The Hero and the Fat Girl (New Hampshire Bears #3) by Mary Smith

hockey. Claire tells us about funny stories of her JAG career. I don’t have anything to contribute, but I do tell them about going to Boston College at sixteen. They seem impressed, which I’m not sure is much to be impressed by. They have extremely honorable careers. I’m an investment banker.
    After we all clean the kitchen, Arabella asks to watch TV. Most of the time she plays or reads, so Remington agrees and takes her to the TV room, turning on a Disney cartoon.
    Claire opens a bottle of wine and we sit back in the living room, talking about random things. Until the question, the one I’d hoped would never be asked…is asked.
    “Maxima, where’s your family from?” Daniel is the one to ask.
    I feel my body tense, and Remington takes my hand. I clear my throat. “I don’t have any family.”
    “Oh dear, have they passed on?” Claire asks with genuine concern.
    “I’m not sure,” I answer truthfully.
    Daniel and Claire stare at me, and for no apparent reason, I begin to ramble.
    “I left Vegas when I was sixteen to go to college. After I finished, I moved here. I haven’t spoken to them since I left for college, and I have no desire to speak to them. If they are even still alive.” More than likely they’ve died from drugs or alcohol, but I leave that part out. I think I need to stop drinking the wine.
    “Do you have siblings?” Daniel asks.
    “She was pregnant a lot, but I’m the only one they kept.” I take a large gulp of wine, and my hands begin to shake. I know of at least four other pregnancies she had, but no babies ever came home with her.
    There’s a moment of silence, and I know I’ve said too much. I never say anything about them, and here I just blurted out more than ever before. To Remington’s parents of all people.
    Finally, Remington begins talking about hockey, and I am relieved. In Las Vegas, hockey isn’t a huge thing. It wasn’t until Boston I fell in love with the sport. It took me a bit to catch onto the rules and such, but once I did, I was hooked. I was glad when I moved to Manchester and the Bears were here. I’ve never had season tickets, but I go to the games from time-to-time and watch them on TV as much as possible.
    Arabella comes into the living room looking tired, and I know she’s ready for bed. She says good night to everyone with a round of hugs and kisses, and I take her upstairs. After the normal routine before bedtime, before I begin to read, Arabella seems a little distant.
    “You okay?” I gently sweep her black hair from her cheek and forehead.
    “Why don’t you have a family?”
    “Oh,” I softly exclaim. Not what I thought she’d ask. “Well…” I pause. She is a child, and I need to make sure I don’t scare the kid into therapy. She’s been through enough. “My family weren’t nice people, and I didn’t want to be around them. So, I left.”
    “Is it like how my mom was mean?”
    Oh, so much worse. “Similar, but let’s not talk about it and get back to Percy Jackson.”
    Arabella smiles, snuggling close to me as I begin reading. Not even three pages into it, Arabella’s eyes shut, and she’s fast asleep. I’m going to have to get this book on my Kindle just to find out what’s going to happen to this poor kid, since Arabella keeps falling asleep.
    As I leave her room and go down the stairs, I try not to think of how this day has been. I’m exhausted. I head toward the kitchen where I hear Remington and his parents talking, but I stop before I reach the door. Eavesdropping is something I never do, but my gut tells me to stop and listen.
    “Remington, I’m telling you if you don’t tell Maxima the truth, you’re going to lose her,” Claire says almost angrily.
    “I agree with your mother. What were you thinking?” Daniel questions.
    “I love Maxima. Today just solidifies it. I can’t lose her. I need her as much as she needs me.” Remington’s voice cracks.
    There’s no way I heard him correctly. Love ? He loves