Empty Net

by Toni Aleo

  “Yes, and before you ask if I’m excited, I am very much so. I wanted a little boy and to get two is a blessing, but mainly I wanna kill Shea. I mean really?! Four kids all under the age of two? He’s trying to drive me insane! He told me the other day, he’ll want one more, and then we’re done. The man has lost it!”

  Audrey started to giggle as she shook her head, “Wow, that man is nuts.”

  “Right? I’m having them June 17, so hopefully the Assassins will sweep everyone and win the cup early, I highly doubt it though,” she complained, “He’ll probably be off somewhere winning a hockey game, while I’m having his sons cut out of me.”

  “Wow, I am amazed by you, are you gonna make him quit?”

  Elli laughed, “I can’t. He loves it and who am I to take away something he loves? I love him too much to make him a stay at home dad, so I’ll deal. I am woman, hear me roar.”

  Audrey laughed as she shook her head, “You are spectacular, Elli, really.”

  “Ah, ya know, I do my best,” she said with a grin, “But I gotta go, it’s cold as hell out here, and Grace has Shelli and Posey. So I’ll see you later?”

  “Sure, call me about those cupcakes!”

  “I sure will, or Harper will!” she said walking away with a wave. Audrey watched her for a bit, and then turned to look at her building. She could just see Audrey Jane’s written in a pretty script and of course in pink. The windows would hold displays of all the cupcake stands Tate had given her. Cute little tables made to look like high heels. A zebra print carpet, sparkling pink counter, and pink fuzzy chandeliers. She could see it all, right there in front of her. This was her dream, and it was about to be her reality.

  Burping, Audrey covered her mouth as she looked around. Taking in a deep breath, she took her phone out and dialed James’ number. He answered right away.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “I’m thinking I want it.”

  ***

  “Why are you so nervous?” Tate looked up to see Lucas giving him a dirty look as he continued, “this is easier than the regular season, we go out and have fun.”

  “No you get to have fun, I need to be super ninja goalie against every great forward in the league,” Tate spat back, taking in a lung full of air.

  Lucas thought for a moment, and then nodded, “I guess I would be nervous too.”

  “Ass,” Tate muttered as Lucas walked away, laughing.

  It was the All Star game night. In less than 5 minutes he would be skating out into a crowd of thousands as they announced his name. He couldn’t believe he had been invited to play and even though he was worried about Audrey, he was glad she made him come. He would have regretted missing this even if he felt bad for leaving her at home. It was an amazing experience. The whole week he hung out with veteran players and even a few new players. He got to meet some of the greats in the leagues and even got to pick the brain of the amazing Tim Thomas. It was awesome, and he had had a great week, but now he had a game to play. Taking a deep breath, Tate stood in his red All Star jersey before blowing it out. He raised his arms above his head before letting them fall, and shaking them out.

  He could do this, no big deal.

  As he grabbed his stick, Audrey came to mind and he couldn’t help the grin that came over his face. He was so proud of her for going forward with her dream. She was in the process of signing the papers for spot she found. She loved it, and seeing all the pictures she sent him, he knew he would love it too. Tate knew that she was going to be able to transfer the place into everything she wanted. Since even Fallon thought it was the perfect place, he knew that Audrey had made the right choice. He was excited to see the place in person, but mostly he was excited about helping her build it from the ground up. Audrey was such an amazing person and he had no doubt that Audrey Jane’s would be the best cupcake place in the Nashville area.

  Making his way down a hall he didn’t know, he waited at the end of the line of hockey players. His number was 39 and that meant he was the last to be called. Rocking back and forth on his skates, Tate listened as each guy was called out from his team. Finally it was his turn, and to his surprise the crowd erupted when he came out on the ice. His adrenaline started pumping and his heart kicked up in speed. This was it.

  His first All Star game.

