Jake’s words brought her out over her reverie. “I’ve got season tickets.”

“Don’t tell me that.” Rachel sighed. “I tried to get tickets to game two. I even went to the scalpers on Craigslist, but no luck.”

“I’m not surprised.” Jake shook his head sadly. “They’ve been sold out for a month.”

“I know-the Blackhawks and the Wings-such a big rivalry.” Rachel turned on the blow dryer and talked over it, using a rounded brush to style Emma’s hair. “They’re two of the original six.”

Jake sat up, looking incredulous. “I know.”

“I think my dad has a death wish,” Emma remarked, a little non sequitur. Rachel gave her a puzzled smile. “He’s a Red Wings fan living in Chicago,” the girl explained.

“And, you know, then he takes me to get my hair cut…” She shrugged in that awkward way teenagers had, so caught somewhere between adult and child, knowing it but not quite sure what to do about it.

“Well, if that’s the case, then you are brave, Mr. Malden,” Rachel teased.

“Jake,” he insisted, shrugging. “And I’m not all that brave.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Rachel turned off the blow dryer, combing out the girl’s hair.

“I’ve met your wife.”

Jake laughed. “You have a point.”

Rachel grabbed the hand mirror off the counter and turned Emma around in a circle in the chair. “But I have to admit, I’m secretly rooting for the Red Wings myself.”

“Do you have a death wish too?” Emma asked, looking at the back of her hair in the reflection of the hand mirror.

“Hardly.” Rachel swallowed the irony of her response and changed the subject.

“How do you like it?”

“It’s so short!” Emma ran a hand through her hair, fluffing it and cocking her head to the side. Her bright eyes met Rachel’s. “I love it!”