Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Zach

I'm not sure what lessons I'm supposed to have learned from the past few months, but it's clear I've learned nothing about women. Seriously. I thought I'd broken the ice with Ellie—if not at the diner, then at the market. But now that we're back to her place—boom! The ice princess is back.

Instead of carrying my groceries all the way back to the cottage, I decide to go over to Troy's and spend time with the boys. Terry is the oldest at nine. Then there's Trent who's eight, Travis is six, and Tommy just turned two.

I don't really get the whole naming everyone with the same initial craze, but that might have more to do with my name beginning with a Z. Even though my favorite Dr. Seuss name starts with a "Z"—Zanzibar Buck Buck McFate—the rest of my options would be limited.

Knocking on the door, I call out, "I have cookie dough ice cream!" I hear the shouts of excitement long before the door opens. When it finally does, Kelly is standing there holding the baby under one arm like the expert wrangler of boys that she is .

"Zach!" She puts Tommy down before wrapping her arms around me. "We're so glad you're here."

I hug her tightly before lifting her up, so the top of her head meets my chin. "Even though I came early?"

"So long as you don't mind pizza delivery for supper," she says.

I look behind her to the four little bodies waiting for an invitation to say hello. "I bought salmon at the market. I didn't want to come empty handed."

After putting my sister-in-law back onto her feet, I bend onto one knee and open my arms to my nephews. Terry and Trent have known me the longest, so they're the first to charge. Travis and Tommy aren't far behind.

Terry jumps on me and knocks me to the ground. "Uncle Zach, where have you been?"

Trent is next. "Did you bring presents?"

Travis piles on. "I heard something about ice cream."

I rough house with the older boys for a few minutes while answering their very important questions. "I've been working my butt off; I brought Kings sweatshirts; and most importantly, the ice cream is in the car. You all need to get your shoes on and go unload the groceries."

As the big kids run away, Tommy steps forward and demands, "Who you?"

"This is your uncle Zach," Kelly tells him. "You were just a baby the last time you saw him."

Tommy tips his head to the side and studies me closely. "Unca Zach?"

"That's me." I reach out a hand to him.

Instead of taking it, he walks toward me and lifts his arms into the air to be picked up. My heart melts. While I have little exposure to children, I really do love my nephews. Picking up Tommy, I tell his mom, "I'll cook tonight. Troy can clean up."

"Whatever will I do with so much free time?" I can't tell if she's joking .

"You could take a bath or go to bed early."

"You really don't know anything about being a parent, do you?" She takes in my perplexed look and laughs before explaining, "Making supper is the easiest part of being a mom." As her older sons come charging back into the house with grocery bags, she explains, "The hardest part is keeping all the toys picked up, the bedrooms cleaned, and endeavoring to keep these rascals semi-clean."

"I'll help," I volunteer. I mean, how hard can little boys be? It seems I've forgotten the amount of chaos my brothers and I were capable of as kids.

Once the groceries are inside, I ask, "Who wants ice cream?" A barrage of enthusiasm ensues.

"After supper!" Kelly yells over the noise.

Terry tries to negotiate for the boys. "This is a special occasion, Mom."

"Pleeeeease," Travis and Trent add.

It isn't until Tommy offers his, "PEEEEEEES," that Kelly concedes.

"Fine, but just this once. Uncle Zach will be here for two months, so tonight is the only special occasion night." She eyes them so closely you'd think she was inspecting them for lice. "Agree to my terms," she orders.

After three, "Yes, Moms," and one "Yummy, ice cream!" I lead the boys to the kitchen. Kelly puts out bowls while I fill them.

Putting two scoops in each dish, I announce, "A little birdie told me you like cookie dough ice cream the best."

"What bird?" Trent sounds confused.

"Yeah, birds don't talk," Travis confirms. "Unless it was a parrot, but we don't know any parrots."

"Ellie Butler told me," I explain.

The boys look at me like I'm nuts for referring to Ellie as a bird, but their attention is soon diverted by carrying their bowls to the kitchen table .

