Now we have two kids who need stable homes and legal guardians, and I have no idea how to navigate any of it.
I try calling Desi from the locker room, but, of course, her phone goes straight to voicemail. When has my sister ever been available when I actually need her?
So I call Dad.
“Ready to fold on married life?” His voice booms through the speaker with his particular brand of passive-aggressive subtext that used to cause me to question myself, but now just makes me tired.
“I need to ask you something about Desi. Did you know she had twins?”
His silence is long enough that I check that the call didn’t drop.
“Dad?”
“She had Kai and a daughter,” he says finally. “She gave the girl to the father. Said she wasn’t ready to be a mother of two.”
“But she kept Kai.”
“Your sister has always had her own way of doing things.”
“Doesn’t make it right,” I say, then explain, “The daughter—Mya—she found Kai. She showed up in Cobbiton and now?—”
My father’s reply comes sharply through the line. “Well, that’s unfortunate, but it’s not really our problem, is it? You’ve got enough on your plate with the boy.”
The casual dismissal hits me like a slap shot to the chest. “She’s family.”
“She’s a stranger, Lane. And you’re already in over your head with this marriage situation. Speaking of which, have you given any more thought to what I said about Nina?”
“What about her?”
“About protecting yourself. About not getting too attached to someone who might not stick around when things get difficult.”
I think about my wife last night, the way she immediately rose to the occasion when Mya appeared. The way she didn’t hesitate to declare we’d figure it out together. The way she steps up when it matters most.
“She’s the only sure thing in my life.”
“But what if you’re wrong?” His voice softens like we’re in on a secret. “What if this is all just temporary? What if she’s just playing house until something better comes along?”
The question hits every insecurity I’ve been trying to ignore.
Before I can spiral too deep, my stepmother’s voice comes from the background. “Is that Lane? Let me talk to him.”
My father grumbles, and to be honest, I’d rather deal with her than Dad on even the worst of days.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Sabrina says, her voice warm in a way that makes me wonder why she tolerates her husband. “I couldn’t help overhearing. Why don’t we fly out to visit this weekend? The Mustangs have a few days off. We’ll give you and Nina some time to figure things out withoutlittle ears listening. And we’ll spoil them—there’s that indoor water park hotel not too far away. What’s it called, ‘Splash & Stay?’ I bet they’d love that.”
From what little I know, Sabrina was never able to have children of her own, and having met my father later in life, grandkids are the next best thing. She makes a generous offer, but something about it feels like retreat. Like admitting I can’t handle my own family.
“Thanks, Sabrina, but?—”
She interrupts, “Sometimes adults need space to make adult decisions. And sometimes children need grandparents to let them stay up way too late watching movies and give them cookies and milk before bed while those decisions get made.”
Gratitude swells up in my heart for her while it battles with resentment for my father. Finally, I agree. And after I hang up, I sit in my car in the arena parking lot, staring at my phone, seeking distraction and trying to figure out how my entire life feels like it’s in tangles and tatters.
That’s when I notice the text from my lawyer following up on Brock’s whereabouts. I glimpse the lock screen preview. My agent is also concerned, which is an understatement. Given his comments, I look over my shoulder to make sure a hitman isn’t about to take me out. I turn back to my attorney’s message. It seems somehow safer than Vinny’s.
Brad: The media is picking up the story with photos from the festival. Speculation about Nina’s son and your marriage. We should talk.
My blood turns cold. I pull up the sports gossip sites and there are photos of Nina, Kai, and me at the festival with headlines likeLane Sheridan Jr.’s Secret FamilyandSmall-Town Baker Lands NHL Star for Big Bucks.
