Page 25

25

RICHARD

“Alrighty, give her whirl, baby girl.” I cross my arms, waiting for Amelia to turn the car on. It jolts to life, purring like a kitten, and she squeals in delight.

“You did it! You fixed my car!” She’s practically jumping up and down in the car and I smile.

“I told you I’d take care of it,” I say as I head to her driver’s side. She looks at me from her seat, her blue eyes sparkling with interest.

“Thank you,” she says as she kisses me through the open window.

“Anytime,” I say.

“You want to go for a test ride?” she asks.

After spending all day yesterday talking to my lawyer and whatnot, I know she could use a break, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t need one too. I know divorce and custody aren’t the same thing, but it’s still a bit too close to home.

Apparently, Dex wasn’t lying to Amelia. He is getting a divorce from his wife. I’m not sure how I feel about that. On one hand, I’m glad he’s taking ownership for his actions, but I also know it sucks to get divorced. And I don’t want his other kids to suffer the repercussions of his stupidity. I don’t want Lyla to suffer, either.

I know there’s nothing left in Amelia’s heart for my brother. She’s made that abundantly clear. But I also know this fight isn’t going to be easy and she’s going to need as much support as she can get. With the new job, the new boyfriends , and the new car…we need to do all we can to keep Amelia on the positive side of things.

I’ll be damned if I let Dexter destroy her again.

“Sure,” I say as I head to the passenger side. She pushes the door open for me. I hop in and the Jeep shifts from my weight. “Where to, baby girl?” I ask.

She grins. “You owe me a walk in the park.”

I nod. “That I do.”

It’s a crisp, chilly day, and so we walk arm in arm, bundled up in our coats. The snow on the ground only adds to the ambiance. We make our way to the hot chocolate stand and each down a cup before deciding to go ice skating.

“I’m not the most coordinated on the ice, you know,” she says.

“You’re dating three hockey players and you’re going to tell me you can’t skate?” I tease her.

She blushes. “Yes.”

I can’t with this woman. She is too much, sometimes.

“That’s okay,” I whisper to her. “Daddy will teach you.” I kiss her softly below her ear.

I’ve never been much for PDA. Even when I was with my former partners and my ex-wife, I mostly kept that sort of thing private. I didn’t feel like the world needed to see or know my business.

But being with Amelia is different. I feel different with her. I want people to see her holding my hand. I want people to see me kissing her. I want to make her feel loved in a way I didn’t think I was capable of because of my failures and my shortcomings.

I never thought of myself as a great husband, and certainly I never thought of myself as a father. But the more time I spend with Amelia, the more I feel like I could be those things.

I don’t have to have kids of my own to be a father, I guess. And I certainly want to be a good partner. Maybe not a husband, because I’m sure Dane would murder me if I stole that from him.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he proposed to her soon enough. We all know he’s madly in love with her. And I can’t blame him, because honestly…

I feel the same way.

Tripp might have some complaints, but I think he would be okay too. In the end. Like the rest of us, we just want her to be happy.

If that ends with marriage or babies…

So be it. We’ll figure it out. Together.

“Here, let me help you,” I say as I tie her laces.

“It’s so tight!” she mewls, and I laugh.

“I’ll show you tight later.”

I don’t miss the flush of scarlet in her cheeks, and I grin. She’s far too easy to rile up sometimes.

When I have her skates tied tight enough, I help her up. I lead her to the ice and she wobbles a bit, but I don’t let go. I hold her hands tight and guide her along the ice. She glides beautifully.

“You’re doing so good, baby girl,” I tell her.

She looks up at me with bright eyes. “Really?”

“Really.” I smile. “I’m going to let you go now,” I say as I gently pull my hands away, but she stops me.

“No! Not yet.” She shakes her head and squeezes my hands.

I pull her back into me and kiss her. Hard.

I can’t remember the last time I felt like this with any woman. Young and in love. But Amelia makes me feel things I didn’t think were possible.

“Okay,” I say, pulling her once more along the ice. “I’ll guide you as long as you want.”

We go around the rink twice before she lets go. On wobbly skates, she moves like a turtle. But she moves, nonetheless.

And as I watch her, I know I couldn’t be more proud.

When we’re done, we head back to the house so I can get ready for practice. Dane and Lyla are on the couch, but not for long. After he passes her off to Amelia, he heads to grab his things.

