Winning it All (Men of the Ice Book 3)

by Michele Shriver

  “I hear you,” Trevor said, following Casey out of the locker room. Relationships had their complications for sure, but one thing was undeniable. He’d done better when he was in one.

  ***

  If there was anything more difficult for a mother than to see her child lie in bed with a needle in her arm, attached to the bag full of toxic chemicals being pumped into her body, Dani didn’t know what it was. The chemo regimen might not be new to Kaylen, but Dani doubted she’d ever get used to seeing it. As always, her daughter was a trooper, continuing to play games on her tablet while the drugs made their way into her body. She was so strong, such a fighter, and she deserved a much better fate than this.

  “Do you think Trevor will come by to see me today?” Kaylen wanted to know.

  Dani hesitated before answering. Sure, he’d said he would, but was it all just talk? It wouldn’t be the first time Trevor Collison broke a promise. For some reason, though, this time Dani believed him. He seemed different, like he truly was trying to change, and even though she was wary about him reentering her life, Dani wouldn’t prevent him from visiting Kaylen. It would draw too much suspicion if she did, and she didn’t want to deprive her daughter of something that might cheer her up.

  “I don’t know, honey,” Dani finally said, not wanting Kaylen to get her hopes up, only to be disappointed. “He has practice today and a game tomorrow, so he’s very busy. I’m sure he’ll try to come see you soon, though.”

  Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket, and Dani reached for it. The name on the display was almost a welcome distraction from the subject of Trevor, even if she knew the call wasn’t likely to be pleasant. “Excuse me for a minute, kiddo,” she said. “I have to take this. It’s work.”

  She swiped the display screen to answer. “Yes, hi, Ellis,” Dani said as she stepped out into the hallway. “What’s up?”

  “Are you coming in to work today?” Ellis asked, his tone curt. “The discovery is due in the Darden case by the end of the day, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  “No, I haven’t forgotten,” Dani told her boss. “It’s almost finished. Just a few more Interrogatories to review, and I’ll do that as soon as I get there. It shouldn’t be much longer. Kaylen just started her last infusion of the day.”

  An audible sigh came over the line. Ellis Marlow may be a great trial attorney, but he wasn’t the most patient of men, and his patience had definitely worn thin with Dani’s frequent absences from work due to her daughter’s medical treatments. “It better not be long, Danielle. You know I like you and I’m trying to help you, which is why I keep you on even though you haven’t been reliable lately, but we have deadlines in this profession. I need a secretary I can count on.”

  “Yes, I know.” Dani hated the implication. “You can count on me, Ellis. I think I’ve shown that over the years. This is a very rough time, though. Kaylen’s had a setback, and I can’t just leave her alone in the hospital while she has her treatment.” She stole a glance at her watch. This particular chemo drug was the last of Kaylen’s ‘cocktail,’ and the infusion would be ending soon. “I’ll be there in half an hour,” she assured her boss. “The Darden discovery will get done.” Maybe it meant leaving a little bit earlier than she wanted to, but Dani hoped Kaylen would understand. Her future employment might depend on it, and she simply couldn’t afford to lose this job.

  ***

  For a person who didn’t deal well with illness, Trevor sure rushed to the children’s hospital as soon as practice was over to see Kaylen again. Okay, he wouldn’t lie. He also hoped to see more of Dani. Instead, he arrived at Kaylen’s room to find her alone, but awake. And watching videos of the Generals’ season on her tablet.

  “Hey, Trev.” Was it his imagination or did her eyes light up at the sight of him. “Nice goal against St. Louis. That poor goalie was lost.”

  “Thanks.” Trevor wasn’t sure which game she referred to, as they’d played St. Louis several times, and he’d scored against them more than once. It didn’t matter, though. All of the goals counted, and helped Trevor in his ultimate goal—securing the contract that would keep him in San Antonio for the rest of his career. No more buyouts. No more screw-ups. This was it. His professional hockey career had started in this city, and it would end here as well. Hopefully on a positive note.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” Kaylen continued. “My mom said she wasn’t sure you’d show up, but I trusted you.”

