Empty Net

by Toni Aleo

  “I also like these cupcakes, they are wonderful,” he said picking up a Reindeer cupcake that Audrey had spent all night making. They were a dyed red white cake with a green mint icing. She had made little reindeer out of pretzels and chocolate. She knew Tate and Aiden would devour them, but what surprised her was that her father also did.

  “Thanks, Daddy,” Audrey said, pride filling her from the inside out. It wasn’t every day that her father complemented her and Fallon. When he did, they savored it like the finest Rocky Top wine.

  “Shouldn’t she open a cupcake shop, Dad? I think she would be fantastic at it,” Fallon said. Audrey quickly looked over at her sister, an uneasy feeling creeping over her. What was she doing? Was she nuts? Audrey looked over at her father, seeing him give Fallon a confused look.

  “Why would she do that? The economy is crap right now, and she already has a career,” he answered and Audrey’s heart sunk. She didn’t know why, she knew that was what he was going to say, but still. It broke her that he didn’t think she could do it. That she couldn’t succeed.

  You’ll never make things happen for yourself.

  The hell she wouldn’t!

  “But everyone is looking for a little piece of happiness,” Audrey found herself saying. Her heart was pounding against her chest, but she didn’t care. Everyone looked at her as she went on, “If their happiness is in a three dollar cupcake, people will buy it.”

  William’s gaze was questioning, and out the corner of her eye she could see Fallon with a bright smile as Nora stood with her lips parted in shock.

  “Have you thought of this?” William asked.

  Audrey shrugged her shoulder, “I have, it is a dream of mine.”

  “Really?” Nora asked, “I always thought it was a little hobby.”

  “No,” Audrey said shaking her head, “I would like to make it a business, but I don’t know if I can be successful,” she said slowly, glancing up at her father.

  “You’d want to leave Rocky Top for a cupcake shop?” William asked in bewilderment.

  “Yes.”

  The patio door opened and Tate, Lucas, and Aiden came running in. Aiden’s nose was red, dripping with snot. Lucas and Tate were no different; matching red and snot noses. They sure were a sight to see. Tate smiled, coming towards her, and wrapping her up in his arms. When he ran his cold nose on her neck, she squealed trying to get away, but he wasn’t letting go.

  “Tate!” she giggled. She forgot that she was in a room filled with her family and when she noticed, she didn’t care. She was happy. Tate kissed her jaw and when he smiled down at her, she couldn’t stop the wide grin that almost broke her face. She loved his gap, she always had. She remembered when it would draw all her attention, but it was different now. It was his whole face that got all her attention. It wasn’t that she didn’t love his gap, she loved it, but it was overshadowed by the happiness on his face. He honestly blew her away.

  He moved his hand up, cupping her face before kissing her nose. “Are you having a nice Christmas?” he asked, nuzzling his nose against her cheek. It was new to have a man love on her in front of her family and when she sneaked a look at them, they were all watching her with loving grins. They wanted her to be happy.

  “I am, are you?”

  Tate nodded, “It has been one of the best.”

  Audrey smiled, kissing his lips. He made her deliriously happy. Who would have thought, a month ago, she didn’t want to be with him?

  What an idiot!

  When they parted, Audrey laid her head on his chest and then looked over at her family. Fallon smiled, leaning against the island of her kitchen, her eyes dancing with mischief as she watched them. She made Audrey nervous. She didn’t like the way Fallon was grinning or the way she was eyeing Tate and when the next words left her lips, she knew her intuition was right.

  Fallon was up to no good.

  “So Tate, we were just talking about Audrey opening a cupcake shop, what do you think?”

  Tate looked up, and smiled, “I think it is a great idea. Audrey makes wonderful cupcakes.”

  Everyone nodded, but William. Audrey looked over at her father as he took in a deep breath, and she knew this was about to be a fight.

  “Yes, but, Tate,” William said, “don’t you think this economy is crap and new businesses are not doing well?”

