The Gentle Giant

I listened to the game in the car as I headed over the bridge. They weren’t giving much of an update on the radio as to his status. I left Andrej three messages to call me back as soon as he got off the ice. I finally pulled up at Raina’s house. Pam and her son Mikey were already there. “Did you hear anything?” I said as I entered the living room.

“Bundy just called me back. He’s moving his arms and legs but they are doing some tests. He was getting more information and he said he would call me back." Raina said with her cell phone in her hand.

“Ughh, I hate the waiting game.” I said, sitting down as Andreja started to fuss.

“Let me see my baby girl.” Raina said and I immediately realized how quiet it was.

“Where are the kids?” I asked her, looking around. “Ry, Jolie and Daniel are asleep. The boys are at their mom’s house. Speaking of, can you call them?”

I dialed Sylvie’s number. “Hey Syl, it’s Danielle, how are the boys?” She said they were worried, but ok. I let her know what Bundy said and promised I would call her back the minute I heard something.

The game ended and within five minutes my phone was ringing. “Hey baby, I just wanted to let you know I got your messages. I am on the way to the hospital now. I will call you as soon as I see him. I love you.” Andrej hung up before I even got a chance to say goodbye.

We sat in suspense for an hour before Raina’s phone rang. By then Andreja was asleep in her pack and play and Mikey was asleep on Pam’s lap. Raina looked down at her phone. “It’s Jeff” she said and answered it.

She was on the phone a few minutes before she hung up and looked at us. “He is ok, had a pretty good concussion, supposedly cursing up a storm because they told him he will be out for a while. He is flying home tomorrow morning with one of the team doctors.

I felt relieved. She called Sylvie and I shot Andrej a text message. “Going to sleep at Raina’s just got news on Danny from Jeff. Miss you and love you.” I curled up on the recliner and fell fast asleep.

I woke up to tapping on my foot. I looked down at my godson grinning. “Hey pumpkin, what are you doing?” I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I was still a little tired, Andreja and Mikey had been up a few times throughout the night for feedings. I pulled him up onto the couch with me and he laid he head down against me and we settled back in.

When I woke back up, I noticed Daniel was still beside me asleep. Mikey was up and sitting in a high chair at the kitchen table and Andreja was starting to stir. Raina was in the shower and Pam was sitting on the sofa watching Jolie run around the living room.

Danny was landing in an hour and Pam and I offered to watch the kids while Raina met up with him for all the tests they needed to run. She promised to call me once they got any results back.

Ryan woke up and stumbled sleepily down the steps right after Raina left. "Where's my mommy and daddy?" he asked sitting next to me.

"Daddy bumped his head so they are at the doctor. They will be home later. He is ok though." Ryan adored Danny and he looked concerned. He was the only dad he really remembered, "Buddy it's ok, they will be home soon I promise."

Pam looked at me and grinned. They are such a cute family aren't they." Jolie was on the floor playing with a doll and Ryan and Daniel were cuddled up to me. We played with the kids all morning waiting to hear from Danny and Raina.

They finally came in around two o'clock. I grabbed my brother in a hug. "How are you?" I asked and he smiled weakly at me.

"Im tired and sore, gonna go up and relax." He leaned down and gave each of the kids a kiss before disappearing up the steps.

Raina let the tears flow once he was gone. "He's out for a least a month or so and he is so upset."

I gave her a hug. "Aww sis he will be fine. More time to enjoy the twins." She went up after him and I called Andrej and let him know the news.

"Baby, be careful tonight ok. Love you. I gotta feel Andreja I'll call you later." I hung up with him and picked up my little girl. I couldn't imagine how scared Raina must have been. It made me want Andrej home in my arms, instead of hundreds of miles away.

Notes

:)