“Oh, there’s still plenty of time!” And it’s her turn to wave her off. “We’re just about to get the first ultrasound.”
“Will we know if it’s a boy or girl?” I ask. Elsa doesn’t seem to know, so we both turn to mom.
“At two months, I think it’s still a little too early,” Mom says, a hand on her chin.
“If you’ve known about the pregnancy for over two months, you already knew about it before the incident,” JF says.
“Yes,” I say, nodding.
“Did the expectation of fatherhood also weigh in your decision to retire?”
I rub my Elsa’s belly and squeeze her tight close to me. “No, but it’s a bonus,” I say. “I was going to keep playing for at least a few more years if I could. But now that health is forcing me to retire, it’s nice to look forward to filling my time with bottles, diapers, and the whole shebang.”
“I’ll remember you said that!” Elsa says, a finger in the air.
“You bet,” I squeeze her hand.
“And what are your feelings about retirement now? Have you fully accepted it, or are you still hurting about being forced into it?” JF asks.
I let go of Elsa to cross my arms and bow down my head, in a clear sign that yeah, I’m still hurting. But I’m not going to let that take me down.
“It’s not exactly hurting, it’s just… The good ol’ shoulda, coulda, woulda. Had I retired a couple of years earlier, things wouldn’t have to be this way. My true wish was to retire on top, not because of an injury caused in the middle of a corruption scandal.”
“Thank goodness the Arctic Wolves won by merit. You did have a huge part to play in that so you should feel proud. It’s all been a confusing mess with the Vipers and that referee now being investigated.” the reporter comments.
“I’m glad to hear they are!” I punch the air.
JF nods, a silent snicker stuck in her throat before she continues, “So Harvey! When is the wedding? Before or after the baby?”
“Oh, I’ve been asking them that non-stop since I got the news!” mom interjects at the same moment.
Elsa and I look at each other. It’s time, and there’s no holding back anymore.
“Mom…” I contort my arm around my head to scratch the ear on the opposite side. “Elsa and I aren’t even properly engaged, yet…”
I see mom getting confused. With everything that’s happened the past month with my injuries and recovery, we haven’t told my parents the truth yet.
Mom widens her eyes “How’s that possible?” she asks, stuttering.
“Mom, remember I said I’ve had a girlfriend for the past three years, and that we recently got engaged?”
Mom nods, eyes unmoving from me.
“Well,” I say, “That fiancé didn’t exist. I came up with that whole story because…”
I take a deep breath and continue, “Well because of granny really. You know how hard she was pressuring me to settle down. She was going to cut me out of the will. So, I had to hire an actress to portray my fiancé, and that actress was Elsa.”
Mom’s eyes get even more wide, and she is looking between me and Elsa as if not understanding my words.
“We are really in love now, Lorna,” Elsa says, jumping in to help calm mom’s nerves. “It even started when we were still at your house.”
“And my mother was in the hospital?” Mom places a hand over her heart.
“Yes,” I say. “And Elsa stayed longer than she originally agreed to, just to give me support about grandma.”
Mom looks from to me Elsa, still feeling her heart and still looking confused.
“This is hard to understand, Harvey. So, Elsa isn’t even a teacher?”