Page 41 of Blue Lines and Lullabies

Every evening, Mackenzie gives me the scoop. Did Mommy cry today? Did she vomit? How many times did she comment on forgetting something? Did she yell at all? Any weird food cravings?

Mackenzie truly enjoyed egging Cassie on once she realized Cass wouldn’t say no to an odd food combo. A disgusting food she fell in love with was waffles, mustard, and maple syrup. The fact that I was able to serve it up without vomiting is a testament to my iron stomach.

“It’s okay, baby. You hardly ever see me anyway,” I tell her reassuringly.

I retired from the Wolves after finishing out my contract, and immediately took a job working for the team. I don’t really have to work. I have gobs of money, and I’ve made sound investments. But I love the sport, and I love this team.

I first started out as an assistant coach looking at video of the team. I’d review games, compare stats, and look at future matchups to give info to Coach Davenport. But when our skills coach took a leave of absence for a personal matter, Coach asked me to step in. At first, I was apprehensive. Going from a peer to a coach seemed daunting to me, and I worried the guys wouldn’t respect me. But I was so wrong.

As the skills coach, I fucking flourished.

Interacting with the guys and getting out on the ice is where I belong. I’ll continue to do it as long as it works for my family. Fortunately, I’m only required at some of the away games. But the moment that Cassie says she wishes I was home more, or our kids tell me they really wish I didn’t travel so much? Yeah, I’m done immediately.

“I know I don’t see you, but I like being there to support you,” she says quietly, placing her hand over mine. She winces slightly, and I feel her belly tighten under our hands.

“You timing them?” I ask, and she nods. Cassie has been having Braxton Hicks’ contractions for a few weeks, but they seem to be closer together this week.

“Nothing consistent,” she says with a pout. “I’m ready to have this boy of yours off my bladder.”

“Yeah!” Mackenzie shouts, swiping at hair across her forehead, then popping her hip out in much the same way Cassie is standing now. “I wanna meet my brudder.”

It’s remarkable how many times people tell me that Kenz looks like Cassie. Not only are their mannerisms the same, but their eyes sparkle together. They have the same sense of humor, and the compassion they both have for humans and animals is unmatched.

Since Mackenzie’s birth, Cassie and I have never shied away from telling Mackenzie about her birth mother. I managed to find some social media accounts for Nicole, and courtesy of connecting with a friend of Nicole’s, we were able to get pictures of her when she was pregnant with Kenzie. We have pictures of Nicole in Kenzie’s room, and our daughter knows that her mother is in heaven.

Cassie chose not to take on a full-time job, and instead has found charities and non-profits to volunteer for. She and Mackenzie both love to help at the humane society, as well as a local cat rescue. They promised not to adopt any cats.

So far, I’ve come home three different times to new cats roaming around our house. As if I’d ever say no to my girls, and they know it. Once they bat their eyelashes at me, all bets are off.

***

Two hours later, I’m so focused on the game that I barely hear my name being called repeatedly. “Daws!”

Swiveling, I see one of our equipment managers beckoning me out to the hallway. “Your wife needs to speak to you.”

Cassie and I were married before my final season. Mackenzie was a beautiful flower girl, toddling down the aisle as she chucked handfuls of peony petals at everyone. Before I could grab her, she ran back down the aisle into Cassie’s arms. With matching white dresses, I couldn’t imagine a more spectacular sight.

Heading out into the hallway, I see Cassie with a tense but nervous look on her face. “What’s wrong? Where’s Kenzie?”

“She’s with Jax’s wife,” Cassie states. “Gabe, my water broke.”

“What? Really? Are you sure?” I ask, stupefied.

She rolls her eyes. “Unless I’m peeing in the slowest possible race ever, yeah. Plus my contractions are now coming faster, and they’re getting a lot stronger.”

“Holy shit,” I breathe. “It’s time.”

“It’s time,” she agrees. “Kenz is gonna go to Jax’s. She’s stoked about seeing the guinea pigs, and we should probably be concerned that she’s more excited about rodents than her new brother, right?”

I chuckle. “She’ll have a lifetime with her brother. Let her enjoy the pig kingdom.” Jax has an entire room dedicated to his guinea pigs. Elaborate cages, tunnels, and even plays music for them. How his wife accepts that idiosyncrasy is beyond me. “Firecracker.”

Cassie inhales a shaky breath. “Yeah?”

I pull her against me, resting my forehead against hers. “We’re having a baby.”

I feel her trembling as her hands grasp at my suit jacket. “I’m scared. What if something happens?”

“Nothing is gonna happen,” I tell her reassuringly, but even I’m a little paranoid. Mackenzie’s mom had a complication after birth that ended her life. If something were to happen to Cassie … I visibly shake my head, as if forcing the thought to get out of my mind. I won’t think like that. Ican’tthink like that.

---