Page 26 of Icing on Top

Charlie’s frown disappeared, and a happy glow returned to her face. I knew we’d found the solution. She’d still get to bake with someone special, just like everyone else. It wouldn’t be the same as baking with Sadie, but it was better than showing up empty-handed or with my sad excuse for a baked good. I didn’t even want to consider how she would handle that if just thinking about it made her anxious enough that she'd thrown up.

“You can ask her at your game Saturday.”

That seemed to satisfy her for now, and she sank back into my arms, head resting on my chest. I rubbed my hand soothingly up and down her back.

This wouldn’t be the last time we went through something like this revolving around Sadie. No matter how hard I tried to be everything for Charlie, there would still be areas in which I fell short, and today had made it painfully obvious that whether I wanted to ask for help or not, I would need it.

Asking Zoe to help with the bake sale would be a good place to start. I just needed to keep my feelings for her in check, and we would be fine.

Chapter 11

Jeremiah

Charlie hadn’t fully regained her appetite since being sent home from school, but she had insisted on going to her game today. I’d done my best to fill her up with peanut butter toast and fruit that would be light on her stomach, but still give her energy.

The Sharks were currently giving the Puffins a run for their money. While Charlie had been a brick wall, she was starting to tire out. She stayed on the ground longer, as if taking a breather, before getting back up slower than normal. Zoe must have noticed as well, because the second the whistle blew for the end of the half, she started helping Zack get on his goalie gear. All the while, she made sure everyone drank their water.

Then suddenly Zoe’s eyes met mine. She held them for a moment before her gaze flicked to Charlie and back to me. I registered her lips moving, but couldn’t process what she was trying to say.

Picture? No. Pick… pickle!

Even from across the rink, I could see how red Charlie’s cheeks were now that she’d removed her mask. While it was nothing too out of the ordinary when she was pushing to do her best, it was the faraway look in her eyes that made my stomach turn. She wasn’t paying any attention to Zoe as she explained the positions and plays for the next half to the rest of the team, and Charlie’s breathing hadn’t calmed down. It had been a hard period, with the Puffins on defense more often than not, and Charlie would never give anything less than her all. Even if that meant pushing herself to her limits for forty minutes straight with barely any fuel in her body. Unfortunately, a trait that she got from me.

Without a second thought, I hurdled over the two rows of empty bleachers in front of me and hurried to the concession stand. The teenagers that ran the stand stared at me in confusion, but my attention was locked on one thing. Thankfully, we had restocked earlier in the week, so there were plenty of pickles. Just as quick as I had barged in, I was out.

I didn’t care if parents weren’t allowed on the ice, let alone anyone in their street shoes—it was my rink anyway. I was in full protective Dad mode and had tunnel vision for Charlie and Charlie alone.

Zoe barely opened the door in time for me. I had been fully prepared to just hop over the boards and pray that a kid wasn’t on the other side.

Kneeling down in front of Charlie, my chest tightened when her half-lidded eyes met mine. I could tell she wanted to smile, but even that was too much effort right now.

“Here, Tot. Nibble on this and I’m gonna get your gear off so you can cool down, okay?”

Her head bobbed once.

I pulled her jersey over her head first, followed by her elbow and shoulder pads. The rest I could work around her eating to get off. I ripped open the package and held it out to her, wincing at how clammy her little hand was against mine. She’d completely sweated through her undershirt.

I was in the midst of undoing the tape around her socks when Zoe appeared at my side.

“Here, Charlie girl.” She draped a wet cooling towel around Charlie’s neck, adjusting her braids. “Just take a breather. You were playing hard out there saving all those goals.”

I gave Charlie’s knee an affectionate squeeze and did my best to smile up at her. “Absolutely killing it out there, Tot,” I agreed.

That at least got a bigger smile out of her. “Thanks, Daddy. Did you see the one I blocked with my toe?”

“I sure did. Quick reflexes on that one.” I nodded towards the pickle. “Keep eating.”

She did as I asked, having eaten half by the time I got her skates and shin guards off. The red in her cheeks had noticeably faded, and she was far more responsive, eyes tracking the puck now as play began. The knot in my chest loosened.

There was no returning to the parents’ side now, and while I could have joined Zoe at the boards, I forced myself to sit on the bench next to Charlie instead. Standing next to Zoe would mean talking to her, and I had promised to keep that to a minimum. So, I did my best to focus on the game instead of her.

When the Sharks got the puck out of the scrum and their center made a breakaway, I didn’t think to stop myself from yelling out to Zack.

“Eyes on the puck, Zack! Track it!”

The center tried to fake to the left, but Zack did exactly as I asked and slid over just in time to catch the puck in his glove. All of the Puffin parents cheered for him. Even Charlie beat her stick against the boards in front of us.

Zoe turned to the bench and started prepping the next line to switch out. Her eyes caught mine and I quickly shifted to face Charlie more, keeping my back to Zoe.