  Her confidence in him made Trevor smile. Dani might not believe in him—and he couldn’t exactly blame her—but her daughter did. And somehow, having the full support of a ten year told was a major boost to Trevor’s self-esteem. “Thanks for that vote of confidence,” he said. “Where is your mom, anyway? I’m a little surprised she’s not here.”

  “She was, for a while,” Kaylen said. “Then her boss called and she had to leave. He’s a jerk, and he tries to make her feel guilty for staying here with me.”

  It was different than the perception of her job tat Dani had portrayed to him, and Trevor wondered if her job wasn’t as supportive as she claimed. Forcing her to come to work while her daughter underwent chemotherapy? That angered him, but he tried to ignore it. “She’s coming back, though, right?”

  Kaylen nodded. “Yeah. Probably by 5:30, assuming the asshole lets her leave.”

  They were harsh words, especially from a ten-year-old. Were Dani’s circumstances worse than she let on? It seemed so, but Trevor refrained from comment around Kaylen, who already probably knew too much.

  “Then I’ll stay.” Trevor pulled a chair closer to the bed. “We’ll wait together for your mom, and we can talk more about that game you think I was so good in.”

  ***

  Dani worked diligently on the Darden discovery all afternoon, and finished everything for Ellis’ approval and signature in time to make it to the post office before the mailing cut off time. It was a deadline oriented business, and she’s always prided herself on working ahead and not running up against deadlines, but the past few weeks, that simply hadn’t been possible, drawing the wrath of her boss. She hoped once this particular case was over, Ellis would calm down and leave her alone more.

  After making sure the documents were safely in the mail to their intended recipient, Dani battled afternoon rush hour traffic back to the hospital to see Kaylen. She’d follow the typical pattern of spending the evening there, including a quick dinner in the cafeteria, before heading home to sleep, then getting up the next morning and doing it all over again.

  She arrived back at the hospital to find that Trevor had, indeed, made good on his promise to come to see Kaylen. She found him sitting beside her daughter’s bed, while they both peered at the tablet display. Judging from the muffled sound, it was more clips from a Generals’ game.

  Kaylen looked up as Dani walked in. “Hey, mom. Trev’s here.”

  Dani chuckled softly. “I see, that, yeah. How are you guys doing?”

  “Pretty good,” Kaylen answered. “We’re watching highlights from when Trev played for the Hurricanes.”

  “Of which there aren’t too many. It was a bad year for me,” Trevor said. “Anyway, she just woke up from a nap, and I told her I’d stay until you got here.”

  Dani nodded. “Thanks. That wasn’t necessary.”

  Trevor shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe not, but I wanted to.” He got up from his chair, and Dani assumed he’d be leaving now that she’d returned. Instead, he asked, “Can I talk to you in the hallway for a minute?”

  “Sure, I guess.” Since Kaylen seemed fine at the moment, Dani would oblige him, curious what he wanted. “What’s up?” she asked when she was alone with Trevor in the hallway.

  “I just want to make sure everything’s okay. Kaylen told me your asshole of a boss insisted you come into work, even while she was having her treatment today,” Trevor said. “And by the way, that was her word, not mine.”

  Dani stifled a sigh. Kaylen talked too much, and she didn’t want Trevor to know
she had financial problems, or that her employer was anything less than completely supportive. “Ellis isn’t an asshole,” she said, for some reason feeling the need to defend him. “He’s just got a big case right now, and he had a discovery deadline. Everything had to be out in today’s mail.”

  “And someone else couldn’t do it?”

  Dani shook her head. “He trusts me. I’ve worked for him for a long time. I don’t want to let him down.” Meanwhile, was she letting her daughter down? It was a worry that continued to weigh on her.

  “Maybe I don’t get it,” Trevor said. “I mean, it’s not like I’ve worked a typical job. Still, it seems like he could be a little less demanding, given what you’re dealing with right now. Can you take family leave or something?

