Page 100 of Scoring Chances
“Wow… you and Cassidy are cut from the same cloth,” I tease. “No, drifting until you nail the basics.”
We pull up to the house. It’s nothing like Keelan’s mansion back in Houston. There aren’t enough rooms to house an entire hockey team. No decked out pool area or synthetic ice rink in the basement.
Nope. It’s a four bedroom, three bath home with a big enough backyard to get a dog eventually. And maybe a pool.
The kitchen is a decent size with a peninsula for the kids to eat their breakfast. French toast mostly.
The first time I tried to make it I messed up and put paprika in the mixture instead of cinnamon. That was fun. The kids were scarred for a while and refused to let me cook anything.
We have a nanny. She’s a grandmother whose kids all moved out of the area. She lives right next door so she’s available to watch the kids during my practices and games.
Our garage is full of moving boxes, bikes and tools. And there are small piles of laundry in random corners of rooms that need washing.
But it’s home.
It’s our home.
Paid for by my new contract with the Georgia Thunderhawks.A team I'm currently working on getting used to.
My phone rings in my pocket. My reminder that I need to get to the airport.
“You did good today, Cole. Tomorrow we can work on more hills.”
“Yay, me,” he says semi-enthusiastically.
“Hey! If you can conquer the hills, you can conquer anything.”
Cole rolls his eyes and waves me off. I take his place in the driver’s seat and roll down the window. “I’ll be back later. Tell Sadie she can hang out inside once I get home.”
I shoot a look to the next door neighbor’s yard and Sadie is already sitting outside waiting for him.
“I mean it, Cole.”
“I got it.” He walks over to where his new friend is sitting with a deck of cards and she starts dealing some to him.
I like this place. It’s quaint. People aren’t too worried about appearances and having the latest thing. It’s slower, but it’s perfect for the kids.
My phone rings again and I answer it this time, “Hey, Dad.”
“Joshy! Hey. I was just checking in. Your mom’s plane should’ve landed by now.”
“Yep. I’m on the way. I’m just a few minutes out.”
“Great. And thanks for meeting with her son. She really can’t wait to see you.”
I swallow hard. Ever since I found out what really happened between my mom and my bio dad–my relationship with my mother hasn’t been the same.
But it’s been a few months. I’m ready to put this all behind us if she is.
When I pull up to the the area just outside baggage claim, she’s there. She sees my car and waves at me.
I get out. Tucking my shirt back into my slacks and pop the trunk open.
“Hey, Josh,” she rolls her suitcase over and pauses there at the back.
“Hi, mom.” She looks at my attire and smiles.
“You look really nice.”