AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, she told me that she’s just happy that something else finally came before hockey for once in his life and that if he only had room for one, she’s happy that his love for his daughter outweighs it all.”
“Your mom loves you,” I say, not as a question.
Penelope’s mom chose to let the love of her daughter outshine her.
My mom always picks my dad over me, no questions asked.
I know what it feels like on the other side of what could have happened to Penelope.
It’s not that my mother doesn’t love me. But like Penelope’s mom… I’m not on the starting lineup.
“She does,” Penelope’s smile widens. “But I think she was wrong about my dad. I think she crushed him with those divorce papers, and since he had to leave for work, he didn’t think he had a fighting chance. He doesn’t exactly wear his emotions on his sleeve, you know?”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
I’ve looked up to Sam Roberts since the day he pulled me aside on that college campus rink my freshman year when I was ready to prove I could outskate and outscore all of my teammates. He told me that if I wasn’t going to be a team player, then I could exit the same way I walked into his stadium.
He’s never given up on me since that day, even when he sent me to Canada.
“He never remarried,” she says, picking at the pink nail polish on her thumb. He never had a serious girlfriend, either. And my parents never fought over me. He paid child support diligently, and my mom invited him to every Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, and birthday party to make sure that I felt as little of the divorce as possible. I spent the summer in Seattle with him during his offseason.”
“What about your mom? Did she remarry?”
“She’s been married two other times, but they’ve all ended in short marriages. I think she gave up the only man she ever loved.”
“Do you think they’ll ever figure it out?”
“No, it’s been too many years. I think their love is more of a friendship now.”
I nod, but the sinking feeling that I’m going to miss my shot and end up as Penelope’s friend has my palms almost sweating.
“What else should I know about you?” I ask.
“I’ve finished my online degree at the University of Washington. Phil encouraged me and even offered to pay when I took the job here.”
“You did?” I ask, my eyebrows lifting in surprise.
I’m glad she accomplished that for herself after I caused her to drop out.
“Yep, and I’m taking night classes to get my Sports Management Degree.”
I stare back at her. She’s full of surprises today.
“What do you want to do with it?” I ask.
Her eyes dip back down to her nails like she’s embarrassed to admit it.
“I don’t want to be an administrative assistant forever.”
“You can do anything you want.”
And I believe that. Penelope is smart, charismatic and not afraid of hard work.
“Even be the GM for a hockey franchise?” she asks, her eyes lifting to mine.
There’s a vulnerability to them that she’s never shown me. She cares about my opinion on what I think she’s capable of and maybe this is the moment that I’m no longer the outsider begging for a chance that she’ll open the door and let me in.
“If you want to be a GM, you’ll be the best in the NHL. I have no doubt.”