  “I could, but it’d be without pay,” she explained. That was always the rub. “I need the pay. Kaylen’s medical bills are huge.” Dani hated to burden Trevor with her problems, but now that the door had been opened, she should probably be honest with him. “I’m barely getting by as it is. I can’t risk losing my job.”

  “Jeez, I’m sorry.” Trevor raked a hand through his hair. It was long on top, and fell over his brow in a way Dani found completely adorable. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad, just trying to get a read on the situation,” he said. “Have you thought about starting a fundraiser online to raise money for her medical expenses?”

  “No, and I won’t,” Dani said firmly. “I hate those things. To me, it seems like begging or panhandling.” She had other friends who’d suggested it, and she always said no. Maybe it was stupid of her, but she still had her pride.

  “Okay, then let help you,” Trevor offered. “Believe it or not, I haven’t squandered all the money I’m earned in my career on drugs and booze.”

  “Are you serious?” Dani’s disbelief was not that Trevor had money left, but that he’d offer it to her out of the blue, after not seeing her for a dozen years.

  “Yes. Let me help.”

  “No. I can’t take your money, Trevor.”

  “Why not? I offered it.” He sighed and shook his head. “You always were stubborn and strong-willed, Danielle,” he said, using her full name. “Fine, but I’m going to find another way to help you. I don’t want you to stress about money, because Kaylen sees that stress, and that’s not good for her. We’ll talk about this later, though.” Trevor’s words carried so much intensity that Dani knew he meant it. He turned around and walked back into Kaylen’s room, and Dani followed him. It was pointless to argue. She was too damn tired.

  Chapter Five

  It was game day, the morning of a tough matchup against Dallas, and Trevor had a difficult time focusing on the morning skate, something that didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates.

  “What’s wrong?” Nik asked him in the locker room afterward. They had a short team meeting to follow, before being given the afternoon off to rest up before the game. “You seem distracted.”

  “A little, yeah,” Trevor admitted. “It’s that little girl we met at the children’s hospital the other day, Kaylen.”

  “What about her?” Nik frowned. “Did something happen? Has she gotten sicker?”

  Trevor shook his head. “No, nothing like that.” At least he hoped not. “I know her mom, back from when I used to play here with the old AHL team.” Nik nodded, letting Trevor know he was listening, so Trevor continued, “Anyway, I went back over there to see her yesterday, and I found out more about Kaylen’s condition, and how much Dani—that’s her mom—is struggling with her medical bills.” He pulled a T-shirt sporting the team logo over his head. “I offered to help her, but she wants nothing of it. Pride, I guess.”

  “I understand that,” Nik said. “I grew up poor. My mother has always hated asking for anything.”

  “That’s just it. She didn’t ask. I offered.” Trevor bent over to tie his shoes.

  “It makes no difference,” his teammate declared. “Still a handout.”

  “I suppose.” For being only twenty, Nik sure seemed to have a lot of life experience and knowledge. Maybe it was the environment he grew up in back in Russia. “She’s always been stubborn.”

  Nik smiled. “Aren’t all women?”

  Trevor couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah, I suppose.” He returned all of his gear to his locker. “I wish I could find another way to help her and her little girl out, without it seeming like she’s taking a handout from me.”

  Nik nodded. “It impacted me, as well, seeing all of those sick children, and I don’t even have any personal connection to them.” He put a ball cap on his head, facing backwards. “I will talk to Meryl. Maybe there is something we can do, as a team, to help out.”

  “Do you think so?” Trevor asked, feeling hopeful. Maybe if it came as a team effort, Dani would accept it.

  His teammate shrugged. “It’s worth a try. Meryl likes helping others, and she is good friends with Ms. Simmons. We’ll figure something out.”

  In his short time with the Generals’ organization, Trevor had come to appreciate the strong commitment to giving back to the local community, something Meryl Johnson and Charlene Simmons, who headed the Generals Charity Foundation, were working hard at. Given Nik’s relationship with Meryl, maybe they could come up with something to benefit Dani and Kaylen. “Thanks, pal. I appreciate it more than you know.”

  The young Russian smiled. “Someday, I would like to hear about why this woman is so special to you. For now, we better get to the meeting if we want to play tonight.”

