Chapter 46: Rinkmates: Epilogue

“

o, Dad, I’ve been thinking about hockey camps for this summer.” Rory plops down beside me, his lanky frame folding into the chair. We’re sitting in the waiting area of the tattoo parlor. My wife’s finally getting the tattoo she’s been talking about since our wedding day two years ago. Rory’s nearly ten now and growing so quickly. I’ve started teasing Liora that she will soon be the shortest one in our household.

The word dad still fills me with happiness every time he says it. This kid, with his mom’s stubborn streak and quick wit, has become such an important part of my life. Before Rory, the word dad made me feel uneasy, drenched with so much hate. Even though my relationship with my parents never really improved, we do talk on the phone occasionally, and thanks to therapy, I’m able to visit them without feeling like a complete failure.

My father apologized at one point, and we’re making an effort to mend things. It’s still challenging, but having my own family has made it so much easier. Finding the love I’d always craved made my anger issues disappear like they were never even there. And whenever my dad slips back into his old patterns and makes me feel down, I look at my son and focus on being the kind of dad I always wished I had.

“Yeah? Which ones are you considering, bud?”

He lists off a few top-tier camps, his eyes bright with excitement. I’m bursting with pride. He’s amazing at hockey and school. Anytime someone gives me the slightest opportunity to talk about him, I whip out hundreds of photos because I’m just so damn proud.

“I want to work on my slap shot and defensive skills.”

“Solid plan.” I ruffle his blond hair, remembering the countless hours we’ve spent on the ice together, him, me, and Liora. Every home game, they’re there in the stands, cheering me on. It’s all I need. “You know, with your mom’s and auntie Priya’s skating school taking off like it is, we might be able to squeeze in some extra ice time too.”

Rory grins. “Amazing!”

Liora and Priya are absolutely shining with their skating school, and since my wife became a judge on Grace on Ice, the show has transformed into something truly magical. She’s managed to rid the show of all its toxic elements, creating a warm and welcoming space for everyone who loves to skate. She’s used her platform to raise awareness for mental health and support women in need.

Sometimes, though, she amazes me so much that I half wonder if she might be an alien because there’s no way one person could do so much. That woman scares the shit out of me. She even tackled law school and finished in three years, all while giving her all to Rory and me.

She earned her Juris Doctor degree and is dedicated to ensuring that the students at Priya’s school never face the same challenges she did. And watching her take down Sandford was incredible. My wife standing up for herself and our son was breathtaking. I wanted to jump in and defend her myself, but seeing her reclaim the narrative and show the world that even when you feel hopeless and overshadowed, you can still fight back—that was awe-inspiring. She’s a remarkable role model, and her commitment to helping more girls and women in abusive relationships through pro bono cases is nothing short of extraordinary.

As for me, I’m gearing up for my final years in the NHL. Ever since I broke Gretzky’s record, my body’s not as quick to bounce back from the grueling games as it used to be, but the fire still burns bright. Each time I lace up my skates, I’m playing for my family. I’m still an idiot but one who’s loved.

A piercing cry fills the air, and I turn to see Liora’s mom stepping out from the back, cradling Mavie, our baby girl, in her arms. Eszter stands at the same height as my wife. Her gray-ish blonde hair falls in easy, natural waves around her face, and her bright blue eyes have a way of pulling you in. Even with the gentle signs of age, there’s a classic elegance about her.

Mavie rases her hands, clearly crying for me.

“What did Granny do this time?” I tease, reaching out to take Mavie into my arms. She settles against my chest, her cries subsiding as I gently bounce her.

I look at her flushed chubby cheeks, those black curls that peek out from beneath a tiny blue hat that matches her adorable dress.

Eszter rolls her eyes, a playful smile on her lips. “Oh please. You know she loves me.”

I chuckle, she does. “We all do.”

Who couldn’t love Eszter? She quickly became like a mother to me too. Her kindness and empathy are so genuine that she even manages to break through Rosalie’s tough exterior. And she saved me from all of Oscar’s babies. Liora transformed our home into a lush haven, and since Oscar has thrived into the largest plant I’ve ever seen, she’s cultivated even more plants from him. Ezter collected all the new plants and gave them to her friends and colleagues as gifts. Thank fuck.

I press a soft kiss to Mavie’s forehead. At a year old, she’s already got us all wrapped around her tiny finger. Rory sidles up beside me, his gaze fixed on his baby sister.

“She’s hungry,” he says, a hint of concern in his voice.

“I got this, bud,” I say. He’s been nothing but protective since she got here. I never thought I’d be good at this, but hey, I’ve never dropped the baby!

The curtain rustles, and Liora emerges, a smile on her face. She looks breathtaking, the glow of a woman who knows she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. She makes her way over to us, pressing a tender kiss to Rory’s forehead, then Mavie’s, before finally meeting my lips with her own.

“Show me that tattoo,” I murmur in between dodging Mavie’s playful little punches. She’s a daddy’s girl through and through and doesn’t like it when I kiss Mommy. But I’m a man obsessed. I could never stop.

Liora extends her wrist, revealing the freshly inked dates—our wedding day and Mavie’s birthday—etched in delicate script alongside the other milestones that have shaped her life. They managed to make it look like a heart and it’s lovely. Complete. I trace my finger over the raised skin, marveling at the incredible woman I get to call my wife.

“It’s amazing. I love you,” I whisper.

“I love you too. More than you could ever know.”

I kiss her again. And as if on cue, Mavie cries and Rory cringes, saying, “Ew. You guys are gross.”

Liora smiles up at me and I couldn’t be a happier man.