“See you tonight,” he says, kissing both Lyla and Amelia before heading outside to his car.

I’m frozen for a moment as Amelia gives me a soft wave. “See you later, Richie,” she says.

I look to the door, which Dane has left open, then back at Amelia and my niece. I take two shaky steps forward. I kiss Amelia softly, and then let out the anxiety as I turn and kiss Lyla on her smooth head.

“See you girls later,” I say as I stand up straight. The wistful look in Amelia’s eyes makes me feel on the spot. I blush, running a hand through my hair. That wasn’t so bad, I guess.

And the way Amelia’s looking at me has me feeling not so bad, either.

Baby steps, Richard.

I don’t think I’ll ever be in a place to reverse my vasectomy. I still don’t want kids of my own.

But maybe…maybe being an uncle isn’t so terrible.

And maybe a pregnant Amelia wouldn’t be so bad, either.

If she is…

I hope it’s Dane’s. Lord knows he’d be the perfect father.

When I get back home, Dane and Amelia are in the kitchen. Tripp’s dancing with Lyla while Dane and Amelia are side by side, cooking.

It’s weird because before she came here, this house was so quiet. We all kept to ourselves mostly, content not to be in one another’s way.

But now…

Now since Amelia and Lyla arrived, the house is never quiet. It’s loud, energetic, and warmer than it’s ever been. I know it’s because of her. Because she brings out the best in us. In Dane, Tripp, and me.

I grab her from behind, kissing her cheek. “Hey, baby girl.”

She smiles. “I start my job next week. On Wednesday,” she says with a smile.

“Are you still going to the game?” Tripp asks.

She nods. “Yes, I’ll get out at three.”

“Sweet!” Tripp says as he bounces Lyla on his hip. “We can drop little princess off after I pick you up, and head to the arena.”

Dane serves the plates, and my stomach is immediately protesting for me to give up touching my girlfriend and eat. We all sit around the island, even little Lyla, and devour our dinners, and I think nothing could beat this. Our situation, however unorthodox it is, works. It’s not easy by any means, and I don’t think it ever will be. But these are the moments that are worth it.

After dinner, I help Dane clean up while Tripp and Amelia head to the couch to watch a movie. “You hear from Dex?” I ask quietly.

Dane shakes his head. “Mom and Gary said he hasn’t shown up to their house since. Riley called looking for him, though. Hasn’t heard from him in weeks.”

I watch Lyla giggle as Tripp blows against her tummy, making sounds that make her squirm and laugh.

“You think he’ll be back?” I ask.

Dane shrugs. “Probably not. I’m sure he’ll find some other team to play for since apparently the Stingrays let him go two weeks ago.”

“Well, if he comes back, we’ll be ready. Lawyer’s building the case.”

Dane nods. “You ready for this game in two days?”

I shake my head. “Not really. I mean, I’m looking forward to it, but?—”

“When are you going to retire?” he asks.

“I don’t know,” I say. “When are you going to retire?”

Dane shrugs again, looking at me with a curious expression. “Honest answer?” he says.

I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah.”

“I think this will be my last season.”

My eyes widen. Holy shit. “Can I ask why?”

He looks straight at Amelia. “Because I want more time with the people I love. We’re going to have to travel and I just…want to be here. With them.”

The way he says the words is so firm, so true, it’s hard to deny the truth in them.

I look at Amelia who is playing with her daughter. Tripp joins in, making faces and doing all sorts of things to make both of them laugh, and then Amelia kisses him, laughing as she does so.

And I think I get it.

I think I understand what Dane means.

“Maybe it’ll be mine too,” I say. “I mean…Tripp’s going to try out. I’m sure he’ll make the team.”

“He’s young. He can travel and be the hot, young, rich hockey player.” Dane laughs. “I just want to be a dad.”

I can’t help the smile that crosses my face. Does he know something I don’t?

“Well, I hope you get the chance,” I say, and he looks at me with wide eyes. “I mean, it’s either you or Tripp. I’m fixed.”

Dane blushes six shades of red.

“Good talk, Dane,” I say with a laugh as I finish the dishes.

“Thanks,” he says, heading over to the couch. When he sits beside her, I watch his smile light up. Lyla reaches for him. Amelia kisses him before handing her off, and I think I know exactly what I want to do.

I’m going to play the home game, and then I’m coming home.

For good.

Because I’ve finally found the home I’ve always wanted.