  “I don’t disagree with you, William, but this is about Audrey living her dream. I bet people told Patrick Roy that he would never have a shut out during a game, and he did it 23 times in one season.” Tate smiled, glancing down at Audrey before he looked back up at William and continued, “Why should we tell Audrey all the things that could cause her to fail when there are so many things that could cause her to succeed?”

  “Like what, Tate?” William asked, crossing his arms, “What makes you believe she would succeed?”

  Tate looked down at Audrey and winked, “She can do anything she sets her mind to, and I, for one, will be behind her 100%. I believe in her. I am surprised you don’t.”

  Audrey looked up at her father to see his shocked expression. She was pretty sure no one but Fallon stood up to her father. Knowing that Tate had only been dating Audrey for little over a month and he was ready to go to bat for her, made her love him even more.

  “I do believe in my daughter, Tate,” William said with narrowed eyes, “I am having a hard time seeing how she thinks starting a cupcakery is a better career choice than working in a company that has been around for decades.”

  “Because it doesn’t make her happy,” Tate said, moving away from Audrey, “Shouldn’t she do something that makes her happy, that gives her a reason to go to work?”

  William glanced over at Audrey, “You don’t love Rocky Top?”

  Audrey felt the cold hard stare of her father but even with fear settling in her bones, she didn’t have to think of her answer. “No, I hate it, Daddy.”

  Nora took in a sharp breath as William shook his head, “I don’t believe it. This conversation is over.”

  “No, it is not, Daddy,” Audrey said, taking a step forward. “I love you. I do, Daddy, so much but I hate Rocky Top. I’m not Fallon. I don’t breathe wine. I breathe cupcakes. I want my own place. I want to make people happy with my little creations, and I want to be happy.”

  William looked away and took in a lung filling breath, letting it out in a whoosh. “Don’t you want me to be happy, Daddy?”

  “Of course I do, Audrey Jane, but I want to you succeed and I don’t feel this is a successful business.”

  Audrey stood tall, shaking her head, “I’m gonna succeed, I’ll show you.”

  William met her rebellious stare and shook his head, “You’re going to do it aren’t you? Against my wishes, and against my business knowledge and experience. You’re still going to continue pursuing this insane idea.”

  She nodded, a grin pulling at her lips. She had never been so sure of something in her life. Everything was falling in place, she had the guy, the home, the closet, and now all she needed was the career. She had worked so hard for her father over the years and even though she hated Rocky Top, she didn’t regret those years. They would only help when she did what she had always dreamed of, but she was done with Rocky Top. She had always stood back, let things happen, like Fallon said. Well, not today. Today Audrey was going to do something to better herself. Glancing up at Tate, who smiled and nodded his head as he squeezed her hand, Audrey smiled. She looked at each of her family members, seeing their supportive faces before her gaze met her father’s angry stare. Even if he scared her and there was a chance he may be right, Audrey knew she was doing the right thing.

  “Yup, I quit, Daddy. I’m gonna follow my dreams.”

  ~*~

  Audrey lay on her stomach, naked and spent, cuddling into her pillow as Tate crawled back into bed. He lay across her back, moving his arm around her waist and his other beneath her head as she smiled. He was heavy, but she didn’t care. She loved the way he wanted to be nea
r her, as close as he could. When he moved his legs with hers, tangling them as he pressed himself into her bottom, she let out a sigh.

  She could lay like this forever with him.

  She felt great, amazing, loved, and never before had she felt so free. She didn’t know when she woke up that morning, she would be quitting her job, but man, was she happy she did. Her father on the other hand was another story. But Audrey was happy and that was all that mattered! Tate moved his nose along her temple, dusting kisses as he held her tight.

  “I am so proud of you, love.”

  Audrey smiled, “Thank you, I’m proud of myself.”

  Tate nodded, placing more kisses down her cheek, “Fallon told me I’d better watch out, she was going to steal me and keep me for herself.”

  Audrey giggled, “I’ll cut a bitch.” Tate’s laughter shook her body as she laughed along with him. When her laughter subsided she said, “No really, she can’t have you. You’re all mine.”

  “Am I now?”

  “Yup, sorry buddy, my heart’s invested here.”

