She propped her head on her hand and stared at his picture that accompanied the article. It wasn't an action shot from a game, it was from a press release. His hair line was receding slightly. He wore a goatee these days. That was new, from the last time she'd checked up on him.
She shut the keyboard tray a little harder than necessary and cringed as it slammed closed. She walked away, towards the bathroom to shower and dress.
Another Monday morning.
When she returned to the living room she found Colton at the computer desk. "Who is this guy?" he asked, pointing at Kip's picture.
"Someone I used to know," she said, "Go get showered Cole."
"Does he play hockey? Like in the NHL?"
Mandy frowned, when did her son pay any attention to hockey. "I suppose yes. He was just traded to Calgary."
"Oh, Mark is a big Oiler's fan. I thought maybe you could get us tickets or something." He opened a new browser window and typed in his favorite game site.
Mark was Colton's new best friend. Mandy wasn't sure about the friendship, knowing very little about the new boy. "I see. Well, it doesn't matter. I haven't talked to him in eleven years, I doubt I'll be asking him any favours. Go shower, please. No wait, tell me what you want for lunch."
After his shower he was back on the topic of Kip and hockey. Not something she was up to discuss when the sun had barely rose. "So, how do you know this guy anyway?"
"I knew him in high school. Eat your breakfast. I don't have time to talk about this right now."
"That's so cool. You went to school with a guy who plays in the NHL. I can't wait to tell the guys at school about this."
"When did you start caring about hockey? I thought you liked soccer."
"Nah, the guys aren't into that anymore."
"Colton, you don't have to like or not like something because your friends are into it. And don't expect that you're going to start playing hockey."
"Geez Ma. You're grumpy this morning."
Mandy sighed, looking down at her bowl of porridge. "You're right. I didn't sleep well."
"Don't take it out on me."
That made Mandy smile. It had just been her and Colton for six years. She recalled finding out she was pregnant. For two years after Kip left, Mandy didn't date. Eric was the brother of a fellow teaching student. They met when Eric came to Saskatoon for a visit on his days off from the oil rigs. He was handsome and rich and he lavished attention on her like Mandy was the first woman he had seen in weeks, months.