“I rather not,” she mumbles, making me laugh.
“Okay, sit on the bench and I’ll put your skates on.”
She does and I kneel in front of her, taking her shoes off. “I don’t think this is a good idea, Hudson. I’m not going to be able to stand up.”
“That’s why I’m here,” I reassure her.
Ellie is quiet for another moment before she adds, “You’re not going to look at me with that same expression you have on all those banners or when you’re playing, right?”
“What do I look like?”
She makes a silly, mean, but determined looking face. “Either like you’re about to hurt someone or like you’re so concentrated if someone bothers you, you’ll yell at them.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “No, I’m not going to look like that. We’re going to have fun, not play for the Cup.”
“A cup?” She asks confused.
“Out of all the things they told you last night and all your research, you don’t even know what I’m playing for in the playoffs?” I shake my head. “The Stanley Cup, Ellie. It’s the best trophy in all sports. That’s why it’s called the Stanley Cup playoffs. We’ll Google it later and you can learn all about it.”
She shoves my shoulder a little. “Hey, leave me alone. I’m a new fan.”
Finished with her skates, I stand, kiss her cheek and say, “You’re right. I’m sorry.” I sit next to her and put my skates on. “You can try standing up, if you want. Get the feel of them. It’s easier on this than on the ice.”
“I’ll just wait for you.”
With my skates on, I stand, holding my hand out for her to take. Nervous, Ellie hesitates, staring at my open palm. “We don’t have to do it, if you don’t want to,” I tell her.
She reaches for my hand, squeezes and stands. “No, I want to. Just don’t let me fall.”
“Promise.”
Ellie is sturdier than she gave herself credit for as we walk to the little door.
I open it and step onto the ice first. Carefully, she steps out here with me. She wobbles and her legs give way a few times, but she keeps glancing at me and her feet. Once she’s able to stand without falling, we begin to walk the ice for her to get a better feel. When she gets that down, I tell her how to push off with her feet. She surprises us both with how quickly she picks it up.
“You’re doing pretty good to have never done it before,” I say after about thirty minutes. “Want to try it without me?”
Ellie bites her lip. “Yeah. Don’t go too far, though.”
“I won’t.” I let go of her hands, but keep them right underneath them in case she loses her balance.
She doesn’t.
After a few minutes of skating by herself, Ellie smiles. “This is kind of fun. I can’t believe I’m doing it.”
“And doing it well, I might add. Ready for the really fun part?”
“Yep.”
“I’ll be right back,” I say, starting to skate back to the bench.
“What if I fall?” She calls after me.
“You won’t.” Upon reaching the bench, I grab the sticks and pucks, and quickly rush back to her.
“Watching you skate amazes me, you know. You’re so fast and graceful at the same time.”
I grin. “Thanks, baby.” I kiss her cheek before handing her a stick, dropping all the pucks on the ice. “Okay, this is how you’re going to hold it.” Coming up behind her, I arrange her hands on the shaft of the stick. Quietly, I ask, “Have you ever felt weak or powerless?” Ellie nods. “Me too. But this,” I squeeze my hands over hers, “this is going to make you feel strong and powerful.”