Page 92 of Like A Daydream
Danielle fits herself into his side, holding tight so she doesn’t slip on the ice. Andrew sets Harper down, and she hooks a hand onto his pants.
A reporter with ESPN on his microphone approaches them from the team bench, anxious to get a word from the captain as the rest of the team celebrates with whoever has made it onto the ice.
Harper hides her face behind his leg, and he’s glad. Andrew doesn’t want his daughter on national television just yet.
“Andrew,” the reporter says with a grin. He hears his voice echoing around the rink and knows he’s on the jumbotron being interviewed. “What a phenomenal end to a spectacular season! Can you give us some thoughts on tonight’s game?”
“We just played our game,” Andrew says with a grin, “the boys and I… we’ve worked hard to get back to this game, and I think it showed in the way we played tonight.”
“And it must have felt nice to have a little bit of redemption from last year,” the reporter says.
Andrew is nodding before he even finishes his statement. “It’s the best feeling in the world to come back from a really, really low place and end up on top like this. I’m really thankful to my team, and the coaches for keeping me and giving me another chance.”
“Any plans for this year’s off season?”
“Well,” Andrew says looking down at Danielle. She’s staring up at him with pride in her eyes and he can’t help but grin at her before looking directly back into the camera. “I’m getting married, and I’m retiring.”
“Can you say that last part again?”
“I’m retiring,” Andrew says, “today was my last game. I’m glad that we were able to pull out a win.”
“Fishy!” Petrov yells. “Get over here, they’re clearing the ice!”
He looks at Danielle, and she takes Harper’s hand.
“We’ll be outside the arena when you’re off the ice,” she says with a smile. “Go have your moment, Captain. We aren’t going anywhere.”
“Damn right you’re not,” he says, kissing her one more time. He makes sure they get back over the boards safely before he skates away to join his team.
He leaves the reporter stunned behind him.
He never said he was too proud to cry.
Andrew gets a picture with Coach and the cup, and then he lifts it over his head and skates around the rink with it. The fans erupt in to cheers, and someone starts chanting “Thank you Fisher!” at the top of their voice.
The rest of the crowd joins in as he skates, eyes blurring as he lowers the cup to his face so he can kiss it, hoisting it above his head again.
When he reaches his team again, he kisses the Cup one more time and passes it off to his Alternate Captain, Jacobs, who skates away.
Andrew falls to his knees on the ice, the emotions overwhelming him as he cries. Different feelings had sloshed around his stomach like a weighty cocktail before finally bursting forth into tears.
“You good, Fish?” Petrov asks.
Andrew nods. “Just needed a second, that’s all.”
He looks up into the stands, only to see Ainsley, Danielle, JT and Harper watching him. Danielle and Ainsley have tears in their eyes, JT is holding Harper in his arms.
He presses his fingers to his mouth, blows them all a kiss, and waves. He knows he couldn’t have done this without them.
Later, Andrew exits the arena, bag over his shoulder, jersey buried inside, and he walks right into the arms of the girl who’ll have his heart for the rest of his life.
Harper hugs around his waist, and he knows that he would take his little family over hockey any day of the week.
Thirteen years later:
Andrew:
“Dad.”
