CHAPTER 9: GAME

AUTHORS POV

"My mommy bought me a fancy doll last Christmas." One of Emily's friends, Lacey Anabel said boastfully.

Emily showed her fourteen teeth. "Well, Santa got me a pretty sundress with ballerina dancing shoes."

Lacey barked a mock laugh; she was a year older than Emily and sharp-mouthed. "Everyone knows Santa isn't real."

Emily looked up at Sydney as they headed to the bleachers. Dandelions had a match with Evergreen Elementary School; if they won, they would move to internationals. Ethan was playing as a striker.

"Mommy tell Lacey Santa's real." Emily pouted.

Sydney looked at Lacey, she hadn't even realized she was following them.

"Where's your mum sweetheart?" She asked.

Lacey halted as if she had just realized something. She began to cry. "Mommy will kill me; she said I shouldn't talk to you, Ethan, or Emily again."

"Why?" Emily stared at her in confusion.

Sydney grabbed Emily's hand and pulled her by her side. "Nothing baby." Lacey cried harder. Sydney sucked a breath nervously as people began to stare then she took out ten bucks.

"Here tell her you were getting ice cream."

Lacey grabbed the money immediately and without saying thank you, she ran off. Sydney noticed Emily frowning at her.

"You told her to lie to her mommy."

Sydney smiled, picked Emily up, and carried her by her side. "Sometimes lying could save a life." She glared at Emily when her lips began to lift. "Not that you'd have any excuse to lie."

Emily chuckled and wrapped her hands around Sydney's neck. "Where's daddy?"

Sydney's face dropped. She hadn't seen Gavin since the night he came back drunk. He didn't call her; instead, he called the house telephone since Ethan and Emily always used it. She didn't have the courage to call and remind him about Ethan's match. She thought he'd still show up.

"He'll be here soon."

Avery stood behind a concession stand, handing out banners, hats, and pennants. She smiled when she saw Sydney and Emily alone.

"Your boy plays like a professional." Avery handed them a green and red hat with "Go Dandelions" on it and a green and red pennant.

"Granddaddy always had evening calls with Ethan and Coach Ryan," Emily said with a smile revealing her dimples.

Sydney realized Caleb hadn't called for two days. "Where's Gavin?"

"He'll be here soon," Sydney reckoned.

The bleachers for the Dandelions spectators were almost filled up. Sydney held Emily around her waist and walked up the bleacher stairs, trying to look for an empty place to sit.

"Em!" A black-haired kid called from the fifth row by the left. Emily giggled excitedly and looked at him.

"Authur!" She shouted back.

He gestured for an empty spot next to him. Emily looked at Sydney with puppy eyes, "Mommy, can I sit with Authur?"

Sydney's eyes scanned the fifth row. A teenage girl and boy sat next to him; they looked like a couple. For a second her mind drifted back to high school days. "I don't see his parent."

Emily pointed at the teenage girl, "That's his sister Vanessa. And her friend Oliver."

"Don't point they would think we're gossiping."

Emily gasped and dropped her hand. Sydney chuckled and placed her down. "Don't run around. If you want to go anywhere tell me and don't talk to strangers."

"Yes, Mommy." Emily ran to the fifth roll. She high-fived the teenagers before settling down next to Authur. Sydney heard her suggesting a spelling contest and rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Sydney." Authur's mum, Theresa, beckoned from the fifth roll by the right. "There's a free seat next to me."

Sydney smiled hesitantly. When she realized eyes were gazing over her, she went to sit next to Theresa. The fourth and fifth rows were occupied by mums she had seen during PTA meetings. They were nice to her, more like desperate sycophants who talked to her only to get information about Gavin. One even asked shamelessly what he was like in bed.

"Mrs. Flourish put Authur and Emily as spelling partners. She gave Authur thousands of flashcards of new words to learn with Emily." Theresa said hyperbolically.

"Emily told me. She enjoys Authur's company." They both looked at Emily and Authur.

The commentator announced that the game was about to begin. The crowds went wild as the young hockey players flocked onto the field. The Dandelions dressed in red while the Evergreens were in green.

Sydney gave a standing ovation when she saw Ethan. His eyes searched the bleachers the Dandelions occupied. He spotted Emily and Sydney and smiled. His eyes scanned the bleachers again. Sydney knew he was looking for Gavin. When he didn't see him, he frowned.

They all took the national anthem and soon, the game commenced.

Sydney heard someone whisper in front, " I wonder where Gavin is."

"He must have left her after finding out she's a no-good cheat."

"I wonder if the child she was carrying was his."

"I wonder how someone can cheat on Gavin Reed. He has everything in a man."

"And she had nothing in a woman." The women laughed disdainfully.

Sydney felt her palms sweat. She hoped Gavin would appear, squeeze her affectionately, and give her a smoldering kiss in front of them so they would shut up and realize they were married women.

"They talk like saints when their married life is worse than purgatory," Theresa said when she noticed Sydney's apprehension.

Sydney sent her a bleak smile.

—————

"What the hell is wrong with you, Ethan!" Dandelion's coach barked in frustration. It was fifteen minutes into the second heat and Evergreens were leading by two goals because of Ethan's carelessness.

"What's wrong with your boy, he looks gloomy?" Theresa expressed her concern.

Ethan looked around the bleachers again. He had dirt on his body, and his brown eyes glistened with disappointment.

The Dandelions were close to scoring; the spectators were on their toes, ready to cheer, but then Ethan swung the puck out of the field.

"That's it." the coach blew his whistle and gestured for Ethan to go to the bench. People gasped; Ethan had never been benched; he was the best player junior Dandelions had.

"Ouch." A woman next to Sydney said humorously. "I guess the mother's bad deeds hunt the child."

Sydney's eyes gleamed with tears. She looked at Ethan as he stared down at his feet. Gavin had never missed his matches; he made sure he took the front-row seat. His cheer was always the loudest. Now all Ethan could hear was the boos and mirthful laughter from the Evergreens.

Sydney stood and Theresa looked up at her in concern. "Where are you going? The match isn't over yet."

"I have to talk to Ethan."

Sydney felt like she was an alien on Earth as she walked where Ethan sat. People watched her and gossiped. Some even threw curses at her.

"Ethan. Baby." Sydney called. Holding the iron bars separating them.

"Leave me alone mum." He sulked.

Her heart twisted. "It's just a game, honey."

"It's not just a game! I love playing hockey, grandad would be disappointed when he finds out. Why didn't daddy come!''

Sydney bit her lips. "Maybe he forgot."

He turned to look at her, his eyes were swollen, and his nose was pinkish. "That's a lie! You always cover up for him. You said you reminded him earlier."

She lied. She was too scared to talk to him. "It's okay, Ethan; I'm sure he had a good reason not to be here."

Ethan scoffed and looked away. "Leave me alone, mum."

Dandelions scored and the crowd went wild!