The doorbell rang shortly after three, and JP grinned as Tori cheered.
“The other hockey pucker man is here!”
Like there were just the two of them.
“His name is Angus,” JP reminded her as he gimped his way to the door, working the cane.
“Angus the Hockey Pucker Mans!”she sang as he opened the door.“Angus the Hockey Pucker Mans!Him is like my da-AD!Angus the Hockey Pucker Ma-a-a-a-a-a-ans, YAY!”
Angus burst out laughing.“Dude!That is the most awesome thing I have ever heard.Ever.”
JP rolled his eyes and went in for a hug.“It’s great to see you.And Tori might be a little excited to meet another hockey player.”
“I am super excited to meet you and your brother.”
“Petey is with Daddy picking up stuffs at the store.I am taking care of Dad because he needs me.”
He grinned at Angus.“No lies detected.Come on in.How are you doing?”He led Angus to the living room.
“I’m great.It’s amazing to see you.You look fab-u-lous.”He snapped his fingers in between syllables.
JP laughed.He had to admit, he’d missed the guys.Some of them anyway, and Angus was definitely one of those.“I’m getting there.”He was still working on the physical side, but Ian and the kids were making the mental side work big time.
“Good deal.”
“Daddy would say, come in and siddown, please.”Tori waved her cast.
Angus beamed at her.“I would love to, thank you.”
JP lowered himself into the easy chair, and Tori clambered onto his lap, carefully sitting on his good leg.
“So you guys miss me out on the ice?”Asking was like pressing against a bruise to see how badly it still hurt.
“We do.I—You and I always felt like we were on the same level, man.Like we belonged on the same team.”
“I know what you mean.I do miss that teamwork on the ice, knowing exactly what my job is and that my teammates will be there when I send the puck their way.”When things were working right there was a synchronicity that made him feel strong and capable and a winner.He winked at Angus.“Or when we’re both fighting to keep it out of your crease.”
“Exactly.That’s not going to be our problem anymore, though, man.”
“So you’re done, then?”He couldn’t imagine retiring.If he hadn’t gotten hurt, he’d still be in Florida.Without Ian or the kids.That wasn’t an option anymore.Thank God.Because this was where he belonged.
“I am.I want to come home.I want a home and a life, man.I can train, coach, be lazy.”
“It’s good to be home,” he admitted.“To be with the ones I love, who love me.”He smiled at Tori, who was studying them, head moving like she was watching a tennis match.
“Dad’s going to help me be a hockey pucker.The bestest one.”
“Oh, yeah?”Angus gave him a look.“Is she already skating?”
“Oh, heck yes – she’s amazing.No fear.She just gets out there andgoes.”He was already so proud of her.
She nodded.“I ambrave.I breaked my arm and was good.”
JP gave her a squeeze.“My favorite hockey pucker ever.”
“So you thinking of going into coaching?”Angus asked.
“I am.I should be able to skate again, but not well enough to play anymore.The team actually asked me to come back to Florida and coach, but my heart is here with my family, and I didn’t want to drag them all that way.So I’m putting out feelers for something closer to home.”
