Chapter 80

9 years later…

I sat down in the first row, my coffee cup balanced in my hands. The rink was cold, and I was bundled up in a sweater and a winter coat. Beside me, Lily sat with my daughter on her lap. Winnie was just three years old, and she was already asleep on Lily’s shoulder, the hood of her pink parka pulled up over her head. The sight of them together warmed my heart.

“Damn, she’s getting heavy,” Lily said.

I smiled. “I know. They grow up fast.”

She nodded. Lily didn’t have kids, and I didn’t think she ever wanted to. She was happy being Cool Aunt Lily, and I thought that was amazing. She still traveled all over the world, bringing exotic gifts back for her niece and nephews.

“She asks about you all the time now,” I said. “She calls you ‘wi-wy.’”

“Adorbs.” Lily hugged her closer. “We’re going to be besties when she’s older.”

“For sure.”

“Scratch that. We’re already besties.”

The first period was about to start, and I sat up straighter. Both teams were on their benches. I could just make out Barnett’s blond hair and the dark lines of his coat. He stood to the side, facing the team. They were all looking at him as he spoke, their little helmets raised. Our three sons were spread out along the bench.

I could just make out the number 31 at the far end. Freddy, who was born first, was the team’s goalie. He was the most aggressive out of the three, and he loved hockey. I wouldn’t be surprised if he made the NHL someday. He was so passionate about it. He spent every spare moment of his time forcing his brothers to shoot pucks at him in the front yard so he could practice blocking them.

Numbers 45 and 57 were sitting side-by-side in the middle of the bench. Dean and Owen were both defensemen. While neither of them was as obsessed with hockey as their brother was, they still loved it. The three of them spent a surprising amount of time at the rink. Barnett didn’t exactly help, either. He was always trying to get to the rink when he could. A rink he bought when they were little and had owned ever since.

The players skated out on the ice. Freddy took his place in front of the net. Dean and Owen weren’t on the first shift.

The faceoff went in favor of the other team, and then the game was in full swing.

“This is fun,” Lily said. Winnie was still out cold.

“They’re getting really good,” I agreed. They were a game away from winning the championship last year, and I knew they were determined to get it this year. It took Freddy weeks to recover from the loss.

Sometimes it worried me how seriously he took everything, but I also understood. It made me proud to know he cared about hockey so much, just like I did when I was young. One of my favorite family outings was when we went skating together. I still remembered the first time we got the three of them on the ice. Lily, Barnett, and I each took one and spent most of the day trying to keep them upright. It was easily one of my favorite days ever, closely following the day my children were born and the day of our wedding.

A boy from the opposing team hit a slapshot at the net, but Freddy blocked it. He trapped the puck in his glove and the ref blew the whistle. I stood up and cheered.

“Your anniversary is coming up soon,” Lily said when I sat back down. “Any plans?”

I looked across the ice at Barnett again and smiled. He was watching the game with rapt attention. “We’re going for dinner, I think.”

“Eight years is quite the accomplishment.”

I smiled. “Best eight years of my life.”

• * *

“Ready?” Barnett asked, coming to stand in the doorway of our master bath. He was dressed in a three-piece-suit, this one dark blue with pinstripes and a white dress shirt. His hair was carefully styled, and he had his dress shoes on already.

I finished applying my lipstick and turned to face him. “Ready.”

He grinned. “You look stunning.”

I was wearing a silky red dress to match the pop of red I’d done on my lips. My eyelids were a smoky black shade, and I wore a pair of diamond earrings Barnett gave me the moment I woke up. It was our wedding anniversary, and I couldn’t wait to give him his gift.

He took my hand and led me downstairs. The boys were in the den playing video games. Lily was in the kitchen with Winnie, feeding her a bowl of animal crackers.

“We’re off,” I said, pausing in the doorway to the kitchen.

“Have fun!”

“Thanks so much for watching the kids.”

She waved me off. “We’ll have a good time.”

I heard hoots from the den. It sounded like Freddy, but I couldn’t be sure.

Owen suddenly barreled into the kitchen, a frown on his face. Freddy and Dean were close on his heels. Freddy was the only one who really took after me, aside from Winnie. He had my dark hair. Dean and Owen were both dirty blonds, their hair just a few shades darker than their father’s. Their faces were all the same, though, and it was Barnett’s face.

“Can we get pizza tonight?” Owen asked.

I reached into my purse and took out a few bills. I handed them to Lily. “For food,” I said. “Dinner’s up to you.”

Owen turned his pleading look on Lily. She gave him a wicked grin. “I was thinking Thai.”

He groaned. “Not Thai again.”

I left them to their argument. “We’ll see you guys later.” The boys hardly glanced at us.

Freddy looked up at the last minute. He had Barnett’s eyes too, dark brown, unlike his brothers’ blue eyes. I wondered sometimes if it bothered him that he didn't look exactly like the two of them. He was bigger than the others, always had been. Out of the three, he was always the easiest to differentiate. Though it never seemed to bother him. He marched to his own drum.

“I’ll keep an eye on them,” he said with a wink.

Barnett laughed. “Good man.”

We left, my heart straining a little as the front door closed behind us. I always felt sad leaving them, and probably always would. No matter how old they got. I was so lucky I got to work from home. In the years since they were born, I’d expanded my fitness brand. Now I sold workout plans and gym clothes. I was the CEO of my own fitness brand.

Barnett held the car door open for me and I slid into the gold Aston Martin. I still drove it all the time.

He turned to me and squeezed my knee. “Eight years,” he said. “Can you believe it?”

I shook my head. “Time really does fly.”

He grinned. “It’s been a good eight years though, hasn’t it?”

I smiled back, thinking of the gift I had for him. We were pregnant again, and I planned to tell him at dinner. We both wanted a big family, and after months of trying, we were finally going to fulfill that dream. I couldn’t wait to see his reaction.

“The best.”

He kissed me, then leaned away to start the engine.

“I can’t wait to see what the next eight years hold,” he said.

“As long as we’re together,” I answered. “I know they’ll be perfect.”