Raining on Sunday

“You ready to find out the sex of your baby?” The ultrasound technician smiled, rolling her chair closer to the machine. I smiled and nodded, feeling Sid’s hand squeeze mine gently. I looked to him and he was beaming at me. My stomach enveloped in butterflies. I was now 24 weeks pregnant, and was glowing with joy for the little beach ball growing inside me. She spread the cold jelly on my stomach and touched it gently with the machine. She moved it around, stopping to take pictures every now and then. I turned to Sid, and said “Thank you for being here for me.” He nodded and kissed my hand, eyes still glued to the screen of his potential baby. “Ms. Kemp, how far along did you say you were?” The technician asked. “24 weeks now.” She tilted her head at the screen and excused herself. Panic set over, and I looked over to Sid. His eyes were wide, and he looked back at the screen to see if something could be wrong.A few minutes later, my OB/GYN entered and greeted us with the name of Dr. Glover. She was a tall redhead in her late 30’s and she was beautiful. “I’m going to take a look at your baby for a minute.” She smiled, putting the machine back to my abdomen. “Is something wrong?” I felt my heart rate going up. She looked to the screen one more time. “I’m afraid whoever told you what you’re due date was, was a little off, Ms. Kemp. You’re 27 weeks pregnant, not 24. You’re closing in at the end of your second trimester. The good news is though, is that you’re expecting a bouncing baby girl.” 3 weeks off? “How does that even happen? How does a doctor get the due date wrong?” I asked shaking my head. “Sometimes if a baby isn’t developing as fast as they should, it’s easy to mistake. That or a simple mathematical error. You did give them the date of your last menstrual cycle, correct?” She asked. I nodded, and she opened my medical file. “Yup, 27 weeks and 4 days. You’ll be starting out your third trimester next week, Ms. Kemp. The home stretch!” She smiled at us. Although I was happy to hear that I was having a girl, and that my baby was growing just fine, me being three weeks further along than we planned meant one thing…James was going to be a dad and he had no idea.

“You okay?” I asked, looking at Sid in the car. He figured out on his own what this meant. He pulled out of the parking lot and nodded, driving back to my house. He stayed quiet most of the time there, only breaking the silence to ask if I wanted food and if I was packed for the upcoming road trip we were leaving for tomorrow against the Panthers and Tampa Bay. After the two back to back away games, Sidney and I would fly to Cole Harbor to celebrate Christmas with his family and then fly back to Pittsburgh to play against the Predators, the game I dreaded the most. I sat in my own thoughts, thinking about how now I’d be giving birth right before playoffs rather than at the end of the regular season. I sighed, and felt tears forming in my eyes. God damn hormones. I inhaled deeply trying to hold them back, and leaned my head back, closing my eyes but I couldn’t stop it. The tears broke loose and I started to sob. Sid took notice immediately and pulled over on the side of the road. “Eisley? What? Are you okay? What happened?” He asked frantically. “I don’t know, I cry all the time now. I hate this.” I laughed through my tears, wiping my face. He chuckled and wiped a tear from my face. “This doesn’t mean I’m not going to be there for you, Eisley. It complicates things way more, but I’m always going to be here for you.” He spoke softly, calming my emotions. “I know this changes a lot.” I wiped my eyes. “It doesn’t change how I feel about you. It changes how I feel about you not talking to James or telling him about it though.” I scoffed at Sid. “He doesn’t care about anything but himself. I’m doing this for him and for the sanity of my child. What baby deserves a father that’s going to be in and out of her life forever? Because all he wants to do is party? I’d rather my baby grow up with stability, Sid. Plus Nashville is where he works at, and Pittsburgh is where I work at. It’s not like he’d ever see the kid. Sid, please understand where I’m coming from.” I explained. He exhaled sharply and nodded. “It’s ultimately your decision, but I think he deserves to know.”

“Get in there on the right Geno, stay close to him. He’s setting you up for a fake left and he’s going to shoot, I need you there to keep him from doing that and get the puck. Okay? Bennett I need you in there too. Follow him, stay close. Understand?” Both boys nodded and I hit their gear as they skated back on the ice, “I hope this works.” I told Coach. He crossed his arms, intently watching the game unfold in front of him. We were 1-1 with Florida and needed to get this shot to end the game. A second win back to back would put all the guys on a high. I rubbed my belly, and watched game. Geno’s line was on fire, they were all where they needed to be and played incredibly. Sid’s line gracefully took the ice and was in the attack zone. I watched Sid lift his stick, and what felt like slow motion he shot it into the back of the net. The whole bench stood up and cheered, and I threw my arms up in excitement. “That’s it! That’s it boys! Play good D for the next minute and 12 seconds and the win is ours!” I yelled, sending Geno’s line back out.

After the game we headed to the visitors locker room on cloud nine. The boys were so excited to end the last game before Christmas that way. Coach made a quick speech about how well they played and to have a good Christmas and that he would see us on the shuttle back to the hotel. “Finally, some time off.” Sid laughed, bumping my hip with his. “We’ve been doing so good this season, I think it’s because of little baby here.” Beau Bennett said rubbing my belly. I pushed him off, “It’s because you guys are all great players. I’m so proud of you.” I patted his arm, and laughed. “Hope we can still make you feel that way when we play the Preds.” Brandon Sutter laughed from behind. The locker room instantly went quiet. He looked around at everyone for confirmation on what he did wrong. I bit my lip and turned directly to him. “We’re gonna tear those Preds apart.”I slapped his arm and walked off. “What did I say?” Brandon looked around, the team chuckled. “You dumb, Suttsy.” Geno laughed, lightly shoving him into the wall. I picked up my gym bag and headed out to the bus, sitting in front with Coach Johnston who had plans to review the game immediately.

