Page 29 of Keeping it Real

“Oh.”Brooke looked even more dejected.“I don’t know.Brad spends the off days playing video games with some of the guys.He says it’s important to build camaraderie with his teammates.And I know it’s good for his mental health to check out and think about something other than hockey.”

“What about your mental health?”Sheridan surprised herself by interjecting.But really, Merriweather was all kinds of a douche.

“Sheridan’s right,” Claire said in a much softer tone.“You can’t do this all on your own.This team is your family while you’re away from home.If it helps, I can have Zach or my husband talk to Brad?”

Brooke’s eyes went round.“No!Please.I-I’m going to ask my mom to come out for a few weeks to help get us settled into the season.You don’t need to worry about me.I’ll get everything together.Brad will play at his peak.It’s all good.”

Claire drew in a slow breath.“Okay.Grandma to the rescue is always a good plan.And I know you can handle this.I want you to know you can always reach out, though, okay?How about I email you those names so you have them in your back pocket?”

It looked as if Brooke was going to say more, but all she did was nod.She shifted the still crying toddler to her other shoulder.Claire got to her feet.Freya joined them with the now quiet baby.

“He cried himself out,” Freya whispered.“I’ll put him in the nursery.”

“We should go back up,” Claire said after checking on Grace.

When Sheridan looked back at Brooke, her chest squeezed.The little boy was beginning to peter out, but he still had a death grip on the jersey his mother wore.His anguish reminded her of Finn at that age.Except it wasn’t his mother he wouldn’t let go of.It had been Sheridan.

Eight

Alek pressedthe garage door button on the visor of his Range Rover.The game had ended a little under an hour ago, and he was finally getting home after dropping Gus off.Because it was a school night, Claire left immediately at the buzzer, bringing Sheridan and Finn back to his place.

It’s their place now, too,he reminded himself.

“You never answered my question about how you’re feeling,” he asked his dad.It was their practice to chat by phone after each game.Not that Kirk Bergeron was one of those hockey dads who had to dissect his son’s play.He wasn’t.His dad was a mild-mannered history professor who preferred to talk game strategy.

“I’m feeling fine, Son,” his father replied.“I appreciate how much you care, but there’s no need for every conversation to circle back to my health.”

“Yeah, sorry.”Alek’s sister had warned him their dad was getting a little testy about the constant questions concerning his Parkinson’s.He loved his dad, though, and couldn’t imagine life without him.It was only natural that Alek worried.

He was also profoundly grateful for the thirty years he’d already had with his father.Finn wouldn’t know that for either of his parents.Neither would Sheridan.

“How did Finn enjoy the game?”his dad asked.

Alek pulled the car into one of the three bays in the garage.“He looked like he was soaking up every minute.”

Luckily, the Mayhem were able to pull out a win despite Alek’s mistakes that allowed three goals.Gus tore up the defense, scoring two goals and two assists.Valentine and Picard each added goals to put the Mayhem on top.

“Glad to hear it,” his dad said.“He needs a little joy in his life right now.”

“Agreed.”He cut the car’s engine.

“I’m proud of you, Alek,” his father said.“Proud of you for a great many things.But taking in Jamie’s son is a very magnanimous act on your part.Especially during hockey season.”

“It’s not like I had a choice.”

“Of course you did.Things could have been worked out legally with Sheridan.They would have been fine.”

Alek rested his head against the headrest.“Yeah, but it was like Jamie primed the kid for this.For me being a part of his life.I would have disappointed him if I kept him at arm’s length.”

“You would have disappointed Finn or Jamie?”

“I could give a shit about Jamie,” Alek snapped.“He was on the verge of bankrupting his family.He took advantage of his sister for years.Sheridan and Finn deserved better.”

“So did you.”

His dad’s words caught him off guard.Normally, he would have agreed.Except the betrayal and heartbreak hadn’t broken Alek.It had made him stronger.He was determined to do whatever it took not to let it break Sheridan and Finn, either.

“It’s getting late.Go replenish your body with some carbs and electrolytes.I’ll text you the link to that book about the Canadian railroad I mentioned.You might enjoy it on next week’s road trip.Love you.”

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