Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Adam skated across the ice watching Charlie and the kids go through drills. Coaching had always made him happy; until recently. He didn't know when things had changed. He felt like he was going through the motions.
Charlie blew his whistle and the kids took off towards the locker room. he skated over to Adam wonder what was wrong with him.
"You okay?" he asked, skidding to a stop in front of his friend.
Adam laughed as he brushed ice from his face and hair. Charlie had been doing that since they were kids. It never got old with him.
"I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"I need to quit coaching. I'll come back but I need to get myself together."
"You're leaving me to coach them on my own?" Charlie asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.
"I have faith in you. And so do they." Adam said as the kids slowly filled out of the locker room.
The parents came in as Adam skated towards them. The kids crowded around him as he broke the news. Charlie watched from the ice as the boys hung their heads and the parents put a comforting hand on their shoulders to lead them outside.
Adam's eyes met Charlie's as he took off his skates. He gave him a reassuring smile as he hoisted his bog on his shoulder. Charlie waved just before Adam turned to walk away.
XXXX
Connie had fabric swatches spread across the bed in her hotel room. She prided herself for always being ahead of things. Her fall line was really coming along. She had been surprised when the editor or Elle magazine wanted her to send some samples of her work to them. She was going to do more than that just send samples. A scarf and wool hate that she had been working on would work. She just hoped that they liked them. Maybe she should send a shirt and skirt with them; but that would be overdoing it. The scarf, the hat and the matching gloves would do.
Her phone rang from somewhere on the bed. She groaned as she started digging through the mess on the bed. Her fingers curled around something that felt like her phone. She let out a sigh as she pushed the on button.
"Hello?" she asked breathlessly.
"Hey."
"Hey Charlie." she said with a thankful sigh.
"You're not busy are you?"
"No. I'm just finishing up something." she reassured him.
"How have you been?"
"Good, really good; no more pregnancy scares."
"Good to know. Charlie said chuckling.
"How have you been?"
"You mean other than Adam bailing out on our pee wee team, or the fact that my divorce is finalized as of today? I'm doing okay." he said nonchalantly.
"I'm sorry." Connie said sympathetically.
Charlie wasn't the type to open when something was bothering him. Connie honestly didn't know what to say.
"I think I scared Guy earlier." Charlie said to get her attention after a few seconds of silence.
"How?" she enquired.
"He came in while I was reading through my divorce papers. All he said was hi and I snapped at him." he explained.
"He'll get over it. He knows that you didn't mean it."
"I hope so." Charlie said unsurely.
"Knowing him he's probably forgotten about it by now."
"Do you have any shows coming up?"
"I have one for Neiman Marcus this weekend. So I'm in California getting ready for it."
"Well, good luck."
"Thanks Charlie. Why did Adam quit coaching?"
"He's going through a lot of changes right now. I think being around the kids was too much for him to handle."
"I hope he's getting help." Connie said in concern.
"He says he is."
They talked for another few minutes. Connie hung up the phone glad that she'd had the chance to talk to Charlie. They hadn't kept in touch since she had moved to New York four years ago. She needed to call him more often. He needed her just as much as Julie did.
AN: I am sorry that this is so short. I hope that you guys are still reading this.