Page 113 of The Only Goal

He hands me the box I had hidden under my bed. I don’t know why I want to take it with me. It’s not like I could look through it before, but I’m shoving it in the back of my truck anyway.

Dad buries his hands in his pockets while he watches me, and I can feel his sad gaze on my back.

With a heavy sigh, I close the trunk and turn to face him. “I’m really sorry if you’re gonna get heat over this.”

He shrugs. “Don’t worry about it. I learned a long time ago not to take any notice.”

I wince, studying his lined face. He’s gotten so much older since Mom died.

“Why do you stay?” I whisper. “How can you stand it?”

His laughter is soft and humorless, but then he looks up at the house and his eyes get all misty. “She’s here, Bax. All the best memories I have of her are within those walls. And I can’t leave her.”

My heart hurts for him, and I push off the truck, walking toward him and lightly taking his shoulders. I don’t remember when I got taller than him, but somehow our positions suddenly feel so different.

“You’ve still got so much life left to live. And those memories will go with you no matter where you are. I mean…” I run my tongue over my teeth and force myself to say, “Maybe it’s time to let go. Move on.”

His gaze is bright as he grasps my elbows and murmurs, “I could say the same thing to you.”

I let him go, stepping back and crossing my arms.

“When you love her… you love her, you know? I don’t want to let go.” He shrugs. “She’s the only woman I’ve ever been with. The only one I’ve ever loved. And I’m okay with that.” His smile grows genuine, his eyes warm with affection. “So, I’m staying.”

I let out a wry laugh and shake my head. “And I’ll keep coming back to visit.”

He grins and pulls me in for a hug. We slap each other on the back a few times, and he promises to come to Nolan next time.

“I’ll make sure you get one of the nicest rooms in the house.” I wink, and Dad lifts his hand with a broad smile.

“I’m gonna hold you to that, son.”

Getting behind the wheel, I start the engine and idle for a minute, not quite ready to pull away.

Confusion flickers across Dad’s face as he steps up to the truck. I lower the window, and he leans his hands against the frame.

“Did I do the right thing?” I murmur.

“That email you wrote sounded real good to me.” He nods. “The ball’s in her court now.”

“What if she doesn’t take it?”

Dad’s smile is sad as he pats me on the shoulder. “Have a little faith, son. These things have a way of working out. I don’t think God brought her back into your life for no good reason.” With a stiff nod, he steps away from my car, and I pull out of the driveway, wondering if he’s right.

Mom was always such a big believer in the divine. She always talked about how God was watching out for us and had our backs.

“He wants to make our dreams come true. And He will… if we just get out of the way and let Him.” She’d wink, and I’d believe her.

Until the day she was snatched away so suddenly.

With the love of my life marrying some other guy and then Mom being taken, I lost all faith in some supernatural power.

But maybe it’s always been there, just waiting for me to wake up… open up… again.

I suck in a shaky breath as I leave Gladstone in my rearview mirror.

It’s time to head back to Nolan and slip into the life I’ve established for myself. My Mini Mites need me, and I kinda love being the handyman at Ponderosa. As I reflect on my time since graduation, I realize how content I really have been. I love my hockey family… but it wasn’t until Tammy and Kai walked through that door that I really came alive again.

Damn, I miss them with an ache that’s overpowering.

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