AUTUMN LEAVES

Long after the sun has set on Pittsburgh, Troy paced restlessly in the small hospital garden. “So, you are telling me that when you called us, you had no idea that it was your daughter?” Troy asked.

“I swear, Troy, I had no idea at the time. It was not easy for me to talk to you knowing what my daughter had done. But I’m here because I need you to hear it from me,” Mario said from where he sat on an iron bench.

“Don’t think of pulling any strings, Mario. Lauren should pay for what she did to my son,” Troy said.

“My daughter will. But the question is, will your son pay for what he’s done to me?” Mario retorted.

“What?” Troy asked confused.

“You have no idea about what your son is capable of, the same way I had no idea that my daughter would do what she did,” Mario said with a deep frown.

“What are you referring to?” Troy asked.

“Well, if you must know, your son slept with my wife. And before you defend him, Autumn has told me,” Mario said. With this, he headed towards the exit. Before stepping out, he turned around to face a stunned Troy.

“You see, you and me, we’re not so different after all. We both thought we taught our kids well. Look at us now. Your son was having an affair with a married woman. He is in a hospital and my daughter,” Mario looked away as he said, “she’s behind bars.”

“Mario –”

“Goodbye, Troy.”

Troy was finding what Mario said hard to believe. Lauren shot his son. Also, how can his son do such thing to Mario or to anyone for that matter? As he made it back inside, he saw that his wife and daughter were back and sitting together in the hall, outside of the lounge where the others were.

“Trina, a word?” he asked his wife as Taylor gave her father a questioning look.

“Were you talking to Mario? Did he tell that Lauren did this?” Trina asked in a shushed tone covering her mouth.

“Yeah. Can you believe it?” Troy said, running his hand through his hair. “He also told me something quite unbelievable. He said –”

“About Sid and his wife?” Trina asked.

“You knew?” Troy asked angrily.

“I just learned about this. I still can’t believe everything that is happening, Troy,” she said as she cried at her husband’s shoulder.

“Do you think it’s true?” He asked her at arm’s length.

“Autumn told us,” Trina said nodding.

“You mean Taylor knows too?” Troy asked and his wife nodded again.

“It’s unlike our son to do this, Troy. And to Mario? To someone he loves and respects? And Lauren? I can’t even process that part,” Trina spoke in her husband’s embrace as Taylor joined.

From the lounge, Kris watched the small family embracing and felt his arm tighten around his sleeping son. “I can’t imagine what they must be feeling right now,” Kris said to his wife who arrived back from the cafeteria.

“I know. Taylor asked me if we knew about the affair,” Catherine said and Kris raised his eyebrows. “It appears that our friend had the courage to admit everything to Sid’s mom and sister. I guess they spoke with her after they heard you dropping hints to Troy,” she added.

“Autumn told them?!” Kris exclaimed. “Wow. So, it’s no longer a secret?” he asked.

“I don’t know, Kris. We better not say anything, it’s none of our business. We’re here for one reason only, it’s to make sure Sid is okay.”

Sighing, Kris nodded and spaced out for a few moments. “Kris?” his wife nudged him.

“Last time I spoke with Sid, I scolded him and told him that he was on his own, literally. I left my best friend behind when he needed me most. He made mistakes, true, but he’s my brother and I should not have judged him knowing how much he loved her. I should have been on his side. I let him down,” Kris said, pressing his palms over his eyes.

“Don’t be hard on yourself, Kris, I’m sure you two will clear things up,” Catherine said rubbing his arm.

“What if he never wakes up, Cath,” Kris said with tears in his eye.

*****

“Did you sleep in here?” Linda asked, only half-surprised after seeing Autumn curled up on her office couch, eyes barely open.

“Oh dear. Let me drive you to Tiff’s so you could shower and change, perhaps eat something?” Linda suggested but Autumn remained still.

“You know about me and Sid now, don’t you, Linda?” Autumn asked gruffly.

“I knew ever since I caught you two sleeping together at the hospital that one time and every night you’ve been there. I’m not blind honey,” Linda said.

Autumn sniffled, “why didn’t you say something then?”

“Would it have changed anything if I had? He had eyes for you from the start. I remember the first time he came to take you to lunch when you were dating Mario. It was easy to notice that he did not see you as a friend,” Linda said with a frown as she caressed Autumn’s hair.

“Now, let’s go,” Linda said as she gently pulled Autumn into a sitting position and fetched her shoes.

Autumn limply followed behind Linda, almost hiding in her shadow. Luckily, it was too early in the morning and the hospital was quiet. They took the back exit to avoid the press.

As Linda drove, Autumn asked her to take the highway. “What for?” Linda asked confused. “I need to get my things from my… from Mario’s place. I heard he’s staying at his condo downtown. He has a lot to deal with now and last time we spoke before the incident, he had asked me to get my things and leave,” Autumn said looking outside the window at the river as they crossed the bridge away from the downtown area. “Respecting his wishes is the least I could do,” she added.