  Tate nodded, kissing her shoulder before he lips rested against her ear. Whispering he said, “I’ll keep your heart safe, love, don’t worry about that.”

  “Will you?” she asked, her heart skipping a beat. Even if it was a tender moment, she couldn’t help but think of what Fallon said, about saying that she loved Tate first. Why wait was what Fallon was saying, but Audrey couldn’t do it. She felt comfortable saying those little things that made him think. To assure him that she wanted him, and that she could possibly love him. She wouldn’t hide her feeling, but she wouldn’t put herself out there either. She just needed him to say it first, then it would be easy after that.

  Tate bit her ear lobe, bringing her mind back to the bed they were in, against the hard body she loved. He moved off her to beside her, where he wrapped her up in his strong arms and kissed her fully on the month. She moaned into his mouth, hooking her leg over his hip, to bring herself closer to him. Parting, she nipped at his lip as he smiled down at her. His eyes were bright and happy, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he did love her. He had such passion and admiration in his eyes for only her. He made her feel like she was the only girl in the world who mattered and how many times had she wanted that. Maybe Fallon was right, but instead of saying the words she yearned for, he said, “I will, because mine is just as invested as yours is.”

  It wasn’t what she wanted, but damn did it make her swoon.

  ***

  Tate knew something was wrong when the locker room door flew open and in stomped Eleanor Adler.

  The first thing he noticed was her appearance, of course. How could he not? She was beautiful, stunning even. She wore a white button up shirt with a red polka dot skirt that came up over her swollen belly and under her breast. Her shoes were tall and bright, and reminded Tate of Audrey. She had the same matching polka dot red heels; she had worn them out with him, when they looked around West End at the different buildings that were vacant.

  Looking back up at Elli’s face, he saw that she had her hair down, and her makeup was smeared on her face as if she had been crying. That was when he definitely knew something was wrong.

  Everyone watched as Elli stomped by them. The locker room went silent when she reached Shea. He was talking to Lucas and wasn’t paying attention to the distraught wife who stood in front of him, until she threw what looked like sheets of small square pieces of paper.

  “Whoa, Elli baby! What’s wrong?!” Shea said quickly standing up. Since they were suiting up for their morning practice, he towered over her with his skates on. They would be flying out the next day for their games out west but Tate didn’t think that Elli cared about any of that. She only cared about ripping Shea a new asshole and Tate couldn’t wait for the show.

  “Let me tell you what’s wrong, Shea Adler!” she yelled, picking up one of the pieces of paper and shoving it in his face. “I’m at the doctors as you very well know, and well, the doctor said, ‘hey let’s see if we can hear a heart beat!’ I was like yea! Can’t wait, but then he puts the thing on my belly and guess what.”

  Tate almost said “what”, but thankfully Shea beat him to it, “What?”

  “The doctor smiled, and said, ‘I hear two strong heart beats.”

  “Is that good?” Shea asked confused.

  Tate knew that Shea had fucked up before Elli even started screaming, “Shea Adler I am pregnant with twins! TWINS! Not one! But two! Two! Do you understand what that means!?”

  “You’re having two babies? I made two babies?” he said, his eyes wide as his hand sat on his chest, but that only seemed to make Elli more angry.

  “It means that I will have 4 children all under the age of two while you are skating around with no cares in the world!”

  Everyone looked up at Shea, waiting for his answer, and when he said, “I made two babies?” Elli let out a loud scream that shook Tate’s ear drums before she stomped back out of the locker room. Tate glanced back up at Shea to see a slow grin go across his face. He looked around the room, and then nodded his head.

  “That’s right boys, I made twins. Two babies, one shot,” he said with his chest puffed out.

  “Oh shut up, Adler, most of us in here have made babies,” Lucas said with a chuckle.

  “That is right, but have you made two? Because I have,” Shea said with the cocky confidence only he could have. Everyone around the room was laughing, joking around with Shea and congratulating him, but Tate sat in his locker area, strapping on his pads as jealousy ate at him. Tate would never have that opportunity to make two babies, or even one if Audrey’s condition wasn’t correctable.

