Page 59 of Off the Post

“I can see that. And I created a private account just so I can start following his Instagram account. I’ve heard he is a true Vikings influencer.”

Nicolas lets out his cry of victory. “Woff. Woff. Woff.”

My heart cracks open a little wider, and I wonder how I’ll survive the emotional toll this day is sure to deliver.

Suck it up, Wolf.

I hold my knuckles down to Nicolas and he gives me a tiny fist bump.

“Are you ready to get our game on, Little Wolf?” I ask him, narrowing my eyes to stare at him with all seriousness. “Because we’re gonna win, right?”

Nicolas bobs his head up and down, the helmet wobbling loosely. “Win! Win! Win!”

“Okay, Little Wolf. Let’s do it.”

When I spin around to grab the gear I’d left beside the table, I see a sheen of wetness at the corners of Ali’s eyes.

And fuck yeah. I’m ready to do this.

For Nicolas and for Ali.

And for my brother because he can’t be here to do it with us.

29

Ali

Once all the golfers and their young participants are checked in, Leanne, Halle and I work with the caterer to ensure all the post-game snacks and drinks are ready, then do a final tally of the awards that will be presented to each group of golfers.

My heart still flutters madly at the memory of how Soren engaged with Nicolas and his mom during their introductions. In fact, Halle MacAllister, whom I’d met at Tanner’s pool party and who offered to assist me in today’s tournament, even mentions their sweet interaction.

“Wow. I’ve never seen The Wolf speak so… not Wolf-like,” she says as she continues to assemble the goodie bags we have for our golfers. They’re all filled with treats and Vikings and sponsor merchandise. “He was so kind to Nicolas. It reminds me of the way Dane spoke to our daughter the first time he met her.”

I’d caught the gist of Halle and Dane’s story from the pool party conversations I overheard between the ladies, but my hosting duties had kept me from sussing out the specifics. All I know is that Dane didn’t realize he had a child with Halle for quite some time and didn’t meet her until Halle moved to Vancouver. It truly is an amazing story, and I couldn’t admire Halle any more now that I know a bit about the sacrifices she made to raise a child as a single mother.

“Oh yeah? How was that?” I prod, hoping not to sound too nosy, but I can’t help it. I’m very curious about the details surrounding their second chance. Talk about romantic. “I didn’t get to talk with you as much as I’d have liked at the party.”

“True! We didn’t have a lot of privacy, but it sure was a fun party.” She leans toward me conspiratorially and winks. “And it was nice to have some adults-only time.”

Halle smiles dreamily, looking off toward the golf course. “To answer your question about Dane and I, well… I’d just moved from my home in Calgary to join the Vikings front office, and my dad was helping me and Lenni get settled in. He brought her into the office to meet her new teacher and see her new classroom at the on-site daycare the Vikings provide. Anyway, long story short, she literally plowed into Dane, who just happened to be at the team offices at the same time.”

Laughing at her memory, Halle hands me a finished bag. I tie the cellophane together with a blue ribbon and set it over on the opposite table, then I take a quick peek at my to-do list and time schedules and give myself a nod of approval. On time and everything is set. This is the final task that needs to be done before I head out on the course and check in with the groups.

“I’m sure both were surprised with the run-in. Did Dane know Lenni was his daughter at that point?”

Halle tips her head to the side and raises her eyes expressively under her long, dark lashes.

“No, he didn’t.” Her voice is wistful and maybe filled with a tinge of regret. “We were both very young when I got pregnant, and due to the circumstances, I decided at the time not to tell him about the baby.”

“I can’t even imagine. I bet being a single mom for the first few years of Lenni’s life was tough to do on your own.”

I’m not new to the concept of single motherhood; Tanner and I were both raised almost single-handedly by just our moms. Tanner’s mom, especially, raised him by herself during most of his childhood. While my dad helped financially while he was alive and included Tanner in our family vacations, Camille still had the primary parenting responsibilities.

Halle nods. “Yeah, it wasn’t easy, even with Dad’s help. But it would’ve been just as hard, if different, if Dane had known about Lenni. That was when he was a very young rookie and on the road.”

“Well, seeing you guys together now, it’s so obvious that you’ve made the right decision and things worked. The two of you make a cute couple.”

She looks off longingly toward the eighteenth hole and sighs. I know exactly what it means.