Page 43 of Sew Matcha in Love
Surprisingly, I found myself having a good time. At the end of the first period, Zaki was the last off the ice, and he raised his stick toward us all, mouthing the wordsHappy Birthday, Ridgie!
I got that feeling in my gut again.
There was a knock at the door, and Ridgie entered, followed by his handler, Jared, and Mags, the team’s social media manager. Baby Melody let out an ear-piercing screech, and Penny hurried to a corner to shield her from the big scary bear.
“My favorite mascot!” Nana Booboo called from her wheelchair. “Come give your biggest fan a kiss!”
Ridgie looked from her to Tasha and back again. Tasha lifted her arms in a big shrug, and Ridgie clutched his heart, turning so that his head was positioned looking over his shoulder as he walked toward his grandmother.
The door opened again, this time without a knock, and the team’s second mascot, Percy the Pigeon, entered holding a very large gift box, the kind where the top was wrapped separately so it could be pulled off to reveal its contents. Behind him was a cameraman.
I looked up at the jumbotron, and sure enough, Ridgie was on screen and the announcer was directing the fans’ attention to our suite.
“Let’s all turn our attention to Ridgie! Did you know it’s his birthday? Percy has a special gift for him, but first, can we get you all to join in on singing ‘Happy Birthday’?”
Everyone in the arena joined in as Ridgie danced and overdramatized his reaction. Percy set the box down on a high-top table, and when the song finished, he pulled Ridgie over to it. Ridgie positioned himself behind the box so that everyone could see his gift and pulled off the lid.
Shouts and squeals erupted from all of us as at least a dozen white birds took flight to the tune of “Free Bird” and soared across the arena. Monty stumbled back, waving his arms and falling on the ground for effect. After the birds made it safely to their trainer up in the rafters, Percy handed Monty a large gift tag that readA Special Gift from Marshy and Percy.Ridgie turned it toward the camera and face-pawed his forehead. Laughter and whistles erupted from the fans, and shouts of “Marshy! Marshy!” overshadowed Ridgie’s birthday celebration.
Zaki Marsch had reentered the Prank War in a big way. I just hoped it would stay contained in the arena.
CHAPTER 14
Zaki
By the time I got home, it was after midnight, and I was wired. It usually took several hours for the adrenaline of the game to wear off, and it was rare if I was asleep before 2a.m.
I crept into the house quietly and tiptoed up the stairs to cut off the dogs. I hoped the metal jingle of Laffy and Vennie’s collar tags didn’t wake the girls or Arwyn.
The pups dutifully followed me to my room and supervised my nighttime routine. I was used to them coming in and curling up on either side of my waist until I fell asleep, then they’d ditch me for the girls until they woke up.
It felt like I’d just fallen asleep when my phone alarm signaled it was time to wake up and get dressed if I wanted to help Isla and Amelie get ready. I threw on jogging pants and a hoodie, slid my unsocked feet into sneakers, and strode down the short hall. By the time I got to the twins’ room, they were fully dressed and Arwyn was braiding Amelie’s hair.
I pivoted and hid outside the doorframe where they couldn’t see me, but I could see them and listened to their excited chatter about the events at last night’s game. But it wasn’t their words that stopped me short.
A brick wall of memories gripped my heart and squeezed as I took in the vignette, stealing my breath. These two could have been mother and daughter with their auburn hair and light dusting of freckles.
Neither of the girls had their mom’s coloring. Viki’s hair was dark brown—almost black—and her skin was naturally tan. The girls’ skin was pale like mine. Amelie’s ginger hair was from me, and Isla was blond like my mom and sisters.
Two Christmases ago, four-and-a-half-year-old Amelie cried in my lap because all she wanted from Santa was to be blond like me and Isla. I explained to her that my blond was fake and I was a redhead just like her. She’d stood on my lap and inspected the roots on my head and the morning stubble on my face. Satisfied I was telling the truth, she cried again and said red hair was ugly and my changing my red hair further confirmed that.
I told her I loved her red hair and promised her I wouldn’t dye mine ever again. Viki’s and my divorce had already finalized, and it would be weird to have her keep dyeng my hair anyway. Amelie had slapped her hands on my cheek and planted a wet kiss on my lips.
Now, Isla was the lone blonde. She had more confidence than her sister, an obsession with Elsa fromFrozen, and idolized my sister Sofi, so I didn’t think I’d have to worry.
“And Percy was there and he gave Ridgie the gift tag and it said, ‘A special gift from Marshy and Percy!’” Isla paused, brushing her hair. “Ridgie wasnotexpecting all those birdies to fly out of the box!”
“Did you hear Nana Booboo laughing?” Amelie asked. “I never heard a louder laugh!”
“And Ridgie fell on theground!”Isla set her brush down and switched places with Amelie. “It was so funny!”
There was a pause as Arwyn began braiding Isla’s hair, so I used the opportunity to announce my presence.
“Gooood morning, ladies,” I said in my most goofy dad voice. “Need any assistance with your morning beautification rituals?”
Isla actually rolled her eyes at me, which made me grin wider.
Goal achieved.
