Chapter 69

Emma stood in the middle of their living room, surrounded by boxes, watching Charlotte try to “help” pack by putting her stuffed animals in random containers.

“Not the dishes box, sweetheart,” Emma laughed, rescuing a soggy elephant from a box of wrapped china.

“Ellie wants to help too,” Charlotte explained seriously.

Three weeks had passed since Seattle, and they were deep in preparation for the Toronto move. The six-month timeline felt both generous and impossibly short, depending on the day.

“How was the Toronto call?” Alek asked, appearing in the doorway with Frankie on his shoulders.

“Interesting.” Emma sealed another box, marking it “FRAGILE” in large letters. “The sports network wants to offer me a hosting role, not just consulting.”

“Hosting what?”

“A weekly show about women’s hockey. Interview players, cover games, build the sport’s profile.” Emma tried to gauge Alek’s reaction. “It would be a bigger commitment than I originally pla