"The answer's yes, by the way."
"What?"
"If you want to teach Casey some hockey stuff. On your own time, not during clinic hours. Maybe Saturday mornings when I have the clinic open." She crossed her arms. "We'd need clear boundaries, a schedule, all of that. But if you're serious…"
"I'm serious."
She nodded. "Okay then. We'll work out the details."
"Thank you, Palisade. Really."
"Don't make me regret this," she said, but she was almost smiling.
I walked to my car, Casey's voice calling from the window, "See you Saturday!"
As I drove away, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted tonight. I'd come to apologize for a media circus, and I'd left with permission to teach a six-year-old hockey. A kid who looked at me as if I hung the moon.
A kid with my eyes and my passion for the game.
A kid whose father was nowhere to be found.
It's complicated,Palisade had said. That wall slammed up when I'd asked. The way she'd looked away, uncomfortable.
What was so complicated about it?
I should have felt good about tonight. Casey's enthusiasm, Palisade's forgiveness, the Saturday lessons. All of it should have felt like a win.
So why did it feel like I was missing something important?
CHAPTER SIX
Palisade
Iwatched Easton's taillights disappear down the street, then closed the door and leaned against it, my heart still racing.
"He's really nice, Mom," Casey called from upstairs. "And he said I could be a hockey player if I work hard enough!"
"That's wonderful, sweetheart," I called back, my voice steadier than I felt. "Brush your teeth and then bed. Now."
"But I'm not even tired!"
"Casey."
She must have heard something in my tone because she didn't argue further. The bathroom faucet turned on, followed by the sound of vigorous tooth brushing.
I moved to the kitchen and started clearing away the Chinese food containers with shaking hands.
What had I done?
Opening my home to Easton, allowing Casey to meet him, giving him permission to coach her on Saturdays. It felt like unlocking a door I'd worked seven years to keep closed.
My phone buzzed on the counter.
Holly:
How'd it go?
Of course, Holly knew Easton had come over. She'd probably given him my address, despite my explicit instructions years ago to keep us separate.
