Page 25 of Slap Shot

Me

Yeah. She wants to see Lucy, and then I’m going to dive into apartment hunting. I started planning out a menu for you, and I figured we could meet next week.

Hudson

Let’s do Thursday. I have the morning off.

Me

Sounds good!

Hudson

Text me when you land and get settled.

Me

Will do. Thanks, hockey guy.

Hudson

You’re welcome, knife girl.

The flightback to DC goes much faster when I have Lucy with me. The two weeks I’ve spent at home were jam-packed, and I barely had a second to breathe.

Between getting everything ready for the move, selling my car, packing our lives into a handful of suitcases, reviewing mydivorce and child support paperwork, enrolling Lucy in school, and researching nutrition for athletes, it doesn’t surprise me four and a half hours pass in the blink of an eye.

It was Lucy’s first time on a plane, and I spent the majority of the flight signing to her about the clouds and the sunset outside our window. She was ecstatic about the snack options, and the flight attendant was sweet enough to load us up with a bag to take off the plane.

The extra pretzels turned out to be a godsend, because it’s Friday evening, and we’re stuck in rush hour traffic. The streets are packed with cars and commuters trying to get home and out of the city, and Lucy is becoming more and more irritated in her booster seat in the back of our Uber.

I’m hungry.

I rest my hand on her knee.I know, baby. We’re almost there, and I promise we’ll get some food soon.

Do we have a house?

Not yet, but I’m going to figure that out on Monday. Until then, we’re staying with Miss Piper. She’s the nice lady from the hockey game a couple months ago. She gave you the Stars jersey you love to wear.

Lucy lights up.She’s the one who signs too?

That’s her.

I liked her, Mommy.

So did I.

Piper’s been nothing but helpful in the days that have passed since I accepted Hudson’s offer. She’s sent me apartment listings and pointed out areas in the city to avoid. She set up the second guest bedroom in their home for Lucy and even put a stuffed animal against the pillows. She’s answered every question I’ve had without any irritation, and I’m beginning to wonder if she’s an angel.

After what feels like hours on the road, our driver finally pulls up in front of Liam and Piper’s place. He’s kind enough to help unload our suitcases on the sidewalk, and I’m going to make sure to tip him more than 20 percent.

He deserves all the money in the world for not batting an eye at my antsy daughter in the backseat of his luxury Volvo. For having a spare booster seat and letting us borrow it after I realized I left ours back in Vegas.

The October wind whips through the air, and I shiver. The temperature is cooler than back home, and I’m regretting my choice of linen pants while I try to wrangle all our bags together.

Go wait inside, I tell Lucy, and she frowns.

I want to help.

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