All Things In Good Time

As Rob Bortuzzo took a long swig of his beer, James cast his line into the Gulf of Mexico with the hopes of catching something before they had to return to shore. James, Rob and a few other players from Canada that didn’t make the Olympic team decided to get a house in Cabo for a few days to relax, recharge and just enjoy a change of scenery before the stretch towards the season end and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a good time to get out of Pittsburgh with the below average temperature looming all winter long and Mexico had everything to offer a group of young, good looking hockey players.

“Nealer, where is the sunblock?” Rob shouted to James from the opposite end of the boat.

“Shit Borts, I don’t know?” James shouted back as he adjusted the fishing rod into its stand.

“Did your mom pack that for you?”

Rob stood in front of James with the missing can of sunblock in his hand.

“Actually, it was Katherine.”

Rob got the text from Katherine while they were in Chicago waiting for their connecting flight to Cabo. She had just dropped Beau off at the airport and she was frantically packing for Sochi. Rob could tell by the text that she was excited and a little nervous about the trip and he was actually really happy for her. After watching Katherine drown herself in a bottle of vodka and then throw it all up later that night, Rob knew she needed a little happy in her life. He also knew that he would never understand the whole Nealer thing; he actually thought that she was too good for him, but he did know that he hated to see someone who he cared about hurt as much as Katherine was.

“So, she should be in Sochi.” James said while staring at his beer.

“Yea, she should be there by now.” Rob looked at his watch, not really knowing what time it was in Mexico, more or less in Sochi.

“She drug me to Target before she knew.” “Didn’t talk much, just wanted to make sure I had sunblock.” Rob laughed as he took another swig of his beer.

“Sounds like Kat.” James reeled in his line a little, thinking about the little things she would do. Whether it was offering to babysit for the players with kids or finding a baseball card that Sid had been looking for, Katherine would do small things that would make a big impression on people.

“I’m surprised she didn’t try to talk you out of coming down here with me.” James scoffed.

“You know she doesn’t hate you, right?” Rob glanced over at James. “It’s not like she didn’t call things off with you in the summer.”

James closed his eyes and thought back to when he watched her drive away from the cabin at Balsam Lake. He thought about that night in December when all he was looking for was a shoulder to lean on and ended up breaking the trust of not only Katherine but of his friend Paul. James knew that after that night, nothing would ever be the same. The next morning, he listened her work her magic on Gary Bettman during his phone hearing and when the call was over he saw the sadness in her eyes. He knew then and there, Katherine wasn’t his to have, at least not anymore.

James snapped out of his daydream by a tug on his line. He turned is baseball cap around and prepared himself to battle with whatever was on the other end of his line. Forty-five minutes later, James pulled a 300 lb. marlin out of the Gulf of Mexico. Celebratory beers were open and a selfie was taken with the prize fish. James sent the picture to the new woman in his life while Rob texted Katherine in Sochi.

Do what makes you happy. Find Paulie and kiss him with everything you’ve got!

More than 7000 miles away, Katherine slid her black riding boots over her jeans and grabbed her phone to text Paul that she was ready, when she noticed the message from Rob.

Notes