Page 46

EPILOGUE

Later that year: August 10 th

Natalie

W innie squealed with delight as she picked up handfuls of cake and smooshed them into her face.

“Such a big girl you are,” Alice cooed at Winnie as she kneeled before her, taking pictures of her first birthday.

“Thank you so much for taking picture,” Natalie said as Alice stood next to her, and they watched Winnie.

Natalie looked around at Sven’s backyard. While Sven and Cash were manning the Grill, the yard was filled with people that they had come to see as family in the past year. The pool was full of a handful of players and Gunnar’s kids. All while a banner hung over them that read, Happy Birthday, Winnie and Sven .

“This is such a great party,” Tillie said, making her way over to Winnie and Natalie.

“Thank you. I’m so glad you could make it.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Tillie said, taking her own picture of Winnie. “What kind of aunt misses her niece’s first birthday?”

“And what kind of sister misses her brother’s birthday?” Sven said as she joined them and slipped his arms around Natalie.

“Let’s be real. We both know I’m here for Winnie.”

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Natalie said as she was about to take Winnie out of her high chair.

“I got her,” said Sven.

“Actually, would you mind if I took her and got her cleaned up?” asked Stacie.

“Of course,” Sven said with a warm smile, stepping back.

Stacie had been clean ever since she left the rehab in early summer. She had been coming around and spending time with Winnie. Sven had even helped her to get set up in an apartment not too far from his house and gotten her a job being a flight attendant for the Magic. Natalie knew part of the reason he got her that job in particular was because of the drug testing that the flight staff did regularly, but she was doing well.

“Enjoy the party,” she said before taking a cake covered Winnie into the house.

Sven slid his arm around Natalie’s shoulder and gave her a little squeeze.

“Doesn’t it look great?” he asked, gazing over at the table next to the door where the Stanly Cup sat.

“It does... but I’m still not sure why we needed it at Winnie’s birthday party.”

“Winnie’s AND my birthday. I had to have the cup here.”

Natalie just shook her head. “It’s a good thing I love you.”

“It’s a very good thing,” he said before dropping a quick kiss on her lips before heading over to the players who all seemed to be protecting the cup.

“Well, darlin’, I have to say this is one of the best birthday parties I’ve been to.”

Natalie turned and saw her granddad making his way over.

“I’m so glad you could come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. I wish I didn’t have to leave so soon, but I have that meeting tomorrow.”

“Well, I’ll be in Alabama for the school board hearing next week.”

“I’m just glad they agreed so easily to change the reason for dismissal, but that just the beginning,” he said with a wag of his eyebrows.

Over the summer, she and her granddad had been able to start work on the new anti-book-banning wing of the organization. It was exciting, but there was a part of her that was excited to get back in the classroom when this all settled down a little bit.

“Okay, darlin’, I gotta get to the airport, but I’ll see you soon.” He said before pulling her in for a hug.

As he left, Sasha walked up.

“Has he left the cup at all today?” Sasha asked, looking over at Conner, who seemed to be standing guard over the Stanly Cup.

“Did he leave it at your wedding?” Natalie joked back. Sasha and Conner had officially tied the knot earlier this summer, and after winning the cup, Conner had insisted on having it at their wedding, the same way Sven had insisted on having it here.

Sasha just laughed. “Good point.”

Natalie cleaned up the high chair as the party wound down. Before long, it was just her and Sven with an exhausted baby already fast asleep.

“So, how was your first shared birthday?” Natalie asked as she collapsed on the couch beside him.

“Incredible . . . and exhausting.”

The off season had been amazing. She loved to get to spend more time with Sven, but she was excited to tell him some news. She hoped he would be excited.

“I have some?—”

“Natalie—”

They both started at the same time.

“Go first,” Natalie said.

“No, please,” he said with a look on his face she wasn’t sure she’d seen before.

She took a deep breath. “Okay... well, I do have something to tell you.”

He sat up a little bit, sensing the seriousness of whatever she was about to say.