  After the opening ceremony, Tate found himself sitting on the bench for the first two periods. The All Star game rules allowed each team to have up to three goalies: a different goalie for each of the three periods of regulation play. Shea wanted Tate to play the third, and he wasn’t too happy with it. Sitting for two periods wasn’t good for his legs, so during the second period, he had the trainers shoot pucks at him in the hall. It helped but not much since he wasn’t on the ice. It was finally his turn, and as he skated out, his felt like his heart was in his throat. The score was 14 to 10, blue team was in the lead. They were stacked with offensive men, but they had played their great goalies first, so the red team had a chance.

  Tate moved between the poles, dropping to the ground and hopping back up, repeating the motion as he sang his song. Ever since Audrey had been there one time singing with him, he always imagined her singing with him with her horrible voice. He loved her, but that girl was tone deaf, or something. He stretched his neck from side to side before hitting his pads with his stick and then the two posts. Dropping into position, he was ready for the puck to be dropped. Watching as Lucas went for the puck drop, he heard him talking shit, but it was all for fun. That was the great thing about the All Star game; it was like playing in the backyard with all your friends.

  “I should throw my gloves down and kick your ass just for a show!” Lucas teased Markus Randerhaven as everyone shook their heads, chuckling.

  Markus laughed before he said, “Drop your gloves, Brooks, and I’ll whoop your ass not for the show, but because I don’t like you.”

  Tate shook his head, he knew Lucas and he knew his temper, but to his surprise Lucas just laughed it off and won the puck for the red side. Tate was ready, his glove hand up and his stick in place as he watched the offense go after the puck. No one was really being rough, no big hits or anything. They were only worried about getting the puck and shooting on goal. Finally Lucas got the puck and raced down the ice towards the opposite side. He faked out the goalie and drop-passed it back to Shea, who shot it right into the goal.

  It was a beautiful play.

  The crowd went wild as the guys all wrapped up in a hug to celebrate. It was a great way to start the period and it pumped Tate up. He dropped down again and back up, trying to keep his legs warm. When one of the offense men, he couldn’t tell who it was, started towards him, the puck in possession, Tate was ready, knocking the puck away. The guy got it again, and passed it to a defenseman who shot it hard towards the net. But Tate blocked that too.

  Logan Couture stood in front of him, trying to screen him, but Tate wasn’t having that. Pushing Couture hard in the back, he sent him flying as he said, “Get the fuck out of here!” Tate heard some of the guys laugh as Couture turned saying some not so nice things, not that Tate cared. Someone took a quick wrist shot, but Tate got it with his glove hand before it went over his shoulder. Bringing it back down, he sent a toothy grin towards the shooter before handing it off to the referee.

  This was going to be a great period.

  The red All Star team lost, but only by one, and even though it sucked, Tate was all smiles, because no one could score on him. It was great feeling being the only goalie to shut someone out during his period. Reporters were all over him. He was on every sports news channel imaginable, they were calling him ‘a force to be reckoned with’ and a sure bet for the Vezina Trophy. It was crazy, and insane, but man, was he proud of himself. After the game, and all the interviews, he found himself; face down on his bed with his phone on speaker phone.

  “Hello, Mr. All Star goalie,” Audrey said when she answered.

  He chuckled, “I miss you.”

  �
��Aw! I miss you more, when you coming home?”

  “Not till Monday afternoon now, they are having the closing activities tomorrow, and then Sunday and Monday I have a bunch of interviews in New York with Lucas and Shea.”

  “Well that blows,” she said disappointed.

  He nodded, “I know, I want to come home.”

  “Yeah, I wish you were home, I am still so sick, I could use my big strong boyfriend’s arms to hold me.”

  “I’ll come home,” he said.

  “Tate, you’re in Canada. You can’t just walk across our porch to bring me soup.”

  “No, but I can be there in a couple hours, it’s a plane ride.”

  “Okay, big shot goalie, just because you signed a big deal with the Assassins as their star goalie and was the only goalie to shut out everyone at the All Star game doesn’t mean you can go blowing all that money to come take care of me.”

  Tate chuckled, “I would blow it all for you. Every bit.”

  “Liar,” Audrey joked.

  “No really, I would,” Tate said sternly as he sat up, “Do you want me to come home? I’ll leave tonight, I can miss tomorrow, and then I just fly out to New York on Sunday?”

