Chapter 38 #2
Sadie nods politely, and I’m simply in awe of her. How can she be cordial to people who are so damn rude? I never should have made her come here. I’m uncomfortable and I’ve known them for all of five minutes.
Willow’s fiancé takes this moment to join us, and Sadie’s parents’ eyes light up the moment they see him.
“Now, here is a man to be proud of. Duncan is a neurosurgeon.”
Ignoring his jab at me, I reach my hand out to Duncan and we shake hands. “That’s fantastic. It must be very fulfilling to help so many people.”
Willow giggles next to him and Duncan does his best to stifle his own laugh. I must have missed the joke.
“Sure. The paycheck doesn’t hurt either.”
Sadie’s sister chimes in. “That’s for sure.”
Unsure of what to say, an awkward silence falls over the group. That is until Dickhead Doug starts talking again.
“Nick here was just telling us he plays hockey for a living.”
“It’s Niko.” I barely recognize my own voice. It’s only two words but they’re laced with so much venom, I don’t miss the way her parents blanch at my tone.
Sadie squeezes my arm, pulling my attention to her, then looks up at me proudly. “And he’s the captain of the team, actually.”
“Aren’t hockey players, like, the lowest paid athletes? Too bad he’s not a baseball or football player. They make the big bucks,” Willow interjects.
I’m recognizing a theme here. I’m not surprised it’s all about the dollar signs with these people. I don’t bother telling them I am one of the highest paid NHL players of all-time. I’m sure it would fall on deaf ears.
Sadie turns to her family and she’s about to speak up, but her father cuts her off.
“Of course you’d end up with an athlete. You never wanted to further your education. It makes sense you’d find someone with the same values as you. Or lack thereof.” He releases a humorless laugh. “Always making poor life decisions, aren’t you, Sadie?”
Sadie inhales a sharp breath. I look down to see tears forming in her eyes.
My anger is barely controllable at this point. I’m about to tell him off when Sadie’s mother steps in.
“Now, Doug. No need to remind Sadie of her shortcomings. Maybe she’s gone and grown up since the last time we’ve seen her.” She turns to Sadie and tilts her head. “Have you found yourself a real job yet, dear? Or are you still teaching people how to stretch?”
Willow, Duncan, and Doug all laugh to themselves, but I don’t miss the way their judgmental eyes turn to Sadie.
Fuck. This.
“First off, I don’t give a fuck what any of you think about me, but you will not speak to Sadie like that. Do I make myself clear?”
I watch as Margaret’s eyes widen and Doug’s face turns crimson.
“Excuse me. This is my house. You can’t come here and—”
I cut him off. “No. You don’t get to talk. I’m not done.” I pull Sadie tighter against my side and feel her relax into me.
Everyone around us is quiet. I’ve gained the attention of the entire party, but I don’t even care. I hope they all heard every word. Fuck all of them for making her feel this way.
“Second, considering how smart you all think you are, you sure don’t know much about what Sadie actually does for a living.”
Duncan, just as stupid as his future father-in-law, chooses this moment to make another ignorant comment. “Isn’t yoga just stretching and, I don’t know, relaxing? Doesn’t seem like a formidable profession to me.”
If looks could kill, I’m sure the one I’m shooting at this moron would do the trick.
“No, Duncan. It’s about focus. It’s about concentration.
It can enhance both strength and endurance.
Yoga helps improve body mechanics and awareness, which can significantly reduce the risk of injury.
And if we do get injured, it can help speed up recovery time.
It not only helps professional athletes prepare mentally for their games, but it also helps us tremendously in terms of our physicality and recovery. ”
The asshole rolls his eyes, but I don’t waste another breath on him. I move my attention to the two people who are supposed to love and support Sadie no matter what.
“Your daughter is incredible. How can you not see that? She’s selfless.
She has an amazing heart. And she’s so much more than just a yoga instructor.
