Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
The arena is so quiet you could hear the proverbial pin drop, and everybody seems to be holding their breath. The color drains from Devon’s face and her green eyes sparkle as she looks at me, her lips trembling. She looks like she might cry. But she reaches out and plucks the ring from the box and slips it on her finger, her cheeks flushing and a smile as bright as the spotlight on her face. She raises her eyes to me and nods. “Yes. Nothing would make me happier.”
The arena explodes with applause and wild cheering. And as Devon throws herself into my arms, I pick her up and swing her around, my heart swelling until it feels too big for my body. My teammates file by us, patting me on the back and offering their congratulations to us. Anders is last in the line, and he smiles at Devon.
“You know what you’re getting into, right?” he asks.
“I do,” she says.
“And you still want to marry this clown?”
Devon smiles. “I do.”
“Good. Then keep working that magic that's making him feel young because once we win the Cup this year, we're going to need him for another run next season.”
Devon smiles at him and then turns to me. “Oh, I can promise you that I’m going to keep this old man feeling like a rookie. You may even get a few more years out of him.”
“That is good to hear.” Anders smiles. “Now, let’s go pop some champagne to celebrate your nuptials and getting into the playoffs.”
“That sounds good to me,” I say.
As I walk down the carpet with Devon by my side, I wave to the crowd again. The applause and cheering is thunderous. I can feel it down in my bones. It’s only then I realize it’s been a long time since I've felt the energy from a crowd like this. It’s been a long time since I felt this energized and excited for a playoff run. I guess I’d become jaded to it all. And this renewal, I know, is the effect Devon has on me. She really is making me appreciate this game, this crowd, and this life more than I have in a long time.
“Thank you,” I say.
“For what?” she asks.
“For being you. You’ve given me back everything I didn’t even know I’d lost.”
She offers me a shy smile. “Well, it only seems fair. You’ve given me so much I never even knew existed. I love you, Dawson.”
“I love you, baby.”
As we walk down the tunnel toward the locker room, I pick her up and spin her around, kissing her with all the passion I can muster. Whether we win the Cup this year or not, I already feel like I’ve won a championship.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
DEVON
“What are you working on?” he asks.
“Just typing up some case notes before my sessions today,” I reply. “How are the kids?”
“Amazing. Just like you.”
I laugh. “That’s sweet. But what are they doing?”
He flashes me a grin. “Dylan is sleeping. Daisy and Dominic are with River doing crafts right now. I tried to get in on that, but River kicked me out of the room. She said it's her time with the kids and I can have them back later.”
I laugh. River is our live-in nanny. Not that we really need one. We hired her shortly after moving to Montana when I was first getting my practice off the ground and Dawson was still trying to figure out his post-hockey life. He’s settled into retirement nicely and, unlike some athletes, hasn’t regretted his decision to pull the pin and hasn’t felt unsettled in the least. He’s been happy. And he’s very hands-on as a parent—too hands-on, apparently for River’s liking.
She’s more than just a nanny, though. She’s part of our family. She loves the kids as much as if they were her own and enjoys spending time with them. And even though we don’t need somebody to look after the kids, she’s become so much a part of the fabric of our family and our daily life that we can’t see our home without her.
Having River here gives us a lot of freedom. I’m able to keep my practice and Dawson is able to pursue whatever interests him. But for the most part, he loves being retired and loves being a dad more than anything.
At the moment, Dawson is helping coach a youth hockey team in Kalispell, a small city of nearly thirty thousand about twenty minutes from our home. It’s also where I have my practice. Even in a place as small as Kalispell, there’s a need for a child psychologist. I’ve even had patients begin coming in from surrounding areas. It’s really rewarding work, and having Dawson’s love and support plus River’s help with the kids is helping me pursue my own goals.