Forever Chicago

“Come on Hawks!” Maddy Sharp screamed as we stood high above the ice. The Hawks had returned from an undefeated road trip to take on the Anaheim Ducks.

The Hawks were hungry for the cup this year and it showed. Six games into the season and they held an undefeated record sending them to the top of the standings, and putting them in first place for the running at the President’s cup.

The game roared on, by the other wives and I were enthralled with a new conversation.

“So,” Abby said, “Are you guys thinking about kids?”

“Well,” I said, “We’ve been trying for about a month now, but nothing so far.”

“Don’t worry,” she said, “It’ll happen.” We could only hope.

Jonathan bolted up the ice, only seconds left in a so far scoreless game.

“Come on Jon!” I yelled springing up from my seat.

Jon flew to the net flipping the puck into the top shelf.

The arena went crazy, and the Hawks remained undefeated another game.
…

“Good game,” I smiled as Jonathan walked through the front door of our new townhouse in uptown Chicago.

“Thanks” he laughed, kissing me.

“So anything?” Jonathan asked, talking about the pregnancy test I had taken before the game.

I shook my head, disappointed.

“It’s okay.” He said resting his head on mine, “It’ll happen.”

But would it?
…
The next morning my alarm rang for work, I groaned. Jonathan would be leaving for a road trip to traipse across Canada for a week.

“Don’t go.” Jonathan said wrapping his arms tighter around me.

“I don’t want to.” I said holding him.

I hated mornings when I knew Jon would be leaving. It made it harder to get out of bed, harder to go to work, and go home to an empty, bigger, place.

We moved slowly through our morning routine and found our way back to each other at the front door.

“I’m gonna miss you.” I nuzzled into his neck.

“I’m gonna miss you too.” He said kissing the top of my head.

I miserably got into my car and sped off to the hospital, not looking forward to my shift.

Aggravation invaded me as I pulled up to a load of traffic. My 15 minute drive turned into a half hour commute.

“Hey,” Riley said as I walked in.

“Hi.” I said.

“Rough morning?” She said.

I nodded sitting next to her.

“Us too.” She said, just as Riley began talking, I was overtaken with nausea. I rushed to the bathroom just in time to see a murky, green liquid spew into the toilet.

“Ew.” I said looking at the product.

I washed my mouth out and returned to the front desk.

“Hey, you okay?” Riley said as I sat down.

“Yeah,” I said, “I don’t know I just got so nauseous.”

“You don’t think it’s morning sickness do you?” she said.

“No,” I said right away, “I mean Jonathan and I have been trying for months, but this week we decided to give it a break, I mean, I don’t think it is.”

“You should take a test.” She said.

“I mean, I guess so.” I said, reaching for a pregnancy test underneath the desk, “Be right back.”

“Good luck!” she yelled after me.

I went through the normal procedure I had been going through for months. I waited for the test; the three minutes didn’t feel so long after taking it so many times in the past two months.

But today I looked down, expecting the same disappointment I had experienced so many times, to see a small pink plus appear on the screen. My heart fluttered.

“Riley,” I walked out into the front holding the test.

She knew instantly.

“Oh my God.” She said.

We stood there mindlessly staring at each other for a moment, before shrieking.

“You’re having a baby!” she yelled.

“I’m having a baby!” I said in shock.

We spent the entire day flipping through baby magazines, looking at nursery furniture and trying to find names.

“So how are you going to tell Jonathan?” she asked biting her sandwich.

“I don’t know,” I said taking a bite of salad, “I don’t really want to tell him over the phone.”

“True, but you know you guys have been waiting for so long, he’d probably want to know right away.” She said.

“I don’t know.” I said, “Maybe.”

As I drove home that night, I contemplated picking up the phone and telling Jonathan. But
part of me wanted to wait, I wanted to see his reaction, his face light up when he finally found out.

But what if it got out? The media always seemed to find out everything about us, and I didn’t want Jonathan finding out from some random reporter after a game.

As soon as I got back to our townhouse, I picked up my phone. Ollie crawled in next to me and I snapped a photo of the two of us with a positive pregnancy test, and sent it off to Jonathan.

Jonathan called back seconds later.

“You’re pregnant?!” he shouted.

“Yep.” I laughed.

“So we’re having a baby?” he said.

“We are having a baby.” I laughed.

“That’s awesome babe.” He said.

Jonny! I heard screamed.

“I gotta go, I love you babe, I’ll call you later.” He said.

“I love you.” I said before hanging up.

I picked up my laptop and began scrolling through baby names. Running my hand over my stomach I was amazed, there was a baby in there.
…
I was able to see the ultrasound technician the next day during my break.

“You’re about 2 months along.” The technician said running an ultrasound over my stomach,

“Do you want to know the sex?”

I looked up at Riley, “Do you think I should?” I said.

“I did it without Brandon.” She shrugged, “Why don’t you find out and tell him when he gets home.”

I nodded.
“Okay,” she said, “It’s a girl.”

Riley and I looked at each other.

“YES!” she yelled.

I laughed as I wiped the blue gel off my stomach.
…
“What about Camryn?” Paige said flipping through a baby book, as she Riley and I sat on the couch awaiting puck drop.

“UP!” An almost one year old Savannah said waddling toward Riley.

“That’s cute.” I said somewhat sad.

“Hey, you alright?” Riley said.

“Yeah, I guess I just wish Jonathan was here for this.” I said.

“Believe me I understand” Riley said, bouncing Savannah on her lap.

“Daddy!” Savannah yelled pointing to the screen as the puck dropped.

The game was on, but my mind was clouded with other things. I thought back to the day Savannah was born. I remembered how sad Riley was, when Brandon couldn’t make it. And this season alone Brandon had missed Savannah’s first dance recital, and how many other milestones. I didn’t want that for our little girl.

The game went on against the maple leafs, and soon enough the Blackhawks had drawn another victory.

Notes

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