Page 124 of Hot Damn
Pulling back, I bring my hands up to frame her face. “No. Listen to me. She’s your person. No matter when, no matter what, she’s who you go to.”
“She’s right, Whitney.”
We turn to find Mom and Dad have joined us.
Turning to Beckett, Mom asks, “You give her an allowance?”
“Yes.”
“Can she get an advance on next months?”
“Ah…”
Holding out her hand, Mom demands, “Give me a dime.”
“I don’t have?—”
“I do.” Whitney pulls free of my hold and rummages in her pocket. “Here. It’s all I’ve got.”
Mom accepts the dollar bill and offers her hand to Whitney. “Consider me on retainer as your legal counsel.”
“I’ve my own lawyer?”
“Shake her hand, young lady, because you’re going to need someone to direct all the inquiries that are bound to head your way after today,” Dad says.
His words have my gaze darting to Beck. “You should have someone too.”
“Dana, you up for another client?”
“Speaking of that.” Nat steps forward. “I’ve got something I want to talk to you about, Dana.”
"Uh-oh, looks like my wife is about to work for the Rogues.”
Oakley slips her arm through Dad’s. “We do like to keep it in the family.”
“I hate to break this love-fest up but we’ve got things to do.” Blake grabs my hand. “First, we need to get everyone cleaned up so we don’t look like we’ve been dragged across the ice and forced to talk about how Bex and Whitney are a miracle born from a deplorable situation.”
“I wouldn’t call it deplorable,” Beck objects.
“Maybe not but what it was doesn’t matter. What matters is where the two of you are now.”
Blake’s words are true and give me an idea.
“What if we talk more about the steps you took in order to give yourself and Whitney the best life? We can talk about Mama Dot and her hand in getting you through those first years, the joy of making the NHL at nineteen and knowing you were reaching the goals you set to give your daughter the life she deserves.”
“Gloss over Catrina’s part?” Beck asks.
“Yes. We can add small details. Enough for those interested in more to be able tofind it.”
“They can look it up themselves.”
“Exactly.”
“Can we do some kind of disclaimer that we won’t be answering any other questions after this interview?”
“I think so, but you’ll get them regardless.”
“I figured.” Beck takes a deep breath. “Okay, let’s get this done so we can go home.”
