Raining on Sunday

“James? There’s someone at the door! Can you get it?” I yelled as I was changing Scarlett’s diaper. Of course no answer. James was probably zoning out in his workout at the gym in the basement. I picked up Scarlett and jogged downstairs, making my way to my front door, I swung it open and saw FedEx standing in the entrance. “I have a package for Scarlett Kemp.” He spoke. I raised an eyebrow and nodded and signed for it and grabbed it, taking it from him. I put Scarlett in her high chair in the kitchen and used a knife to open the box. “Scarlett Kemp.” I scoffed to myself as I peeled back a layer of tape. Inside was a big blanket, it soft and black and gold with a huge Penguins logo on it. Under the blanket, there was envelope. I opened it and inside was a letter. “Figured the world’s cutest Penguins fan needed a blanket to add. Tell her it’s from Uncle Sid ;)” I laughed and put the letter aside and saw a small picture from in the corner of the box. Inside was the picture I had taken of Scarlett and Sid before we left. I gulped hard and threw the picture frame in my purse close by in hopes that James wouldn’t open it. I turned on my heel as I heard footsteps coming up the stairs from the basement and saw a sweaty James approaching. He pulled one of his ear phones out and kissed my forehead before grabbing a Gatorade out of the fridge. “What’s that?” He asked, after taking a long gulp. “It’s a blanket. Sid sent it.” I said. He picked it up and looked at it, throwing it on the counter. He picked up the letter inside and read it. James started laughing quietly. I stood against the counter, hesitant to say anything. James picked up the letter and the blanket and threw them in the box and closed the lid. He studied the address, immediately taking notice to “Scarlett Kemp” not “Scarlett Neal.” “He’s doing this to fuel fire. I’ll tell you what though, Sidney Crosby will be lucky if he makes it out of the game next month alive.” James spat, picking up the box and throwing it in the trash can. I swallowed hard and nodded.

“Sam, it’s Eisley. Can you talk?” I asked, sitting in the grocery store parking lot. “I just got out of a surgery, what’s up?” She asked. “Have you talked to Sidney lately?” The line was quiet for a little bit. “Yeah, why?” “What’s he trying to accomplish by pissing of James? He keeps sending letters and really expensive gifts and I’m not sure what’s going on in his head.” Sam was quiet again, but I could hear the beeping of the hospital around her. “Maybe if you’d leave Sidney alone, he’d be able to get over you. Maybe if you’d leave him alone altogether he’d be able to move on. But you keep stringing him along, Eisley!” “Whoa, whoa! I haven’t talked to him more than twice since I moved to Nashville. Sam, you’re my best friend, please tell me what’s going on?” “You broke him, and now he’s apparently incapable of loving anyone but you and that kid of yours. Sid won’t even touch me because of you.” I leaned my head back on the headrest. “How can you blame any of this on me? I haven’t even spoke to him, and out of no where he’s trying to piss off James. Stay out of Pittsburgh, Eisley.” She hung up the phone. What the fuck, I told myself. I pulled out of the parking lot and drove back home, still completely baffled. I pulled Scarlett out of her car seat and walked inside. James was laying on the couch, shirtless with arm behind his head. “Hey babe.” I told him, putting Scarlett on his stomach. She excitedly greeted her father, and I leaned over to kiss him on the head. I sat down by his feet and let out a sigh. “Everything okay?” He asked. I smiled and nodded, squeezing his hand.

“Good Morning passengers, we are getting ready to land so please put your seatbelts on and relax. Welcome to Pittsburgh.” I looked at my sleeping daughter in my arms, and looked towards James who adjusted his Predators hat on his head. His teammates next to him nudged him, knowing of his new found beef with the face of the NHL. We boarded off the plane and stepped onto the busses that take the families to the hotel. Butterflies filled my stomach as I saw the familiar city. Tonight would be interesting to say the least.

Notes