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“How old is he, honey? Twenty-six?”
“Twenty-seven,” I correct her.
“Your father is sixty-five, and I can barely deal with how bored he is around the house. Now picture a twenty-seven-year-old, full of energy and with nothing to do!” she says, all in one breath.
Now I’m the one shaking my head in disapproval. “It’s not like that, mom… Andrew’s a billionaire, he can do whatever he wants. I bet he can find a lot of things to do. He’s been talking about coaching.”
“But he will be unhappy without the league!” mom insists. “Let him stay for a few more years, honey.”
“I already told you it is his decision!” Ali goes quiet with the cup in her hands, almost finished. “And you know more than anyone how much we need to make up for lost time.”
“Andrew is not going to be a hockey player anymore?” Alissa asks, looking worried.
“He will always play hockey, just not in the NHL, sweet pea,” I say, squeezing her against my chest.
“I want to play with him when his arm gets better!” she exclaims, cheering up.
Andrew returns to the table with Terry in tow. He’s a middle-aged man, hair already going gray, thin-rimmed glasses, and a black suit that is certainly hiding how much he’s soaking wet with sweat.
“I already know all of your names, but I bet you don’t know mine,” Terry says with a strained smile. He looks tired.
“You’re Terry!” Alissa says.
“And you’re Alissa!” He does the ‘got your nose’ thing, but she already knows it’s just a trick. “And you are Emily and Eleanor.” He briefly shakes my hand and then reaches out for mom’s.
“Terry is going to keep you company while I go to physical therapy, okay? I didn’t want you to go to the Family Day alone,” Andrew says.
He approaches me and Alissa and kisses the little one on the forehead. “I’ll be back for dinner.”
He looks to Alissa. “Take care of your mom for me, okay?” and she responds back with a serious nod.
We all watch Andrew go, and Terry is the first to break the silence, “Are you ready for Family Day, Alissa?”
“Yes!” she raises her arms high. “I wanna get my face painted, play games, and eat yummy food!”
Terry chuckles. “My baby girl is here too. She’s in our room right now. You can meet her.”
“How old is she?” Alissa asks, interested in making a new friend.
“Oh, she’s a big girl already. She’s fifteen. But I bet you two could be friends!” Terry says, leaning forward to closely speak to her.
“Did Andrew talk to you about his retirement?” I blurt out without thinking.
And in an instant, Terry’s demeanor changes. He visibly shakes, his lips quiver, and his fists are pressed against the table in a white-knuckled grasp.
“We’ve never talked about it. Why, when, what did he say?” he babbles, his eyes wide.
“I mean…” I try to find my words. “I thought you were here because of that.”
“He can’t retire! My golden boy can’t retire. He’s too lucrative. I’m going to lose a lot of money if he does,” Terry blurts out, exasperated.
“What now?” mom turns to me, a hand splayed to the ceiling.
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” I groan, hiding my face in my hands.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
ANDREW