Kelly looks intrigued. "So, you've met Ellie. She's great, isn't she?"

"She's something," I say. Kelly quirks an eyebrow, so I explain, "The only way she'd let me move in a day early was if I agreed to wash the windows of her cottage."

Kelly valiantly tries not to laugh in my face. "You could have stayed here," she says before teasing, "I would have only made you shampoo the carpets."

I pick up my ice cream off the counter and take it to the table to sit with the kids. Lifting my spoon, I announce, "I've never had cookie dough ice cream." Four sets of brown eyes turn to me in shock, so I explain, "I'm more of a butter pecan kind of guy."

"That's what Dad eats," Terry says with his mouth full.

"Speaking of Troy, where is he?" I ask.

"Probably up at the lodge making sure everything is ready for his team," Kelly says. "He's pretty excited."

"I hear it's a great crew," I say before taking a bite from my dish. The base is vanilla but there are chunks of actual cookie dough—holy yum!

"It really is. Troy got Dan Roberts, one of the guys from his old team, others he knew from the Olympics and then there were referrals. Dan recommended a buddy from his college days named Dawson. And you know your brother. He's trying to jump start the career of a couple of guys who fell off the radar. The assistant coach is a former star who left the ice because his wife passed away."

The last comment hits hard. I can't imagine having a spouse yet, let alone losing her. "It sounds like Troy is planning to raise a sizable amount, if he thinks he can match my two mil with corporate sponsors."

Kelly nods her head. "He's hoping to inspire people to become more charitable. So many folks sit around feeling so overwhelmed they can't solve the big problems of life, they forget that if we all did something, no matter how small, the big problems wouldn't be nearly as daunting. "

Troy and Kelly have always been community minded. They're true inspirations. "That's a good way of looking at things."

Once we've finished our ice cream, I tell the older boys to go grab a ball so we can go outside and throw it around for a bit.

Travis shakes his head. "We'd rather go to the rink."

"We're really good," Terry says. "But we're not ready to turn pro yet." I love that they have such big dreams, but I can't imagine anything else with the parents they have.

"You should probably grow up first," I tease.

"Duh, but you know how it is, Uncle Zach. You've got to spend every free minute on the ice if you want to become a legend like ‘Dan the Man' Roberts," he proudly boasts, naming the local Maple Falls guys who made it to the NHL. "That's what I'm gonna be—a legend."

"Not a legend like your dad, huh?" I tease him.

A grimace crosses my nephew's face. "Dad was great and all, but Dan is still doing it, you know?"

"I know," I tell him. I remember being just as excited as he is when I was a kid. It never occurred to me my career would get cut short just as it was taking off. Looking over at Kelly, I tell her, "I can take the three older boys if you're good with that."

"You can't take us without Tommy," Terry says. "He skates better than he walks." Kelly nods her head to confirm the truth of her eldest's statement.

"Okay," I announce, "everyone who wants to go to the rink, get your skates!"

Kelly stands up and removes a set of keys from a hook on the wall. "You might as well take my minivan. That way you don't have to move the baby's seat."

"Are you really trusting me with all four boys?" I ask in shock and not a small amount of fear.

"You bet I am. The older three know the routine. Just keep your eye on Tommy. He's a bit of a wildcard."

I'm suddenly not so sure I'm up for this trip. Looking down at my youngest nephew, I ask, "Are you going to be good for Uncle Zach?"

He smiles brightly before answering, "No."

With panic etched across my features, I look at Kelly and practically beg, "Please come with us."

Instead of agreeing, she says, "I can't take a bubble bath at the rink."

"Maybe you can take your bath tonight?"

She shakes her head. "No, thanks."

"Kelly …" My voice nearly shakes in panic.

Reaching out, she punches my shoulder and says, "You got this, big guy. After all, you grew up with four brothers."

And just like that, beads of sweat appear on my forehead. I did grow up with four brothers and we were nothing short of terrors on—and off—the ice.