  “You’re right,” Trevor said, as they left the locker room. Coach Moreau wouldn’t hesitate to scratch a player who was late to a meeting, and Trevor didn’t know how he’d explain to Kaylen why we didn’t play in a game.

  You’re in trouble, Collison, he thought to himself. This girl already means too much to you. He knew the reason for that, too. He still had feelings for her mother, and he didn’t quite know what to about it.

  ***

  Not wanting to draw the ire of Ellis again, Dani went to work in the morning, then to the hospital over lunch. At least it wasn’t Kaylen’s treatment day, so she didn’t feel quite as guilty about not being there all morning. Still, it would be nice to not have the outside pressure and be able to spend the time she wanted with her daughter. After all, who knew how much time she had left? No, Dani, don’t go there, she cautioned herself. Those were dangerous thoughts. She couldn’t dwell on the negatives. She needed to be strong for her daughter. Which meant Trevor was right—Kaylen shouldn’t see her stress. Dani knew she should probably swallow her pride and accept Trevor’s offer of assistance, but she still couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was too determined to do things her way. She could almost hear her father’s benevolent voice cautioning her about so stubborn.

  Dr. Russell was exiting Kaylen’s room when she got there. “Oh, good. I’m glad you’re here, Dani,” he said. “I was hoping to talk with you today.”

  A knot formed in her stomach. “Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know.” The doctor’s words were guarded, and as his brow furrowed, a crease appeared on his forehead. “I want to do a blood smear on Kaylen, and possibly another bone marrow aspiration. She’s running a slight fever today and she looks a little pale.”

  And Dani hadn’t been there, because she was trying to get back in good graces with her boss. “How come nobody called me?” As soon as the words were out, Dani wanted to take them back. Just because she felt like she’d failed as a mother today was no reason to accuse the medical team of not doing their jobs.

  “I’ve been finishing rounds,” Dr. Russell said. “If I hadn’t run into you, I would have had one of the nurses call.”

  “Of course. I’m sorry,” Dani said. “I’m just under a lot of stress right now.”

  “That’s understandable, and I don’t want to worry you more. It may be nothing, but I’d feel better with the additional tests, if I have your okay.”

  Sure. It might be nothing. It might also
mean the chemo and radiation wasn’t working. “Then do whatever you need to.”

  Dr. Russell nodded. “Thanks. I’ll have the nurse bring the consent form for your signature.”

  “Thanks, doctor. I appreciate everything you’re doing for Kaylen.” She had great faith in him as well as the other hospital staff, but that didn’t make this any easier.

  The doctor went into another patient’s room, and Dani turned to go into her daughter’s, but stopped herself. No. She needed to get herself together first, or Kaylen would see her stress. She took a deep breath and leaned against the wall. It’s okay, she told herself. It’ll be fine.

  “Dani? What’s the matter?”

  Even after a dozen years, Dani would know Trevor’s voice anywhere, and sure enough, she snapped her eyes open to see him standing in front of her. Why was he always coming by now, anyway? It wasn’t so much that she didn’t like seeing him that it bothered her, rather because she did like seeing him. And that scared and unnerved her. She didn’t have time for this. “Hi, Trevor,” she said, debating how much to tell him. “Kaylen’s not feeling well, and I was just trying to get hold of myself before I go in.”

  “Not feeling well?” Trevor’s eyes clouded with concern. “How?”

  “She’s running a fever. It may not be anything to worry about.” Except worrying was exactly what she was doing. “Her doctor wants to run some additional tests, though.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Trevor said. “I actually came by hoping to see if you could get permission to spring her from the hospital for the game tonight. I know you said, sometimes if she was well enough, you could. I’d hoped to get the two of set up in one of the suites.”

  It was such a generous offer, and Danis wished she could accept it. “Oh, Trev, Kaylen would absolutely love that, but I’m afraid it’s not possible tonight.”

  “Sure, I get it.” He jammed his hands in his pockets and looked at her earnestly. “And you probably don’t want to go, either, so you can stay with her.”