Page 35 of Sven

He shrugged before holding up a finger and pulsing the blender.

“It’s a story time at the library. One of the librarians plays guitar and sings little songs and reads a book.”

“Rock on,” he said, holding up his hand in devil horns.

Natalie groaned. “I can tell you’re a dad with a joke like that.”

“Dad jokes are a rite of passage.” He poured his smoothie into a to-go cup as he got his stuff ready for the day. “I’m actually a little jealous. I want to go to Tiny Tots with you guys.”

He said it like he was joking. Hanging out with Natalie and Winnie sounded like more fun that going to a review and a team workout day. After having just spent three days away from Winnie, he didn’t really want to lose any more time with her.

“Well, I gotta get going.” He walked over and kissed Winnie on the cheek. “Have fun with Natalie.” Then he ruffled her hair.

After practice, when Sven was leaving the rink, a notification popped up on his phone from his lawyer’s office.

DiMaggio: I have some paperwork for you. I can send it to you, or you can pick it up at the office.

Sven: I can pick it up. On my way there right now.

As Sven drove to the office, his mind was all over the place. He was wondering what it would be and was certain it would be the paternity results. Winnie was his. She had to be. If she weren’t, he would be able to tell, right? Maybe they’d tracked down Stacie and got her to sign the paperwork, but he doubted that. Whatever it was, he wasn’t used to caring about anything like this. For his whole life, his goal and focus had been hockey, but he had this little girl depending on him.

“Hello, sir. How can I help you?” asked a receptionist behind the desk.

“I think Mr. DiMaggio left something for me. I’m Sven Olsson.”

“He sure did.” She turned in her chair to reach for a manilla envelope. “Here ya go.”

Sven made it back to his car, opened the envelope, and slid out the paper.

There it was. Winnie was his. His heart was pounding in his chest like it had been when he first found out—but for a different reason. He had been shocked when he found out, but after Stacie left like she did, the shock had turned to fear that she would come back and take Winnie. Without this, he wouldn’t have a legal leg to stand on.

Sliding the papers back in the envelope, he closed his eyes and blew out a breath of relief. But that relief was bittersweet. He had already missed so much and even more with his life on the road. He might not get much time with her, but he would make the best use of the small amount of time he did get.

As he walkedinto the door, he was greeted by a familiar silence. This is what he always came home to. Ms. Malone would already be gone, and he had his big quiet house to himself. Only he didn’t anymore. When he turned the corner, he saw Natalie sitting on the sofa, reading a book with the baby monitor next to her.

“Hey,” he said, putting the envelope on the kitchen counter.

She turned to him with an easy smile. “Oh, hey, how was your practice?”

“Good,” he said. “Where’s Winnie?”

Natalie lifted the monitor. “She fell asleep on our way home from the library.”

Sven’s face fell. He was really hoping to see her.

“Is that okay?” Natalie asked, noticing the change.

“Oh, yeah,” he said as he turned to get the grapes out of the fridge. “It’s fine. I was just hoping to see her.” He walked over to Natalie and offered her a grape.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you might like to come home to a quiet house,” she said before pulling off one and popping it into her mouth.

Sven sat on the other end of the couch and set the container of grapes between them. “It’s fine. I was just missing her after the road trip, and I was busy getting ready this morning. I just feel like I’m missing a lot.” He picked up the remote and pulled up a game. “Plus, I just got the results of the paternity test, and I don’t know... I just want to snuggle her. That’s probably dumb.”

He was kicking himself for saying that. She must have thought he was a total sap.

“Oh, that’s not dumb at all. I totally understand. How do you feel about all of that?”

She asked that question like she had just asked him what the weather was like outside. Like he had any idea how to describe his mixed emotions. Like anyone had ever asked him how he felt about anything before. Surely, someone at some point had asked him about his emotions.

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