A Match Made in Texas (16 page)

“I would,” Stephen said. “In fact, I—I have some questions that I need answered, if you don’t mind. Spiritual questions. Who better to ask than you?”

Hub’s eyes went very wide behind his glasses. After a moment, he cleared his throat. “I’m sure we’ll have some time to talk after lunch,” he muttered.

Kaylie smiled at that and laid her head on Stephen’s shoulder. “Thank You,” she whispered. “Oh, thank You. Thank You.”

Stephen did not assume that she was thanking him, but he would give her all the reason to do so that he could.

“As for leaving Buffalo Creek,” he said brightly, “I like it here. No reason we can’t find or build a house nearby.”

“Not the Netherlands?” Hub asked.

“Kind of a long commute to Fort Worth,” Stephen said.

“The Netherlands is for vacations. And honeymoons?” he whispered into Kaylie’s ear. She tightened her arm around his neck, so he added, “For starters. After that, I was thinking Italy.”

“And when were you thinking of taking this honeymoon?” she whispered back.

“I’ve always wanted to be a June bride,” he muttered, and she giggled.

“All right, enough of that,” Chandler ordered.

“Not from where I’m sitting,” Stephen retorted cheekily.

“Time enough for it later, then,” Bayard said, hoisting himself to the edge of the sofa. “When do we eat? I’m starved.”

That did it. Smiling broadly, Kaylie popped up and rushed toward the kitchen. “Morgan, add a plate to the table. Chandler, that salsa you like is in the refrigerator. Bayard, you’ll have to sweeten the tea yourself. Stephen…”

He grabbed his crutches and got to his feet. “Yes?”

She whirled around, smiling dreamily. “Just…Stephen.” With that she danced away, her brothers following. That left him alone with his future father-in-law, who got up and walked to his side. Stephen waited, and after a moment Hub spoke.

“I can’t approve of your occupation.”

Stephen quoted from that morning’s sermon. “‘Seek not the approval of man but the approval of Him Who is above man, of God Himself.’ I think that’s what the pastor said.”

Hubner cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I expect you’ll grow on me.”

Stephen chuckled. “I expect I will.”

“Is that so?”

Stephen nodded. “Kaylie’s spoken to me about a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I figured you would be the one to explain that to me.”

“I—” Hubner’s chin wobbled and his face softened. “Yes,” he said, thawing, “I would be the one.” He cleared his throat
again. Sucking in a deep breath, he admitted, “I fear there are some things I need to get off my chest first.”

“I’ve been doing some of that myself,” Stephen told him. “Comforting process.”

“Yes,” Hubner agreed, clapping him on the shoulder and starting him toward the dining room. “Yes, it is. Maybe you can, ah, give me a better understanding of hockey later. One should have all the facts, after all.”

“Be glad to,” Stephen said. “Lately I’m all about promoting understanding in the family.”

“Family,” Hubner echoed, bowing his head. “I may be too proud of mine,” he admitted.

“Well,” Stephen allowed, “it seems to me that you have plenty to be proud of.” He glanced over his shoulder at the painting above the mantel. “Beautiful woman, Kaylie’s mother.”

Hubner’s gaze followed his. “Yes, she was.”

“Almost as beautiful as her daughter.”

Hubner smiled. It was reluctant. It was wan. It was the first sure sign of peace between them but not, Stephen felt sure, the last.

“S
tevie baby!”

Stephen and Kaylie twisted in their seats to wave at Aaron and Dora Doolin.

They weren’t the first unexpected guests to stop by the VIP arena box that night. The infamous Cherie and a small coterie of seductively clad “ice bunnies” had flounced in earlier—and then right out again upon Stephen’s formal announcement of their engagement. Stephen had seemed sheepishly amused. Kaylie had looked at the ring on her finger and smiled to herself, confident in her beloved and the God Who had brought him to her.

Beaming megawatt smiles, the Doolins plunged into the milling throng of Chatams, paramedics and friends helping themselves to the buffet provided by the arena caterer. Beside Stephen and Kaylie, the aunts, too, greeted the newcomers. Odelia, decked out in the team colors of maroon and yellow-gold, waved her hanky at them, the garish walnut-sized garnets on her earlobes sparkling like disco balls. Hypatia, in pearls and pumps, granted them a regal nod, but Aunt Mags, dowdy as ever, barely glanced their way before turning back
to the action on the rink, if the Zamboni reconditioning the ice could be called action.

