Page 96 of Pucking Fate

Finley’s head lifts, the ball forgotten. “I wish we could take this house and everything else with us.”

“Everything inside would come along,” I explain. “Just not the house.”

“We could find another house near them, right? So that we could see them every day?”

“We would definitely find a place to live near them, and you would probably see them most days.”

“Could we go to all the Bobcats’ home games like we did the Warhawks?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then I want to go!” He finally takes a shot at the ball, but I stop this one with my stick and shoot it back to him.

“You would have to go to a new school and make new friends,” I tell him.

Flashing a confident smile that looks identical to Christian’s, he says, “I like making new friends. It’s not like it’s hard.”

“Okay. Well, we would have to move soon too, before school starts.” He takes another shot that slips by me on the left.

“Yay!”

“Nice one!” I remark in honest admiration. “Do you think you could help me start packing up all your toys and games?”

“And hockey sticks and pads?”

“Of course, those too,” I assure him. “I’m sure they have hockey leagues for your age in North Carolina, too.”

“When do we leave?” he asks.

“Ah, I don’t know yet. As soon as everything is packed up?”

Tossing his stick down, Finley runs to the porch. “Then let’s go, Mommy!”

Laughing, I pick up his stick and carry it with mine to the collection. “First, we’re going to need lots of boxes. I bet we could find some today. I just need to make a few phone calls…”

One to the retirement home and one to Bree first and foremost.

I hate turning down the job offer, but I’m doing what’s best for me now. Me and Finley.

We’re moving to North Carolina.

Oh, the list of things we need to do is going to be so long, starting with finding movers for the furniture, then choosing a school in Greensboro that is still accepting admission, finding a house or an apartment…

But there’s no longer any tightness in my chest. No fear or hesitation at the thought of doing those things. My only concern was how Finley would handle giving up our life here. Since he only seems excited about the change, I’m feeling confident about this decision.

In fact, I’m certain that everything is going to work out just fine for us.

Christian

Tonight is an exhibition game at home, the first of the season. The veterans play against the rookies, including the local minor league team. While it’s mostly for fans, and a way for the coach to fill any last roster spots, it’s also a way to raise money for the local children’s hospital. It feels good to help a worthy cause. The entire team has been buzzing with excitement all week, ready to get back on the ice.

While I love playing in front of the home crowd, I’m missing my two favorite fans. Not seeing them every day after getting back from Georgia has been agonizing. At least I’ll see them in the morning. Since tomorrow is Finley’s first day of school in Bethesda, I’m driving up after the game to be there so I can walk him in with Maya.

Still, I wish they were both here tonight. And that I hadn’t missed school shopping.

“You look like shit,” Preston remarks as he skates up to me when we take the ice for warmups.

“Thanks, asshole.”

---