Page 81 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

I don't answer.

Coach continues. "Maybe it's their turn."

I watch the snow drifting across the lake.

"I don't know how."

Coach smiles. "I know." He takes another sip of coffee. "That's why we came."

***

The sun is beginning to sink behind the pines.

One by one...the trucks begin pulling out.

No dramatic goodbyes.

Just... "See you tomorrow."

"Call if you need anything."

"Don't shovel."

"I wasn't planning to."

"Liar."

Liam is the last one outside and finally drives away. As the convoy disappears one vehicle at a time, snow begins falling again.

Softly.

I stand alone on the porch, watching the fresh tire tracks slowly disappear beneath the snow.

The silence returns, but it doesn't feel empty anymore. It feels peaceful.

Coach's words echo quietly in his mind.

"You're not carrying this one alone."

For the first time, I believe him.

When I turn toward the front door, I stop to look down. Florence.

The ridiculous pink flamingo still stands proudly beside the porch steps. Bright pink against the white snow.

I shake my head. Smiles. "I'm not naming you."

The flamingo offers no opinion.

I open the front door, pause, and look back one last time. "You're still ridiculous."

But I leave the flamingo exactly where it is and go inside.

***

The cabin settles around me. Outside, snow quietly buries the tire tracks. Inside, the laughter somehow remains.

Tomorrow recovery will continue.