Page 41 of For Puck's Sake

(Ten Months Later)

“It’s good to be home Seattle. Goodnight!”

The stage goes dark as I hit the final chord of the encore. Bessie leaves behind a lingering note in the air as the crowd erupts in a deafening roar. On nights like this, I might signal to the Lighting Tech to drop a spotlight and give them one more, but not tonight.

No, tonight is too important, and as promised all those months ago, I’m showing up for my man. I have one more show in Seattle tomorrow, the final stop on this tour, so I’ll make it up to them then. This is it though, I’ve come full circle. I started in Lark Bay ten months ago and I’m ending my tour in Seattle, where it all began. It all worked out perfectly, with the Vipers playing at home at the same time, facing Toronto again, one win away from the Stanley Cup. Talk about déjà vu. A year ago, I was singing the National Anthem to the same two teams, same cup final, thinking then it would possibly be the last time I set foot in an arena. I thought I was leaving that part of my past behind.I had no idea the universe had other plans in store for me. Now, as hilarious as it may sound, I’m about to do my best rendition of Kevin McCallister’s family running through the airport trying to make their flight in the movieHome Alone. Okay, so I don’t need to catch a flight, but trying to fight concert traffic to get to the other side of Seattle in time to catch the third period will be a feat in itself.

Turning, I follow the glow in the dark arrows Dean taped down for me earlier and jog off stage as safely as I can. I’m so used to the journey, I don’t actually need direction, the set up is so familiar I can exit the stage with my eyes closed. But routine is routine. This has been my life, venue to venue, night after night, and I’ve lived for every performance, every chord played. It’s been an experience I will never forget. Yes, there were growing pains, I’ve learned a lot about what I want and don’t want on the road, and in my life in general. I love touring but it won’t be something I do often, I prefer smaller venues and a more intimate crowd, but I learned I don’t mind someone picking out my clothes for me as long as they understand what I am comfortable wearing. Let’s just say Mr. Damien Greer and I had a long talk and renegotiated my contract under the strict guidance of my lawyers. I doubt he will try to manipulate me ever again; he will probably hate to see me coming from now on, but as long as I make the label money, I will continue to press for my best interests.

What I know for sure, is through it all, Ridley and I are endgame. I can’t do this without him. The countless phone calls, texts, Facetiming in the middle of the night, both of us exhausted, but we did it, together. Some days I longed for him so much, the loneliness was unbearable, but then he would surprise me, showing up to spend twenty-four hours in whatever city I was in, when he should have been resting between games. He made the effort and the sacrifice—I, of course, did the same.Thus began months of bouncing back and forth between the two of us. When I had rest days, I would go to him and vice versa. Thanksgiving in Vancouver with Ridley, Christmas with me in Miami, and Valentine’s Day spent in Dallas where we just so happened to be in the same city, finally. It was difficult, and most days I had two grumpy bodyguards who probably wanted to strangle me for the strategic nightmare I placed at their feet. But they never complained, well not to my face at least, but they both got me to and from locations without a hitch every time.

“Bessie,” Dean calls out with a bite light in his mouth, hands outstretched as I seamlessly hand off my most prized possession to him. The crowd is still cheering, wishing for more, but the stage crew is already moving around me to reset the stage for tomorrow night. He nods and disappears into the dark with the rest of the crew to manage the reset. Things between us are better, dare I say, we are even back to where we were before we took our relationship to a place we shouldn’t have. Dean is hands-on and takes his job seriously, strictly professional, and so in love with Charlie it’s sickening. Yep, I called it, he hooked her with those damn dimples, and I am happy for them both. I even have him come on stage to play with me some nights. The crowd loves him, and I have no doubt Damien is looking at him with dollar signs in his eyes. Whatever happens, though, despite the hiccups of last summer, I will support him, because he supported me. Full circle.

“Thank you,” I say.

I speed walk to my dressing room. A petite woman dressed in black, light brown skin, with a black sky high mohawk with blonde tips claps enthusiastically to hurry me along. Destani immediately gets to work as she helps me get out of my show clothes. She’s been my personal dresser/wardrobe goddess since the beginning of the tour, and we’ve become close friends. She smiles, hazel eyes missing nothing as she redresses me ina matter of minutes. A pair of black leggings, black high-top Converse, and a white Vipers jersey, Masters, number twenty-five on the back.

“The score is two to four, Vipers are up by two points so far in the second period.” She gives me a quick rundown as she tosses my locs in a high ponytail, slides my satchel over my head, and ushers me out the door so fast, my heads spins.

“Destani, you’re a treasure!” I shout behind me as Travis falls in step beside me, his black suit making him blend in like a chameleon against the black brick walls to lead me through the maze that is backstage.

“That’s why they pay me the big bucks,” she replies back. “I hope you make it in time, and good luck, Brea.”

By the time we make it to the shiny black town car outside the stage door, I’m huffing and puffing from the pace Travis set for the both of us. Jasper holds the door open for me and I slide into the back seat with breathless thanks.

Travis chuckles from the front passenger seat as I grumble about his legs being longer than mine and how he loves to torture me.

“Hey, you made your desire to get to Ridley known and we said we would make the impossible, possible. So, get ready to run for your life. Buckle up buttercup.” He looks back over his shoulder, hands up in surrender and winks. I can’t complain because he is right. I told Ridley I would make it, and damn it, I’m going to try. Tonight is important. Tonight means everything.

As if on cue, Jasper hands me a bottle of water, agreeing with Travis without a word, then he turns around, starts the car and we’re off.

