Something About Blending

Derick smiled to himself as he walked hand in hand with Amelia thinking that his plan was ingenious. It had been a week since he had been able to see Emerson and with development camp fast approaching at the end of the month he thought they should figure out if they thought this might work during the season. That was what led him to be entering her studio with his daughter to drop her off at an art class. “Hello and welcome!” a familiar voice called. Derick turned to see Piper walking towards him with a wide smile on her face. “I’m Miss Piper and you are?” Piper asked bending down to be level with Amelia. Smiling back Amelia introduced herself. “Well then Miss Amelia why don’t you go get a smock and join the kids in the other room,” she said, heeding her words Amelia hurried off looking excited. Piper stood up and looked at Derick quirking an eyebrow. “I thought Emerson was going to be here,” he admitted awkwardly scratching the back of his head. Piper laughed and smiled at him. “I’m glad to see you really seem to like her. Unfortunately she isn’t here, she’s out with Teddy today so I’m supervising class solo,” Piper told him. She looked at him for a moment, thinking. “Why don’t you call her and see if she wants to go for lunch tomorrow? I’m with Teddy tomorrow so she’ll just be in the studio working on her photos or out wandering the city camera in hand,” Piper told him. With a nod of thanks Derick left the studio thinking about why Emerson’s best friend would give him advice unless it meant Emerson liked him.

Deciding to take Piper’s advice Derick pulled out his phone to call Emerson. After a few rings he reached her voicemail and left a message requesting a lunch date the next day. Not knowing what to do while Amelia was at art class Derick texted Mats to see if he wanted to meet up. He got a negative reply so he set off walking and tried Marc instead. When Marc responded he turned around to head towards the lunch place where he suggested they meet. “Hey Marc, how was Thunder Bay?” Derick greeted upon seeing his teammate. “The same as it always is: lots of trash talk about whose team is going to beat whose team and the family watching while we make fools of ourselves,” Marc told him laughing. Knowing that two of Marc’s brothers, Eric and Jordan, played for the Carolina Hurricanes Derick laughed along with him. After talking about their trips home some more Marc raised his eyebrows and told Derick about the rumors he heard. “Judging by the look on your face I’m assuming you know what rumors I’m talking about and I’m also assuming that it’s true you’re back out dating. But only one girl,” Marc continued posing a question without actually asking one. “Her name is Emerson. There’s something about her. I don’t actually know how to explain it, I just know. I think she and Amelia would be perfect, I think we would all make a good family. I don’t know Teddy well enough to judge the whole of it but if he’s anything like I’ve heard from Emerson and Piper – his godmother and her best friend – then I think we’d make a wonderful little family,” Derick told his friend hoping he understood where he was coming from. Marc just laughed. “All the rumors are true then. I heard that you called asking half the team how they knew their wives were the ones. I’m glad for you though, you know that you finally found her,” he said. Paying the bill the two left and Derick offered for Marc to pick up Amelia with him from her art class.

Piper was covered in paint and herding kids toward the door of the studio where their parents were waiting when she noticed one kid was staring at her. “What can I do for you Miss Amelia?” Piper asked squatting down. “Thank you Miss Piper,” Amelia said throwing her arms around Piper’s neck and getting more paint on her than was previously there. “You’re welcome. Will I see you next week?” Piper asked and Amelia vigorously nodded yes. “Daddy, look what I made!” Amelia exclaimed running over to Derick after the exchange. “That’s great Amelia,” he said looking at he painting and trying to figure out what it was. “What did you learn in class today?” the man beside Derick said. Before Amelia could answer Piper walked up. “Oh these aren’t actually classes,” she said. When she continued her voice took on a dreamy quality as if mocking someone. “It’s a place for kids to create whatever their imagination brings without adults stifling their creativity,” she told them. Derick and the stranger both gave her an odd look. “Emerson’s words not mine. It’s basically baby sitting for fifteen dollars an hour. I’m hear to make sure no one eats the paint or shoves clay up their ass,” Piper deadpanned forgetting little Amelia was standing there. “That’s not a nice word,” she chided looking up at Piper. After apologizing to the little girl she turned to Marc. “Piper Olsen, artist and apparently babysitter,” she introduced holding out her hand. Marc looked at Piper’s paint covered hand before talking it and smiling. “Marc Staal, New York Ranger and no art abilities to speak of,” he countered with a smile.

Notes