Page 18 of Family First
“Sure.” He leaned close to Noah. “Members of the diabetes club stick together, and we have all kinds of cool things that your dads will never know about.” He waggled his eyebrows theatrically, and I felt a million times lighter when Noah laughed.
He laughed.
“Noah, you’re gonna make it work. You’ve just got to remember to look after yourself, keep track of your sugar, and never be shy about what you need to stay healthy. You do that, and there’s nothing that can stop you—on the ice or off it.”
“I have another question,” Noah asked, and now he sounded unsure, and shy.
“Go for it.”
“Can I still have things like pizza?” Noah’s voice was hopeful, and I couldn’t help but smile at the simplicity of his concern.
“Sure. It’s all about moderation, but there’s a ton of low-carb alternatives that I can talk to your dads about.”
Noah sat up a little, and I could see the spark of confidence in him.
This was what I needed to see, what Stan needed, and I would owe Oliver for this.
He left a little after three, leaving a ton of Thunder merch with Noah, Margo, and a tongue-tied Eva who had arrived sometime after dawn, who immediately donned the jersey with Cowen’s name on the back and did a whole lot of blushing.
Then with the girls off hunting for food in the cafeteria, it was just me, Noah, and Stan in the room.
“You okay?” I asked Noah, who nodded as he held the Cowen jersey wonderingly.
“I’m gonna play for the Railers,” he said, and passed the gift to Stan, who pretended to throw it in the garbage, only stopping when I snatched it out of his hands.
Laughing Noah was brighter, happier, and when Stan laced his hand with mine, I felt as if maybe we could handle everything.
They wouldn’t let us stay another night, or rather Noah demanded he wanted to be on his own, and the staff backed him up. Stan and I were reluctant to leave but when we were home and the girls were in bed, we hugged each other close.
And then it hit me what I needed to say.
“I want us to be there for Noah, for the girls. Always.”
He eased me away and tried to read my expression. “We will be,” he murmured.
“Nah, I’m done with hockey, Stan. I want something else now, and I know we should talk, but it’s time for me to stop.” I pressed a finger to his lips when he began to talk. “I’m retiring.”
ChapterNine
STAN
To say that I was shocked to my core would not describe how stunned Erik’s announcement had left me. Easing out of the embrace, I sat back, my eyes wide, and moved myself around a bit on the sofa to stare at him.
“This is…” I scrambled to locate the proper words. “When is… what is this news?” Ugh, that was so not good English. I mumbled in Russian then tried again. “What is this striking out of the blue?”
Erik, knowing the talk he had mentioned was likely going to start now, breathed out a lungful of air that seemed to go forever.
“I know it seems like it’s out of the blue, but it’s not.” He rose, waved at me to sit, and then padded off to the kitchen where I assumed he was going to make coffee. Two dogs took his place on the couch, furry heads coming to rest on my thigh. I sat there petting Bruno and Louisa. King was on the floor, his old hips keeping him from leaping up. I could sympathize.
I stared at the wall, lost in the suddenness of my husband’s decision. Erik returned with two cups of coffee, passed me mine, and then shooed the dogs to the floor. They went to their beds, but they were not pleased.
“So, yeah, I’m sorry I sprang that on you,” he confided, settling down then tucking a throw pillow under his left arm as he liked to do. It eased a lingering ache in his shoulder if he propped it, he claimed. “I know it must seem as if I just came to this radical decision but that’s not the case.”
“Then what is your case?” I asked, realizing my query sounded angry. I was not angry. I was stunned. Okay, maybe I was a little angry. Were married couples not to discuss major life decisions with each other before they were made? “I’m sorry to be sniping like irritated Chi-Chi dog but I am… how did you not talk with me about this before you just make snapping decision?”
“Iamtalking to you,” he declared softly, taking a sip of coffee, his beautiful eyes showing all the exhaustion he felt.
“Now. You are talking now after making the big announcing,” I snapped, my grip on my mug tightening. “I am not understanding how you make this call. Please, light me.”
