Forever Chicago

“Thanks again.” Abby said as they picked up the girls.

“Of course” I said, “They were great.”

“You are so good at this.” Jonathan said kissing me as he pulled my waist into his.

I grinned stupidly.
…
Jonthan and I planned to spend the off season at his lake house in Manitoba. As I packed both our suitcases, Jonathan slid in behind me.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi.” I laughed.

I couldn’t wait to get away with Jonathan, the city had been getting crazy since the loss.

We spent three amazing months along Lake Winnipeg, I swore I was in heaven.

As we sat on the dock, under Jonathan’s arm on our last night, I was the happiest I had ever been.

“I love it here.” I said.

“Me too.” He said, “It’s better with you.”

I smiled blushing.

Jonathan’s POV:
I watched the moonlight reflect off Kodie’s blonde hair, she was stunning underneath my arm. This summer had been one of the best of my life. I had more fun on the lake with Kodie, than I had ever had with any of my friends.

It panged me to pack for Chicago, but the season was starting soon, and we had to get home.

As we pulled away from the lake house, I truly felt closer to Kodie than I ever had before.

Kodie’s POV:
The summer had been incredible, but it was always good to get home. Jonathan headed to the United Center for meetings, while I unpacked into the apartment. Ollie sprinted all over the place, marking the apartment as his territory again.

The next night Jonathan and I met Riley and Brandon at a cute restaurant in downtown Chicago for dinner.I pulled on a pale blue, sundress.

“Wow,” Jonathan said as I walked out of our bedroom pushing the back of my earring in,

“You look amazing.” He pulled me into him.

“Thank you.” I laughed, as I kissed him.

Jonathan’s POV:

Kodie looked amazing, I fondled over the small black box in my pocket, anxious to get it out.

As we walked toward the restaurant my stomach twisted and turned.

Dinner was a blur; I couldn’t stop staring at Kodie. She looked beautiful. The low light gleamed off her golden hair like sunlight. Every time she threw her head back laughing sweetly, I couldn’t help but grin like an idiot.

Kodie and Riley stood up to go to the bathroom, Brandon Saad hit me on the shoulder.

“Are you gonna do it tonight man?” he said.

“Yeah.” I nodded nervously.

Kodie and Riley returned.

“Come with me,” I said taking her hand as we left the restaurant.

We walked along Chicago harbor as the sun began to set.

“Ya know you’re the only girl I’ve ever loved,” I said turning towards her, “And I want you to
be the only one.”

Kodie’s POV:
Jonathan dropped to one knee, I felt my heart in my throat.

“Kodie, you have made the past year and a half the happiest day of my life. I don’t want to
spend forever with anyone except you. Will you marry me?” he smiled up at me.

“Yes.” I shouted, as he slid the band over my hand.

Jonathan lifted me by waist kissing me.

“I love you.” He said.

“I love you too.” I said, “So much.”

“We’re getting married.” He smiled setting me down.
…
“YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED!” Riley screamed as I walked into work the next morning.

I beamed.

“Congratulations sweetie!” Jeannie yelled hugging me.

Riley pulled out a stack of bridal magazines from underneath the desk, making me laugh out loud.

“Okay,” she said, “So when’s the wedding?”

“I have no idea,” I laughed, “We just got engaged yesterday!”

“Well,” she laughed, “I’m excited!”

“Probably June.” I said.

“WOO, I won’t be pregnant!” she yelled, “That gives us almost 8 months.”

Riley was crawling closer and closer to her due date; her baby was due next month, October.

“So did you decide on a name yet?” I asked.

She shook her, “No clue, I love Tae, but Brandon is set on Savannah.”

As we chatted, Susan walked by clutching a cardboard box of her belongings, I glared at her.

“Ladies,” she forced a smile.

Riley and I said nothing, I couldn’t even look at her. Susan had cost a six year old boy his life, and for what? So she could go home early. She was fired immediately following Timmy’s death, and I never wanted to see her face again.

“You know,” she said setting her box on the counter to talk to me, “I didn’t do it on purpose.”

My entire body curled in rage, “You sent him home again. You watched Timmy walk out the door with that man, knowing how badly he would be beaten. You watched it happen. You watched Timmy walk to his death, and you did nothing about it. So excuse me if I don’t want to send you on your way with a hug and a farewell cake.” I snapped.

She turned and left the hospital.

“Damn girl nice one!” Riley smiled.

As we went back to flipping through bridal magazines, I felt a new sense of relief.

“So have you and Brandon talked about getting married?” I asked.

“We want to wait until after the baby,” she said, “I think we’ll just do it small during the
Olympic break, do you want a big wedding?”

“Sometimes I think it would be easier just to do it small, but I don’t know, I think it will end up being pretty big, which reminds me,” I said pulling a boxed cupcake out of my bag with a small card that said will you be my maid of honor?, I placed it on the desk.

“What’s this?” she smiled. Her mouth dropped as soon as she read the card.

“Oh my God!” she yelled, tears in her eyes, “Of course!” she hugged me, “You’re sure you want me?”

“Of course.” I said, “I mean you’ve been my best friend for almost 3 years now.”

“Thank you so much, and you really are my best friend!” she said, hugging me again, “So who are the other bridesmaids?”

“I’m thinking Paige, and three of my best friends from back home.” I said.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so excited.” She said.

“Me too.” I smiled.
…
A few weeks passed and Jonathan’s season was in full swing.It was the boys annual road trip to Pennsylvania when I got a frantic call from Riley.

“Kodie,” she screamed, “It’s time!”

I raced from my apartment to Riley, as I help her into the car her contractions were clearly intensifying.

I dialed Brandon frantically as we raced towards the hospital.

“Brandon!” I yelled, Riley’s moans echoing in the background.

“What’s going on?” he said concerned.

“The baby’s coming! Can you get here?” I said.

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” he said hanging up.

Riley was whisked away into a room as soon as we walked through the doors.

Abby and I held her hand as she tried to hold off pushing for Brandon.

“Ms. Delbeaux we can’t hold off any longer, we have to push.” The doctor said.

With tear filled eyes, Riley began pushing, it was only a few minutes before we heard the cries of her beautiful baby girl.

“I can’t believe Brandon’s not here.” Riley said as I cut the umbilical cord.

The doctor cleaned the baby, before placing her on Riley’s chest.

“Oh my gosh.” She said, “She’s perfect.”

“Riley she’s gorgeous.” I said.

We waited hours for Brandon. Around 1 in the morning he burst through the door.

“I’m here!” he shouted.

Riley looked up at him.

“So is your daughter.” Riley said.

Abby and I left them for the fight they were clearly about to have.

“I’ll be back in the morning.” I said hugging her as I left.

Riley’s POV:
I couldn’t believe Brandon had missed our first child’s birth. I knew it wasn’t his fault, but I couldn’t help but be mad at him.

“I’m sorry babe.” He said kneeling beside the bed looking down at our baby, “You know I would’ve been here if I could.”

“I know,” I sighed, “It just sucked not having you here.”

“I’m sorry.” He said again.

The room was quiet again.

“You know she still doesn’t have a name.” I said, “she really does look like a Savannah.”

And on November 1st, Brandon and I welcomed little Savannah Tae Saad into our lives.

Kodie’s POV:
As I drove home from the hospital a scary thought entered my head. What if someday
Jonathan missed the birth of our baby?

As I sunk into our couch with Ollie, I was overcome with emotion. The wedding, babies, work, family, it was all too much. I wanted to Jonathan here to comfort me. But he was hundreds of miles away, and I had no one to turn to. Tears ran down my cheeks.

Notes