Page 110 of Offensive Plays

The toddler gives me a thumbs up.

“Good, now let’s go soo-pise mommy.”

“I’m coming too,” Zane says.

We each take one of Delaney’s hands and she tip toes over to the opening of the ice.

There she is, gliding like an angel on blades—my gorgeous wife. Her hair is straightened and sleeked back into a ponytail. And when she does a tuck spin, the red blurs into a spinning vortex until she slows and stops along with the music.

She hasn’t noticed us yet. But the song ends and she straightens when she sees us. She skates over to the edge, where Delaney is trying to get on the ice.

“You did not,” Libby laughs.

“You can thank your brother,” I motion to him.

“Stop it, Z. She has enough things.”

“So your husband has already made that clear.”

“Good. Where’s Kes?”

“Working late. She’ll bring the kids by later.”

“Mommy can I do spinning with you?” Our daughter says looking up at her mom with admiration.

“Of course, my sweet girl. Come on.”

“What did your coach say?” I ask her as she takes Del’s hand and guides her across the ice.

“We should get the news any day now.”

“The news?” Zane asks, turning to me.

“The news,” I confirm.

The doors to the arena entrance swing open and Kesley and three mini-hers pop in.

“Oh my god, oh my god. You won’t believe the news we just got,” she says, waving a piece of paper.

“What?” We all say.

“Look whose name just showed up on the list of next year’s Winter Olympics finalists in the figure skating division!” She squeals out.

Libby stops skating. And all of us go silent.

“Are you kidding me?” I scream out, grabbing the paper she’s holding up. “Liberty Ferguson. Baby, that’s you! You’re on the list.”

“I’m on the list,” she whispers to herself. Then she looks down at Delaney. “Mommy’s on the list!”

Kesley and Zane’s kids are prepared with poppers that take us all by soo—surprise.

I run to my girls on the ice, only slightly losing my balance as Libby jumps into my arms.

“Oh my god, Michael. I’m going to the olympics.”

“You’re going to the Olympics!”

“I… I couldn’t have done this without you,” she says holding my face in her hands.