Page 76 of Pucked Together

I go to the front of the house and look out the window from the study just as I see the familiar yellow Raptor driving by. Ginny must be in the driver's seat, with Izzy sitting up front and Keelan in the back with his leg propped.

And it looks like that journey to get back into her heart needs to start now.

Chapter 24

Izzy

"Ibrought you some tea," Aunt Ginny says from the doorframe. She's holding a tray with a pot, two mugs, and some honey. "Can I come in?"

I nod and turn back to the pictures hanging on my wall. They're photos of my brother's hockey team. The one I apparently work for. And they're really good photos, at that.

"I just can't believe I've lived a whole life here, and I...can't remember it," I shake my head slowly. "It feels surreal."

Aunt Ginny sets the tray on my desk and pours me a cup, mixing in some honey and handing it to me before making herself one. She comes to stand next to me, and we clink our mugs before taking twin sips as we both stare at the pictures.

"It was always your dream to be a professional photographer. Just like it was Keelan's dream to play professional hockey. Imagine my joy when I found out you both are getting to do what you love together."

My eyes continue to rove over the unfamiliar faces. There's a group photo of Keelan and three other guys sitting on a couch laughing. I recognize the only one brooding in the picture.

"Who is this Balinger dude?" I point to him. Aunt Ginny follows my finger to where the man is in the photo.

"A hell of a goalie, I'll tell you that much," she smiles. "He's Keelan's best friend."

Hmm. That must be why he was waiting in my hospital room when I awoke—surely taking his shift assigned by Keelan. It was sweet of my brother to take care of me.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I got you something," Aunt Ginny sets her mug down and disappears into our shared bathroom, returning from her room with a small bag in her hand.

She extends it to me. "I hope you like the color."

I take the bag from her and reach inside, pulling out a small box. "A new cell phone!" I exclaim.

"It's supposed to have like a bazillion lenses and take super sharp photos, which I figured you'd appreciate. And since your last one wasn't recovered in the wreckage..." she shrugs.

The way she says it so easily. So nonchalantly. Wreckage.

How the pilot of that plane with over forty passengers and crew members managed to keep everyone alive as it crashed into an open field will forever shock and amaze me.

"Though I'm sure after Carson sends in your demand, you'll be able to afford whatever phone you want," she says, picking up her mug again and taking a seat at my desk.

I would get compensation for the pain and suffering as well as all my medical bills, according to the lawyer Keelan hired. And he would, too, though he wasn't concerned about being compensated. Just that I got the best treatment money could buy to regain my memory and help my healing.

"I can't believe the NHL expects them to play a game this weekend already. You'd think there'd be some kind of rule for freak accidents like this."

“The boys are ready. They’ll miss Keelan but they’re ready. Besides, you were the only one who suffered a brain injury, Iz. And that was because of the asthma attack."

Right. It was always the asthma attacks with me. It had happened my whole life but increased in frequency after I got the news that my parents passed when I was six.

Breathe, Izzy. Breathe.

A man's voice breaks through my thoughts. Strong. Demanding. Calming.

I shake my head, wondering if part of the amnesia is hearing voices that aren't there.

"You ok?" Aunt Ginny asks slowly rising from her seat.

"I just need some air." I put my mug down and Wednesday jumps from my bed and follows me out the door.

I walk straight through the hallway into the kitchen and bump into one of Keelan's—er—my roommates. The brown-haired cutie sets his hands on both my shoulders, steadying me. "Woah, easy there, sissy."