Page 135 of Hockey Wife

“You don’t think you can meet in the middle?”

“Not when I’m feeling this sorry for myself.”

She laughed at his self-awareness. At least he had that going for him.

He finished with the carrots and placed them on a paper towel to dry. A quick mix with olive oil, salt, and rosemary, and he arranged them on a roasting pan.

“Have a seat.”

“Mom.” He sounded like a whiny teen, but he did as he was told.

“So you missed the rest of the playoffs because you were injured. Want to tell me what Georgia thought of that?”

“She thought I shouldn’t be playing hurt. I blamed her because I thought she was the reason the org found out. She wasn’t, I apologized for being an asshole, but it opened up this chasm between us.” He sighed. “She spent a long time taking care of her sister, then taking a background role in her own life. I don’t want her to ever feel she’s not important, and while I’m in this funk, I’m not sure I can be what she needs. I love her too much.”

His mom’s eyes had turned suspiciously shiny. “That sounds very selfless, but maybe you should tell her all that.”

And expect her to soothe him through his foul moods as the clock ticked down on his career? Be a drag on all that joy? He needed to stay away and let her fully blossom into the beautiful person he knew her to be.

“This is for the best, Mom.”

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he took it out, quick enough for his mother to notice and for his heart to drop on seeing it wasn’t from Georgia.

Baby Durand

You okay?

All the guys had checked in regularly, somehow managing to find time amidst their own disappointment.

Banks

Back in Apple Falls, peeling carrots.

Baby Durand

Is that code for something?

Banks

Nope. What’s up?

Baby Durand

I heard you’re the man to figure out investment stuff for the team.

A couple of the guys had sent their financials to him, looking for advice. Probably a way to make him feel useful.

Banks

I just know what works for me.

Baby Durand

But you have a finance degree, right? My dad’s been looking after my accounts for years but he’s Canadian.

Banks

So? They have banks and brokerages in Canada.