Santa's Secret

“Delaney said we could use the suite she reserved or sit down along the ice,” Dominic tells us as he walks ahead of us to enter the TD Garden.

“The suite could be fun,” Gio says. “Watching the game from above is always an experience.”

“But the ice is where all the action is. Especially if there’s a brawl,” I point out.

“What’s going on here?” Calvin asks. He seems to tense up at the vast mass of people lingering around.

“This is North Station,” I tell him.

“I thought we were going to hockey?”

“We are.” I point to retractable glass walls where many Bruins and Canadiens fans are vying to head up the escalators once the walls push back. “The arena is upstairs.”

“Say again?” Calvin looks at the three of us, clearly shocked by what I said.

“It’s upstairs,” Gio adds. “The Celtics and Bruins play above the station. The view is amazing.”

Gio’s right, if you’re there to look at the view. Most of the time, it goes unnoticed though because people who come to the games are used to it. I like to take a look every now and again, be thankful I’m able to go to a game.

“People in New England are odd.”

Gio, Dominic and I all laugh. Calvin isn’t thinking anything we don’t already about the folks on the “left” coast. We often have a tourist roll through town, wholly awed by our small town living. To us, it’s all we know. To the visitors, we’re living some idyllic dream, as if we’ve been plucked out of a magazine and set there for all the world to see.

The doors open and the mad rush to get upstairs starts. Gio holds us back for a few minutes to let the diehards go first. I’ve never understood why people hurry to get to their seats an hour early. I know for most it’s to watch warm-ups, but the seats aren’t the most comfortable, and personally, I’d rather wait.

“What’s the plan?” Dom asks. “Seats or suite?”

“The seats are along the ice, right?” Gio asks and we all nod. Delaney spared no expense when she hooked us up with tickets. I had no idea about the suite until we were half way here. If I weren’t feeling bad about seats to begin with, the suite definitely pushed me over the edge. I’m not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I’m having a hard time accepting I can’t return the favor to Delaney.

“Why not do both?” Calvin suggests. The four of us sort of look at each other like one of us has to make a decision. It’s not going to be me, but I’ll definitely go along with whatever is decided. I’ve never known what a luxury box has to offer, but I’ve heard stories.

“Can we?” Gio asks as we stand on the escalator. When we get to the top, he has all four tickets scanned. The lady smiles and directs us to the elevator we need to access the suite.

“Yeah, I’ve done it before. It’s nice because we can eat in the suite when the Bruins are attacking the other end of the ice,” Dominic says as he motions us to follow him.

The suite’s fully stocked by the time we get there. Delaney has clearly gone overboard and arranged for a vast selection of food to be ready and waiting for us to devour. There’s everything from wings, to nachos, to pasta, not to mention a fully stocked soda bar, which has me laughing.

“What’s so funny, Fisher?”

“Your sister made sure none of us are drinking on her tab.” The look on Dom’s face is priceless, and the snicker from Calvin causes me to laugh even harder. “Seriously, I could kiss her for this,” I say, only to realize my choice of words. My mouth shuts quickly as my gaze falls to Gio. He’s smiling, almost as if he didn’t hear those words slip out. I immediately head over to the table of food and start making a plate. In the background, I can hear Dominic on the phone with Delaney, hopefully thanking her for everything and not whining because his favorite beverage isn’t here.

“He takes advantage of his sister.” Calvin picks up a plate and starts loading an assortment of food onto it. “I hear her on the phone with him a lot.”

“Really? Like how?” I ask, only to shake my head. “You know what, it’s none of my business.”

“It’s not mine either, but I have an opinion about siblings who aren’t famous. They whine and ask for a lot without coming out and saying it.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

Calvin motions toward the other end of the room, away from where Dominic is. I glance around for Gio and find he’s not here.

“He went to the restroom,” Calvin says, knowing I was looking for Gio. “From my experience, siblings tend to go on and on about the same things until the famous one gives in. The repetitiveness wears them down, and they finally act so the other will stop talking.”

“You’re very observant.”

“It’s my job and something I pride myself on. Being a police officer isn’t any different, right? Our jobs aren’t that different. I just spend more time with my employer.”

“No, I suppose it’s not, but sometimes I feel unfocused.”