She blinked up at me, dark lashes and beautiful blue eyes. Just like her mama.
“Today…” I grinned. “Today is Daddy’s day with the Stanley Cup, and we’re going to have so much fun.”
She drank her milk, gulping it down with soft little suckling noises. “You see,” I said, carrying her over to the back door. We went outside, nestling beneath the “cabana.” It was Morgan’s favorite place, and I loved spending time out here. “It’s tradition. Each member of the team that wins the championship gets to have their day with the Cup. And today is mine.” I smiled. “Maybe one day, you’ll play hockey too.”
She grunted as I removed the bottle, gently patting her back to burp her. Even though she was eight weeks old, she still seemed so small. And yet, it felt as if she’d already grown and changed so much. She’d recently started smiling, and she was so expressive.
Sometimes she’d scrunch her nose in a way that reminded me of Bryn. At times, her stare could be so intense that it made me think of Derek. I saw Bryn, Derek, me, all of us wrapped up in this tiny little human.
I’d never felt as content as I was now. When she was resettled in the cradle of my arms, I resumed feeding her. Life was good, and I loved being a dad.
I felt so fortunate that Morgan had been born at the end of play-offs. I got to spend the off-season with my favorite girls, and I was soaking up every minute with them. My parents had come to visit, as had Bryn’s family, and everyone was so in love with Morgan. The Hawks organization had been so supportive, everyone showering us with love, food, and help. It was nice to have a community, a family, that was more than just a team.
“Do you think you’d like to play hockey, sweet girl?” I asked. “It’s in your blood and your name. You have the names of two famous hockey players.” I told her about Derek and what an amazing athlete and friend he’d been.
I still missed him. I wouldalwaysmiss him. Just as part of Bryn’s heart would always belong to Derek. But I also felt like he’d be happy for us—for the life we’d built, the home we shared, and the daughter we cherished.
Morgan made a little gurgling sound, and I traced her features, loving the way her eyelids fluttered shut every time I slid my finger down the slope of her nose. I could watch her all day.
“It’s too bad your mom didn’t agree with the middle name I wanted to give you.” I was joking, mostly.
Since Morgan had been born at the rink during the Stanley Cup finals, I’d suggested Stanley. But Bryn had had her heart set on Rose after her grandmother. Hell, after she’d given birth to our daughter—at the Atlas Center, no less—I would’ve given her anything she’d wanted. Still would.
After Morgan’s surprise entrance into the world, an ambulance had taken Bryn and the baby to the hospital to be checked out. She’d watched us win the Stanley Cup from the hospital, with Allie at her side.
I was just thankful that she and Morgan were okay. More than okay. Astrid had done a phenomenal job of keeping them both healthy. And I would be forever grateful to her for watching out for my girls. We’d invited her over for dinner a few times since, and she and Bryn had become friends, bonding over their shared interest in the medical field.
As always, our friends and family had been nothing short of incredible. They’d brought food, helped run errands, cuddled with Morgan so we could rest. Even Coach had stopped by, and he’d been smitten with Morgan. How could he not be? I glanceddown at my daughter, overwhelmed by the love I felt for this tiny human.
A breeze rustled the curtains surrounding the cabana, and I glanced around the backyard. The garden was in full bloom, and we spent a ton of time out here. A butterfly flitted from one flower to another, and I smiled.Hi, Derek.
The back door opened, and Bacon and Biscuit trotted out into the yard, Bryn behind them. The dogs curled up beside me, sniffing Morgan before lying down. From the moment we’d brought her home from the hospital, the dogs had been her protectors.
“Hey.” Bryn smiled, joining us. Her silk robe fluttered about her bare legs, giving me a tantalizing glimpse of her thighs. She looked so damn sexy. Motherhood suited her.
“Good morning, angel.” I leaned over to kiss her. “Did you get some rest?”
She nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
She looked more relaxed, and I loved seeing her well-rested and well-fed. She leaned against me as we both stared down at our baby girl.
Now that it was the off-season, I was trying to take as many of the night feedings as I could to give Bryn a break. I knew that once the season started again, I wouldn’t be around as much, and I wanted Bryn to rest and recover.
She was doing well, especially after how quickly everything had happened. She’d been cleared to resume physical activity at her six-week checkup, and she’d been slowly returning to her dance classes and gardening.
“You seem happy.” I could hear the smile in Bryn’s voice.
“I’m always happy when I’m with my girls.”
“And…”
“And,” I chuckled, “it feels like Christmas morning.”
We’d both been eagerly anticipating my day with the Cup. In the meantime, I’d enjoyed watching my teammates celebrate our win.
Gabe had taken the Cup to Disneyland and spent the day with several kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The pictures had been fucking adorable. Gabe looked as if he’d had as much fun as the kids. Boone had hosted an epic brunch at the Huxley Grand LA, where they’d filled the Cup with mimosas. Supposedly, the tab for that party had been six figures.
Bryn and I had discussed how we wanted to celebrate. While some players took the Cup to their hometowns, LA was the place that felt like home to us. So, we were going to start with a visit to the children’s hospital where Bryn worked, escorted by an NHL employee, of course.