  “That is crazy, no, I’m fine. I was just whining. It’s been a long week,” she said sadly, he could tell she still wasn’t feeling well.

  “Is it the nausea still?”

  “Yeah,” she groaned, “I am so sick. It blows.”

  “Go and get some of those meds they gave me,” he suggested, “They worked great.”

  “Yeah, I know, if it ain’t better by Monday, I will okay?”

  “Promise?”

  “Yes. I promise,” she giggled, “Now go to sleep, it’s late and you played one hell of a game.”

  “Thanks, love. I wish you were here,” he said with a smile on his face.

  “Me too, I love you so much,” she said and he could tell she was smiling too.

  “I love you more, bye, baby.”

  “Bye.”

  Hanging up the phone, Tate laid his face back down into the bed feeling loved and complete. It was so great to have someone who was always there for you. He still missed his family a lot, but he felt like he was starting to cope with their death. It was a good feeling to know he could think of them without wanting to die. He had something to live for now, and he would do just about anything for Audrey.

  Closing his eyes as he settled into his bed, his phone rang. Looking down he saw a number, he hadn’t expected to see ever again.

  Picking it up, he said, “Hey, Elsa, to what do I owe this call?”

  ***

  “What brings you in?”

  Audrey looked up from her phone to the cute little nurse named, Tara. It was Monday and she was still puking her brains out, and since she had promised Tate she would go to the doctor, she went. Taking a deep breath in, Audrey said, “I’m puking like crazy. I think I still have a stomach bug, and I need some nausea medicine. They gave it to my boyfriend for his nausea and I need it now, or I’m pretty sure I’m gonna die. I can’t keep anything down.”

  “Okay, you fell victim to the Nashville crud,” Tara asked with a grin.

  Audrey nodded, “Yes, and it’s lingering, I need something to knock it out. I’ve been like this for almost a week and a half.”

  “Wow, alright, let’s get these questions out of the way. You said you’ve been like this for a week and a half?”

  “Yup,” Audrey said with a nod, “It started with the fever, puking, and diarrhea, and now only the puking, it’s horrible.”

  “Okay, when was your last menstrual cycle?”

  Audrey shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know, my cooter is weird, it doesn’t bleed like other cooters. I’m very irregular.”

  Tara giggled before going on, “Do you have sex?”

  Audrey smiled, “Why, yes I do.”

  “Okay, you use protection right?” she asked with a matter of fact tone.

  Audrey narrowed her eyes as she shook her head, “Why does that matter?”

  “It is part of the questionnaire for women,” she said looking up at Audrey.

  Audrey shook her head before she said, “No, we are both clean, we’ve been tested.” She didn’t know why she added that last part, probably because she didn’t want the nurse to think she was a nasty hoe. It was different with Tate, she never had used protection and she probably never would. She trusted him, and it wasn’t like she could get pregnant, so why did it matter?

  “Do your breasts hurt?”

  Audrey took a hold of her boob and before she could even squeeze it, pain ripped through her chest, “Ow, yeah.”

  The nurse marked a spot and then shook her head, moving around to gather things. When she turned she had a cup in her hand.

  “Okay, here is a cup, pee in that please.”

  Audrey looked at the cup she held and then back up at the nurse, “I just want something for the nausea, why am I peeing in a cup?”

  “It’s protocol, Ms. Parker.”

  “Okay then,” she said, taking the cup and following the nurse to the bathroom. After pulling down her panties, she did her business and then laid it where they asked her to. Audrey padded through the office in her black stockings, back to her room, and sat back up on the foam bench. Pulling her phone out, Audrey saw a text from Tate.

  Call me when you leave, I need to talk to you about something. I hope they give you the good stuff they gave me.

  Audrey giggled as she typed back, I will, but I am a mere girl, you are hockey star Tate Oooooooooder, they want you better, me, they don’t care.

  Well I care, tell them your big scary boyfriend will cut a bitch if you don’t get the good shit.

  She had to cover her mouth from laughing out loud. Scary?

