Page 175 of Wild Blades

“Da da,” Ollie gurgles again and kicks his legs up and down excitedly. He’s way too switched on for this time of night.

“Da da,” Wade sings joyfully, laying back on the mattress, then lifts Ollie into the air, with outstretched arms. “Who’s Daddy’s clever boy?” Wade throws him playfully in the air a fraction, catching him again, making Ollie giggle. “He said my name first,” Wade announces, sounding prouder than he did when he told me he made the Olympic hockey team.

“Yes, he did.” I chuckle to myself. Wade is a great dad. Changes diapers, carries him everywhere we go, and loves being silly and playful every minute he’s with Ollie.

I listen to Wade singing a silly nursery rhyme I’m sure he made up because I've never heard it before, and my heart expands in my chest at the way they are both laughing. God help me when Ollie gets older. It’ll be two against one.

“Oh fu––” Wade hollers as Ollie throws up the milk I thought would help settle him to sleep but didn’t, all over Wade’s new designer suit jacket.

“Well, that’s just rude.” Wade looks down at his chest then back up at a rather pleased with himself Ollie. “You are trouble, young man.” Wade lowers him down and I roll off the bed to lift Ollie out of Wade’s hands to let him go clean himself up.

“It’s brand new.” Wade grimaces, looking down at the curdled milk seeping into his black tailored suit.

“I’ll clean the worst out and the dry cleaner will get the rest.”

“It’s fine.” He looks up at me from where he is lying.

“In sickness and in health, huh?”

“Exactly.” Wade jumps to his feet. “Let me get changed, then I have a surprise for you both.” Wade cups my face and kisses my lips softly. “I missed you tonight.”

“I’ll be at the next game.” I never miss a game anymore. Tonight was an exception, and the next one is in the afternoon, which makes things a little easier on the threeB’s; bath, boob, bed. “Both of us will be there.”

Wade kisses my forehead, then the top of Ollie’s head. “Ask Mommy to put you in that cute sweatshirt with the hockey sticks on it and matching sneaks, eh?” Ollie gurgles in response. “Good man.” He chuckles.

I stare into Wade’s eyes. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

“Yeah, this morning.” A grin stretches across his lips. “I love you so much. I love how much you love us both.”

“I do love you both.” From sun up to sun down and everything in between.

“I have the best wife in the universe.”

“I don’t know about that.” I roll my eyes. Some days I feel like a wreck trying to juggle life, work, motherhood, breastfeeding, clients. I need a vacation.

“As soon as the season is over, we’re taking a month off and we’re going on a tropical holiday. Just the three of us. Sunshine, swimming, sleeping.”

That sounds amazing. “I can’t wait.” Imagining myself lying on a beach somewhere in the Maldives, I can already feel the sun warming my bones.

“We’ll book it tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

I point my chin at Wade’s chest as Ollie grabs my long hair. “Go sort yourself out, then show us what the surprise is.” Then bed. I may fall over otherwise. I’m dead on my feet.

Wade claps his hands then loosens his tie, walking off to the en suite. “It’s very exciting. Wait until you see what Grandpa bought you, Ollie.”

Marcus is trying. Hard. Has been since the day he announced Wade was his son.

Slowly we’re building our relationship back up, and he’s been begging me to take on the publicity for his businesses again which we have a meeting about next week. I’m going to say yes. Obviously. But I’ve been waiting for the timing to be right.

Waiting to see if he’s serious about doing the right thing by Wade.

So far there have been no hiccups, and he’s never let Wade or us down yet. He’s fully invested, visiting us at random times, has us around for dinner every week without fail, takes Ollie out for walks with little Freddie, Zane’s son and I can tell Wade appreciates that. So much. As do I.

It’s rather heartwarming to watch the relationship between them blossom.

The days Marcus and Zane show up to watch televised NHL games the Eagles aren’t playing in can get a bit rowdy though. On those days, I pop over to see Lola, who I love having across the street. With only three days between Ollie and his cousin, we’re tighter than sisters-in-law; more like sisters, which I love.

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