Chapter 23: Danny IV--A Crooked Smile

Chapter 23: Danny IV—A Crooked Smile

The last place Danny had ever thought he’d be on a Friday night is at a chicken coop party. Usually, he’d be out with Cecile now or with the guys, or at home crashing out. But here he was, Coco Lacroix had been adamant that Danny come to the gathering of Avalanche wives and girlfriends to watch the game, they needed a male voice in their party for once. Now he could explain to them parts of the game using his own perspective as a player. How could Danny argue with that? Besides, she was the GM’s wife, best to keep her happy.

What was scaring him, was having to face Michele Roy again, he hadn’t slept well since he left the house that night after he’d kissed her, and he didn’t know what she thought of him now. And Jonathen too! How could he betray the trust of the children like that? How could he have lost his self-control? More importantly....would Jonathen tell Patrick? It made Danny sick just thinking of it!

"Can you please hand me those plastic cups, Danny?" Coco asked.

"Sure!" Danny chirped as he handed Coco the large bag of brightly colored cups. When he saw that Coco was starting to fill them with punch, he stopped her. "Hey, I’ll do that!" he said.

"Oh," Coco said with as smile as she watched Danny begin filling the punch cups, "You’re such a helpful boy! You hockey players are getting sweeter and sweeter every year! I swear, what gentlemen."

Danny looked up at Coco and smiled. "Thanks," he said. He had arrived at the Lacroix house early, and seeing the flimsy finger foods and treats he had fired up a grill and made a real meal. Steaks, and hot dogs, and chicken pieces. He knew no one would resist his special barbecue sauce. The smell alone was having neighbors peering over the fence.

Pretty soon, the wives began pouring in one by one, hauling along children and nannies. Nannies! That would mean Cecile would be here! His heart began to beat fast. He began to love Coco for inviting him.

Most of the wives seemed surprised at Danny’s presence but all of them wasted no time in ruffling his hair, teasing his apron, and pinching his cheek. Danny just smiled politely and teased them back, he kept watching the front door, waiting.

It was when Danny was out in the back again, shoveling the last load of grilled hot dogs onto a platter that his heart stopped. "Danny!" a shrill voice squealed. "Danny! Danny! Danny!"

It was Jana Roy.

Danny looked up from the platter, not ready to face the Roy clan. Nevertheless, Jana was running towards him, waving her arms and giggling. Freddy was right behind her. "Hey kids," Danny called to them. He was bracing himself for the kids slamming into his legs, sending hotdogs into the air......

Jana and Freddy slammed to a stop just before the reached him, their cheeks were flushed and already their pale hair was twisting in circles. They were both panting like puppies. "Danny!" Jana said with a pout, "You didn’t come over today! I was gonna show you my new skates!" Her little arms were crossed in a way that eerily reminded Danny of Patrick when he was in a bad mood.

"Yeah!" Freddy said. "We were bored!"

"Aw, I’m sorry," Danny said. "I wasn’t feeling too good today. I’m better now!"

Jana’s bitter expression lightened to one of complete elation, she threw her arms around Danny’s waist. "OK," she said. "Can I have a hot-dog?"

Danny smiled. How could he have avoided these kids? "Sure," he said as he squatted in front of them and held the platter to them, "Have a dog."

"Yeah!" Freddy cried and he and Jana snatched a hotdog and bolted off with them.

Dan’s smile disappeared when he noticed that Jonathen was standing right there, he had been quiet the whole time. Jonathen had his hands on his hips, and there was a solemn look on his face. Dan sighed, they might as well have it out now.

"Uh, Jonathen," Danny began, "Look....about that night...well, I didn’t mean to.."

"It’s OK," Jonathen said, "I just want you to know that mom doesn’t love you! She loves dad, and you should just forget about her cause if you don’t then you’ll be in big trouble."

Danny nodded eagerly. "Yeah! I’m really sorry. I was real stupid, I mean you’ll understand when you get older and all, and I just want you to know that..."

Jonathen shrugged. "As long as you’re sorry is good enough for me."

The weight of the world fell off Dan’s shoulders, he felt light and airy all of a sudden. Then worried. "Hey," he told Jonathen, "You’re not gonna tell your..."

"Dad?" Jonathen said with a disbelieving look in his eyes. "Of course not! I’m not dumb! I want you sorry, not dead you dumb-ass."

"Oh," Danny said sheepishly, "Right....so bygones? Eh?"

Jonathen sniffed and his left eye fluttered a bit. He grabbed a hot dog and took a huge bite out of it. "Sure," Jonathen said with his mouth full. "As long as ya come over tomorrow, OK? Jana misses you."

Danny nodded, "Yeah, definitely," he said.

Danny decided once and for all that they were not watching a real hockey game by the time Kaspar puked into the bench. It was a final decision when Footer tore through the net and got tangled in it. The women were looking at him for an explanation and all Danny could do was sit and watch with his hands over his mouth. By the time Patty waddled over to help Foote out of the net and got tangled in it himself, Danny took a long, cold swig from him beer.

"This doesn’t happen often does it?" Cecile asked, placing her long, graceful fingers on Danny’s arm.

Danny looked at her and smiled. He hadn’t seen or heard from her in days, and seeing how beautiful she was just warmed him through. "Nah," Danny said. "If you’d watch more games, you’d know!" He then gave her a quick kiss on her cheek.

Cecile smiled. "No!" she said. "They’re too scary!"

That’s actually one of the things Danny loved about her. She rarely watched a game and had yet to come to one. She knew next to nothing about hockey. He didn’t care for girls who knew everything about hockey, he rather liked to surprise em.

"Alright," Danny said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and squeezing her. "Sooner or later I’ll get you to a game!"

Cecile giggled and leaned her head on his chest, she smelled sweet, like raspberries. Danny kissed the top of her head. When he looked up he noticed that the women and kids were laughing at Patty and Footer on the screen as they tangled with each other in the netting. What must Michele be thinking? He thought.

He looked over at Michele expecting her to be watching the TV or hiding her face in her hands, but she wasn’t. She was looking straight at him and Cecile, her pale eyes seemed to be glittering, and there was a small smile on her lips. Danny smiled back. Because of her, he was going to be able to be with Cecile tomorrow. "Thank you!" Danny mouthed out to her.

Michele grinned with a crooked smile, and winked.

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