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hundred percent sure, but there have been theories that Seraphina could possibly inherit the team.”
    “Seraphina?”  To say her father looked flabbergasted at this statement was an understatement.  “Sidestepping over the fact that she’s – what? – twenty-three, inexperienced, and has little if any knowledge about hockey, why wouldn’t Ken give the team to Katella, who runs her own event planning committee and who happens to be dating Matt Peters, or at least, to both of them?  Why just Seraphina?”
    Emma frowned at her father’s question.  Granted, as a dedicated fan and unofficial investor considering how much money he put into the team by buying tickets, merchandise, and attending charity events, his question was warranted, and Emma was sure people would be wondering the same exact thing.  But at the same time, she felt slightly protective of this woman she had never met, only because Emma knew what it was like to be underestimated based solely on her appearance and the demographics she belonged to.  Just because Seraphina was young and inexperienced didn’t mean she couldn’t own and manage a hockey team; it just meant she had a lot to learn.  And Ken was smart; he wouldn’t give the team to his granddaughter unless he was certain she could handle it.  Right?
    “I can’t say,” Henry said, but there was an enigmatic smile touching his thin lips.  “But you should give her the benefit of the doubt, Jeremy.  Sure, you really haven’t seen her at the games or the events.  In fact, except for meeting with Ken at least once a week at his office in Sea Side, I don’t think Seraphina’s ever been affiliated with the team.  But Ken chose her as successor – allegedly, of course – for a reason.  And I, for one, have faith in it.  He doesn’t make serious decisions, any decisions really, without serious thought, contemplating the pros and cons, and even then, after all of that, he’d still go with his gut and face those consequences head on.”  He smiled lightly at the memory of his friend before something compelled him to frown.  “Didn’t.  I meant to say he didn’t make decisions lightly.”
    “Well, if you have faith in her, then I guess I can give her a try.”
    Emma wasn’t sure if her father was just saying that in order to show support for Henry or if he really meant it.  Henry and her father were close acquaintances and Emma knew he didn’t like to see someone in pain, but at the same time, she knew just how protective over the team he was, and even though Seraphina was Ken’s flesh and blood, her father didn’t seem to be entirely sold on her as a successful owner and manager of the team.
    “Did you know he signed Brandon Thorpe against everyone’s advice?” Henry asked, his sadness suddenly vanishing from everywhere on his face save for those grey eyes.  “Brandon Thorpe.”
    “Our goalie?” her father asked, surprise clearly evident in his voice.  “But he’s arguably one of the best players on the team.”
    “Not two years ago,” Henry replied, shaking his head.  Emma guessed he was finished with his water bottle because he had yet to drink from it again and he wasn’t shaking it side to side.  It was resting in his hand, his fingers gripping the plastic loosely.  “When he first started playing, he signed with the Chiefs up in Canada as a number two goalie.  He played one or two games in the actual season, and even though he won both of them, the Chiefs thought it was in their best interest to get rid of him, so they traded him to the Washington Sabers where he started.  He was good, but not great, and after five years, they traded him to us for Kelly.  Remember Stephan Kelly?”
    “I remember him.  He was a good defenseman,” Emma’s father said.  “I still don’t understand though.  Why would Ken trade him for Thorpe if Thorpe wasn’t that great?”
    Henry shook his head.  “To this day, I still don’t know,” he said.  “But