  For the first time that fact bothered Tate.

  ~*~

  Tate sat between Phillip and Erik at the Assassins’ regular table at J Alexander’s. It was one of their favorite restaurants, and it never failed to deliver to the hungry players who would come in after practice. Today was no different, Tate’s food was on point and the company was just as great. Not only had Phillip and Erik come, but Lucas and Shea did too. Everyone wondered why Shea came when he had an angry wife who he needed to handle, but his answer was that he had an angry wife to deal with, so he was going to let her cool off.

  It felt great though, Tate was surrounded by his friends, his brothers even, and he had never felt more comfortable. They made him laugh. They could bring him up after a loss. They were there for him, and they were his family.

  Tate munched on his salad as Erik told his story of the night before.

  “Dude, she had me in ways I haven’t been in weeks, it was great. But then I got her bent over the rail of the stairway right?” he said softly while everyone listened intently, “and man, I’m giving it to her, hard, then all of a sudden, she starts making this noise, and I’m like what the fuck? So I don’t know what I’m thinking but I keep going, and she gets louder and louder, until finally she is full out making goat noises. I had to stop I was laughing so hard because I swear, I was convinced I was fucking a goat.”

  Everyone lost it, and Tate was glad they were in the back of the restaurant where no one could hear them. Tate shook his head, watching his friends laugh as he ate his food. They were a group of nuts, but he loved them all the same.

  “That’s why I am a one woman man,” Shea said with a grin on his face, “I know her noises and always will, no crazy surprises, thank God.”

  “Whatever dude, you wish you were me,” Erik teased, but even Tate knew Shea didn’t. When someone was married to someone as wonderful as Elli, why would he want something more?

  “No way, I’ve lived those years,” Shea said with a laugh. He glanced over at Tate and smiled, “You know when I was your age, Tate, a steady girlfriend was the last thing on my mind, but boy, didn’t you choose a great one.”

  Tate nodded, “She’s perfect,” he said while Lucas nodded his head. Tate’s chest was hurting from what he had been thinking about all through practice and then through the
lunch. He felt bad for second thinking Audrey, but hearing Shea gloat about his perfect babies had done it. Tate didn’t understand it. He loved Audrey and he wanted only her. He had guaranteed her she was enough, so why now was he second guessing himself? Second guessing her? “But something has been bothering me,” he found himself saying.

  All eyes rested on him, and when he glanced across the table at Lucas, he wished he hadn’t said anything.

  “What, trouble in paradise?” Phillip teased.

  “All of you know how I want to have children. I have never been quiet about that. Well, Audrey can’t have kids and I’ve sat here and told her it doesn’t bother me, that maybe something can be fixed and she will be okay, but today,” he said, glancing up at Shea, “when Elli came in pregnant with twins, I hoped that one day that would happen for me, but it won’t. Not with Audrey’s condition.”

  No one said anything. Lucas’ mouth was hanging open. Shea had his thinking face on, and Erik and Phillip looked bored.

  “Audrey can’t have kids?” Lucas finally asked.

  “Who cares if she can’t? She’s great, you really like her, just adopt when it’s time to do all that,” Phillip said with a shrug, “It really isn’t a big deal. Kids aren’t everything. It’s about finding that person who makes you happy.”

  Ignoring Lucas, Tate nodded, “See that’s what I thought too, but I think I might want my own child.”

  “Then break up with her, don’t let it go any further,” Erik said with a shrug of his shoulders. “She is great, you know I like her a lot, but if you are second guessing it now, what’s going to happen 10 years from now when you have 2 little Chinese kids who aren’t yours, and you want your own?”

  “Hey, asshole, that’s my sister-in-law,” Lucas sneered, “And if you knew this before you started with Audrey, then it isn’t fair to hold that against her. She told you her issues, and you accepted them.”

  “I know,” Tate said, feeling like Lucas was attacking him, which in a way he had every right to. “I love her, Lucas, and I couldn’t imagine my life without her, but I cannot shake this feeling that one day I’ll want my own child.”