Page 14 of One Kind Goal

“Hey, if we were all good at the same things, this would be a boring planet, wouldn’t it?” Isabel asked. “That’s why some of us can play hockey and some of us can run resorts.”

Morgan wished she had established what she could do so Isabel wouldn’t have had to strategically leave her out of that list of talents. Even this boy sitting next to her knew what his passion in life was.

“The important thing,” Sawyer said, “is that your dads support you, right?”

Zack nodded. “They always cheer the loudest when I score a goal.”

“Nice.” Sawyer smiled at the boy and his father, and Morgan could tell he was thinking about Nia. He wanted a relationship like these two had. He deserved to have it too. Morgan had no doubt Sawyer would give his daughter everything she could possibly want and more.

“Could we get a picture and maybe a quick autograph?” the dad asked. “Then we’ll leave you alone.”

“Sure,” Sawyer said.

“Hop on over to his side of the table,” Morgan said, “and I’ll take a picture of the three of you.”

“And I think I have a sports magazine that has you in it in the rec room next door, Sawyer,” Isabel said. “That will be great to sign for Zack. I’ll be right back.” She dashed off as Zack and his dad each took a seat on either side of Sawyer.

Morgan picked up the dad’s phone. “What’s your name, Dad?”

“Oh, sorry,” he said, blushing a little. “In working up the nerve to come over here, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Sean.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Morgan,” she said.

“Where are you both from?” Sawyer asked.

“Wisconsin,” Sean and Zack said at the same time.

“We’re here on a little getaway,” Sean said. “It’s school vacation for Zack. Unfortunately, the third member of our family couldn’t get time off, so he’s still in Wisconsin, working his butt off and probably grumbling about it the whole time.”

“That’s why I want to be a hockey player when I grow up,” Zack said. “Then I’ll never feel as if I’m working.”

Sawyer held up his hand for a high five which Zack gave him. “That’s why the job is called hockey player and not hockey worker.” That grabbed a chuckle from everyone at the table. “Seriously though, it is work too. Practices and keeping in shape and traveling around and long hours on the ice all call for some . . .” He peeked up at Morgan. “Some sacrifices.”

The crease of Sawyer’s brows made her chest ache. How the hell did that Carina chick not give in to letting him see his daughter more? Those sad, hazel eyes of his would work on Morgan every damn time.

“Let’s get this picture,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. “Say hockey.”

All three of them looked up at her and smiled while saying the word. Morgan took a few shots then gave the phone back to Sean.

“Oh, these are great,” he said, handing the phone to Zack. “He’s going to love showing them to his teammates.”

“They’re going to be so jealous that I met you, Mr. Lundin.” Zack’s smile stretched from ear to ear.

Isabel returned with the magazine. “Found it!” She flipped it open to a full-page picture of Sawyer in his RI Anchors jersey, his helmet tucked under his left arm and a pair of skates draped over his right shoulder.

Morgan had actually seen that picture before. Possibly she had that magazine stashed in the bedside table in her bedroom back home. Right next to the vibrating friend she also kept in that table. Not that she would admit that aloud to anyone.

“I have a marker too.” Isabel placed a fine point, black marker on the table.

“Wow, Pine River Cottages Mountain Resort has everything its guests may need, doesn’t it?” Morgan pulled Isabel onto the bench beside her. “I think we need another picture by that resort sign over there that can be posted to social media.”

Isabel clasped her hands together and peeked at Sawyer. “That would be amazing, if you don’t mind.”

Sawyer finished signing his name on the picture and slid the magazine toward Zack. “I don’t mind if Sean and Zack are up for it.”

“Fine with us!” Sean said.

“Yeah!” Zack closed the magazine and picked it up as if it were a sacred artifact.