Page 43 of See You at the Finish Line

He’s not happy that I’m back in the NHL world. He thinks it’s a waste of my life to do something so selfish. At least as a physio I was helping people, but being on a coaching track for hockey is not a proper contribution to society.

Like helping other athletes fulfill their dreams and become the best players they can be isn’t rewarding. He has such a narrow view of the world, and I can never seem to fit into it.

My mom has been the one to support me through all my career changes. She drove me to my practices and signed me up for the training I needed when I was trying to make it to the NHL.

he supported me through physiotherapy school and then the process of getting my coaching certificates. She’s been a shoulder torest my head on when life gets overwhelming. But she could never sway my dad’s opinion.

Liam and Simon followed in our mom’s footsteps and became doctors. Liam is an ophthalmologist while Simon is a psychologist. Isabel is a defence attorney, like our dad. At least he has three children he can be proud of. I wish that Liam could see it, but I don’t blame him for not being able to.

We were raised on a diet of work ethic and praise. He doesn’t know how to be anything but amenable to our parents.

Simon and Isabel are different. They understand and mostly stay out of it. Simon has tried to get us to go to mediation, but Dad wouldn’t hear of it. Isabel sits back and watches the drama unfold, much like she’s doing now.

“You know, Adam ...” Simon yells over the sound of my hammer pounding into the wood. I give up, setting it aside, and plop myself down in the shade beside Isabel. She wordlessly passes me a margarita and I chug it. Damn, that’s good.

“What do I know, Simon?” I ask reluctantly.

“If you thought about why the other jobs weren’t fulfilling, you’d be able to get to the root of the problem with Dad.”

“The root of the problem with Dad is that he thinks there’s only one way to be happy,” I retort.

Simon sighs in therapist. Yes, that’s a real thing.

“You can’t expect him to change.”

“Thank you, Dr. Ashford.”

I hand my glass back to Isabel and her eyebrows shoot up, meeting her blond hairline.

“Another one?”

I nod and she refills my glass. We’re all quiet for a while, watching the water ebb and flow in the bay. It’s not an uncomfortable silence. Like most siblings, it took a while for us to get along but, other than Mateo, I couldn’t imagine better friends to hang out with. Even grumpy old Liam. And yet, I can’t seem to sit still. My leg begins to bounce.

“Do you think Dad had any dreams he never got to chase?” I ask, breaking the silence.

“Doubt it. The guy’s a robot.” Liam snorts.

“Why do you ask?” Isabel turns her intense stare on me.

“I dunno. I was thinking maybe he’s so hard on me because he had to give up something for us.”

“It’s possible,” Simon chimes in.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing to chase after more than one dream,” I say, almost to myself. I can’t even count on both hands how many dreams I’ve had.

“It’s not,” Isabel says quietly. “Do you have another dream, Adam?”

She knows me too well—she’s too perceptive. She hones in on my reddening cheeks.

Damn it.

“Adam ... what’s going on?” Simon looks over at me, therapist mode once again activated.

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.” Isabel has never been good at subtlety.

Liam saunters over to join us. “Oh no, is Isabel’s bullshit detector going off?”

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