Epilogue
Jeremiah
I remember the first game both of my girls attended. Charlie was only a couple of months old, and I’d worried that it would be too much for her, but Sadie bought her the most adorable pair of baby noise-cancelling headphones and promised she would go home if Charlie got overwhelmed or cranky.
I’d been nervous as hell. It was my daughter’s first ever hockey game and her first time watching Daddy play. There was a lot of pressure to do well, even though I knew she wouldn’t remember it at all. But I would.
As soon as I stepped out onto the ice for warm-ups, my eyes scanned the stands, only to find Sadie where she always was, right up on the glass.
Except this time, she had the most precious, little tot wrapped up in her arms. I had beelined straight to them, lightly tapping at the glass with my stick.
Sadie held Charlie up higher. Her wide brown eyes met mine and then she grinned at me, melting my heart into a puddle.
We won that night. Completely demolished the other team, and I couldn’t have been happier having my girls there to see it.
Now I was standing on the other side of the glass, and Charlie was the one in goalie gear skating onto the ice. I could see her eyes searching, and then there was that brilliant smile when she finally spotted me. More toothy than when she was a baby, but still just as heart-melting.
Then my other girl entered the rink. Zoe radiated confidence as she took her place on the bench, monitoring the kids as they warmed up and calling out reminders or compliments.
She’d just praised Charlie for a solid save when her eyes met mine.
The corner of her lips twitched up into a crooked smile.
She sent me a wink and then the game face was back on.
I’d gotten to see that exact face several times recently as Zoe faced off with other highly skilled players in the women’s rec league.
For our inaugural season, it was off to a great start, and I couldn’t wait to see how it grew.
But the greatest part was getting to see Zoe thriving on the ice.
It wasn’t easy for her to get back out there after all she’d been through and all she’d lost, but she did it, and I fell in love with her a little more each time.
“Which one is yours?”
I glanced over at the man who’d just sat down next to me, a toddler perched on his bouncing knee, no older than two with white blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. The father looked to be about the same age I had been when Charlie was that small.
I couldn’t help but smile as my gaze returned to the ice.
“The goalie and the coach.” I nodded to each of my girls in turn.
He let out a soft whistle. “Man. A goalie and a coach. You’ve got your hands full, don’t ya?”
“I do,” I admitted with a laugh. My chest still swelled with pride. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, though.”
Life may have taken a different route than the one I had planned, but damn if the view wasn’t just as stunning.