Page 7 of Uniquely in Love

She punched me in the arm. “It’s about time.”

Wrapping her up in a bug hug, I held her tight against my chest. “I know. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

“How long are you staying in town for?”

I looked over at Ellie, sandwiched in the middle of her two siblings. God, I was supposed to be getting over her, and yet one look at her, and all I wanted was to orbit her like the sun.

“A few days, maybe?” Though that depended on a lot of things.

Penelope pouted. “Don’t you get the summer off from hockey? You should stay for a few weeks. It would be good for you. You’ve barely spent any time in Portland the last few years.”

“I know,” I sighed. “I’m sorry, sis.” She was right. Ever since I’d gotten drafted to the NHL and made my debut on the Seattle Seals, I’d barely come home. More often than not, my family had come up to spend the few days I got off for Christmas with me. Grabbing the wrapped package I’d set on the island, I handed it to her. “This is for you. I’m so proud of you, Penelope.”

Her eyes were watery. “Owen…”

“Just open it.” I tapped on the wrapping paper.

She did, finding a leather-bound notebook inside with her name embossed on the cover.Penelope Elaine Harper.“It’s beautiful,” she gasped.

“For you to write your story ideas down in,” I said. I’d had it custom made, and I really hoped she liked it. “And there’s something else inside.”

I’d found a beautiful necklace of a little book that opened and a message could be inscribed inside. She let out a small gasp as she pulled out the gold chain, opening the little hinge to see what was written in it.More than words.My parents always said it to each other, a little phrase that meantI love you,and I’d had that engraved because I knew how much it would mean to her..

“Thank you. I love it.” She wiped away a tear, opening up the clasp before putting it on. “Guess I forgive you for not seeing my ceremony earlier.”

I laughed. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“Good.” She nodded. “I have to show mom!” Squealing, she headed for the kitchen, and I joined her, shoving my hands in my pants pockets.

A lot of my friends throughout college and my teammates on the NHL didn’t understand how I was soclose with my family, but my parents were some of the best people I’d ever met. They were both so supportive of Penelope and me with all our dreams, even when she’d told them she’d wanted to follow in mom’s footsteps as a writer and with me playing professional hockey.

I grinned as my mom opened her arms for a hug. “Hi, Mom.”

“Hey, baby.” My mom squeezed me tight before pulling back. “How’s Seattle?”

“Good,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. She always smelled like baked goods, and the scent made me feel like a kid again. It took me right back to all the afternoons spent studying in her bookstore & coffee shop, surrounded by all the cousins and siblings who currently filled the living room. “Not that much different from Portland, really.” Especially considering how much I traveled throughout the year.

“Hey, Dad.” I grinned.

My dad was the best man I knew, and I’d learned everything from him. He was a college athlete, too, playing basketball, but he hadn’t gone pro afterwards. And I knew that even though he’d wanted me to graduate from college with my degree, he’d understood why I couldn’t turn down my chance to join the NHL and play for the Seals.

“It’s good to have you home, son.”

I nodded. “I’ve missed you guys. You’re going to come up for some games this year, right?”

They’d come up a few times each year, and they were some of my favorite games. I loved knowing they were in the stands cheering for me.

My parents nodded, but it was dad who responded. “Yeah. Of course we will. I know we were planning on coming up for Thanksgiving. We’re still trying to figure out Christmas, too.”

“Yeah. Maybe I could come down this year?” I offered. “Schedule pending, but I could drive down after the lastgame.”

My mom was practically beaming. “I’d love that.”

Dad pushed a strand of mom’s hair back behind her ear. “Of course you would, sunshine.”

“Sorry if I just want to have all my babies in one place,” she muttered, patting his stomach. “Even your sister is planning on spending it in Portland this year.”

My dad’s sister, Tessa Harper-Graham, was married to my mom’s cousin, Oliver. She was an actress, and they spent part of their time each year in California, and part here with the family. They had two daughters: Avery and Fiona. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d all been in town for the holidays.

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