“What?" She shrugs. "It’s true!”
Silas shakes his head. “Okay, yes, but was the spitting part necessary?”
“Your wife just admitted to having a list full of people she wants to kill, but spitting in the old dirtbag’s tea is pushing it?!” Mira sighs exasperatedly. “Son, I think we need to reevaluate some stuff with you.”
~ The Next Day / June ~
“This is our year, boys. Make me proud and show us all what we’ve been working so hard to achieve. We all know what Dallas is like, so expect it, see it coming. I don’t need any more of my men with injuries. Now go home to your families, rest up, and I’ll see you all on the plane tomorrow,” Coach tells us before we clear the locker room and head home.
Tomorrow we’re flying out to Dallas for our first game in round four that takes place the next day. We’re all pretty excited to have made it this far, but we know this next round won’t be easy. Dallas is known for their vicious players. And so far, every game we’ve played against them has ended with one of our players in the hospital. I’ve been on that receiving end more times than I dare count.
One of their defensemen, Eric Gale, has made it his mission to kick my ass at every game. I’m not sure what I’ve done to earn his attention over the years, but I seem to be his target every time. He’s huge and brutal and never quite follows the rules. He’ll come at you out of nowhere and hit you in the back when you don’t see him coming. I hate the fucker, and he thrives on that knowledge.
I wave bye to the guys and jump into my truck, making my way home to my girls. Today is a special day, because not only do I have the two women I love the most waiting for me, but also a new little lady who seems quite excited to spend the day with us.
Emma has been keeping in touch with Maddison’s dad all week and has been helping him out in every way that she can. Even if it’s as simple as buying them groceries or sending themon a little outing to the movies. I know she’s been looking into paying her medical bills as well, but Bryan has refused every time.
He’s a hard-working dad, but his job isn’t enough to pay for all the care his daughter needs. Knowing Emma, she’ll find a way around it. That woman has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. I’ve never met someone more generous than her.
We’ve never really discussed each other’s net worth, but I’m pretty positive Emma has enough money to last us a few lifetimes. Just at the gala alone, she donated over $350,000. She was our biggest donor, and there were billionaires attending. By the end of the night, we had doubled our target goal, which is amazing.
I park my car beside a rundown sedan that looks like it’s standing on its last leg and about to give out any minute.That can’t be safe to drive.I exit my truck and find them all on the fenced-in front lawn. I open the gate, making sure it latches behind me, and stride over to them.
Gracie notices me first, exclaiming“DADA!”as she tries to walk faster with Emma’s help. She started taking little steps on her own but hasn’t made it very far yet, although with our help she loves it.
Emma walks Gracie closer to me as I meet them halfway, scooping her up in my arms once she’s in reach and throwing her in the air. “How’s my Buttercup doing today? Did you have fun with Mommy and your new friend?” She babbles in response and laughs. I put her back down after kissing her pudgy cheeks and let her crawl away over the freshly mowed grass, then wrap my arms around Em and bring her in for a kiss. “I missed you, Bunny.”
She giggles against my lips. “You were only gone for a few hours.”
“I miss you even when you’re right next to me.”
She shakes her head with an eye roll. “You’re ridiculous.”
I smile and let go, wandering over to Maddison’s father and shake his hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Bryan.”
“You as well, thank you for having us over,” he says back with a gratified smile.
“No need to thank me. You and Maddie are always welcome,” I tell him genuinely. I then turn to the little girl who has wiggled her way into our lives in the last week. “And there’s the beautiful Little Lotus I’ve been waiting all morning to see.” I crouch down in front of her as she blushes and looks down at her feet with a nervous smile. She reminds me of my sister with how shy she is. “How are you, sweet girl?”
She finally raises her big blue eyes and looks at me. “I’m good,” she says, but I don’t miss the extremely dark circles under her eyes and how her complexion looks much paler than it did last time.
“That’s good. Are you having a good time?” I keep the grin on my face, not showing her any signs of worry.
She beams back at me, excitement filling her eyes. “Oh, yes! I love Gracie, she’s so cute and funny. I wish I had a little sister. Oh! And Daisy, she’s so fluffy and white and soft.” She practically has hearts in her eyes as she watches the tiny dog run around in the grass. “I always wanted a dog, but Daddy says it’s a lot of work and time,” she adds with a touch of sadness.
I nod my head. “He’s right, dogs are a lot of work. But you can always come here and see Daisy whenever you’d like. You can even pretend she’s your dog, too. That’s if Emma doesn’t mind sharing. You’ll have to ask her.” I wink when she lights up at the prospect of claiming the dog as her own.
She lifts from the ground where she was seated and hurries over to Emma, asking if she wouldn’t mind sharing Daisy with her sometimes. To which Emma agrees, like I knew she would.If letting her have Daisy for a day or two can keep that smile onMaddie’s face and make her happy, I’m more than willing to do it.
I walk back over to Bryan and sit in one of the unoccupied chairs Emma must have brought in from the backyard. There’s a cooler beside it and I open it, checking its contents. Beers, juices, water bottles, and fresh fruits inside containers for the kids. I take out two bottles and pass one over to Bryan. He hesitates at first but finally takes it when I nudge it his way again.
After unscrewing our caps and both taking a sip, I finally ask what I’ve been wanting to know. “How is she really doing?”
He sighs deeply and looks down at the bottle, picking at the label. “Not great… It’s getting worse, and there’s not much more we can do. She stopped responding to treatment a while ago, and the cancer keeps spreading…” He clears his throat. His eyes peek my way before turning to his daughter while wearing a pained smile, and his nose begins to turn red. “They gave us one year at first. We’re now on year three…”
He takes a big swallow from his beer bottle, then leans his elbows onto his knees, his thumb and forefinger digging into his eye sockets. “I was hoping we’d make it to five. I knew there was no cure, I knew I’d eventually lose her, but I was hoping for five years. As much time as possible before I have to say goodbye to my little girl, too...”
His voice cracks and he lets out a tiny sob. It’s small and quiet but so powerful that my heart shatters at the sound. I place my hand on his back, rubbing soothingly up and down. There’s nothing I can say, nothing I can do to make him feel better, to make this situation better. Because the reality is he will lose her.
