Page 88 of Second Round

We drove to Sophie’s hotel. They were leaving in the morning, and I had Charlotte’s suitcases in the trunk. When we turned around and looked in the back seat, Charlotte was fast asleep. I took off my jacket and laid itoverher.

“She’s had a busy time the past few days,” Iexplained.

Sophie smiled. “All this time together, I think it’s made you a betterfather.”

“I hope so. I thought I was a good dad before, but I wasn’t really doing any of the hard stuff. Everything that you’ve had to do all theseyears.”

Sophie shot me a look of surprise. “Wow.Merci.”

“She’s a great kid, that’s allonyou.”

“Well, to be truthful, my mother and yours have helpedalot.”

She was in a great mood, so I decided to roll the dice. “Sophie, there’s something I want to ask you—just to consider. I know that you and Wes are trying to figure out where to live, and I’m wondering if there’s any possibility it couldbehere.”

Her brow furrowed. “Ici?EnVancouver?”

I nodded. “Yeah. You guys are opening a hotel here,right?”

“Oui, mais...” She turned the idea over inhermind.

“Or maybe, if you have to live in the States, it could be Seattle. Things are booming there, I’m sure there arehoteljobs.”

“What’s this reallyabout,Leo?”

“I want to see Charlotte more often. She changes so much between visits, and she’s growing so fast. I want to be there for her all the time.” Sophie’s expression was unreadable, but at least she was listening. “I know it’s a lot to ask of you. But maybe it could be good for you too. If she was with me more often, you’d get more time alone with Wes. And if you guys havekidstoo....”

She frowned. I didn’t mean that Charlotte would be neglected, only that blended families need extra attention for allthekids.

Sophie shook her head. “Alors,why am I even considering this, as soon as we move here, you’ll be backouteast.”

“No. I can promise you that if you move here, I won’t move for at least threeyears.”

“Mais,how can you promise that now? Especially when you’re so close to the NHL. What if Montréalcalledyou?”

“Why would I go to Montréal if you and Charlotte were here? The biggest appeal is going home to my daughter, not my family or friends.” Our eyes met. “I’m changing, Sophie. I’ve seen the future, and I don’t want to be that lonely guy who put his job ahead of everything. I’m sorry I never realized thisearlier.”

I paused and was shocked to see her eyes shining with tears. I patted her hand. “I get it now. I should have consulted you more before I accepted the job in Shawinigan. I wasanass.”

Sophie tilted her head,listeninghard.

“But this new organization I’m with, I like them. They want me to coach the AHL team, but if it works out—and I’m gonna make sure it does—I can stay here and move up into their NHLorganizationtoo.”

I wasn’t giving up on my career, not after everything I’d already sacrificed. But I had realized that proving my team loyalty was important too. Staying in one place would be valuable to my career in thelongterm.

“Is all this about Jackie?” Sophieasked.

I shook my head and looked out into the city lights. “We broke up. I haven’t told Charlotte yet because I know she’ll beunhappy.”

“C’est dommage.” Sophie replied. “I liked her. Why did youdumpher?”

“It’s not like that.” I hesitated. It felt like a betrayal to even talk about Jackie so soon. “Merde.It’s complicated. I compartmentalize everything. I wasn’t willing to give enough ofmyself.”

“Ahhhh.” Sophie nodded. “Well, that might be my fault. I know I hurt you, Leo. I hope you can move past that someday. You’ve always been so...chimérique.”

She used a word which was hard to translate, but it was how I used to be. Young, idealistic, and foolish. Pretty much the opposite of what Jackie said last night. Perhaps it was a part of myself that I’d locked away forprotection.

One thing atatime.

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