Rescue Me (Sidney Crosby)

Chapter Twenty Eight

-Julie-

“We, the jury, find Kyle Mullery guilty and sentence him to life in prison with no chance of parole, and also giving sole custody of Joshua Patrick McHale to his mother, Julie Marie McHale,” the lead juror said and I let out a sigh of relief and hugged Sidney.

Those words were something that I’ve wanted to hear seven years ago, he was gone, and he was gone for good. Sentenced to jail, and he was never going to bother us again.

Sidney stood on my right, while my mom, dad and Andrea stood on my left. We hugged each other tight and then I took one last glance towards Kyle to see that he was glaring at me as the guards took him away. I saw my father shake hands with the lawyer, and then felt Sidney’s hands on my back. I looked up towards him and he placed his hand on my cheek and smiled.

“You’re free,” he said and I smiled and he wiped a few tears that fell down my face.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and I felt him hold me tight and then kiss my head.

-Sidney-

We were all back at Julie’s apartment, and we had walked into the room seeing Tyler and Allie sitting on their couch watching Josh and Conner wrestle while Bow, the dog, barked at them.

“It’s over, baby,” Julie muttered as she bent down and hugged her son.

“So when do we leave?” Julie’s mother asked and I looked at her.

‘…Leave?...’

“What?” Julie asked as she stood up.

“When do we pack this stuff up an go back to Texas?”

“Um, Mom-“

“We’re leaving?!” Josh yelled almost looking like he was going to cry, “No! I don’t want to!”

“Josh, wait-“

“No!” he yelled and then ran over towards me and hugged my legs, “Please don’t leave, Mommy.”

‘…Yeah, what he said!...’

“Sweetie, we’re not,” she said and I felt Josh relax.

“You’re not?!” Julie’s mother asked and Julie sighed and shook her head ‘no’.

“I’ve made a home here, mother. Josh as a school, he had friends, I have friends.”

“What about family?”

“I’ve found a life here, mom,” Julie said and then walked over towards me and then smiled up towards me and placed her hand on my arm, “Josh and I are happy here.”

“Julie Marie McHale, I just got you back, I’m not letting you-“

“Honey, let her go,” Julie’s father said and I felt Julie flinch, “She’s an adult, and she’s clearly able to take care of herself.”

“No, she’s-“

“She’s happy, dear. We can still come up and visit, just like she can come down and visit,” he said and then looked at his daughter to see her nodding her head.

“I don’t want to leave Pittsburgh, mom,” Julie said and I laced my fingers with hers and she leaned into my chest.

“Well Mr. Crosby,” I looked up to see her mother staring at me, “You talk care of my daughter!”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I smiled and then kissed her head.

“Suck up,” Tyler coughed and Julie and I laughed and then saw Allie slap his arm.

“Well, we’re going to head back to the hotel and then we’ll see you in the morning,” Julie’s mom said and we all nodded our heads.

“Bye mom,” Julie said and then walked her parents downstairs, and I was left alone with Allie and Tyler.

“That was a close one, man,” Tyler said and I nodded my head.

“I thought she was really gunna go,” Allie said and I sighed and sat down next to them.

I heard running up the stairs and I looked to see Josh running into the room and then I laughed as he jumped onto my lap and wrapped his arms around my neck.

“I don’t want to leave.”

“Didn’t you hear what your Mommy said? You’re not going to,” I said and he looked up towards me and smiled.

“I’m happy that you and Mommy are together! Are you my daddy?” he asked and Tyler was drinking a beer, and when Josh asked that I heard him choke on it and then cough.

“Uh,” I sat there frozen; I didn’t know what to say.

“Hey little man, let’s go raid the kitchen to see what kind of sweets we can find,” Allie said as she stood up and picked Josh up and headed out of the apartment.

“Shit!” I muttered as I stood up and started to pace back and forth.

“So he asked if you were his dad, no big deal,” Tyler said as he reclaimed himself and I looked over towards him.

“Says the guy who spit up his beer.”

“I was shocked! Sue me!” he said and then patted down his shirt, “What are you going to tell Julie?”

“Tell Julie, what?” I looked to see that Julie had walked into the room and closed the door, “Where’s Josh?”

“Allie took him down to the kitchen, listen um-“

“Oh, let me tell her not to-“

“Julie, wait!” I said and then she looked at me, “There’s something you should know.”

“What?” she asked confused and I tried to think about how I was going to word this. When I didn’t take fast enough she got annoyed, “What is it?”

“I ya, um, you see, um-“

“Out with it!”

“Josh asked if Sid was his father!” Tyler stated and I glared at him.

“I was getting there!”

“Not fast enough, my beer was getting warm!” he said and I sighed and looked at Julie.

“Uh,” she sighed and then rubbed the back of her neck, “Tyler, can we have a moment?”

“Sure,” he said and then got out of the room and I looked towards Julie.

“Are you mad?” I asked and she sighed and looked at me.

“Why would I be mad?” she asked and then sat down on the couch, “You’ve been more than a father to him than Kyle ever was.”

“So where does this stand?” I asked as I sat down next to her and looked at her.

“Sid, when Josh was little, he would constantly tell people that he wanted to be a racecar driver when he grew up,” she said and I nodded my head, “Do you know what he tells people?”

“No.”

“He tells them he wants to be a hockey player, he wants to be just like you,” she said and I smirked and she smiled towards me, “You’ve not only had an impact on my life, but on Josh’s too. He sees you as the father in this relationship. He’s never had one before, and I kind of want him to have that.”

I place my hand on her knee and then smiled up towards her, “I want you to meet my parents! You and Josh!”

She looked at me shocked and then confused, “Where did that come from?”

“Well, he’s already met one set of grandparents, I guess he should meet his other,” I said realizing that I wanted to make this big step and become a big part of not only Julie’s life, but Josh as well.

“Really?” Julie asked excitedly.

“Yes,” she smiled and then jumped up and wrapped her arms around my neck and then pulled back and pressed her lips against mine. I pulled away and smiled towards her, “Although, I don’t know how my Mom’s going to take being called Grandma,” I laughed and Julie smiled brightly and then laughed. I loved that laugh. I placed my hand on her cheek and then stared into her eyes. Julie placed her hand on top of mine and then leaned into my hand, “Julie.”

“Hmm?”

“I love you,” I said and she picked her head up and looked at me.

“What?”

“I do, I love you,” I said and she grabbed my hand and then smiled.

“I love you too, Sidney,” she said and I smiled and then pulled her onto me and pressed my lips against hers, feeling her clinging to me and trying to pull me as close to her as she could.