Read Online Puck Buddies by Tara Brown - Free Book Online

mind?
    Their lack of interest in my career is
mind-boggling. Every other parent in the world would be
excited that their kid made the NHL.
    Benson gives me a look from the doorway
where he followed her in. “Might I suggest a deep breath, sir?”
    “And a shot of whiskey, or is that a bad
idea before someone works me out for the next six hours?” I laugh.
    “I would suggest the whiskey after the six hours, sir.”
    “Sound advice, as always.” Taking his
suggestion, I sigh a couple of times. “I better get going.”
    “I’ll have one of your favorites waiting
for you when you arrive back. Best of luck with your first
practice. Charles is bringing the car out front.” Benson gives me a
loving smile and leaves me to my thoughts.
    When I get downstairs to the street,
Charles has the Bentley pulled around. I contemplated taking a cab like a
normal human being, but I’ve got an hour until we start and it’s a half-hour drive
to Tarrytown.
    “Good morning, sir.” The older man sees
my expression when I give the car a once over. “Your mother’s suggestion, I’m
afraid.”
    “I suspected.”
    He gets the door and I climb inside,
fighting hard not to enjoy the smell of the car. It’s my favorite in the world.
Riding with my dad in the Bentley was a special treat. I grew up rich but my
dad didn't. He was raised in Kentucky; his parents have a farm. But he worked
hard and made something of himself and married rich. He prides himself on being
a self-made man.
    Something he wishes we shared.
    Fortunately, he has my older brother to
groom and focus on so I only get about twenty-five percent of his judgment. If
it weren’t for Tony, I would be forbidden to play hockey. But having him take
over the family business distracts from my failures. Plus, my father believes
this is a phase. Something I will do while I’m young, before I choose a real
career.
    “Are you excited for your first practice
as a Ranger?” Charles asks softly, smiling at me in the rearview.
    “I am, thank you for asking.” What I mean
is thank you for caring enough to ask.
    “We are all quite proud of you, sir.”
    “Thanks.” I pull on my headphones, not
really in the mood to talk about it all.
    It’s a pleasant drive, one I enjoy. I’ve
always liked Tarrytown and especially Sleepy Hollow. I read the book when I was
eleven and forced Charles to bring me to the village. My mother had said it was
a waste of time. So I convinced Charles to take me in secret, under the guise
of going to the American Museum of Natural History. It bought us an afternoon
to roam the graveyards and look at the village. He agreed, I think secretly
enjoying sticking it to them.
    When we get close I turn off my music and
smile at the scenery. I love being out of the city.
    “Do you recall that time we came to
Sleepy Hollow and did the lantern tour through the cemeteries, sir?” Charles
smiles wide.
    “One of my favorite days. I won’t ever
forget it.”
    “Nor I. I feared I might lose my job
every time we snuck off on one of those tours or trips to sightsee whenever you
came to the city.” He laughs, making me smile.
    “You were a convincing liar, Charles.
Mother never suspected a thing. The English accent and the gentlemanly nod wins
her over every time.”
    He raises a bushy eyebrow. “The convincingly
good liar was you, if you’ll allow me the liberty to say so. For such a
pleasant boy, you lie like a rug.”
    “I learned from the best.”
    The comment is offside so he doesn't
agree, but he also doesn't disagree. Twenty-five years of working for my parents
has shown him my comment may be rude, but it’s accurate. My father has had a
record number of mistresses and my mother has houses filled with clothes and
shoes my dad doesn't know about. Neither one of them spends
much time with the other, and yet they have a blissful marriage. Our
life is perfect . . .
    Charles pulls off the main road and turns
into the parking lot of a nondescript training center.