“Well . . . ummm . . . I’m just going to come right out and say it.”

He raised his eyebrows and took her hand.

“I’m pregnant.”

His mouth fell open, and all the air seemed to leave his body in a little huff. “Really?”

Natalie nodded. Suddenly, Sven pounced on her, pinning her to the couch kissing her.

“I’m so fucking happy,” he said between kisses.

The joy the filled Natalie was not something she had experienced before. She was fit to burst. But then Sven did something she was not expecting.

“Well, that makes what I was going to ask you even better.”

He got off her and knelt before.

“What are you doing?” she asked as he reached into his pocket.

“Natalie Grace Roper, will you marry me?”

She gasped. “Sven,” as he pulled out a small jewelry box from his pocket. Sitting in the little velvet box was a stunning white gold ring with a big square-cut diamond. “It’s beautiful.”

“What do you say?”

“Yes! I say yes!”

He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “I’m going to make you so happy,” he said, cupping her face.

“You already do.”

Ten years later

Sven

“Hey, Mason, slow down, buddy,” Sven said as he jogged after his four-year-old, who was darting up the stairs of Glendale Elementary.

“I want Mama,” he said as he turned at the top of the stairs.

“We’re on our way to see her,” he said, ruffling his blonde hair. “Do you got that? It’s heavy.” he asked Winnie, who was coming up the stairs behind him with a big box of supplies.

“Yeah, I got it. It’s not that heavy.”

He held the door open with his foot while Mason, Winnie, and Sam entered the building.

“Mom’s classroom is two doors down on the left,” he said as they made their way in, carrying boxes of classroom supplies and furniture.

This was Natalie’s first year back teaching full time. She’d taken on book banning with the foundation, been home with their children, and built a wonderful life with Sven. But the year before, Sven had retired. It was his turn to manage the home while Natalie went back to teaching.

While Sven may not have lived up to his dad’s expectations, he would never be in the hall of fame, and his jersey would never be hung from the rafters, but he’d had a long, satisfying career. He had stayed in Glendale and played for the Magic and had brought home the cup three times. But more importantly, he knew what mattered ... most importantly, he knew who mattered.

As he turned the corner into her classroom, he saw Lucy, their seven-year-old daughter, and Natalie sitting together in front of a small bookshelf organizing books.

“Hey, pretty lady, where do you want this stuff?”

“Mama!” yelled Mason as he pushed past Sven into Natalie’s arms.

“Hey, buddy,” she said with a warm smile, ruffling his blonde hair. “Do you want to help me put these books on the shelf?”

“Yeah,” he said as Lucy handed him a couple of books.

Natalie stood and brushed the dust off her jean shorts. Sven could watch her ass all day, but he was here on a mission.

“Just put those in the corner. Then could you build that storage unit over there for me?”

“I live to build you furniture, my love,” he said, gazing down at her before dropping a kiss on her lips.

“Sam and Winnie, why don’t you two go get the last boxes out of the car for me?” Sven said, tossing Winnie the keys.

“Got it,” said Sam, who was inspecting some of the art sets.

As Sven looked around this room, his heart was so full. He and Natalie had built a wonderful life. They had four wonderful kids and a house filled with more love than he had known his entire life. Stacie had stayed clean and still worked for the Magic and was an important part of Winnie’s life. They spent holidays with Natalie’s family and sometimes their Magic family and always with Tillie.

Sven had cut his dad out of his life after everything that went down all those years ago. There were times, especially when he had his kids, he wished his dad could have been different, and that his kids could have a good relationship with the grandfather, but it wasn’t worth the pain that went with it.

He had everything, a wonderful career, a beautiful wife who he was still head over heels in love with, and a family that filled him with more joy than he’d ever thought possible.

“Are you okay?” Natalie asked, looking up at him.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Because that’s shelf’s not going to build itself,” Natalie said, grinning up at him.

He bent his head and kissed her before giving her ass a smack and working on building shelves.

Yeah, it didn’t get any better than this.