  Hey, we are trying to scare people here.

  True that.

  Fo sho.

  You are such a dork.

  And you love me.

  I do, very much so, even if you gave me the sickness.

  No, I didn’t give it to you, the nasty germ filled little girl who stood beside me did. We should blame BTR or her mother.

  That’s true. What do you need to talk about? I’m bored, tell me now.

  As soon as Audrey hit send, a doctor walked in with her chart and a grin on his face. Audrey dropped her phone into her lap, and sent him a grin.

  “Hello, Ms. Parker, I’m Dr. Mann,” he said holding out his hand. He was a young doctor, good looking, mid thirties. He had nice eyes too, kind ones, Audrey thought as he went on, “I see that you have been suffering from some nasty nausea lately. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that medication would make it better. I would rather you try some natural home remedies first. And we are also going to need to do some further blood work to confirm some tests.”

  He was an evil son of a bitch.

  Audrey glared at him, “What do you mean more test. I just have a stupid stomach flu that won’t go away.

  “Your dipstick came back showing elevated levels of HCG. It appears that you are pregnant. We will need a blood test to confirm and in the mean time I am referring you to an OB/GYN. Because of your irregularity, we are unable to determine how far along you are, but-”

  Audrey had stopped listening; surely, she had heard him wrong. Putting her hand up, she said, “Excuse me? What did you say?”

  “I said you are pregnant.”

  “Pregnant? There is no way, I can’t have children.”

  “Well you are, and you are exhibiting all the signs of morning sickness. Like I said, your dipstick came back positive but we would like to confirm it with a blood test.”

  “No, I’m sorry, you are incorrect. I can’t have kids. I was told that when I was nineteen.”

  “Well they were incorrect, ma’am, because you are pregnant.”

  “There is no way,” she said, her heart kicking up in speed. She felt dizzy, and something was bubbling inside her. Maybe panic because there was no way she was pregnant! She had had sex
with a lot of guys and never gotten pregnant, and…

  Oh my God, Tate never used protection, not even once.

  The room felt like it was spinning as a wave of nausea hit her hard. She looked up at her grinning doctor and then promptly puked all over the floor.

  For fuck sakes, am I pregnant?

  Chapter 26

  “I need to see Dr. Richards.”

  The receptionist looked up at Audrey, and she knew the girl thought she looked crazy. After rushing from Doctor’s Care to her OB/GYN, Audrey was frantically looking for some answers. The first doctor was pretty damn sure of himself when he said Audrey was pregnant, but for some reason, it wasn’t clicking for her. She would need to hear it from Dr. Richards for her to believe it.

  “Do you have an appointment?”

  “No.”

  “Then I’m sorry, ma’am, but he is-”

  “No, he is never too busy for me, tell him Audrey Parker is here and it is an emergency,” Audrey gasped out.

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that-”

  “Yes, you can,” Audrey said, interrupting her again, “I know you can. Who are you? Where is Linda?”

  The girl gave Audrey a snobby little look before saying, “Just a second.”

  Audrey’s heart was pounding as she tapped her foot quickly against the hardwood of the lobby. Her stomach was queasy and her head was clouded with questions. She had ignored all of Tate’s texts and even his calls. She was pretty sure he was about to start panicking, but hell, at this point all she cared about was finding out if there was a baby inside her.

  Because she couldn’t believe it.

  After years of thinking she couldn’t have a child, she couldn’t grasp the fact that it could be happening, and she wouldn’t until Bryan Richards said it was true. When Linda Richards, Bryan’s mom came into view, Audrey let out the breath she was holding.

  “Linda, I need to see Bryan. Like yesterday.”

  “Audrey Jane, you’re white as a ghost, are you okay?” she said, coming to the window and cupping Audrey’s face. When Bryan and Audrey used to date, eons ago, both their families became very close and still were to that day. Everyone was convinced that they would get married but during his senior year of high school, Bryan dropped the ‘Hey, I’m gay’ bomb on everyone. Audrey always thought it was true, since Bryan never really liked sex, but she had loved him. She still did, but more as a brother than anything.