After two periods, the Blades were trailing in the make-it-or-break-it seventh game of the series, but Stephen seemed to have recently turned philosophical about the outcome and his part in it. Or lack of part in it, if the team so decided. He was through hiding like a guilty child, he’d said. A soon-to-be-married man had to learn to face his failures and responsibilities—and leave the rest to God.

For that reason, he’d met with team management and explained himself as fully as possible, vowing never to drink again. He had also invited his father here tonight, at Kaylie’s urging. George Gallow hadn’t even replied, but at least, Kaylie told herself, Stephen had made the effort. She was terribly proud of him.

Aaron made his way to the front of the box, towing Dora behind. When they reached the double row of seats overlooking the ice, however, it was Dora who spoke first.

“Lemme see! Lemme see!” Grabbing Kaylie’s hand from Stephen’s, she gasped at the elegantly simple two-carat, marquis-cut diamond on Kaylie’s dainty finger. “Ooh, classic. I’m so happy for you.” She smacked Stephen on the cheek, adding, “I’m happier for you.”

“Thanks.” He and Aaron shook hands, Stephen saying, “I thought you were hobnobbing with team management tonight.”

“Oh, yeah, and brother are you going to be happy when you hear my news.” Aaron bounced on the pads of his feet.

“What news?”

Aaron leaned close and muttered in a voice audible by everyone in the suite, “Kapimsky’s going to Canada.”

“No kidding!”

“They’re rebuilding up there and need a hotshot young goalie to get ’em into the playoffs.” He pounded Stephen on
the shoulder and, grinning, added, “They wanted you, but the team won’t let you go.”

Stephen closed his eyes, hugging Kaylie tight with his right arm. Stephen sighed as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders. He brought his hand around and clapped palms with Aaron. “Thanks, man. That’s a great wedding present.”

“Speaking of presents, the team’s got something for you. Will you come down to the locker room right after the game and bring the better half with you?”

Stephen uneasily shifted in his seat, his cast knocking against the half wall at the edge of the box. “I don’t know. It would mean running the press gauntlet, and Kaylie may not be ready for that.”

“We’ll be there,” she said confidently, and Stephen’s arm tightened.

“Thanks, babe,” he whispered.

Half an hour later, it was all over. The team had lost by a single point, their opponents advancing on to the finals, but no one could expect them to hang their heads. They’d come a long way fast, and the future looked bright. Kaylie and Stephen rose to make their way downstairs, taking their leave of the family with kisses and pats and handclasps.

Hubner came over to squeeze Stephen’s shoulder and say, “Next year, son. Next year.”

Smiling, Stephen nodded. Kaylie knew that her father would never be a hockey fan, but he showed signs of becoming a Stephen fan, and that was what counted most.

Aaron returned to run interference for the happy couple, keeping the press from eating them alive and checking the locker room to make sure that everyone was still decent before ushering them inside. Stephen paused, his weight balanced on his crutches. Kaylie’s slipped her hand supportively into the curve of his elbow. Instantly, they were swamped by sweaty
skaters speaking half a dozen different languages. The team captain called for order and got it.

“These are yours, man,” he said to Stephen, producing three battered pucks. “One for every game we won in this series.”

Stephen shook his head. “No, I can’t. Kapimsky should get those. He—”

Kapimsky stepped forward. “You got us here, dude, and you gave me my shot. Those pucks are yours.”

Kaylie beamed as the two shook hands, and Stephen congratulated Kapimsky on his new contract.

“Next year, all the way!” someone called.

A cheer went up. After it died down, Stephen made introductions. The men congratulated him and joked with Kaylie about being the team nurse.

“Well, I have specialized in pediatrics,” she quipped. “That ought to qualify me for the position.”

Stephen laughed with everyone else. They stayed a few moments longer, then got out so the guys could strip and shower. Monday morning, Stephen said, they’d start cleaning out their lockers, the season finally having come to a close. He seemed at peace with that.

Aaron pocketed his phone, saying, “I called your car around. Head on out back. They’ll be waiting for you.”

