Page 84 of Like A Daydream
“Because he has half of them,” Andrew says, “I couldn’t bring all of them with me, so he ordered a few things. Plus, momma made really good breakfast.”
JT and Ainsley show up an hour later, bringing Sokka and one of JT’s gear bags full of presents.
Hockey bags, even when you don’t play as much anymore, are super convenient.
Harper launches herself at JT and Ainsley, hugging them tight as Sokka starts chasing Roscoe around the kitchen.
“Merry Christmas, everyone,” JT says, setting his bag down by the couch. He and Andrew exchange a ‘bro hug’ and Danielle kisses him on the cheek. “I’m glad you got in before the weather starts acting up, Andy.”
“I’m thinking about moving my flight back earlier,” he says, running a hand through his hair. “We’re playing Boston on Thursday.”
“This early in the season?” JT asks. “Usually those games aren’t until March, at least.”
“It just worked out that way, I guess,” Andrew says, shrugging. “Coach wants us back and ready for morning skate on the twenty-sixth.”
“Sad way to spend a holiday,” Ainsley says, “I get it, but still. I wish you had more time off.”
“Worth it for the off-season,” Andrew replies, hugging around Danielle’s waist. She’s gone quiet, and he knows it’s because she’s thinking about theinevitability of him leaving again. He kisses her shoulder, noses her jaw gently.
She offers him half a smile in return.
“Presents!” Harper says. “Come on, Uncle Jet! Dad says you have some for me!”
“Woah, when did the dad thing happen?” JT asks as Harper grabs for his bag. He lets her take it and she drags it across the living room floor.
“This morning,” Andrew says. He follows Harper and takes JT’s bag from her. “Alright, bug, there’s a specific way we have to do this.”
JT sits on the floor beside his bag, and pulls a box out of his bag, handing it to Harper. She tears at the paper quickly, revealing a kid-sized hockey helmet.
She looks up at Andrew, confused, and he hands her the next box. She tears at the paper, and opens a collapsible goal that Danielle can store in their shed in the back yard.
JT hands her another box, and Andrew does the same. Each package she opens reveals another piece of hockey gear. Socks, and pants, and foam practice pucks. A vintage-style Carolina jersey with his name and number on the back… until she finally gets to the final box. JT has one more thing hidden in his bag for her, but Andrew watches intently as she rips open the package in front of her.
The paper reveals the black Bauer logo. She opens it, wide-eyed, and pulls out a pair of red and black hockey skates.
“Skates?!” she shrieks, launching herself at Andy, and then at JT. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“You’re turning my kid into a hockey player,” Danielle says, grinning, “this was not what I signed up for.”
“She’s our kid, now,” Andrew says, grinning back. He kisses Danielle quickly. “It’s all fair game. Uncle Jet has one more for you, Harper.”
“This one you have to be really careful with,” JT says, reaching into his bag.
He pulls a kid-sized, left handed stick out of his bag and hands it over to Harper. He’s had her name printed on the blade, and she takes it like it’s the most precious thing she’s ever seen.
“We thought,” JT says, “that we could take you skating on the pond, if your mom’s okay with it.”
Andrew and JT both look at Danielle, who hesitates. “The ice –”
“We tested it before we came in,” JT says, “it’s solid, and will hold. But, if you don’t want us to, we can wait until the rink opens up again.”
“Please, momma?” Harper asks, eyes widening. “I want to play with Uncle Jet and Dad.”
“I won’t let anything happen, D,” Andrew says, voice soft. He takes Danielle’s hand in his and rubs his thumb over the back of it. “I promise.”
“You’ll stay right with her?”
“I swear.”
