The Hockey Star’s Remorse

Chapter 177
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Back in the apartment, the air seemed lighter after my conversation with Timothy.
I couldn't help but smile as I saw Olive as she bounced her legs on the couch.
Once she spotted me, she sat up and ran to my side.
“I can't believe Uncle Timothy lives right next to you!” she said, her excitement
evident.
I suppose they'd never had the chance to be properly introduced until now.
Regardless, she seemed to have instantly taken a liking to him. “Can I see him
again?” she asked innocently..
I hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. “Another time,” I
replied gently, not wanting to delve into the complexities of Timothy and. I's
situation.
Olive’s gaze returned to the window, her mind seemingly racing with questions. It
was a weekday, and the persistent ticking of the antique wall clock reminded me
of her obligations.
“Shouldn't you be in school?” I inquired.
“I've always been homeschooled,” Olive admitted. “I do have homework to do
later.”
Homeschooled. I considered the implications of that as I glanced around the
apartment. A flicker of sympathy welled up within me, because I was hardly as
good of a distraction for her as her potential peers could've been.
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I rose from the couch, moved toward the television set, and switched it on. The
screen flickered to life and I began flipping through channels until a children’s
program came on the screen. As I walked off, my mind began to wander to a time
when my own life had been marked by the absence of a
mother.
Mia, my mother, had left when I was just ten years old. Her departure coincided
with my father’s growing dependence on alcohol, and I still remembered the tears
in her eyes as she reminisced about the life she could have had if I had never
been born. Her words had etched themselves into my memory, carving out a
deep wound that never truly healed.
Scarlett was not the type of mother to abandon her child. Her departure was the
kind that only happened through
My reverie was abruptly interrupted by the jarring ring of my phone. Glancing at
the caller ID, my heart clenched with a mixture of dread and anticipation. It was
Timothy. With a quick glance at Olive, I stepped away to answer the call.
“Evie,” Timothy's voice crackled on the other end. “The hospital just called.
Scarlett still hasn't woken up. They say there's a chance, but...”
My heart sank as I listened to the uncertainty in his voice. That could've meant a
lot of things. At least, that's how my mind rationalized it.
I felt a tug at the corner of my shirt and peered down to see Olive by my side. I
hadn't even noticed she'd moved from the couch.
“Is Mommy going to wake up?” she asked, peering up at me with questioning
eyes.
I cupped a hand over the phone to muffle Timothy's voice. “Um, I'm going to have
to call you back, okay?”
“Sure,” Timothy said. “Talk to you later.”
Emergency calls only. Chapter 177
After hanging up. I knelt down, my eyes meeting hers with a heavy sigh. “The
doctors are doing everything they can,” I told her gently, wishing I could promise
more. “We just have to keep hoping.”
Olive nodded slowly, her gaze filled with a wisdom that far exceeded her years.
She brushed a lock of her auburn hair behind her ear and whispered. “They need
to fix her soon, so she can come to my birthday.”
The mention of her birthday tugged at my heartstrings. “When is your birthday,
Olive?” I asked,
“It's tomorrow,” she replied, her voice soft and uncertain. “But I've never
celebrated without Mommy.”
Her words pierced through me, reminding me of the countless birthdays and
milestones that had been tainted or even missed altogether. My thoughts.
wandered to the things I had missed out on, the moments my own mother had
never been there to share.
I took a deep breath, determined to be there for Olive in a way my mother hadn't
been for me. “We'll celebrate your birthday, Olive,” I said with conviction. “We'll
make it special, and then you can tell Mommy all about it when she gets better.”
A glimmer of hope flickered in Olive’s eyes, and a smile graced her lips. “Can I
invite my friends over for a sleepover?” she asked, her voice filled with
excitement.
The prospect of hosting a sleepover party filled me with a mix of anxiety and
nostalgia. I'd never been particularly good with kids, and my life had revolved
around work and personal struggles. However, Olive’s happiness was more
important than ever now, and I was determined to make her birthday a
memorable one.
“Of course,” I agreed with a grin, hoping tha
my enthusiasm would mask my apprehension. “We'll plan the best sleepover
party ever.”
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Chapter 177
Olives eyes sparkled with joy, and her small arms enveloped me in a tight hug. I
couldn't help but smile and squeeze her back.
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Olive and I spent the day gathering supplies for her upcoming birthday sleepover,
filling the small living space with balloons, streamers, and the unmistakable
excitement of an impending celebration. As I hurriedly arranged a stack of
colorful party hats, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction and even
wonder at the festivities to come.
Just as I put the finishing touches on the decorations, the front door swung open
and Aria entered. Her movements were sluggish as she threw her keys on the
kitchen counter and kicked off her boots.
“Hey, Aria,” I greeted her with a warm smile.
“Hi!” Olive chirped after me, waving her tissue paper pom—poms.
“We've got some exciting news,” I continued, stepping down from the step—stool.
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Aria approached, her curly hair
disheveled and her eyes heavy with
fatigue. She eyed 1g depois]
olin ther ed nded with a
/ Li “ ’ 2 ”
forced smile. “What's up, Evie?” She
slung her bag onto a chair and looked
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around. “Are you throwing a party or
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something?” The content is on
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chapter there!
As Olive beamed with anticipation, I gestured toward the festively decorated
room. “We're going to help Olive celebrate her birthday with a sleepover
tomorrow. We've got all the decorations ready.”
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21%) 1331
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ey o .
Aria’s eyes widened with alarm, and
the fatigue that had weighed down
her features was replaCd By@ !
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gpowind'sése of panic. “A
” “ma
sleepover?” she stammered. “With
: , :
kids? I...I don't know what to do with
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a bunch of kids, Evie." The content is
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chapter there!
I chuckled. “It's all right, Aria. I've got the big things covered, like decorations and
planning. You don't need to stress about anything. Just be here with us, and we'll
make it a memorable day for Olive.”
Avria’s tension eased somewhat, but her concern still lingered in her eyes. “Are
you sure about this?”
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I reached out to her, placing a
. “
reassuring hand on her shoulder.
) Toe @)
am. I'll handle the Ogi sand you
I
can ustlelRx and enjoy the
5 : : ) 5
celebration with Olive. It's her special
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day, and we want it to be perfect.
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Aria let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders slumping. “Well, I wouldn't want to let
Olive down. I guess we it should be all right.”
1 smiled at her. “You're the best!”
She smirked at me, shrugging off my hand as she retreated to her room. “I'm well
aware.”