“Who’s my pretty girl?” I cooed as I changed Lily’s diaper in Samantha’s bedroom. Josh was away on a road trip, so Lily and I were spending the evening with my friends. “Do you miss Daddy? I miss Daddy.”

Lily replied with a yawn.

Didn’t she look adorable when she yawned? I was positive no other baby in the world looked as adorable while yawning.

Once I’d finished changing her, we headed downstairs.

“Does she know yet?” Trent asked, his voice coming from the living room. He and Kelsey must have arrived while I was upstairs.

I entered the living room. You know the saying about hearing a pin drop? Well, if I’d used safety pins on Lily’s diaper, we could’ve tested that theory.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart rate racing faster than a Ferrari on an open race track. And the sympathy on their faces wasn’t doing much to help slow it down as it hit a sharp turn.

“We heard the news on the way over…” Trent said.

“What news?”

He and Kelsey exchanged looks. “Josh hasn’t told you?”

“Told me what?” Did you sense the impatience in my voice? Blame it on the boulder that had found its way to my stomach.

“He’s been traded.”

It will be okay, I told myself. Maybe he got traded to San Jose or L.A. or Anaheim. We could make that work. It wouldn’t be ideal, but somehow we could make it work.

Now, if only my heart was as convinced as my brain. “To where?”

“Montreal.”

“Oh.” Montreal? Wasn’t that in Canada? It would’ve been bad enough if he had been traded to another U.S. team—but to another country? That was a whole new level of bad.

And why was I only hearing about it now from Trent? Why hadn’t Josh told me?

Deep down I had always suspected Josh would be traded. Why? Because what was dear old Murphy’s favorite hobby? That’s correct. He liked to screw you around when it came to that damn law of his.

I had also suspected, deep down, Josh would be traded because he was going to be a free agent soon. But had I at any point thought he would be traded to a Canadian team—traded to the land of snow, polar bears, and freezing winters? Nope. Never.

“I guess that’s it then,” I said more to myself than to anyone else. Josh and I had finally admitted that we were in love, so fate decided to have a good laugh at our expense.

Yes, sometimes life really did suck.

But what did this all mean for Lily?

It meant that Josh would still be a part of her life, but he wouldn’t be there for her—not in the way that he wanted.

“What do you mean ‘that’s it’?” Kelsey asked.

“Josh is moving away,” I said, “starting a new life. Without us.”

“But can’t you move with him? I’ve seen him when he’s with you. He loves you.”

“I know he does.” I didn’t doubt it. “But I’m not a U.S. citizen and I don’t have a green card, so even if he just moved across the country, I can’t go with him. And sure, I could marry him if he had been traded to another U.S. team”—I added because I could tell that was where Kelsey’s thoughts were headed—“but Canada is something else. It doesn’t matter if he and I are married, I can guarantee I won’t be allowed to work there. Then all my years of hard work will be for nothing.”

And I’d never be completely happy. I would always have that one regret in life—the one where I gave up the career I loved.

But I guess when it came to my happiness, I would lose either way. Heads, I gave up the job I loved. Tails, I gave up Josh.

There were no winners in this game. No opportunity for a do-over.

“So what are you going to do?” Kelsey asked.

“Don’t worry. Lily and I will be fine. From the moment I discovered I was pregnant, I was prepared to be a single mother.” True—I wouldn’t be your typical single mum. But for all intents and purposes, this was close enough.

No one looked too thrilled with that option, but there was nothing we could do. Playing in the NHL had been Josh’s dream. Most people didn’t get to live out their dreams, especially with something like that. So I couldn’t expect Josh to give up his. Not when this mess wasn’t his fault.

How about I just blame the condom that had failed us?

Except then I wouldn’t have Lily.

Right—so no blaming the condom either.

There had to be a better answer—one that worked for all of us.

“Hey, I didn’t come over to depress everyone,” I said. “Let’s talk about something else. How was your photo shoot yesterday?” I asked Kelsey.

While she shared a hilarious story about a noncooperative sheep and a model who wasn’t a fan of farm animals—especially ones who decided the model’s leg made a great spot to take a pee break on—my thoughts slipped back to the all-important question. Where the heck did I put my cell phone?

Welcome to Mommy Brain. They should have that as a warning on the condom box. “Improper use of condoms can lead to pregnancy and your brain’s inability to function properly, especially during the most inopportune moments.”

Still sitting on the couch, I leaned down and looked through my diaper bag. Usually I kept my phone in the side pocket but for some reason, I had dropped it into the main one before leaving the apartment, and it had ended up wrapped in Lily’s ducky blanket.

Erin returned from the kitchen where she had disappeared a few minutes ago. “Dinner’s ready.”

Everyone stood up—everyone but me.

“I’ll be right there,” I said. As they headed to the kitchen, I checked my voicemail messages.

“Hey, Holly. I’ve been traded to Montreal. I’m flying out tonight. I’ll call you as soon as I can. I love you. Give Lily a kiss for me. Bye.”

And that was it. Josh didn’t sound either sad or happy at the news—just blown-over shocked.

But not as shocked as I was. It felt like a kangaroo hadn’t paid attention to where he was going and knocked me onto my arse.

Josh wasn’t even coming home first. He was flying straight to Montreal—and I had no idea when I would see him again.

I kissed Lily’s forehead. “Well, Lily-Flower. It’s just you and me now.”

Just as I had always imagined it would be.

My phone vibrated in my hand. For a second I thought it was Josh. Disappointment sidled up to me as I read the name. Drew.

That wasn’t to say I was disappointed it was him. I wasn’t. Just disappointed it wasn’t Josh.

Drew: Please tell me you’re considering that job you are perfect for.

Me: I have a job I love. With a company who was sponsoring my green-card application so I could stay in San Francisco. And I love it here. It’s my home.

But was it?

You know the saying about home is where the heart is?

My heart was with Josh, who was moving to Canada, at least for now. But it was also here in my arms—and I could love Lily anywhere.

Drew: Just consider it.