Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
A sudden thud against my mattress stirs me from the depths of sleep, and I crack open one eye, squinting against the morning light. It’s Saturday, a glorious day free from the usual game-day hustle, which means I could indulge in a bit more slumber. That is, of course, unless you have a four-year-old named Cole. Tiny hands brush against my cheek, and I feign sleep, hoping he’ll take the hint. But he inches closer, his voice a soft whisper, “Daddy.”
With a grin, I lift the covers and wrap him in my arms, eliciting a delighted squeal from him. “It’s early, buddy,” I murmur, my voice still thick with sleep.
“My clock was green!” he exclaims, his eyes shining with excitement.
Ugh, that “Ok to Wake Clock” is going to be the end of my weekends. “How about this: I let you turn on cartoons, and you let me snooze for thirty more minutes?”
“Can I watch Bluey?” His whole body practically vibrates with eagerness at the thought.
“Yep. Two episodes.” I’m not above a little bribery to snag an extra forty-five minutes of shut-eye.
“Okay, Daddy. You sleep. I lay next to you.” He shifts to the extra pillow, pulling the covers snugly up to his neck. As I set up his episodes, I feel the weight of sleep pulling me back down, and I succumb to it.
I wake again to the sound of his sweet voice singing along with the show, making it much easier to rise this time. I can’t quite fathom where he gets his sunny disposition from-certainly not from me. On my best days, I’m a bit prickly. “Thanks for letting Daddy sleep, buddy. Want some breakfast?” I ask, stretching and reaching for my sweatpants.
“Uh-huh! And then we go to the fall carnival!” His enthusiasm is infectious.
“We sure will. Are you ready for all the rides and games?” I ask, heading into the bathroom to brush my teeth.
“Yes! Can we take Luci?” His innocent question halts me mid-brush, and I pause to consider it.
I step into the doorway, toothbrush still in my mouth. “Why do you want to take Luci?”
“Because she took me trick-or-treating! I want to take her to the carnival.” His logic is impeccable, and I can’t help but admire his reasoning.
“Well, Luci might need the day off. She has homework and stuff,” I reply, trying to deflect. Besides, she’s probably not in the mood for me today. She never really appreciated my nickname for her. “Let’s go see what Baker made for breakfast.”
I lift him onto my shoulders, and he giggles all the way to the kitchen. My brothers are still asleep, the house quiet except for our laughter. “Pancakes this morning!” Baker greets us with a warm smile. “Chocolate chip, with sausage and fruit.”
“Baker is the best!” Cole declares, his face lighting up, and Baker beams at the compliment.
“Thank you, Baker,” I say, feeling grateful for his culinary skills.
As we finish up, the sound of Mother’s heels clicking against the floor grows louder, announcing her arrival. “Ah, good! Everyone is up! I have something special for all of you today. There’s a charity golf game late this morning, and you’ll be going. You can even play if you want!” Her tone is upbeat, as if she’s just announced a surprise trip to Disneyland.
She looks particularly pleased with herself. “A few of my friends’ daughters will be there serving refreshments at the end. You can meet them!” She gestures towards Jackson and Kingston, her eyes sparkling with maternal pride.
“We already have plans,” I start to say, but she holds up her finger, silencing me.
“I know. I took the liberty of scheduling Luci to take care of Cole. No excuses.”
Dad walks in just then, and Cole’s face falls, disappointment etched across his features.
“What’s that face, Cole?” Dad asks, completely unaware of the brewing storm in the kitchen.
“Nothing,” Cole mumbles, his voice barely above a whisper.
“I was taking him to the fall carnival in Evanston. Why do we need to go to this charity golf tournament?” I ask quietly, trying to keep my frustration in check.
Kingston chimes in, “I’m supposed to meet Kendall to help with his failing calculus grade.”
Dad glances around the room, sensing the tension. “Then go do those things. Honestly, I was hoping to skip the golf tournament myself. Maybe Jackson and Becker will come with me to the new restaurant opening. I really should be supervising that instead. We can have lunch afterward. Tomorrow, I’d like to take Cole to the hobby shop and spend the day with Kingston and Easton too.”
“Jason, they need to meet these girls,” Mother insists, but Dad waves her off.
“And they will. I want to spend time with my boys this weekend,” he asserts, his voice firm.
Mother’s irritation is palpable as she crosses her arms. “Then I will go to ensure our family is represented.”
Dad sighs and takes a seat with us. “Your mother only wants what’s best for you boys. Baker, this breakfast looks fabulous. Cole, how are those pancakes? You better eat up, little buddy, before you go to the carnival. Lots of walking for those little legs.”
Cole takes a bite, glancing around at us all. “So can you boys spare a day to spend with your dad? I won’t be going out of town again for a while.”
“That would be good, Dad,” Becker replies, looking at the rest of us. “Maybe we could all go to dinner one night without Cole or Mother. Just one night for the big boys.”
“I’d love that. Let’s do it Wednesday. I’ll talk to Imogen about watching Cole.” He takes a sip of orange juice. “I’ll get Luci to stay with him instead. I think that’s when his friend Barrett comes for a playdate.” I throw that in, hoping to sidestep Mother’s inquiries too early.
“I’d like to talk to you about her too,” Dad says, his expression turning serious. What’s his problem with her? Before he can elaborate, the sound of the front door closing interrupts us.
“Coco?” Luci’s cheerful voice calls out, and we all turn to see her appear around the corner. She halts abruptly, a look of surprise crossing her face. “Sorry! I thought everyone was gone to the golf tournament.” Her gaze drops, avoiding ours as Cole dashes toward her.
“Luci! You’re here! You can come to the carnival with me!” His excitement is contagious as he wraps his arms around her legs.
“A carnival? You want to set one up in the playroom today? I can probably do that.” Her focus is entirely on him, her smile bright.