She makes everyone around her better. Maybe you should’ve fought harder to keep her in your life because you could use someone like her around.
Your family doesn’t even bother to check in on her, and yet the first thing she does when she gets here is help her sister.
I feel sorry for you. All of you. You’re the ones missing out.
Because Sadie is the best fucking person I know. ”
I look down and see a smile on my girl’s face. “You ready to go, Kulta?”
She looks up at me and I almost fall to my knees right there. So strong. So beautiful.
“I am.”
I take her hand in mine and walk around her parents who are still standing there, stunned silent. We take a few steps but her father’s voice stops us.
“What happens when he gets hurt and can’t play anymore? Then what will you do? Lord knows yoga can’t support you. How could you be so stupid?”
I see red.
Turning around, I take one step forward and raise my fist, ready to pummel this prick, but Sadie’s hand stops me.
“Don’t.”
I force myself to relax my arm and Sadie steps in front of me.
“You just don’t get it, Dad. There’s more to life than mansions and money. I wish you could see that, but I know you’ll never change. I’m happy. I wish that mattered to you.”
She shakes her head and just when I think she’s about to break down in front of everyone, she lifts her chin.
“I’m going to turn around and walk away now. I don’t ever want to hear from you again. If there ever comes a day when you can accept me for who I am, then maybe we can talk. But until then, I’m done.”
Sadie turns around, grabs my hand, and we make our exit.
I am so fucking proud of her.
Fortunately for us, no one else is leaving, so the valet gets my vehicle for us quickly. I open the door for Sadie and she takes a seat. We’ve been here less than an hour but she looks exhausted.
I grab her seat belt and reach across her, buckling her in. Once she’s secure, I don’t immediately make a move to close her door. Instead, I gently place my hand on her cheek and turn her face toward mine.
“Are you okay, baby?”
She doesn’t answer me. She places her forehead against mine and closes her eyes. I’m not sure how long we stay there like that, but when she finally pulls away, she looks me in the eyes.
“I’ll be okay. Can we go home now?”
Home.
I lean down and kiss her on the tip of her nose. “Of course.”
Closing the passenger door, I round the front of the vehicle and make my way into the driver’s seat.
It’s a quiet drive home. My hand doesn’t leave her thigh for the entire drive. I’m not sure what to do or say, but I need her to know she’s not alone.
Besides the sounds of Alex Warren playing through the speakers, neither of us say a word until we’re almost back to Green Bay.
“Thank you,” Sadie says.
I turn the music down using the buttons on my steering wheel so I don’t have to move my hand from her leg.
“You don’t need to thank me. I wanted to tell your parents off the moment you told me about them. You did me a favor bringing me to that party. I’m just sorry it had to happen at all.”
Sadie grabs my hand from her thigh and laces our fingers together. She shrugs her shoulders and leans back against the head rest.
“I’m used to it. I’ve been a disappointment to them my whole life.”
Hate is a word I don’t use often. Hell, I don’t even use it to express how I feel about my ex-wife. But I think I might hate Sadie’s parents. How could anyone continuously put down a person like that? Especially their own daughter.
“Hey.” I pull the car to the side of the dirt road we’re on and put it in park.
I want to give her my full attention. She doesn’t lift her head but she turns to look my way.
“I meant every single word I said to them. You’re the furthest thing from a disappointment.
Sophia and I are beyond lucky to have you in our lives. ”
She smiles softly at me. “Thanks. I feel pretty lucky to have the two of you too.”
I squeeze her hand and pull back onto the road.
The last twenty minutes of our drive, I’m lost in my own thoughts. If I could hardly stand ten minutes in her parents’ presence, I don’t know how she’s dealt with them her entire life. She’s even stronger and more amazing than I thought.
I wish I could show her how in awe I am of her. That she’s changing people’s lives and making a difference. What she does is important. She is important. I want every single one of her dreams to come true.
And I’ll stop at nothing to make sure it happens.