loved her sister, but it was not her home. She could not stay in Winnipeg once everything fell apart—too many bad memories. Moving in with Talia and Michael in Banff had been her only option. She had been so sick that she hadn't even been able to take care of herself at that point.
Memories of that day started to invade her thoughts. Her whole world had crumbled around her. Her arms were so weak she couldn't move herself out of bed. She would watch her cell phone ring on her nightstand, see the light coming on and Talia's name flashing on the screen, and be unable to reach for it. She knew Talia would be worried since she wasn't answering.
She didn't want to think about that time; she wanted all those memories to go away. She could feel her throat tensing up, as if struggling to breathe. Her body stiffened as her brain kept trying to remember.
The house had been quiet for what felt like days. She had been barely able to keep her eyes open. She heard keys jingling in her front door; then Talia, frantically calling for her. She knew Talia would come. Her bedroom door opened. The light from the outside world lit up her bed. "Trina!" Talia gasped. Trina was too weak to move or speak.
She clearly remembered all the chaos that had ensued. Talia had called the paramedics; they checked her vitals, and quickly gathered her up on a stretcher. Next thing she remembered she was in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV.
Breathe , she told herself, shaking off the memories. She was as far from Banff as she was going to get. Taking in a deep breath of the salt-water air, she tried to relax. She was at the beach, her favorite place; she refused to have a panic attack. Breathing slowly, she counted. Ten... Nine... Eight...
She rested her head back again, concentrating on the soft sand, letting the sun warm her body as she listened to her music. She hummed to the beat, feeling the bass pulse through her body. Much better, she thought with a smile, letting out a slow breath, one she felt like she had been holding for a long time.
****
Sam was glad to be away from everyone, sitting in his quiet beachfront condo. He needed time to think, time to himself. Although he did miss his niece, and he was sure that she missed Belle. Silly dog; she was sound asleep on the couch. "Make yourself at home, fluffy butt!" he said, chuckling.
Belle didn't even flinch. With her nose tucked under her tail, she just kept on snoring as Sam shook his head. The landlords are going to love all the dog hair everywhere , he thought, laughing to himself because Belle shed like crazy.
His niece Morgan had already called him five times in the last day and a half. He sure missed that little munchkin. Summer was coming, and he needed this trip to get some time to himself.
This season had been rough. His hip injury had him on injured reserve for about two months, and if he was being honest with himself, it had still been giving him problems after he had returned to the ice. He couldn't stay out any longer; he heard the trade rumors and he wasn't going to let that happen. When he left, it was going to be on his terms. He forced himself to get back on the ice quickly and prove to the general manager that he was worth keeping.
Sam sighed. The Crushers had not played well enough this season to make the playoffs and that wasn't sitting well with him. He didn't like losing. Sam laced his fingers behind his head and let out a breath. He needed to leave this season behind him. The beach was just what he needed.
His sister, Amy, had said that he was crazy for flying all the way to the East Coast to go to the beach, when all he had to do was walk out his front door to be at the ocean. Sam crossed the room and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. Flipping it open, he looked out the living room window. The petite, soft waves crashed gently against the sand. He could see a handful of boogie boarders and a few lifeguards. Closing his eyes for a moment, taking a deep
Memories of that day started to invade her thoughts. Her whole world had crumbled around her. Her arms were so weak she couldn't move herself out of bed. She would watch her cell phone ring on her nightstand, see the light coming on and Talia's name flashing on the screen, and be unable to reach for it. She knew Talia would be worried since she wasn't answering.
She didn't want to think about that time; she wanted all those memories to go away. She could feel her throat tensing up, as if struggling to breathe. Her body stiffened as her brain kept trying to remember.
The house had been quiet for what felt like days. She had been barely able to keep her eyes open. She heard keys jingling in her front door; then Talia, frantically calling for her. She knew Talia would come. Her bedroom door opened. The light from the outside world lit up her bed. "Trina!" Talia gasped. Trina was too weak to move or speak.
She clearly remembered all the chaos that had ensued. Talia had called the paramedics; they checked her vitals, and quickly gathered her up on a stretcher. Next thing she remembered she was in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV.
Breathe , she told herself, shaking off the memories. She was as far from Banff as she was going to get. Taking in a deep breath of the salt-water air, she tried to relax. She was at the beach, her favorite place; she refused to have a panic attack. Breathing slowly, she counted. Ten... Nine... Eight...
She rested her head back again, concentrating on the soft sand, letting the sun warm her body as she listened to her music. She hummed to the beat, feeling the bass pulse through her body. Much better, she thought with a smile, letting out a slow breath, one she felt like she had been holding for a long time.
****
Sam was glad to be away from everyone, sitting in his quiet beachfront condo. He needed time to think, time to himself. Although he did miss his niece, and he was sure that she missed Belle. Silly dog; she was sound asleep on the couch. "Make yourself at home, fluffy butt!" he said, chuckling.
Belle didn't even flinch. With her nose tucked under her tail, she just kept on snoring as Sam shook his head. The landlords are going to love all the dog hair everywhere , he thought, laughing to himself because Belle shed like crazy.
His niece Morgan had already called him five times in the last day and a half. He sure missed that little munchkin. Summer was coming, and he needed this trip to get some time to himself.
This season had been rough. His hip injury had him on injured reserve for about two months, and if he was being honest with himself, it had still been giving him problems after he had returned to the ice. He couldn't stay out any longer; he heard the trade rumors and he wasn't going to let that happen. When he left, it was going to be on his terms. He forced himself to get back on the ice quickly and prove to the general manager that he was worth keeping.
Sam sighed. The Crushers had not played well enough this season to make the playoffs and that wasn't sitting well with him. He didn't like losing. Sam laced his fingers behind his head and let out a breath. He needed to leave this season behind him. The beach was just what he needed.
His sister, Amy, had said that he was crazy for flying all the way to the East Coast to go to the beach, when all he had to do was walk out his front door to be at the ocean. Sam crossed the room and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. Flipping it open, he looked out the living room window. The petite, soft waves crashed gently against the sand. He could see a handful of boogie boarders and a few lifeguards. Closing his eyes for a moment, taking a deep
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