Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
I make my way down to the basement as quietly as I can, hoping to go undetected so I can look in on the girls without them noticing.
As I tiptoe down the steps, the sound of Sadie’s laughter floats up to me and it still has the same effect it did a year ago. My heart rate picks up and my stomach bottoms out.
I still can’t believe she’s mine.
Peeking my head into the window of the yoga studio, I see the two of them in the cat pose position, Princess Sparkle and Kevin climbing on their backs without a care in the world.
Yes, yes, I did finally cave and get my daughter and fiancé—god, I love that word, fiancé—their very own baby goats. Can you guess who named them?
Princess Sparkle tumbles off Sophia, and within a second she’s leaping from the ground in one quick motion, landing on Sophia’s back with ease.
I spend the next five minutes watching my two favorite people attempt to do yoga with their crazy goats.
Shortly after Sadie moved in, I gutted Claire’s old recording studio, and with the help of the guys on the team, we transformed it into a yoga studio for Sadie.
Speaking of Claire, we haven’t heard from her since she ghosted Sophia on her birthday last year.
It was pretty hard on Sophia at first. She’d have meltdowns and outbursts, not knowing what to do with all her anger and heartbreak, but having Sadie here, showing up every day, has made it easier on her.
Watching them together right now is proof of how far she’s come, how far we’ve all come, in the past year.
Unfortunately, the Bobcats weren’t able to hire Sadie full time this past season, but she was still contracted with the team and came to the rink part time to do yoga, meditation, and to help with injuries and recovery.
The season just ended, and although we didn’t win the Stanley Cup, we did make it to the playoffs again. We ended up making it to the Western Conference Finals where we lost in game six. It’s not the ending we hoped for, but it feels like we’re getting closer and closer to the Finals.
Sadie won’t be joining the team next year, however. We found the most amazing property in Door County, and she’ll be opening up her dream yoga retreat in January. I am so damn proud of her for not giving up on her dreams. She amazes me every day.
Sadie’s goat, Kevin, interrupts my thoughts when he shoves his nose in between Sadie’s legs.
That’s my cue.
“Easy there, Kevin. That’s mine.”
My voice startles Sadie and she tumbles over, falling into a fit of laughter. “Niko! Inappropriate.” She looks over at Sophia, who is now on the floor, oblivious to any inappropriateness, giggling away with Princess Sparkle.
I saunter over to where Sadie lies on the floor and reach out my hand to help her stand. “Sorry. I’d say it won’t happen again but then I’d be inappropriate and a liar.”
Sadie swats my chest then pushes up onto her tiptoes. “You’re bad.”
I lean down to kiss her and the feel of her lips on mine makes me forget everything. Including the six-year-old across the room.
“Ew! Gross!”
Sadie and I pull apart, laughing, but I don’t let go of her hand.
“Sorry, Rakas. I just love her so much. I couldn’t help myself.” My eyes blaze into Sadie’s and when she bites her bottom lip, I’m half-tempted to throw her over my shoulder and take her upstairs.
This woman drives me wild.
I hear Sophia’s footsteps and finally force myself to look away from Sadie’s beautiful brown eyes. When I turn to find Sophia, I see Princess Sparkle and Kevin following her every footstep.
Sophia shrugs her shoulders before wrapping her arms around Sadie’s legs. “I guess it’s okay then, Daddy. I love her a lot too.”
Sadie’s hand finds Sophia’s shoulder and she starts rubbing it up and down. “I love you too, Sunshine. You ready for our picnic?”
Sophia’s eyes light up and she releases herself from Sadie, jumping up and down while clapping. “Yes! Can we go to the pond for our picnic? Please, please, please!”
“I think that’s the perfect idea.”
Sophia reaches between Sadie and me, breaking our hands apart, and then clasps both her hands in ours.
And then, hand-in-hand-in-hand, the three of us walk to the barn to drop off the goats, and then make our way to our favorite spot in the world.
“Daddy, you can be the princess today.”
Sophia reaches over and places a bedazzled crown we decorated together the other day right on top of her dad’s head.
Niko, the wonderful father he is, looks over at me with all the confidence in the world. “What do you think? Do the diamonds make my eyes look good or what?”
I suppress a snort, which makes it sound even more embarrassing, and reach over to readjust the crown a bit.
“It’s perfect. Really makes those baby blues pop.”
Niko winks at me, and even after a year, the move still sends butterflies soaring in my stomach.
If you would’ve told me a year ago I’d be living with a hockey player and his daughter, I would’ve said you were crazy.
It’s taken me some time, and therapy, to get to where I am today.
Finding a job with the Bobcats, falling in love with this selfless man, and my therapist have all helped me realize I’m perfect the way I am.
I was always so concerned with what everyone else thought of me, I never stopped to realize that no one else matters. I matter.
Sophia pours some pretend tea into her mug and reaches for a piece of cheese. This moment, a simple picnic with the two most important people in my life, is everything I didn’t know I wanted.
I’ve finally found my place, not only in Green Bay, but with my family. Niko. Sophia. Ellie. Lincoln. Hunter. The entire Bobcats team. They are my family.
Niko’s hand finds mine and he gives it a little squeeze.
“You look beautiful, Kulta.”
The nickname sends a rush through me. How the hell did I get so lucky to make this man mine?
“Thank you.”
He gives my hand another squeeze before letting go and asking Sophia for a refill on his tea.
Once she’s done “pouring” his drink, she turns her head to look at me.
“I have a question.”
I chuckle to myself and pop a grape into my mouth. “I have an answer. I hope.”
Sophia turns her body so she’s facing me completely and clasps her hands in her lap. “Once you guys get married in a few months, does that mean I can stop calling you Miss Sadie?”
Perplexed, I look over to Niko to see him smiling at his daughter, his eyes glossy with impending tears.
My eyes move back to Sophia, and I give my head a little shake. “I don’t think I understand. What else would you call me?”
Sophia looks me square in the eyes, and I watch as the corners of her lips tilt upward until she’s wearing a smile identical to her father’s.
“I was hoping I could call you Mom.”