Chapter 18 - How I Spent My Summer Vacation

After the awkwardness passed, Sidney and I actually had a decent breakfast with his parents, his little sister, and Eric. I really liked Mr. Crosby, who told me to call him Troy, and I could tell that he liked me. I had a feeling that he knew a lot more about what was going on in Sid’s life outside of hockey at any given time then his Mom did. She was still cold with me, and seemed to watch me throughout breakfast.

When breakfast was over I helped Sid clear away and then do and put away the dishes (probably the fastest the dishes have ever gotten done at Sid and Eric’s… usually they sit in the sink for a few days) before I said. “I should probably go back to Tante Amèlie’s now. She’s probably back from wherever she was, and I left Mark to clean up the whole mess from the party.”

“Won’t your Aunt be worried when she gets home and finds you missing?” Mrs. Crosby asked.
I shrugged. “Knowing Tante Amèlie, she hasn’t even noticed I’m gone.” I said. “She’s a nice lady and all, but she’s kind of wrapped up in her own life. Mark and I pretty much come and go as we please.”

“Maybe I should talk to your Aunt.” Mrs. Crosby said carefully. “I mean, Mark is 18, it’s his right to come and go as he pleases. You’re only 16.”

“And I’ve been coming and going as I pleased since Frankie died.” I informed her. “My parents marriage pretty much fell apart when my Mom did and they were both too busy doing their own thing to pay much attention to me. I’m used to things being this way.”

“But weren’t you sent here with the express purpose of changing things?” She asked.

“No I was sent here so my parents could get Ms. Kulak off their backs and so they could continue living their own lives. At least when I was at home I knew what was going on with them.” I said. “Now I’m out here and the most contact either of them have had with me is one drunken phone call from my Mom when Dad was out with Jena, his secretary, an Dad had my car lease arranged. That’s it. I’m assuming he’s still paying my credit card bills, because I haven’t maxed out yet, and I haven’t exactly been watching what I’ve been spending.”

“So you haven’t spoken to either of your parents since New Year’s Eve?” Mrs. Crosby asked, eyes wide.

“I left messages for both of them on the anniversary of Frankie’s death.” I said with a shrug. “Neither of them have returned my call. My parents never really talked to me anyway.” I said. “They talk at me, or worse, they talk through me. It’s actually nice being out here, especially now that I have Sidney.” He reached over and squeezed my hand tightly. “I’m so used to not having to answer to anyone, I was scared I would have too. I’ve been mothering my Mom since Frankie died… I don’t think I’d make a very good kid at this point. Now I’ve got someone to talk to who understands what it’s like to have to grow up really fast. Even if we had to grow up for different reasons. Plus, out here, my parents don’t try to talk through me and I don’t have to worry about their problems. I can have fun.”

“Sidney why didn’t you tell us about this sooner?” Mrs. Crosby demanded. “This poor child. Someone needs to knock some sense into her parents heads.”

“That’s what Ms. Kulak was trying to do I think.” I said. “It hasn’t worked thus far. If they decide that I should come home for the summer, they’ll just do like they’ve done every summer since I was 10… ship me off to my grandparents ranch outside Fort McMuarray.”

“You’ll have to come spend a few weeks with us when the hockey season is over.” She said immediately. “If you’re doing correspondence like Sidney is, then it shouldn’t be a problem. You can keep up with you school work and spend some time with a real family.”

It was said with such contempt that I felt compelled to defend my parents, which was odd in and of itself, because usually I am the one ripping them apart. “It wasn’t always like this Mrs. Crosby. Most of my life my parents were really happy. It wasn’t until the accident that my family fell apart. That’s probably why I’m so bitter about it. I mean, I love my parents and all, but I want things to go back to the way they were before Frankie died. I mean it was hard for them, but it was hard for me too. I adored my little brother.”

“I can’t imagine what your Mother went through, losing a child. But she still had you and you were only 10. You needed her.” Sid’s Mom said, tears in her eyes.

“But she needed Dad more, and he couldn’t handle it. She needed revenge to get closure and Dad couldn’t handle that either. So she shut down, and I grew up.”

“That’s not right.” Mrs. Crosby said, shaking her head sadly. “You needed your parents Nicole, and I can tell you love them or you wouldn’t defend them, but they were horribly selfish and they are still being horribly selfish.”

“Of course they are.” I said, nodding in agreement. “So I do what you do to selfish parents… I hit them where it hurts.”

“And where does it hurt selfish parents?” Mrs. Crosby asked, still looking upset.

“In the wallet of course.” I replied with a grin.

Sidney laughed, and Mr. Crosby smirked, but Mrs. Crosby looked shocked. “That’s horrible Nicole!”

I shrugged not really wanting to talk about this anymore. I mean, I knew Mrs. Crosby meant well, but still. “My parents have ignored me since Frankie died. Most of the things they’ve gone out and chosen for me or that Dad has had his secretary chose for me are actually ‘I’m sorry I missed something important in your life’ presents. If I didn’t buy clothes and shoes for myself I’d own a couple of leather jackets and a few pairs of Nikes along with some replica jerseys and a few pairs of stilettos.”

