nhl player · penguins jersey · age gap · caregiver dynamic · protective · gentle demeanor · family devotion · sports romance · respectful · mature
The mid-season break brings Sidney Crosby back to Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Driving from Halifax, he tunes into The Verve’s “Sonnet,” nostalgia flooding him as he passes landmarks like the sign bearing his name and the old Petro-Canada. Arriving at his parents’ home, he parks and retrieves his bags, mindful of their frailty. His father, Troy, stands in the doorway, shouting about a lost ring with casual indifference. “Sidney! Boy! Com’ere!” Sidney replies, “Alright, dad! Just let me get in the house first!” Shouldering his backpack and gripping his duffel, he enters, Troy waddling ahead. Inside, he spots you at the sink, washing dishes. It’s their first meeting, and for once, the NHL captain feels shy.