Page 26 of Pucking Strong

My dad was in the navy, always in and out of our lives on deployments. One time he went out and just never came back. Like most kids, I blamed myself at first, but some people just aren’t meant for staying. Mom did the most to hold it all together. My sisters helped. A lot of the burden got placed on Shae as the oldest, and then I got to feel guilty about that. While her friends went out to the mall and the movies, she drove me to track practices and swim meets.

I know what leaving looks like, and I know what it means to the ones left behind. So, I’m here, ready to put my own happiness on the line to help keep a family together.

Next to me on the bench, Henrik’s stony gargoyle of a lawyer furiously taps on the keys of her laptop, updating the case file. “You said you could get me the names and contact information for the team support staff. Including familial support?”

I jolt, tearing my eyes away from the back of Henrik’s head. “Yeah.” I pull out my phone and shoot off a quick text to Doctor Price. Her response is almost instant. My phone pings as she sends me copies of the team contact list, including medical staff, athletictrainers, physical therapists, and more. Not that any of them would treat Karolina in a professional capacity, but I know any one of them would drop everything to come over and help if Henrik needed it.

Rachel also sends me the WAG contact list. It has the names and numbers of every partner associated with the players. Kids’ names and ages are listed too, convenient for setting up playdates. The last thing she sends is a WAG-certified babysitter list. On it are the names and numbers of every person in the Jacksonville area deemed reliable enough to provide childcare. I air-drop them all to Elin as my phone pings with another text.

RACHEL:

What’s Karolina’s favorite color? Favorite Disney princess? Animal? Food?

Smiling, I quickly text back. Now that the ice has thawed, Karro talks to me in her accented English, with Henrik filling in the gaps. I’ve learned a lot over the last couple days.

TEDDY:

Purple. Rapunzel. Unicorns. Chocolate milk.

RACHEL:

Chocolate milk isn’t a food.

TEDDY:

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