Page 51 of The Parent Playbook
I miss them.
“Of course, I remember. You turned that pup into a canine princess, crown and all. It’s amazing he let you do it.”
“Pfft, he loved the attention.”
Her innocent smile warms me up. “I can only imagine how it is for you now, not having anyone.”
“Well, there’sAngel …” she says. “She may only be one person, but one person can do a lot, right?”
“One person is good, sure. But it’s not a community, Lilybug.”
“You’re going to have to stop calling me that.” She sets her hands on her hips, looking way too grown up for my liking. “And start treating me more like an adult. I’m almost one, after all.”
“Don’t remind me.”
As she scampers off, the doubts creep in, thick and suffocating. In Colorado, we have an entire community around us, people we know and people we trust.
Maple Falls, Happy Horizons, the Ice Breakers—it seemed like a fresh start, a new chapter where Lily and I could find our footing. Yet, seeing her struggle, questioning if she’s truly happy, makes me second-guess our stay here. Lily is at the cusp of adulthood and such a big, permanent move could shake her up. I was foolish to think I could come back to hockey, to start something new here.
Maybe going back to Colorado is our best play, to the quiet life where I was just a groundskeeper with his little girl and Lily had the peace and support she deserves.
The thought of what Angel has come to mean to us—not only to me, but Lily too—makes leaving here harder than I thought.
But I’ll do what I have to do for my little girl.
CHAPTER 21
ANGEL
The Ice Breakers scraping through with a win in the second game is like finally catching a breath after being underwater too long. Sure, I’m not the one out there on the ice, but somehow, I feel every win—and loss—right along with the rest of them.
I remember the slump of Scotty’s shoulders after the first game, that look in his eyes. It was like he’d personally let down every single person in the stands, not to mention every kid counting on Happy Horizons. Seeing him like that made my heart do a weird somersault. I’m supposed to be the tough one, the one who scoffs at sentiment and rolls her eyes at the faintest hint of drama.
But there I was, watching him after that loss, feeling something akin to … what? Pity? Sympathy? Nope, I refuse to get that mushy. Let’s call it a reluctant solidarity. Because, let’s face it, when Scotty’s down, it’s like watching a sad puppy—I want to do anything to see him smile again.
So, yeah, relief was the main flavor of the night when they finally clinched that win in the second game. Relief, and even a dash of pride, because who knew I’d start caring this much about a hockey game?
When Scotty caught my eye at the end of the game, his grin wide and full of pride, I felt like I was right there with him and I shot him two thumbs up.
Yep, two thumbs up for the man who’s been turning my life inside out. It was goofy, but to the king of dad jokes, it fit.
But that was yesterday, and today is a whole new day … with my new accountant!
As I shuffle through what can only be described as a mountain range of neglected invoices and mismatched receipts, Marcy gawks at the state of affairs.
“Do you have last year’s W-2 forms?” Marcy asks, her voice tinged with a hopeful note that quickly fades as she sees my blank stare.
“Um, would you believe me if I said the goat ate them?”
Marcy doesn’t miss a beat, and she definitely doesn’t laugh. “And the bank statements?”
“They’re probably in a safe place,” I say, scratching my head. “But I’m sure I can look them up online somewhere, right?”
“How about the receipts from quarter two … any year?” Marcy tries again, her pen poised over her notepad, ready for action.
“Oh, those are filed under ‘G’ for ‘gone with the wind.’” That earns a smirk from Marcy.
She sighs, but there’s a glint in her eye. “I understand why you said ‘perseverance required’ in the job posting now.”
