Epilogue - Connor
A roar of cheers erupted as I skated onto the ice, my heart thundering in my chest. The bright lights above made the ice shimmer, and for a moment, I couldn’t quite believe this was real. My first junior hockey game. The start of something I’d dreamed about for as long as I could remember.
I took a slow lap around the ice, nodding at the crowd, feeling their energy surge through me. And then it hit me–the name. My name. Connor Barzal.
As I lined up with my teammates, a flood of memories rushed back to me, vivid as if they were happening all over again.
Four years ago, the morning of the wedding.
I’d been getting ready with Ryan and Shane while Mom was upstairs, probably fussing with the final touches of her dress.
She didn’t know what I was about to do, but we’d talked about it a few weeks earlier, and I couldn’t keep it inside any longer.
I knew how she felt about the name Bishop, though she’d never admit it.
She didn’t want to carry it any longer, not after everything my dad put her through.
But she hadn’t changed it, not wanting me and her to have different last names.
It wasn’t fair. She deserved to let go of that part of her life, just like I did.
Ryan had been standing in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie, looking more nervous than I’d ever seen him. Shane had been trying to joke around, easing the tension, but couldn’t hide how antsy he was. It wasn’t just a big day for Ryan and mom; it was a big day for all of us.
“Hey, Ryan?” I said, pulling the folded piece of paper from my pocket, my hands suddenly clammy.
Ryan turned to me, brows furrowing as he saw the serious look on my face. “What’s up, bud?”
I handed him the paper, my fingers trembling slightly. “I wanted to give this to you before the wedding.”
Shane, who’d been tying his shoes, stopped and looked up curiously as Ryan unfolded the paper.
I could see Ryan’s eyes scanning the words, and then, for a moment, everything went still.
His expression froze–blank at first–but then his jaw dropped just a little, and his eyes lifted to meet mine, his eyes already glassy.
“Connor…” His voice cracked as he spoke. “This is a–”
“A petition for a name change,” I cut in, finishing his sentence for him. “I want to be Connor Barzal. I know Mom doesn’t want to keep Bishop, but she won’t change it because of me. But I think we should all have the same last name, you know? We’re a family.”
Ryan’s hand flew to his mouth, his shoulders trembling as he fought to keep himself together. He lowered the paper slowly, his eyes welling up with tears that he couldn’t hide. “Are you sure about this, kid?” his voice cracked, thick with emotion.
I nodded, my throat tight. “Yeah. You’re my dad now. You’ve been my dad for a while. I just want it to be official.”
For a moment, Ryan didn’t say anything. He just stood there, staring at me as though he couldn’t believe what I’d just said. Then, without warning, he pulled me into the tightest hug I’d ever felt, his hand cradling the back of my head like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go.
“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice raw. “You have no idea what this means to me.”
From across the room, Shane cleared his throat loudly. When I looked over, I saw him wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to look like he wasn’t crying.
“Damn kid,” Shane grumbled, his voice gruff. “You’re gonna ruin my tough-guy image.”
Ryan and I both chuckled, pulling away from the embrace. Ryan glanced back down at the petition, then back at me, his smile so wide it almost seemed like it would split his face in half.
“I promise I’ll do everything I can to be the dad you deserve, Connor. You’re stuck with me now.”
“That’s kind of the point,” I said, grinning back at him.
The moment still brought a lump to my throat as I skated into position on the right wing. Connor Barzal. It felt right. It felt like home.
The final buzzer sounded, and we’d won. My first junior game, my first time on the starting lineup, and we’d pulled off the win.
My legs felt like jelly as I skated off the ice, but my heart was soaring.
The roar of the crowd still vibrated in my ears as I stepped out of the tunnel, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Before I could even take it all in, a high-pitched voice cut through the noise. “Connorrrr!”
I barely had time to brace myself before a tiny blur launched into my arms. Laughing, I scooped up my little sister, Sloane. Her dark curls bounced as she flung her arms around my neck, her small face glowing with pride.
“You were so fast!” she exclaimed, her voice full of wonder. She planted a sloppy kiss on my cheek, leaving behind a trail of drool and giggles.
“Thanks, kiddo,” I said, hoisting her higher on my hip. “I had to be fast. I knew you were watching.”
She giggled, and my heart squeezed. At three years old, she was already my biggest fan.
I couldn’t believe I was here–on this team, at this arena–already being scouted for the NHL. My dream felt closer than ever, and I knew I wouldn’t be here without them.
Ryan always said I’d make it, and Mom… well, she just believed in me. No matter what.
This dream wasn’t just mine. It belonged to all of us. To my mom, who taught me how to be strong. To Ryan, who showed me what it meant to be loved unconditionally. To our family, who made me believe anything was possible.
I looked up to see Ryan and Mom walking toward me. Ryan’s stride was confident, his smile wide as he slapped a hand on my shoulder. “That was a hell of a game, kid,” he said, pride thick in his voice.
I grinned at him, my chest swelling with emotion. “Thanks, Dad.” The word came out so naturally, it felt like I’d been saying it forever. His expression softened, and his eyes misted just slightly.
Mom stepped forward, her face glowing with pride. She reached up to pull me into a hug, careful not to jostle Sloane. “You should be so proud of yourself, Connor,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “You’ve worked so hard for this. You’ve earned every second of it.”
I wrapped my arms around her, holding on just a moment longer than usual. “Thank you, Mom,” I said, my voice quieter now. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
She started to shake her head, her humility evident, but I didn’t let her brush it off.
“No, really,” I insisted, my voice firm but full of love.
“I know everything you’ve done for me. I know what you went through with–” I hesitated, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“With him. And I know there were times you felt like you were failing me. But you didn’t, Mom. You never did.”
Her breath hitched, and I could feel her hands tightening on my arms as I continued.
“You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known,” I said, my voice faltering slightly.
“You made a life for us when everything was falling apart. You gave me a home. A family. You gave me Dad, Sloane, all of this. You’ve always done everything for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have you as my mom. ”
Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she cupped my cheek, her thumb gently brushing my skin. “Connor,” she said, her voice trembling, “you are my everything. You always have been. And seeing you out there today… you’ve made me so proud. So, so proud.”
I hugged her again, squeezing tight with Sloane between us. She giggled, adding a lightness to the moment. Over her shoulder, I caught Ryan’s gaze. His eyes were suspiciously shiny.
As we pulled apart, I looked around at my family–my mom, my dad, Sloane. The people who had shaped me, who had stood by me through it all.
In my heart, I knew I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
This was my team. My family. My home. This is exactly where we belong.