man.  You look fat.  What happened to keeping up with the puck?  You said you would. Now it looks like you could use the work-out.  Seconds on the potatoes and pie?”
    “Thanks Kyle.  I’ve been busy with studying and shit.  That is why we’re here?  Last I checked it hadn’t changed.”
    “Really Tru, it’s great to see you back.  I still plan to hear where the hell you disappeared to the other night.  Not nice to keep secrets from your roommate.”
    “Whatever.  Want to go studying to the library tonight.”
    “Yeah, I have a game on Friday night.  It’s pre-season but I’d love to have a fan out there.”
    “Where else would I be?”
    ****
    Across campus Taryn was filling the frig with leftovers sent by her Mom.  There was a lot of stuffing and some coveted apple pie.  She had a bag of sweets from the café she obtained when she stopped in for a visit.  She had enough to share with the entire first floor.  Blueberry bagels set aside for herself.
    Hellos were exchanged by all.  They had not been gone long but missed their new friends.  It was chatty and not good a good atmosphere for prepping for tomorrows history of Jazz refresher quiz.  It didn’t count for much but Taryn was a perfectionist and didn’t want to seem otherwise.  She would hit the library.
    She entered and immediately hit the eleventh floor.  It was a stack floor with narrow book isles running from floor to ceiling with a study carrel pushed against the end of each one.  They held a panoramic glimpse of the campus below and the surrounding Berkshire Mountains.  The sky usually held clouds but it wasn’t cloudy.  Hopeful blue or the black of night was always peeking through – an optimistic look of the surroundings.  There was a monitor at a desk close to the elevator.  He or she was likely a library sciences major fulfilling a work-study commitment.  Their resources rarely needed they were like sentinels.  Taryn liked the silence most of all.  No One just ended up on the eleventh floor.  It was a secret spot of hers.  Phone set on vibrate she was set to find out what this Miles Davis was all about.  Tomorrow’s jazz quiz would be a breeze.
    Kyle took his usual seat on the first