34. Caroline

We all celebrated my thirty-fifth birthday yesterday. I made sure it was a small event with just my closest friends. Most of the hockey guys couldn't make it because they had a game in Florida, but Jake did fly back on a red-eye to see me before midnight. It seemed important to him that he saw me on my birthday, even if he had to miss the party.

I thought the gesture was sweeter than any gift he could've given me. He has always known how to treat people. Even when we had our moments where things were rough, he was never cruel to me.

I'm just finishing a last-minute errand out to Mikey and Cade's house, which is on the outskirts of town and usually littered with old cars Mikey's working on. With all the favors Cade does for me, I couldn't really say "no" when Cade's little sister got sick and apparently wanted nothing more than "Miss Caroline's biscuits." It was a little suspicious when I showed up and found Cade dressed in a button-down and slacks. He took the biscuits from me at the door and wouldn't let me in to see his sister, supposedly because he didn't want me to catch what she had.

I'm walking back to the bed and breakfast while my thoughts turn over everything. As I walk, I've got Walker in his stroller, and I alternate between thinking and voicing my thoughts to Walker. Mostly, I'm sad that I won't see Jake today. The guys had an important mandatory meeting, so I won't see any of the hockey guys until a few weeks from now, when I'm planning to go with Andi and Mia to one of the games.

"He hasn't brought up the idea of a divorce yet," I tell Walker. "That's probably a good sign, right? I mean, it's not like I think we'll stay married. But if he's not in a big rush to end it, that might mean he's planning to continue like nothing changed once we end the marriage. That sounds so weird to say."

Walker offers no insights except a few strained grunts and a rattle of his toy.

I pull open the front door of the BB and back in, dragging the stroller behind me. When I turn, I do a double take because decorations are everywhere. Decorations I didn't set up.

A split second later, close to a hundred people come rushing out from all the doors and hidden hallways, yelling, "Surprise!"

I see Jake at the front of the group dressed in a suit and tie with his hair all done.

"What?" I breathe.

Walker is clapping and trying to wiggle hard in his stroller. He's loving the sudden noise and bright decorations.

Jake looks a little nervous, which isn't like him. I look above his head and see the words on the banner for the first time.

"Happy Divorce Day."

My heart sinks. Oh.

Jake comes forward, gently scooting Walker's stroller to the side so he can watch us, but also so Jake can take my hands in his. The room falls silent. I'm distantly aware that all the hockey guys are there, too, watching with smiling faces. My friends are there. Even Grams and Edgar are staying quiet and respectful. I see Jake's agent, Vanessa, too.

What the hell is going on?

"Caroline," Jake says, taking a deep breath and raising his voice so the whole room can hear. "I've spent the last year worrying about losing my team. Almost everybody is planning to retire, and I've worried about what life will look like when they do. As long as I can remember, I've measured my value by how well I can lead a group. Watching my men drop away from the team has felt like a failure, but…"

I swallow hard. I feel a lump of emotion in my throat from his words. I hate how hard this has all been on him and wish I could do something.

"But," he says again, smiling slightly now. "You've shown me something in these last six months. There are teammates on the ice and teammates off the ice. The guys will still be family, even after hockey. And I've got a completely new team to think about now, too. So this will be my last season. I realized I don't need to keep chasing the contract because I've got everything I need right here. In Frosty Harbor."

The door opens behind me, and I jerk my head around, already breathless, as my brain slowly catches up with his words. Jake is retiring?

Peter Ralmadue walks in and pauses, eyes lifting to the "Happy Divorce Day" banner and then darkening. "What is–"

"Shut it, Quasimoto," Grams snaps. "This was just about to get to the good part."

Peter's mouth hangs open, but he stays silent as Jake returns his eyes to mine.

Jake licks his lips and lowers down on one knee. "Caroline Prince… er, Summers… Will you divorce me?"

My eyebrows squeeze together, and confusion blooms in me. "Um…"

He smirks. "Because I wasn't done dating you…."

"Oh," I whisper.

I see Mia doing little happy tippy-taps and silently opening her mouth like she's about to scream.

"Yes?"

There's a roar of clapping as Jake slips the wedding and engagement rings from my finger. I feel sad as I watch him take the rings away. Fake or not, I'd gotten used to wearing those. He slips his wedding band off and hands it to me as he tucks my rings in his pocket. "I think it would be smart if you held onto that…"

Hope blooms in my chest. I bite my lip, nodding as Jake stands and pulls me in tight.