Stephen had hired a series of limos to ferry the family to and from the game so no one would have to worry about getting lost or finding a decent parking place. He passed the hockey pucks to Kaylie, saying, “Can you hold these for me, babe?”

She dropped them into her purse. “I can’t imagine they’ll be the only ones.”

“Let’s hope not!” Aaron quipped. “I’ll pick them up later and get them into the display case.”

The case had been moved to Aaron’s office for safekeeping while Stephen’s Fort Worth house was being repaired and
put on the market. He and Kaylie, meanwhile, had an appointment with an architect for the following week and were already shopping for a small acreage near Buffalo Creek to build on, as well as a house to rent in the meanwhile.

By the time they reached the car, she could tell that Stephen was tired but pleased. He stood back to let Kaylie slide into the long black vehicle through the door held open by the driver, but a voice from the shadows near the arena stopped her.

“Steve.”

He turned so quickly that he almost fell. Kaylie’s hand flashed out to steady him, but it was another that set him to rights, a big square hand thickened with maturity and hard work.

“Dad!”

George Gallow backed away a step. Shadows carved hollows in the cheeks and eye sockets beneath the hat that he wore, but the resemblance to his son was marked. Tall and lanky with feet and hands the size of small boats, he was a large, vibrant, if quiet, presence.

“I didn’t think you’d be here!” Stephen exclaimed. “Why didn’t you come up to the suite?”

George shrugged. “You know me, not much for crowds.”

Kaylie moved up close to Stephen. He reached back for her, pulling her forward.

“So this is the one, huh?” George said.

“This is the one,” Stephen confirmed.

George swept off his hat, smoothed his dark blond hair with his hand and nodded. “Pleased to meet you.”

Impulsively, Kaylie stepped up and hugged him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Thank you for coming.”

He didn’t lift a hand to return the embrace, but he didn’t back away, either. “Mmm,” he said, “not the first time. Don’t s’pose it’ll be the last.”

“You’ve been here before?” Stephen asked, clearly shocked.

“Time or two.”

“Why didn’t you let me know?”

“Wasn’t sure you wanted to see me.”

“Dad,” Stephen said, sounding exasperated, “I’ve always wanted to see you. I just…I didn’t know how…”

George Gallow nodded his understanding. “Okay. It’s okay, son.”

“I haven’t done a very good job of letting you in, have I? I’m sorry for that.”

George Gallow shrugged, standing awkwardly, and Stephen did what Kaylie prayed he would. He hobbled forward and wrapped his arm around his father’s shoulders. George caught his breath and pushed it out again, then he patted Stephen on the back before quickly pulling away.

“Guess I’ll see you at the wedding then.”

“Well, I’ll be there,” Stephen quipped.

George Gallow grinned. “Me, too.” He ducked his head, adding, “Better let your mother know.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Stephen said, smiling. “It’ll be fine. From now on, everything is going to be just fine.”

“Be a nice change,” George said, fitting his hat back onto his head. Then he nodded at Kaylie and walked away.

“Well,” Kaylie said, laughing.

“Very well,” Stephen said, slipping his arm around her waist. “Extremely well.”

“I wish it could have worked out for them,” Kaylie said with a sigh, “your mom and dad, I mean.”

“I know,” Stephen said. “I do, too, but they were never a good match. Not like us.”

“A Dutch hockey player and a pediatric nurse,” she reminded him pertly. “Not many would put us together, I imagine.”

“A half-Dutch, half-Texan hockey player.”

“It’s still a weird match,” she teased, leaning into him. “A match that could be made only in Texas.”

He laughed and folded her close. “Or heaven.”

So it was. A match made in Texas. And heaven.

He laid his cheek atop her head, and she closed her eyes. Silently they praised God. Together.

Dear Reader,

As Christians, we want to believe that as long as we are obedient, prayerful and seeking to serve God, our lives should be smooth and without problems, but here in this world, bad things happen even to “good” people, and sometimes we are overwhelmed by them. So what is the point? Why would God create this world and place us in it?

I believe that it’s primarily a matter of us learning to love Him, and the love that builds our families is surely a part of that. What better demonstrates our relationship to our Lord than a wise parent or obedient child? Or a not-so-wise parent and disobedient child?

It seems to me that our job is simply this: to love.

And so, may you love. Always.

God bless,