Intrigue

Brent and I flew back into Chicago this morning. He left for practice and I got set reviewing my case files for the first trial I was given. It was a vehicular homicide case that ended up killing a 19 year old girl. The guy who hit her was 27 years old and driving home from a club, speeding at 85 mph. A good Samaritan followed him after the accident until police could apprehend him.

It would be a relatively easy case even though the suspect had entered a not-guilty plea, his lawyer arguing his admission of guilt came while he was under the influence of alcohol. The truck clearly showed evidence of the accident and her DNA. I spent most of the afternoon working.

Brent had practice at three o'clock, but he told me it wouldn’t be too long and we’d go get something to eat afterwards. Around six o’clock, I started to get hungry. I grabbed an orange from the kitchen and peeled it, sat back down at my desk and continued to work. I looked up as I heard him coming through the door. It was already seven o’clock.

“Hey sweetheart, rough practice?” I yelled as he entered the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. He didn’t answer and I knew something was wrong. I logged of the computer and went and sat down at the kitchen table with him. “What’s up. What happened?” I asked.

He looked at me and was quiet for a few seconds before he answered. “Listen, management called me in today. While I was away, I had a lady from Child Protective Services trying to contact me. They are saying a woman who was arrested last week is claiming her nine month old is mine. I called the lady from the office and I need to go in tomorrow morning and get a DNA test. I don’t know if it is true or not, but what she says does make sense.” I sat there stunned.

“She is saying she got pregnant the week we won the Stanley Cup, which would put the kid around nine months at this point. I saw a picture of her they left with my coach and I do vaguely remember the girl. I met her at a club Kaner and I went to, we got wrecked and it kind of just happened.” He put his head on the table. I rubbed the back of his neck.

“It’s ok, we will figure this out." I said, my voice shaking.

He looked up surprised. “You aren’t freaking out?” he asked.

“Brent, how can I freak out hun. That’s life. What can we do now at this point. I can’t get mad at you for something that happened when we weren’t together. Am I surprised? Of course, as much as you are. But if it is your child, then we will figure something out.“

I pulled him into a hug. “I love you. This doesn’t change that. It isn’t like you cheated on me or anything. Yep, it is crazy and life changing if true, but what can you do. Do you want me to go with you tomorrow?” He shook his head.

I got up and ordered Chinese food. I knew we weren’t going to leave the house now with everything going on. “Did they say what she is charged with?” I asked, curious as to what we were facing here.

“Supposedly it is a pretty big drug charge and it isn’t her first charge. I didn’t get many details, I guess they will give them to me tomorrow in person.“

I kissed him on the forehead. “So once we get back the test we hire the best lawyer in Chicago and go from there. I’m sure my boss will know someone good.”

He smiled at me. “Thank you Alex.”

I looked at him. “For what Brent?” I asked.

He hugged me tighter. “Thank you for saying we.”

Brent skipped morning skate and we headed toward the place he had to do his DNA test at. Once completed, we met Mrs. Williams at Child Protective Services. “Hi, you must be Mr. Seabrook.” She said shaking his hand.

“This is my girlfriend Alexa, she is an attorney with the DA’s office here in Chicago.” I sat down and grabbed for his hand.

“So here is what I can tell you, last week a woman named Ava Reynolds was arrested on various drugs charges at a house here in Chicago that she owned. The raid netted over a million dollars in product and cash, not including the guns that were found in the house. The baby was upstairs asleep when we they raided the place. She was taken into custody by Child Protective Services and placed with a foster family once the hospital gave her a clean bill of health. I went and seen Ms. Reynolds the day after she was locked up to find out if she had any family that could take the baby, but she said no. She only had her mother, who is 64 years old and in bad health."

She continued on. "I asked her who the father was and she gave me your name. She let me know that you didn’t know about the baby and she explained the position you were in and she requested everything be done very quietly to avoid the press picking up on it. Brent, I am going to be honest with you, she is looking at an easy ten years if not more as I’m sure Alexa will tell you. It is her second offense and it is the quantity the judge is going to nail her on. I am hoping to have the DNA results back within two days. I will call you as soon as I get them and we can go from there. Would custody be something you were thinking about or would you relinquish your rights?” she asked.

“I’m definitely filing for full custody if I find out the child is mine.” He said to her matter-of-factly. “Can you tell me more about the child?” he asked.

“Well I have one picture we took. She was born on March 12, 2011. Her given name is Madison Brynn Reynolds, but that can be changed eventually.” She handed him the picture and I couldn’t help but grin. She was adorable.

He held the picture hands shaking for a few second before looking up. “Can we get this test back as soon as possible. I don’t want her in foster care any longer than she has to be.” We said goodbye to Ms. Williams and went to a diner nearby for breakfast.

He was shaken up pretty bad. “It’s ok sweetheart. We will figure this out together.” I said reaching for his hand.

“What the heck am I going to do with her when I am away. Will they even give me her with me playing hockey. I don’t know the first thing about kids. What am I going to tell my parents.”

I gripped his hand. “Stop it right now. Freaking out isn’t going to help. I will watch her while you are away, we will hire a nanny if we need to. They will give you custody Brent if you are the father. We will figure the kid thing out together. As for your parents- a simple, surprise you are grandparents will suffice. It isn’t like you are a little kid hun. Besides, they will love it. Hello, did you see your house at Christmas. Now just picture how crazy they will get with a little one to buy for.” He smiled at me and let out a deep breath.

We ate, paid the bill and made our way to the practice facility so he could talk to Coach Q. We explained everything we had been told and he wished us luck. I sat in the stands as he skated for a while, clearing his head. He had a game tonight and I know he wanted to play well and prove that this wouldn’t mess up his game.

We left and headed back towards the apartment, grabbing pasta for later. We took his pre-game nap together. I think we were both mentally exhausted and slept soundly.

Once we woke up, he made the phone call to his parents. They took it relatively well, holding off on excitement until the test results came in. I spoke to them about the legal aspect of filing for custody and let them know Brent should have no problem gaining it. They thanked me over and over.

He left for the game not long after we ate. I was meeting him there. Once he left I got a nice long bath and just relaxed, contemplating how life was about to change for us if this test came back and she was his daughter.

Notes

Just wanted to thank the people who commented. You made my day. I'm posting a few more chapters for you. Let me know you think. Alexa's pretty awesome.