Before I could process that information, Casey gave me a quick, fierce hug and then ran out of the room toward her homework.
I sat there staring at the poster of myself above her desk. The team pennants, the carefully organized collection.
This kid's entire room was a shrine to hockey.
To me.
And somewhere, there was a father who was missing all of this.
Who wasn't here to see his daughter's passion, her dedication, her dreams.
What kind of man walked away from a kid like Casey?
"You okay?"
I turned to find Palisade in the doorway. Her arms were crossed as if protecting herself.
"Yeah. She's really something." I hesitated. "Casey mentioned her dad earlier. I didn't realize—"
"It's complicated." Palisade's voice went tight, guarded. "And not something we need to get into."
The wall went up so fast I could hear it slam into place.
"Right. Sorry. None of my business."
"It's not that." She looked away, biting her lip. "It's just… complicated."
"I didn't know she was such a big fan."
"The biggest. She watches every game, knows every stat, and practices in the driveway for hours." Palisade's tone gentled. "Hockey's her entire world."
"She's got a genuine talent for understanding the game. The way she talks about strategy, team dynamics… that's not something you can teach. She gets it."
"She gets it from my father." Palisade moved to straighten the poster that was already perfectly straight. Smiling, she added, "He's been teaching her since she was three."
We stood there in silence, surrounded by images of my team, my career, my face.
"I should go," I said. "Let you guys have your evening."
"Easton." She turned to face me. "Thank you. For coming here, for apologizing, for being so good with Casey. I know I was harsh earlier—"
"You had every right to be."
"Maybe. But you didn't have to come here and make it right. You could have let it blow over." She paused. "That means something."
"I'm trying to be better. For a lot of reasons."
Something passed between us, something I couldn't name.
"Come on," she said. "I'll walk you out."
We headed downstairs. Casey was already at the kitchen table, homework spread out in front of her.
"Bye, Uncle Easton!" she called. "Come back soon!"
"I'll try," I said, and meant it.
At the door, Palisade stopped me.
