“She’s amazing,” I said. I’d never known what unconditional love was before they’d placed her in my arms. She’d changed...everything.

“And the way you raise her...Gage, I’ve sat through every one of your hockey games,” she shrugged, “well, the home ones, now, at least. But I’ve never been as proud of you as I am when I see how loved she is, what a tremendous man you’ve become for her.”

“She brings out the best in me.”

“And Bailey?” she asked nonchalantly as she took a sip of her soda.

I wasn’t fooled.

“Yes, Mom. We’re together.”

“Yes!” she nearly squealed.

“Mom!” For fuck’s sake, what was she? Sixteen?

“What? Her mother owes me $50. We’ve had a bet on you guys since you were six.”

“Bailey was four.” I did the math.

“Yep and you were smitten. I’ll admit that I was worried for a while when that two-bit tramp got pregnant with Lettie, but since Scarlett is perfect in every way, I’ll forgive her.”

“Nice, Mom.” I wasn’t sure what I was more shocked by—the fact that mom had a bet going, or that I’d just heard the classiest woman I’d ever met say, “tramp.”

She shrugged, then sighed. “And if it isn’t the two-bit whore, herself.”

I turned to where she was looking and saw Helen walking down the stairs with a giant, ribbon covered box. Followed by—fuck my life…that was Adkins.

In my home.

I slammed into the boards, my body taking the impact as he hit me from behind.

The house I’d had built when he’d been traded to Ontario and took my girlfriend with him. The house I shared with my daughter and Bailey.

My shoulder wretched as came up under my pads, my arm at an unnatural angle.

“Steady,” Rory muttered, putting a hand on my shoulder.

His smile gloated above me as I turned over to my back, and the world fell silent except for the yelling from the coaches, the doctors, the EMTs.

That same smile gloating as Helen took his hand and walked out of my hospital room, leaving my daughter motherless.

This was about to be the shortest visit ever.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Bailey move toward Lettie. We’d prepped her last night that Helen was coming, and though I’d been taking care of Lettie solo for two years, it had felt amazing to have Bailey with me. It felt like I had a partner.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” I didn’t mince words as they reached the ground.

“Nice to see you too, McPherson,” Adkins winked at me.

He fucking winked.

“I didn’t invite you into my house, asshole.”

“No, but you invited my wife, so I came with. After all, Scarlett is my step-daughter.”

Unbridled rage ran through me. “You have no claim on my daughter, asshole. You can put a ring on this pair of open legs, but you’ll never be anything to Lettie besides the guy who purposely took out her father’s shoulder because you were scared of losing your spot.”

“Boys,” Helen tsked. “Gage, I gave the papers to Warren when I walked in. He wouldn’t let me in without them.”

Warren nodded behind her, and I let out a huge sigh of relief. It was over. I just had to make it through this one party, and then I’d never have to deal with her again.

“Thank you,” I said to Helen. “You go near my daughter and I’ll cut your fucking hands off. I’m happy to do the jail time,” I told Adkins.

He put his hands up and then leaned back against the deck supports. “I’ll just wait here.”

“Good idea,” Coach said as he walked over. He slapped my back. “How about I keep him company so you can help Lettie out?”

I nodded my thanks and took off across the yard to where Helen was already approaching Lettie, who was leaned back against Bailey’s legs.

“Hi, Scarlett,” she sang in that super sweet voice I hated. “I’m your mommy.”

I came around the side to flank Bailey, and Lettie reached up for my hand, which I gave without thought. I offered to pick her up but she shook her head and stayed where she was, firmly conformed to the shape of Bailey’s legs.

“I don’t have a mommy.”

Well, if that didn’t break my fucking heart.

Helen’s smile was lost for a millisecond. “Of course you do. Who do you think I am?”

Lettie looked up to Bailey, then me, then back to Helen. “You’re the woman who grew me.”

Bailey’s hands tightened a little on Lettie’s shoulders, no doubt reeling the same way I was.

“Right, and that makes me your mommy,” Helen explained, still standing at her full height so that Lettie had to crane her neck.

“Mommy’s don’t leave,” Lettie said simply with a shake of her head. There was no malice in her voice or judgement, just fact.

“Well…” Helen swallowed. “Don’t you want a mommy?”

Before I could stop that question, Lettie answered.

“I don’t need a mommy. I have a Bailey.”

Bailey blinked rapidly and I wound my unused arm around her. That’s right. We’re a team, and you’re not on it, Helen.

Helen cleared her throat. “Oh, okay. Well, I like your castle,” she said with a smile.

Lettie tilted her head. “I do too. Daddy built it and Bailey painted my dragon. He guards it while I’m away. But it’s not a castle.”

“It’s not?” Helen asked, her brow unfurrowed from how much botox she’d had.

“It’s a fortress.”

God, I loved my daughter.

“Oh, okay,” Helen answered, not understanding that in one statement, my daughter told her everything she needed to know about her personality. She wasn’t a simpering princess, she was a warrior. “Well, I know I only really get to see you this once, so I thought I’d bring something for you to remember me by. Is that okay?”

Lettie nodded solemnly, and Helen handed her the box.

“It’s okay, Lettie-lou,” I said when she looked up at me with questioning eyes.

She pulled the end of the giant pink ribbon until it fell from the box, and then pulled the lid off.

“Are you kidding me?” I snapped when Lettie jumped back. Bailey picked her up, holding her high off the ground.