Cal made us breakfast before we took Tucker for a long walk. Aaron is determined to hold his leash from the stroller or while Cal is giving him a piggyback ride. It’s the type of mess and determination that makes you smile.
Now dressed and ready, we head to the rink.
I planned to get there before everyone, but Adler beat me. Her back is to me, red curls bounce across her lower back. She’s holding a clipboard in one hand, pointing and demonstrating something in the other.
“Adler—” I have to pause. Blink a couple times. “Emerson? Beatrix?”
“I told you I found some extra volunteers.”
“I cannot skate, but, paperwork? I’ve got it babe.” Beatrix smiles, giving me a wink.
Emerson moves around Adler, swallowing me in a hug.
“Where’s my favorite Sullivan?”
I can hear his little legs running (waddling) down the corridor. “Emme!” Over my shoulder, he’s holding Audrey’s hand. Cal behind him with Liam and George.
“Did you know about this?” I ask him. When his response is a two dimple smile, I roll my eyes. “Of course.”
Emerson scoops Aaron up, careful of her own growing belly. Emerson is pregnant too. Our girls’ only due two weeks apart.
Liam and Emerson split their time between Chicago and London. They bought a place a block over from ours in Lincoln Park. George and Beatrix still live in London with their three kids. Audrey and Maya moved here last year and are currently planning their wedding.
Even Mom and Dad moved. They couldn’t resist being closer to their grandchildren.
“They are helping with check-in which means I was able to move that team to the ice and assisting with gear,” Adler informs me. We leave our family to go find Miller and the rest of our team before this whirlwind of a day starts.
Hours later, I’m exhausted but satisfied.
Everything about today has been a dream. I’d expected and planned for a few kinks, but we were able to adapt and keep them behind the curtain.
Kids were thrilled about getting to skate with professional players. A mini hockey game broke out and it was cute when they let the ten-year-olds win. Miller even took to the net to let Riley score on him, scooping him up after zooming around the ice.
Skating backward, the last person on the ice, I take a deep breath. My feet are throbbing and I know I probably shouldn’t have been on them as long as I was, but I couldn’t help it.
I pause in the center of the rink.
Take another breath. Soak today in. Soak in the past thirteen years.
Finally the quiet isn’t as loud. Being alone doesn’t cut me and my emotional walls no longer look like the ice beneath me.
Finally, everything has fallen into place.
I hear giggles and look over my shoulder.
Skating to the boards, my favorite boys are waiting for me. Aaron is in Callum’s arms, sitting on his hip, holding the tiniest pair of skates. Behind them our family files in and down the stairs. Smiles, laughter, and love filling the place.
Mom and Dad popped by during our last session. Mom brought flowers and cookies for everyone. Now, Dad is carrying Miller’s youngest on his shoulders while Mom is talking with Callum’s dad and Sienna.
They visit often. Sienna is still repairing her relationship with Callum—I still have my guard up, ready to give her the finger if needed—but he’s happy.
As I assist tying Aaron’s skates, Cal pulls my hair into a braid.
“What are you feeling, Dais?”
“Everything.”
