Page 141 of Three Pucks and a Baby

Jerking her chin up, Hannah countered, “Beat me like he did Bennett? Or throw me out of the house like he did to Bennett?”

“Preach it, little sis,” Lindsey replied.

Mom pinched the bridge above her nose. “What has gotten into the two of you? How can you speak to me like this?”

“Sounds like love for their brother,” Laura piped up.

I whirled around to see her standing defiantly beside Vivian with her arm wrapped around Viv’s waist.

“You’re going to accept your daughter after this?”

“You’re damn straight I am. There’s nothing Vivian could ever do that would stop me from loving her.”

Mom’s eyes shuttered in pain. “But I do love Bennett,” she protested.

“You love a fantasy of me, Mom.” When she snapped her eyes open, I said, “The fantasy where I’m not bisexual or involved in polyamory.” I shook my head. “You love me with conditions whereas Laura’s love is unconditional.”

“I’m sorry, Bennett. But you can’t ask me to go against my beliefs.”

Shaking my head, I replied, “When it comes down to it, my sin is mine and yours is yours. No one is asking for you to carry my cross. The only thing I’m really asking is for you to love me like Jesus would.” As tears stung my eyes, I replied, “Unconditionally.”

Silence hung heavy in the air as Mom and I stared into each other's eyes. I don’t know if I’d ever seen such a myriad of emotions in them before or anyone else’s for that matter. “I don’t know if I can.”

Laura huffed a frustrated breath. “For a son as wonderful as Bennett, don’t you think it’s worth trying?”

“You don’t even know him,” Mom countered.

Narrowing her eyes, Laura said, “I know enough to know what a fine, upstanding young man he is.”

“Come on, Mom. Do it for us,” Hannah urged.

I’d resigned myself for her to walk away when she shocked the hell out of me by saying, “Okay.”

“Okay, what?” I pressed.

“I’ll try.”

“Seriously?” When she nodded, I said, “Does that mean you’ll stay for the baby shower? Because I can assure you that even if it turns out I’m not the biological father, I’m still going to be a father. In turn, you would still be a grandmother.”

“Yes, I’ll stay.”

Since I couldn’t find the words, I dove at Mom. Wrapping my arms around her, I said, “Thank you.”

A hiccuped cry came from close to my ear. “No, Bennett, thank you.” When I pulled away, tears filled Mom’s eyes. “Thank you for teaching me about mercy and forgiveness.”

“Anytime,” I whispered.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: THEO

Tonight was the night–the final elimination in the Frozen Four. A National Championship for Southeastern was so close we could practically reach out to touch it. But first, we had to get through one last game and face a team that was ranked just as good as we were.

For me, it wasn’t just a championship on the line. While there had been scouts from several NHL teams watching players throughout the championships, I’d been contacted this morning that the South Carolina Swarm out of Charleston would be deciding on me after tonight’s game.

As fucking stoked as I was at the prospect, I was also worried. Joining the team would mean a move to South Carolina, at least for the hockey season. I mean, I couldn’t possibly expect to uproot Vivian with a new baby. She needed her parents too much. And I had to think about the guys. At the same time, I couldn’t imagine being away from Vivian and the guys for months on end.

But I couldn’t say no to my dream. I’d never forgive myself. In the end, it wouldn’t be forever. And the crew could come out to see me, and I could go to them. We could make it work. Imean, we’d managed to make a foursome work. Surely we could have a long-distance relationship.

As we suited up in the locker room, electricity hummed in the air. When I dropped one of my gloves, Bennett reached over to grab it for me. “Steady on with those hands,” he teased.

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