Page 91 of Stick By Me

She lifted her chin. “Ah, the hockey player.” She looked me up and down. “And my, what a handsome pair you make.” She wound her way to the other side of the bed. “My name is Jada and I’ll be your dad’s nurse today.” She checked the monitors. “We have some people coming in to take your dad into surgery, so it’s best if you all go into the waiting room now.”

“Sure. Thanks, Jada.” Tad waved at us. “Come on, boys.”

We followed Tad out of the room, down a short hallway, past the nurse’s station, and to a room with blue chairs and coucheslined up in front of a window looking out toward the lake. A television droned on with the news, hanging on a wall.

“Look there’s Lake Superior.” Tad strolled to the large, picture window and pointed.

It was like he wanted to distract us. Probably a good thing. I led Archer to the window, my gaze taking in the water behind the rooftops, white caps twinkling in the distance. “Holy shit, it looks like the ocean. I can’t see the other side.”

“Yep, it’s that big.” Tad patted Archer’s arm, then took a seat on a couch, bending forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “Archer, when you’re ready, I have something for you.” He slid a folded and tattered envelope out of his jacket pocket.

“What’s that?” Pointing at the envelope, Archer dropped into a couch across from Tad.

I sank in next to Archer and watched them both. This was important and I didn’t want to interrupt.

“It’s a letter from your father. There’s something you should know, and he thought it would be easier to explain it this way.” Tad shrugged. “He thought you two wouldn’t get into an argument as easily over it, I guess.” He handed it to Archer over a small coffee table resting between us.

Archer flipped the envelope over and over, inspecting it. “Okay. When did he write this?”

“Right after you left him that message a few weeks ago.” Tad rubbed his jaw. “He figured he’d wait until you were here for Christmas to give it to you, but then when he had the heart attack, I figured I’d be the one to give it to you.” He breathed in deeply. “Stress is bad for your father right now, so I’ve decided to handle this for him.” He ticked his head toward the envelope. “It’s important you know this now.”

“What the hell is in this?” With his brows furrowing, Archer held up the envelope.

I flung my arm over the couch behind Archer. Whatever it was, I had a feeling he might need me when he read it.

“Read it. It’s time.” Tad sat back into the couch cushions andfolded his hands over his belly, his gaze flicking from me to Archer.

“Okay.” He opened the envelope and slid a handwritten letter out. As he read it, his lips parted, then his eyes widened, and his breath hitched. “Holy fuck.” He lifted the back of his hand to cover his mouth. “Holy fuck.” He shook his head. “I-I can’t believe it. Is this real?” As his eyes glistened in the gray light from the window, he stared at Tad.

“It’s real.” Tad nodded, then drew his attention to me.

“Can I see it?” I leaned in close to Archer. Whatever this was, it was upsetting him.

Archer handed me the letter, then twisted into my side, placing his hand on my shoulder, and turning his head to look behind me, his jaw clenching.

I held the letter in front of me.

Dear Archer,

I thought the best way to tell you this was to be direct and write it down, so the details wouldn’t be lost in an argument. Richard Dupont is your biological father. There, I’ve said it. Your mother had an affair with him that spanned years. I was unable to give her children, so when she got pregnant with you, we decided I’d raise you as my own.

Richard was already playing in the minor leagues and pursuing a career in the NHL when we found out about the pregnancy. Although he knew about you, he didn’t have time to raise a child, so it worked out for him as well when I agreed to raise you. He always watched your progress in hockey, and I’m not surprised he’s giving you thisopportunity with the Coyotes. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying the reason you’re getting this opportunity is because he’s your biological father. You’re a good player in your own right. I suppose I always knew I’d lose you to him. The pull of athletics was strong in your mom, and in you, and I couldn’t compete. Maybe it was jealousy that drove me to behave the way I have. I don’t know. I do know that I love you.

Dad.

I stared at the letter and blinked a few times. “Oh my God.” I set it on the coffee table, wound my arms around Archer and drew him into me, kissing the side of his head. “Are you all right?” My heart ached for him.

He sniffled and reared up, then swiped at his eyes, leaving wet lashes. “I don’t know.” He shifted in my arms to face Tad. “I have so many questions, I’m not even sure where to start.”

“Well, we have a few hours.” Tad rose up, then rounded the coffee table to sit beside Archer. “I always knew. I guess you could say I was your dad’s sounding block. I mean, wearebrothers.” Wrinkling his brows, Tad placed his hand on Archer’s shoulder. “I wanted him to tell you sooner, but he was afraid.”

“Of what? That I’d pursue my dream of playing hockey?” Archer balled his hands into fists and through clenched teeth, he said, “Do you have any idea how much I doubted myself because of things he’d say after I lost a game?”

Nodding, Tad said, “Yeah, but I think he didn’t want you to get your hopes up too high and then have them dashed. I believe his thinking was flawed, and I told him that multiple times. But he figured if you knew about Richard and you failed, it would bethat much harder. I mean, if your dad’s an NHL player turned coach, and you don’t get past the NCAA, what does that say?”

“It says I tried. It says I did my best,” he snarled. “Fuck, maybe I would have put in for the draft when I graduated high school or when I was in juniors. Maybe I would have looked at my hockey career a whole lot differently.” He glared at his uncle. “Maybe I would have had chances that other guys didn’t.”

“Hey, but you’ve got the chance now. You’d still have gone to ASU with your friends, even if you’d gotten drafted to a team, right?” I squeezed his shoulders. I had no idea if I was saying the right things. I didn’t know what it was like to be in his shoes. But I had to try. I didn’t want him to lose his father over this. Especially when they needed each other so badly.