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“Or outright rejects me.” Oliver was just starting to feel worthy of love, thanks to Georgie. Would confronting Will unravel all his hard work? The worry made his chest ache.

“I’ve always thought I had nothing to lose because he’d already left us. I’d go in there, all guns blazing and tell him just how much he hurt me and Ma, but after reading her letter”—Oliver pawed the back of his neck, mussing his hair further—“it doesn’t feel appropriate to hate him anymore, and that’s…strange.”

Georgie toyed with her bracelet. “When do you think you’ll see him?”

Tossing the envelope on the coffee table, Oliver blew out his lips. “Soon, but not too soon. Let’s get our run-through with Amalia out of the way first and see if I still have a job afterward. Might sound odd, but I’d rather be gainfully employed when I meet him, so I’ve got some dignity to hang onto.”

“It’s not odd. I’d probably do the same thing. Can you wait a week, though?”

“After thirty-four years, a few more days should be a piece of cake. Hopefully.”

“Hope the icing’s worth it,” said Georgie.

Oliver widened his eyes. “Yeah. No kidding.”

“If I were you, I’d speak to him on a non-game day,” said Georgie. “Go before the post-work crowd arrives. It’ll be quiet.”

“Good to know.” Sweeping Georgie’s hair away from her eyes, he kissed her forehead.

“Don’t worry. I won’t say a peep. Not to Will or Michael. Anyone.” She glanced away. “I’ll probably steer clear of the bar for a while, anyway.”

“You don’t have to do that,” said Oliver. “Not on my account.”

“Oh, I’m not. I have exam prep to finish. Heading home after hockey is for the best.”

“Won’t people think something’s up?”

“No, my friends know January is pretty hairy at school.” She snuggled into his neck, and Oliver wrapped his arms around her.

“Georgie, I’m really freaking out about this.”

She held him tighter. “I know. It’s a huge step, but you’re not taking it alone. You have me.”

THIRTY-TWO

GEORGIE

Eight days later, Monday, January 18, 1993

Leafs record: 20 wins, 19 losses, 7 ties (in overtime)

Eyebrows raised, Principal Laporte leered around the doorjamb of Georgie’s classroom like something problematic lurked inside. “You’re early. Running behind?”

“No, the opposite.” Barely eight o’clock, Georgie had been at her desk for an hour, setting a personal precedent for the first day of exams. “My marking’s done, all upcoming lessons are prepped, so I’m free for extra tutoring.” Hoping she was hiding her exhaustion well, she looked up at the clock. “My next student will be arriving shortly.”

His demeanour brightened. “Oh, right.”

“How’s the pool going?” Georgie couldn’t resist asking. Her players had amassed a whopping twelve points over the weekend.

Adjusting his tie, Laporte glanced down the hall. “It’s not.” He couldn’t leave fast enough.

Georgie chuckled and resumed organizing a batch of marked assignments, but in the quiet, her mind drifted back to Oliver. She’d fibbed to him eight days earlier, blaming her avoidance of McNally’s on exam preparations. The truth was, knowing what she knew now, seeing Will felt…weird. Without knowing his side of the story, troubling questions nagged: Why hadn’t he sought out Oliver after Linnéa cut off contact? If his name was on the paternity document, wouldn’t he have legal rights to see him? And how does someone in that situation move on, knowing their son is out there somewhere? In all the years she’d known Will, he’d always seemed caring and dependable, but perhaps that was a smokescreen? Georgie fumed at the thought. She’d always considered herself a pretty good judge of character—until now.

Moving forward, she’d support Oliver in every way, even if it meant never stepping foot inside McNally’s again. So many happy memories had been made at the bar, but as Georgie knew better than anyone, sometimes the best things in life weren’t meant to last forever.

“Morning!” Eden’s loud arrival crashed through Georgie’s angst. Her friend glugged a Coke, a small burp escaping her throat. “Gawd, is it over yet?”

Sitting up straight, Georgie half-laughed. “I thought you loved this time of year: no classes, longer lunches?”