Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)
A woman thrusts her microphone into my face. “You made history this year as the first female assistant coach in the league. How do you think marrying the team goalie will impact the opportunity for other women to progress in the league?”
I knew this question was coming. But it’s still a knife to the chest. “How many men have married their subordinates and faced the same public ire?” I throw the question back at her. “Look, love doesn’t always have convenient timing. Sometimes it shows up when you least expect it and knocks your whole world, or in this case, your whole team off balance.” I roll my shoulders back, thinking about how proud my husband already is of me. “And let’s be real, I was under a microscope prior to marrying Roman. I have been since I stepped into this role. It doesn’t matter that Roman is retiring. I will always be the assistant coach who married the goalie during the season. But he is the love of my life, and I’m the love of his. And I will take whatever is thrown at me because he is worth it. My being married to Roman might not be convenient or palatable for the masses, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m good at my job. I was the most qualified candidate for the position. And I believe my track record this year indicates that I am still the most qualified person for the job.”
“Why did you want the job? Was it so you could get closer to Hammerstein?” she asks.
I level her with an unimpressed glare. “I have lived and breathed hockey since I was three years old. It is my life and my very first love. It’s second now only to my husband and my sisters. I wanted this job because it gave me the opportunity to work with one of the top teams in the league.”
“You work primarily with the defensive line,” she states.
“For this team I do. I was a defensive player during my hockey career. It’s where my strengths lie.” I pause a moment. “We’re talking in a circle here. Our team stats speak for themselves. My being married to the goalie can’t skew the numbers.”
Vander Zee steps in. “Coach Forrester is an asset to this team and we’re grateful to have her back. She’s been instrumental in helping bolster our enforcers and working with Hammerstein and Coach Boxer to prepare Ryker to take over next season. And she’s done a damn good job, which everyone on the team has already stated over the past few weeks. Several times. If you’re looking for a scandal, try another team. Can we please focus on the game and the on-ice performance of the players, rather than our assistant coach’s personal life?”
“I do understand the fixation, though. Our goalie is a pretty great guy,” I add.
Vander Zee cracks a rare smile and that gets a round of chuckles from the media.
The questions shift to Roman’s retirement and the fact that Hendrix is in a contract year. Vander Zee vague-talks around it. In house, we all know how Hendrix feels. He’s expressed interest in coaching with Roman at the Hockey Academy next year. I can’t blame him. Life is short, and Peggy is his priority. He wants her to have a career and pursue her own aspirations, just like Roman’s wants for me.
Vander Zee answers a few more questions before we leave the press behind. “You handled that well, Forrester. They’ll keep pushing this angle for a while because it’s juicy gossip as my daughter likes to say.” He rubs the back of his neck. “But they’ll move on when they realize there’s no dissension on the team over it.”
“I know.”
“I’ll keep Hemi and her team on top of social media, but once Roman retires, things will settle down,” he assures me.
I’m the biggest target out there now. “I had to have thick skin to get where I am. That won’t change. I’m sorry for the headache it causes you and management.”
“Honestly, it would have been a battle regardless. If you’d waited until off-season, we would have heard about it in the fall. At least he gets to finish his last season happy.” He clasps me on the shoulder. “I’ll check on the guys and make sure you’re not getting an eyeful.”
I wait outside the locker room until I get the all clear from Vander Zee. When it’s safe, I join the rest of the coaching staff and the team.
“You did well,” Boxer says as I take my place beside him.
“Thanks, I appreciate that.” It’s nice to know that despite the headaches I’ve caused the team this season, I still have his support.
Fielding steps up and gives a short good-work-and-excellent-playing speech before we leave the arena and return to the hotel.