“Do you two drink sweet tea?” My dad asks, poking his head out of the kitchen entryway.
“Yep,” I say while Harley confirms with a nod.
“You doing okay?” she asks quietly.
“Oddly enough, I feel comfortable. There isn’t the tension like I expected. Sadness sure but that I knew would linger being here again.”
“Good.” She pecks me on the cheek before my parents join us. Carrying spaghetti, garlic bread, a salad, and drinks for us.
“Thank you, everything looks delicious,” Harley expresses.
“I hope it tastes as good as it looks.” My mom chuckles.
“If it’s anything like when I was younger, I’m sure its going to be wonderful,” I add in.
We pass platters around, eating quietly for a bit before my dad speaks up, “Son, how’s the season going?”
“Don’t play coy, Ken, you know how the season’s going and don’t even try to hide the fact that you have his jersey in your closet.” Mom calls my dad out, and he chokes on a piece of garlic bread.
“You do?” I ask, my head spinning because all this time I thought they hadn’t been paying attention to my career.
Once Dad’s got his bearings back, he speaks, “Um… Yeah we’ve watched every game you’ve played. Seems like you guys are on track for a cup win and Hoyer seems to be doing very well fitting in as well.”
“Yeah, we’ve all been working our asses off to get into the finals again. I think we’ve got it in the bag this year.” My voice filling the area with palpable excitement over the fact that we might get our second cup win in two years and over the fact that my parents have been supporting my team silently for years.
“They’ve been incredible on the ice. You both should join me for a game one night.” Harley recommends, she knows I’d love to have all three of them in the stands cheering me on.
“We’ll have to arrange that. What is it that you do for work, Harley?” Mom questions.
“Oh, I’m a licensed mental health counselor. I work at the Right Place, Right Time center with troubled youth and kids.”
“That must be a difficult job,” Dad comments.
“It’s got its ups and downs but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’ve known for a very long time that I wanted to help people; I just hadn’t pinpointed what community. I interned with them in my undergrad, and it solidified that was the community I wanted to work with. Then they offered me a job with flexibility while I finished school and I haven’t looked back.” The passion that Harley carries into her career can be heard in every word she speaks.
“Sounds like you’ve got a good one.” My mom sounds thrilled.
“I intend to keep her forever if she’ll have me.” I smile at my mom, then at my girl.
Her cheeks taking on that pink blush again, “I think I like the sound of that.”
After finishing dinner, we move to the living room, chatting about life and recalling memories we had as a family before Mom forces freshly baked chocolate chip cookies onto us. When the sun starts to set, we decide it’s time to head out.
“Thank you for tonight. I hope we can do it again.” Harley thanks my parents as she steps away from a hug.
“Please! You are both welcome anytime.” My mom states happily.
“Thanks again,” I say, hugging my mom and then my dad.
“I’m proud of you, son. Thank you for giving us another chance,” My dad says just for me, and it causes my eyes to well with tears once again.
“See you guys later.”
Chapter 22
Love of my Life
Harley
