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"We had games in Ottawa and Montreal I made a quick jump over here to visit Oliver and his parents"

"Oh," I say, but not really understanding why that puts him on aze, not a clue as to what to say

My heart is beating fast, his proxi My brain whirls with possibility but refuses to believe even for a moment that he’s here to tell me he’s made a mistake I knoke…once you shut the door on him, he doesn’t knock back on it

"Can I come in?" he asks, and my head snaps up

"What?" I immediately ask, and then realize that’s stupid I back up and make room for him to pass "Yes, sorry…of course, come in"

Hawke steps past ne and fresh cold air he drags in with hi into the living rooside full of puppy curiosity

"Hawke?" my dad asks in surprise as he returns from the kitchen and sees him

"Hey, Dave," Hawke says hesitantly, and I know he’s wondering how hter’s heart a second tily at a loss for words I walk slowly into the living rooain to hide the fact they’re slightly shaking

"Those cookies look great," Hawke says as he nods toward the plate in my dad’s hands

"Want one?" lancemy shoulders and hold on to aze wary and needful all at the same time "I need to talk to Vale"

"Okay," my dad says a little more exuberantly than needed He sets the plate of cookies down on the table "I think I’ll just head down to the pub for a beer with the boys Give you two some privacy"

I don’t say a word Not even a friendly reminder to rabs his coat fros it on He steps up to h on hiive hiry at Hawke, and ainst him I just don’t have it inBesides, Hawke carries enough of that for both of us

Once lances at the tree "It’s nice"

"Yeah," I agree quietly "Dad wanted to get it up early…celebrate, you know?"

Hawke nods and strokes his beard, cutting his eyes back over to o"