𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑦 𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑘𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 - 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 - 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 1

Chapter 21

Taking a deep exhale, I rang the doorbell and waited anxiously for someone to answer the door. The hockey stick was becoming like a stress reliever because my hands were death gripping the shaft of the stick as I held it horizontally. From inside the house, I heard footsteps come to the door, the same man who came rushing out on the ice to see Banksie opened the door. He was wearing a grey dress shirt and black slacks. Like every other aging dad, he was partly bald and his eyes were just as piercing as Banksie's and his cheekbones were partly visible too.

"You must be Victoria." The man said lowly, opening up the door wider to the house.

"Yes sir, I brought Banks's hockey stuff over since you guys were a bit preoccupied." Picking up the bag by the handle, I stepped inside the house with the stick.

Mr. Banks closed the door behind me, "That was very thoughtful of you, thank you." He smiled, then took the hockey bag from me, along with the stick and my jacket, and held it in one hand with my coat in the other. We walked inside the foyer of the house which made me gasp. It was all old. Wood staircase, wood moldings on the walls, tan painted canvas walls, it looked like the inside of a mansion you would see in a fairytale or a movie like Richie Rich.

My mouth hung open as I looked around, the house was decorated with Christmas decorations. Garland wrapped the staircase, wreaths, candles, old vintage Christmas displays, a light-up snowman in the corner by a door under the staircase, "Mr. Banks, I just have to say your house is absolutely beautiful."

He chuckled, "Thank you Victoria, please call me Phil." He smiled and looked around at his house.

"Yes, and please call me Vic, Phil." Nodding my head, I heard loud steps coming from the hallway. Heel clicks.

"Phil, honey! Is Victoria here yet?" A voice called out then turned the corner. A blonde with a red form-fitting dress on with matching high heels and pinned up hair turned the corner, she was also an aging mother but look 30.

Then her face softened when she saw me, "You must be Victoria." She smiled and shook my hand.

"Yes, please call me Vic, Mrs. Banks." My face smiled at Mrs. Banks.

"Oh, please dear!" She chuckled. "Call me Juliet." She smiled, waving her hand at me.

"I was just telling your husband that your house is beautiful."

Juliet smiled at my comment, "Thank you, it's an old house but we love it here."

Running the back of my neck, I decided to change the subject, "I wanted to ask if Banks was alright? I was pretty worried about him when he took that dive."

"Oh, yea, he's perfectly fine! The doctor did tests and X-rays and said he didn't have a concussion, he just passed out. Put him on some medication just to be safe," Juliet reassured me. "Speaking of our son, where is he? He is neglecting his guest and his Coach." Juliet turned to her husband, placing her hands on her hips.

"Jules, honey, he just stepped out of the shower only a few minutes ago, he's getting dressed. Give 'em a minute." Phil calmed his wife down.

Juliet then nodded her head turning back to me, examining my outfit, "Vic, I just have to say you look so stunning, so mature for you being 13. Your dress is absolutely fabulous and that pearl necklace definitely suits you." She complimented me with a smile.

"Oh, thank you," I played with the skirt of my dress. "This necklace was my great grandmothers." I held the necklace in my hand.

"Well, your grandmother had wonderful taste," Phil added with a smile.

"Yes, she did have wonderful taste because she wanted you to look beautiful." Banksie's voice spoke out.

The three of us looked to the top of the stairs to find Banks in a white dress shirt and black slacks. He was almost dressed like his father. His hair had that wave in it like it always did. He smiled at me, then walked downstairs finishing buttoning up his shirt leaving the top one undone.