Page 89 of The Head Game

Pieter, Isa, and Noor had moved to the living room area, out of earshot.

“I know,” he replied automatically.

“I love Isa very much and I’m fond of Piet but … they can become a little single-minded once they set their sights on something.”

August nodded. “I can certainly understand. I can be like that too.”

He’d been like that about becoming a referee.

“But it’s quite another to be on the receiving end, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” August rested his hip against the counter, hands still in the hot soapy water. “And I don’t want to overstep or cause problems but …”

“But you want to look out for Nico’s best interest.”

“Yes, exactly.”

“It’s good he has you.”

A little stab of guilt went through August. “Ahh …”

“No, I mean it. I adore Nico like he’s my own. Truly. Nico was a wonderful boy growing up and he’s becoming a wonderful man. But he’s been blessed by life and given absolutely everything he’s ever wanted and he doesn’t have a lot of experience with adversity.”

“Well …”

Anika rubbed the dish towel across the platter. “I didn’t come from this world and I suspect you didn’t either.”

“The world of private jets and penthouse condos?” August gestured to the space around them.

“Yes.” Her expression was placid.

“No, I didn’t. My family never struggled but we were … very ordinary, I suppose.” August looked away, returning his attention to scrubbing the stubborn bit of food clinging to a skillet. “My parents sacrificed some vacations to make sure my brother and I had hockey—though Julius didn’t stick with it very long—but we were neither rich nor poor.”

“Nico has never known anything but an easy life,” Anika said. “He’ll struggle with this.”

August nodded. “I remember there was a lot of talk about his playing leading up to his draft year. He was a good prospect and everyone was shocked when he was skipped over entirely. Rumor had it teams had concerns about his willingness to put in the work and …”

Anika nodded. “That’s true. As I said, I love Nico very much but he had a stubborn streak at that age. Hockey came easily to him. He was so talented but … a little bit spoiled. A little unaware of how things that came easily to him didn’t come so easily to others. Not being picked in the draft was a slap in the face. I think it was the first time he realized he was going to have to work at something.”

“Clearly he did that to get where he is now,” August said.

“He did. And we’re all very proud of him. Pieter was devastated when he wasn’t drafted. Knowing he’d let his father down might have been the hardest part for Nico.”

“I can imagine.”

“Pieter handled it well though. He told Nico it was his choice. He could quit if he wanted and pursue something else. Or, if he wanted to play at the NHL level, he could go another route to get there. And Nico did.”

August nodded.

“Nico played well in the OHL that first season and impressed them at the Fisher Cats training camp the following summer, but it took another season before he signed with them.” She paused. “I’m not saying Nico didn’t work to get where he is with the Fisher Cats. He did. But he still relied heavily on good genes, talent, and luck. There are people out there with far more drive and patience. I don’t want to force Nico to be anyone he isn’t but … I worry about his recovery now. That he’ll get too impatient. That he’ll have trouble pushing through when it isn’t happening immediately.”

“If he had talent, drive, and patience he’d probably be unstoppable.”

“Probably.” Anika gave him a faint smile. “But would he be Nico then?”

“I don’t know,” August admitted.

“And yet, he’ll have to work very hard now to get back to where he was before this tumor.”

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