Page 43 of One Good Puck
“Oh, right.”
I watch the two of them chat and laugh as Emma tells Gavin about the game. I catch myself grinning hard at how attentive Gavin is. He looks genuinely interested in everything she’s saying.
“So how’s it going on the road?” I ask when Emma finishes talking.
“Pretty good so far,” Gavin says. “We won yesterday and the game before that. I’m hoping we can keep the streak going when we play Detroit tomorrow.”
I check the time. “Emma, honey, it’s time to get ready for bed.”
She makes a whiny noise. “Do I have to?”
“Yes, honey, you do.”
“But I wanna keep talking to Gavin.”
He starts to smile.
“I understand, honey, but you need to get some rest. Otherwise, you’re cranky in the morning, remember?”
She makes another whiny noise, but nods anyway.
“We can all FaceTime again tomorrow if you want, Emma,” Gavin says.
She perks up. “Okay! Bye, Gavin!”
“Bye, kiddo.”
She hops off the stool and takes her empty plate to the sink, then walks across the dining room and living room to the other end of the house, where her bedroom is.
“You don’t have to FaceTime with her tomorrow,” I say to Gavin. “I know you’re probably going to be busy.”
“I’d like to, if that’s okay with you.”
That warm feeling inside of me turns ooey gooey.
“Yeah, of course.”
A warm smile pulls at his lips. “I’m honestly happy to FaceTime whenever she wants. It’s nice to talk to someone on the phone instead of just texting, which is all people seem to want to do these days. Wow, I sound like an old man.”
I burst out laughing. “No, it’s sweet. And cute.”
I don’t miss the way his eyes light up when I say that.
“It was so sweet how excited you were about her drawing,” I say.
“It really did mean the world,” he says. “Sophie used to draw me pictures and cards when she was little, and I was traveling a lot to play. Nicole would hang them on the fridge and the mirror in our bathroom. It was always the best feeling, coming home to those little gifts she made me. Emma’s drawing reminded me of that.”
I go quiet, heartened by what he’s said.
He clears his throat. “Sorry, I hope it wasn’t weird that I said that…”
“Not at all. I’m so happy you feel that way.”
There’s a quiet moment where we just look at each other, smiling.
“Mom! I ran out of toothpaste!” Emma hollers.
Both Gavin and I chuckle.