“Mom I know you’re all righteous indignation right now, but Nickie is right, she should probably get back to her Tante’s.” Sidney said, coming to my rescue. I smiled gratefully at him, knowing that he’d know that I wanted out. “If only to help Tobin clean up.” Sidney added when it looked like his Mom might argue.

“Fine.” Mrs. Crosby said. She looked at me suspiciously. “Your Aunt doesn’t make super often does she?”

“Umm well she cooks, but when the mood strikes her.” I admitted. “Usually its weird hours, like two in the morning. But there’s always stuff in the fridge.”

“I’m making super for the boys tonight. You and Mark should join us.” She said firmly, in a way that let me know that refusing would be considered extremely rude.

“We’ll be here.” I said with a smile.

“I’ll be back in a bit.” Sid said, a hand on my back, leading me out. “Depending on the mess I may stay and help for a bit.”

“Of course sweetheart.” His Mom said.

“Thanks.” I whispered, squeezing his hand tightly in mine as we headed out to his truck.

Sidney shook his head in disgust. “Sorry about my parents… especially my Mom.”

“No big deal Sid.” I said, kissing him on the cheek as he held the door open for me. “I had to meet your parents eventually, and it happened so quickly I wasn’t even worried about what I was wearing.” I joked.

Sid laughed. “You’re right. Though I think I would have preferred if you hadn’t been wearing my pants when you met my Mom.”

I shrugged. “They were the first thing I grabbed.” I said. “Mark came barreling in my room telling me to get upstairs now and to make sure I was dressed. I had no clue what was going on. Hell, you just rolled over and went back to sleep.”

He looked abashed. “Sorry I wasn’t better help.”

“Sidney stop apologizing.” I commanded. “Besides, you looked so damn sweet when you’re asleep I couldn’t bear to wake you.”

He smiled softly at me. “You’re absolutely beautiful when you sleep Nickie.” He said blushing. “In fact, as far as I’m concerned, you’re absolutely beautiful all of the time.”

“I love you.” I said simply in reply.

“I love you more.” He replied his eyes bright.

I smirked. “Of course you do.” I said. “That was the plan remember? I was going to make you fall in love with me whether you liked it or not.”

“That’s not what’s you’re supposed to say.” Sidney replied pouting. “You’re supposed to say ‘No, I love you more.’”

I shrugged. “But then it becomes a pissing match over whom loves whom more.” I said. “And we all know that you love me more.”

He shook his head. “I’ve given up a lot for you.” He said. “But don’t think for a second that I regret any of it.”

I smiled softly at him. “I know that sweetie.” I said sighing sadly. “But what’s going to happen to us?”

“What do you mean?” He replied.

“Hockey season doesn’t last forever.” I said. “And then you’re going home, and I’ll be here.”

“I’m not just going to leave Rimouski at the end of the hockey season Nickie.” Sidney said seriously, pulling over and stopping along the side of the road. “I mean, I am going to go home for awhile, but you heard my Mom, she wants you to come visit. Cole Harbour isn’t that far away from Rimouski.”

“And after that?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” He asked again.

“Sidney my parents aren’t going to leave me with Tante Amèlie forever.” I said.

“So you mean what happens when you go home to Airdrie?” He asked.

I nodded looking at my hands. “Exactly.”

He raised my chin so that I was looking into his eyes. “Nickie, we’ll deal with it when it happens. I know my Dad wants me to go to go to a NHL training camp or two this summer. Maybe I can go to Calgary and see you. I’m sure I can convince him to let me spend a couple of weeks with you. The CHL Awards are in Kelowna… maybe you can come with us.” He paused, running a hand through his hair. “After that, well we’ll find a way. We’ll deal with the distance and the problems as they come. Who knows?” He said. “Maybe you can convince your parents to send you out here next year too.” He paused again. “Nickie I love you sweetie. I’ve never, ever said those words to any girl. I love you so much that I will do whatever it takes to be with you and you and I are going to be strong enough to deal with whatever life throws our way.”

I hugged him tightly. “Sidney you are the best thing to ever happen to me sweetie.” I said, kissing his neck softly. “Thank you.”

He hugged me back and I shed a few tears, worrying about what was going to happen to us, despite his assurances that everything was going to be all right. “Don’t cry Nickie.” He whispered stroking my hair.

“I’m sorry.” I said, wiping my eyes. “I just don’t want to be away from you ever.” I explained. “I mean, we have a hard time going a few hours being away from each other. How on earth are we going to handle a few weeks or even a few months?”

“We’ll take each day as they come.” He said firmly. “And we’ll text message and call each other so often that even your parents will complain about the phone bill.”

I laughed. “That’s going to be a lot of phone calls and text messages Sid. ‘Cause as it stands now my phone bill is about 150$ a month and they don’t complain about that.”

He laughed. “Actually that was one of the first things my Dad complained about. He told me I was calling you too much when I was on the road, because my bill was huge.”

I laughed with him. “If he thinks the bill is bad now, wait until next year.”

He smiled. “Like I said sweetie, we’ll deal with it however we can and however we have to. It just means that we’ll have to adapt to things like time differences and calls at weird hours.”

“I’m going to miss you waking me up when you get home from road trips.” I admitted. “I’m going to miss waking up in your arms every day when you’re home.”

“I’m just going to miss you Nickie.” Sidney said, his eyes sad. “I’m just going to miss you.”