“Hi, Eisley! It’s so good to see you again!” Sid’s mom, Trina ran out and greeted me with open arms. We met when I first came to Pittsburgh, and she immediately took me under her wing, knowing Sid and I were good friends. She rubbed my belly, expressing her excitement. Troy Crosby made his way out of the house, carefully walking through the snow that lined the ground. He hugged Sid and made his way to me, pulling me into a tight hug too. Sid looked at his mom, and nudged her with his arm. She looked back at him and nodded. Troy invited us into the house, and Sid took the luggage out of my hand and offered his free hand to help me walk through the snow. The inside of the Crosby was warm and welcoming. I peeled off my jacket, and hung it on a coat hanger and followed Trina into the kitchen. “We expected you to get in later, I’m so glad you were able to come though, Eisley.” She said, pouring a cup of hot tea. “I wouldn’t of wanted to be anywhere else.” I told her. Sid came into the kitchen, and sat at the table next to me, opening a bag of sunflower seeds. Trina looked at him, raising an eyebrow. “It’s his latest habit.” I shrugged. She laughed and put two cups of tea in front of us. “It’s going to be a cold Christmas this year!” She smiled, rubbing her hands together. She sat at the table across from us, and Troy joined us as well. Troy and Sid talked lightly while Trina and I talked about the last two games. The subject shifted over to me, “So Sid says you’re due to pop soon!” Troy laughed. I blushed, and nodded. “I just entered my third trimester. It’s all downhill from here.” “How long will you be out after having the baby? Are you going to miss any of the season?” Troy asked. I sighed, “Hopefully not too much of it, but I’m due in March so I’ll miss the last month. But should have full recovery before playoffs.” I smiled. “I can come to Pittsburgh and help with the baby for a while, if you need, Eisley.” Trina offered “Any thoughts for a name?” Trina continued. “Sid and I thought of Ivana Taylor. It’s both of my grandmother’s names. And of course, Taylor’s. Got to honor the Crosby name some how.” I laughed. Trina’s face lit up. “Taylor would be so excited to hear that. Speaking of, she should be here on Christmas day. She decided to spend Christmas with a friend this year.” Trina smiled. Sid dropped his phone and looked up. Uh oh, herecomes over protective big brother. “It’s a girl, Sid. One of the kids from her boarding school, didn’t get to fly home this year so Taylor decided to stay with her.” Sid’s face calmed, and he threw another sunflower seed into his mouth. “I was against at first, but then I realized what a big heart she has.” Troy nodded, Trina agreeing.

“I can’t believe your parents are okay with us, like this. Me coming home with you, being pregnant out of wedlock. Staying in the same room, even.” I laughed, pulling on a sweater. “They know we’re close friends, they know we’ve slept together, and they know that I wouldn’t let you sleep anywhere else but right here.” Sid said pulling me down on the bed with him. I turned on my side, laying my head on his shoulder, my belly making us keep a close distance from each other. “My dad really surprised us.” Sid broke the silence. “What do you mean?” I asked, looking up at him. “He pulled you into a hug, he never does that to anyone but family. He really likes you.” Sid kissed my forehead. I felt heat rising to my cheeks, and I smiled, closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep.

The incessant buzzing of an IPhone woke me up out of slumber, I groaned and rolled over to see Sid still knocked out. I followed the source of the sound, and dug through my purse and finally found my phone. By the time I got to it, it had stopped buzzing, so I took my time rubbing my eyes and getting back into bed before actually checking my phone. I sat down and unlocked my phone.

MISSED CALL FROM JAMES NEAL 18

Fuck.

I locked my phone again, and leaned my head back against the headboard, exhaling deeply. My phone went off again, James’ face consuming my screen. I slowly stood out of bed and tip toed out the door, answered the phone in the living room.

“Do you have any clue what time it is?” I asked.

“I don’t care, I had to get you to answer me somehow.” He spat.

“Um, if I recall you were the one not answering my calls.”

“Yeah, well. Shit happens. When did you plan on telling me?”

“Only the thirty times I tried calling every month.”

“Well, you should of tried harder. How’s Mr. Perfect reacting to being a dad?”

My stomach dropped. He hadn’t figured out that it was his baby.

“I don’t think any of my life is your business.” I shot at him.

“Please, Eisley. I loved you more every waking moment, and you ran off with the golden boy. Can you blame me for being mad?”

“What are you talking about? I tried calling you after you left Pittsburgh, all the time James. Instead I saw pictures of Melanie Collins with Nixon. The dog WE got together.”

“She was dog sitting Sadie and Nix while I was in Whitby…where I had no phone reception. And this has been a stressful season for me. She’s nothing to me. Somehow she convinced Rebecca that she and I were together, clearly half the internet too but we never were a couple.”

“James, I’m not stupid, despite what you think, I’d like to think you could be honest with me for two seconds.”

“Eisley! I’m serious! You were my best friend, my everything. I wish I could redo things but I can’t. I can just tell you how I feel and pray that somehow you feel the same way about me.” I heard his voice getting shaky.

“I’m 28 weeks pregnant now, James. Life isn’t about how I feel anymore, it’s what’s best for my baby.” I hung up the phone and turned it off, sitting on the couch, and letting myself cry.

Notes