Chapter One
Lexie
If I see one more email in my inbox, I may shoot the computer. I’ve spent the last hour answering as many as I could, and it still looks like I haven’t touched them. I hate them with a passion, but it’s the way most of our clients communicate with us. Unless they’re calling to scream at me for some stupid reason, like the ice sculpture isn’t as big as it should be.
I realize that it’s getting later, and I need to get to the school. This is one person I’m never late for. I quickly grab my purse, phone, and keys, before heading towards my car.
The air has a small chill in the air because October is upon us. Soon the snow will come and I hate that more than anything. I shouldn’t be complaining since I’ve lived in Utah all my life, and I should be used to it by now. But, I’m not.
I follow the line of high-end cars into the school’s parking lot. I hate all those pretentious millionaires, but this is the best school in Salt Lake City, and my baby girl will only have the best. That’s why I moved to this side of town, to make sure we were in this school district.
Right there in front of the building with her Hello Kitty backpack and curly strawberry blonde hair is the one person who makes my life complete.
My daughter, Sadie.
“Mommy!” she yells for me, sprinting to me.
“How’s my girl?”
“Good.” She climbs up into the back and buckles into her carseat. “I had the greatest day ever.”
“You did?”
“Yes, I met a boy.”
I sigh deeply. Of course she did. My daughter is always meeting boys. “Well, go ahead and tell me all about your friend.”
“His name is Reed, and guess what? He loves SpongeBob too. Can you believe it?”
I laugh. “That’s amazing. I’m so glad that you’re making friends. What did you learn today?”
Sadie throws her head back. “Addition. There are so many numbers, Mommy.”
Oh, the woes of a six-year-old. My smile deepens as I continue to drive towards my parents’ house.
“Are you going to Grammy and Pops house?”
“Yes. I’m going out with Aunt Tiff tonight.”
“Okay.” Sadie looks out the window.
I hate that I leave her, but she’s still too young to take to the Utah Bears hockey game. However, I can’t wait until I can. I want my daughter to love hockey as much as I do.
When I pull into the driveway, Sadie is bouncing in her seat. She loves her grandparents, and they spoil her rotten. She unbuckles and bolts for the front door. I grab her bags and follow her in.
“Grammy, where are you?” Sadie shouts as she’s racing through the house.
“There’s my baby,” Mom says, coming from around the corner.
Her rich brown hair has faded with age, and the gray is peeking through the crown of her head. She picks up my daughter with ease, and I wonder how she never looks tired.
“Where’s my princess?” Dad yells from the kitchen. “I have cookies.”
Sadie squeals with delight and leaps from Mom’s arms towards the kitchen.
“How was work?” Mom gives me a peck on the cheek.
“Long.” I sit down on the couch. “Thanks for watching her.”
Mom waves her hand like it’s not a big deal. I don’t know what I would do without my parents. They have been my strength for the past six years.
“Mommy, look.” Sadie comes back into the living room with a large cookie in her hand.
“You haven’t had dinner yet.”
“But Pops gave it to me,” she whines, pouting her lip.
“Fine.” There’s no point in arguing. “I have to go. Give me a kiss.”
Sadie quickly smacks her lips against my cheek and takes off back to the kitchen. I hug Mom and yell ‘bye’ to Dad. I go back to my car and drive the few blocks to my house. Sadie is my pride and joy, but my house is the second. I’ve saved for the last six years and cried the day we closed. My parents offered numerous times for me to live with them, so I could save faster, but I couldn’t do that to them.
Sadie and I lived in a small apartment until this past summer. I had grown up in the neighborhood, and I knew that it was safe. On top of that, I wanted Sadie to be able to go to the best school.
I walk into my ranch-style, single-story home; it still has a small hint of fresh-paint smell in the air. I drop my keys and purse onto the table near the door and head to the bedroom to change. Excitement fills me, thinking that hockey season is about to start. There is one major problem that faces me, though.
I hate the Utah Bears.
Every last one of them.
I’m a Las Vegas Gamblers fan, but I’ve never been there to see a game. I’ve had to wait for them to come here for me to see them.
And that is tonight.
My phone rings from the other room. I quickly slip on my jersey of my favorite player and the greatest captain in the league, Jax Godwin.
“Hey, what time are you going to be here?” I ask Tiffany when I answer the phone.
“I’m dying.”
&nbs
p; “What?” I hear her coughing loudly into the phone. “Are you okay?”
“No, I think I have the flu or the plague. It doesn’t matter because I can’t go.”
“Oh no. Do you need me to get you something?”