“Bailey’s in possession of the puck as he makes his way down the ice. Toronto’s defenseman is intercepted by the bruiser himself, Devan Scott. The Vipers’ enforcer shows him no mercyas he collides with the D-man to clear the way for Bailey. Seattle fans are on their feet cheering on their captain as he makes his way toward Toronto’s rookie goalie, Derrick Shaw. He’s had a tremendous season so far, snatching the number one spot from Toronto’s veteran goalie, Stockman. Unfortunately, Seattle has put him under a lot of pressure during this last round and one begs to argue if he was ready. Shaw drops low, watching the puck as Bailey finds himself surrounded. Spinning, Bailey finds an opening, he shoots the puck between the legs of Toronto’s forward, Jace Argyle. The puck passes to Maxwell, who quickly passes it to Masters.”

“Come on baby,” I say, pumping the air, my fist clenched, as the hockey analyst gives a play by play of everything happening on the ice. My stomach’s in knots, the nerves of getting there in time making me feel nauseous as we weave through traffic.

“Oh, Toronto is taking no prisoners tonight! Masters is forced to pass the puck to Javier Gossman who— Gossman twists to avoid a two-man collision! He spins and takes the shot. Goal! Gossman scores! Seattle leads five to two.”

“Yes!” I shout, reaching for the two front seats in front of me and shaking them like a crazy woman. Travis and Jasper both roll their eyes, but I know they are secretly loving it. They’re listening too, they just won’t admit it. Neither of them were hockey fans when this began, but they’ve had to listen to so many highlights and live streams I brought them over to the dark side.

“For those of you listening at home. The goal is being reviewed. The refs have surrounded Shaw, he hasn’t gotten up. It all happened so fast. Shaw’s not moving. The mood in the arena has shifted as the crowd turns their attention to the downed rookie goalie. If you look at the replay, it seems the puck hit Shaw, a direct hit to his helmet, knocking him completely off his feet. We all know how fast these pucks fly through the air, and a hit like that can cause major damage.”

“Shit,” I say, clinging to the seats in front of me, like it will somehow get us there faster. I didn’t get to know Derrick as well as I would have liked, he brought me my lunch the one time last summer, and came to a few shows at Reds, but that was the extent of our interaction. But I have heard Ridley give Bast shit for months about whatever is going on between the two of them.

“We’re almost there, Brea,” Jasper says as we maneuver through the streets toward the arena.

“All play has ceased as the medics assess Shaw. He’s still unresponsive and concern for the rookie is growing as his teammates and even some of the Vipers rally around him. Bergeron left his crease, skating across the ice, followed by Masters and Bailey. According to social media, the three of them befriended the rookie last summer. Bergeron drops to his knees beside the refs and medic, but his teammates have to hold him back so he doesn’t touch him. He’s clearly shaken up. This is the last thing you’d expect to happen during a Stanley Cup final. We can only hope this injury won’t cause him irreparable damage. It looks like Shaw is out. Toronto will have Stockman finish off the rest of the game as soon as play resumes.”

The car stops near the door of the players’ entrance at the arena. Travis opens the door. I check my satchel for what I need later and throw it over my shoulder. I jump out of the car and start running. There’s an urgency in each step I take, my need to set my eyes on Ridley, to make sure Derrick is okay, Tor, Bast, Lia, and Alexis, my family. I need reassurance. In such a short time, they’ve all become an integral part of my life. To think I wanted to do all this alone. I was naïve, and I am glad I moved out of my own way and allowed room in my heart for the abundance of love I’ve received.

The security guard sees me coming and allows me entry, having already been alerted to my late arrival tonight. I can hear Travis and Jasper running behind me, both warning me toslow down, but I keep moving. Thank goodness for flat, comfy, trainers. They both reach me as the doors that lead to the ice fly open and paramedics rush by with an unconscious Derrick strapped to the gurney. Jasper gently pushes me against the wall to make room. I have a brief glance at Derrick. My heart lurches at the sight of blood running down his face from underneath his dented helmet, and the sight brings tears to my eyes. I can only hope and pray that he will be okay. Wiping away a stray tear, I look up in time to see the doors they came through close slowly, and I catch a quick glimpse of a very distraught Bast as he watches them take Derrick away.

By the time I make it down to the seats, relief washes over me as I’m greeted by a very pregnant Alexis and an equally pregnant Lia. I can’t help a smile on my face as they both wear matching Vipers jerseys. Alexis’s has Baby Bailey on the front, while Lia says Baby Scott. Yeah, Lia and Devan, not my story to tell, but it was a surprise to everyone, except Ridley apparently, well, the relationship anyway, the baby, well . . .

“You made it!” Alexis squeals in excitement, arms stretched wide as she crushes me in a hug. I’m careful of her baby bump as I hug her back. She’s glowing, with a gorgeous wide smile on her face, Alexis is all warmth and love personified.

“Barely,” I manage to say to Alexis as Lia falls into my embrace next, holding me tight. She’s always had a special place in my heart, she’s the sister I never had. I know this pregnancy was unplanned, taking both her and Devan by surprise, but I know everything will be okay.

I thought seeing the two in various stages of pregnancy would be triggering for me, but I am genuinely happy for the both of them. I will never forget my loss, it sits heavy on my heart, but I’ve taken comfort in the fact that my time will come again. Ridley and I will be parents eventually, I’m sure of it. If it’s meant to be and I am blessed to carry my own child to term, thenI will be grateful. If not, then there’s more than one way to have a child. Whatever happens, we’ll explore those options together.

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