Page 102 of She Wolf

“Okay, I’m going to take a quick photo of you all with your creations and then can we please re-enact the picture that was taken just before Case went off to Minnesota?” Anna says and then runs off to get her phone.

“The one of the seven of us?” I ask, thinking of the large frame taking up prize position on his stairs.

“Yes!” Anna claps. “That’s the one. Only I have some more ideas too. Come on everyone.” Her eyes twinkle as she says it.

She urges us down to the shoreline and then proceeds to tell us where to stand.

“Coralie, Casey you’re in the middle. Theo, you’re to the right of Casey and Scott you’re next to Coralie. Then Knox, Troy, and Jason.”

She then goes along the line and whispers to Knox, Troy, and Scott.

“Okay we’ll try a couple. Ready?”

“Yes,” we all yell.

She counts us in and just before she gets to three Scotty says, “Remember when Casey and Theo tried to perm each other’s hair, JT style?” And I can’t help the laugh that erupts out of me.

“Oh my god, it’s actually perfect, you guys!” Anna bounces up and down on the sand.

“Can I get one of all the Maddens now and then one of all the Wolves?” Jack runs over and we move, spreading out around Mama, Dad, and Aunt Maylene and then the boys pose for many, many more.

***

A few days later after another blissfully long day on the beach and a heated game of tag football, my dad and Casey are grilling seafood while everyone else is scattered around the house.

The Mamas are in an animated discussion about the end of the book they’ve just finished, and I can hear laughter filtering out from the kitchen. My legs are dangling over the edge of the pool while Gunner, Jase, and Jack try to build a floatable Lego boat.

Just as I’m about to go and find the other girls, buzzing vibrates on the little table behind me.

“Jason. Jason baby, your phone is ringin’,” my mom calls for my brother.

“Just let it go to voicemail, Mama.”

“Honey, it says John Agent.”

I feel the ground shift a little and have to hold onto the side of the pool.

“Fuck.”

Jason scrambles from his knees and rushes round to where she’s holding it out to him. I have never seen my brother move as fast as he does in that second. The rest of the guys come out from the house and a crowd gathers as he takes a breath and answers with a shaky voice.

“Hello?”

It feels like everyone stops breathing as his eyes find my dad's while he nods and politely responds with some yes and noes and a handful of, I understands.

Finally, and without giving anything away, he ends the call. “Thank you, John. I appreciate everything you have done—not only for me—but my brothers too…Yes, I will. Have a good night.”

He places his phone down and then quick as lightning grabs Jack, holds him up in the air and howls like a wolf.

Jack kicks his little legs up and joins in. Casey, Gunner and the rest of the teammates smile on like the cats who got the cream. Mama dabs at her eyes while my dad throws his arms around Casey and Knox’s shoulders.

“So you’ll play? You’ll be a Wolf?” Jack asks, as Jason places his feet back on the ground and pulls my mom in for a hug.

“I need to work really hard in training camp, try and get a spot and need to leave here early to get to clinic, but yes, my contract will be with the New York Wolves,” he beams and we all rush him. Eighteen bodies crammed into one giant hug.

Elation, joy, happiness, pride, gratitude. It all washes over me like a tidal wave.

Who gets to say that not only do three of her brothers play in the NHL but for the same team? And yeah, I know he still has a lot of work to do, but if I know my baby brother, then I know Jason will give it everything he’s got.

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