“Let’s call Nate then, he could send you one of his trucks. No offence dear, but I’ve seen your closet, and let me tell you, my car won’t fit your shoes, let alone all your things,” Linda joked.

Autumn dozed off for the rest of the ride. When she opened her eyes, she was in front of the place she had called home for the last year. Her stomach churned at the idea of going in.

“Could you… I can’t go inside,” Autumn said.

“Honey, I know it’s hard to see this place after what happened, that’s why I’m here. You need to get some clothes and other essentials. You don’t need to get all of your things right now,” Linda said squeezing her hand. “I’m here for you, always.”

Nodding, Autumn walked with Linda towards the front door. “I’d rather get it over with now. I don’t want to have to come back here again.”

Entering the security code, she couldn’t help but replay what has happened the last time she entered the house. Since her belongings were mostly in the bedroom and the library, she planned on skipping the first floor altogether.

Stepping inside, the house looked the same way it did less than 24 hours ago. Even her luggage was still in the same spot in the lobby. Venturing a look to her right, in the direction of the living room, something caught her eye on one of the French armchairs in the hall. With a Quebec flag embroidered on its blue sweater, Mister Caribou sat with his head tilted. He looked as if he was grieving like her.

With the wobbly steps of a toddler, Autumn reached for the stuffed animal. Inspecting it closely, tears slid down her cheeks when Sidney’s smell filled her senses. Was it the cologne from his hands or his clothes? They had packed it in his bag, took it out at the airport, then she had forgotten it in his car. Sidney had it in his hand right before stepping into the living room, right before Lauren had put a bullet in his chest, Autumn thought while hugging the brown Caribou tightly, soaking the only souvenir left of their past with tears over a future that seemed too far out of reach, the same future that was within sight just a day ago.

Three hours later, on the footsteps of the Lemieux mansion, Autumn watched Nate, one of his employees and Linda pack the last of her items in the truck. During the ride to Tiffany’s apartment, she had the Quebec souvenir secured to her chest, the man who bought it for her never leaving her mind.

The evening at Tiffany’s home was spent the same way the afternoon was. On the couch, in the same clothes that she had worn after showering, Autumn lied down with the brown stuffed animal and her phone in hand. A half-eaten bowl of soup that Linda had made before leaving sat cold on the coffee table. As Tiffany entered the living room, Autumn sat up abruptly, “any news?” she asked Tiffany who was still taking off her coat.

“No, Auttie. Nothing has changed since the last time you called,” Tiffany said as she looked at her watch, “45 minutes ago.”

Tiffany slumped on the couch next to her sister and hugged her. Autumn rested her head on Tiffany’s shoulder and sighed. “You don’t need to worry anymore, he’s doing great, Auttie. They may even wake him up tomorrow,” Tiffany said.

Standing up, Autumn said, “what? Why haven’t you said anything before?” Autumn said with wide eyes. “Because of this,” Tiffany answered, pointing at her reaction.

“Also, it’s only a possibility, nothing is for sure yet. All we know is that, so far, he’s doing better than expected,” Tiffany said pulling her sister back on the couch.

“Did you see him?” Autumn asked.

“Briefly,” Tiffany said with a sad smile. “I heard that there will be a tribute for him at tonight’s game,” Tiffany added as she turned on the television.

*****

It was the first game after the bye week, the first of many games where the Penguins will have to play without their captain. His absence was felt throughout the arena, from the locker room to the stands. Constant reminders of Sidney Crosby’s absence were resonating throughout the league. Players, coaches, and fans across the world expressed their support for Sidney and the Penguins during this tough time.

Pens players filed into the locker room in silence to get ready for the game. Kris was the first one who finished putting on his gear. As he fetched his jersey, the last item he usually wears, something caught his eye. He ran his fingers over the white “C” that was stitched on the shoulder of his jersey. He turned around and realized that his teammates were staring at the same things on theirs.

“A small gesture for Sid,” the coach said with a tight smile. “Also, to give you some heads up, I was told that there will be a tribute for him before the game, the Caps have been informed as well.”

True to the coach’s words, when the team entered the rink, the crowd stood silently on their feet with signs wishing Sidney well in hand. Both teams lined up at center ice, shoulder to shoulder, making a wall of 40 hockey players as a tribute video for the Pens captain was displayed. A handpicked song played the background.

You shout it out
But I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud not saying much
I'm criticized but all your bullets ricochet
You shoot me down, but I get up

I'm bulletproof nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium

As all eyes were fixated on the screen, Kris’s gaze traveled to the bench were coaches and management staff stood. There, at the end of the line, stood a tall man with a deep frown on his face. It was the man whose wife and son have betrayed him and whose daughter was spending the night in jail. Like everyone else in the arena, he had a tear in his eye. Was it for Sidney? For his daughter? Or for himself?

“This, all of this, is Autumn Scott’s fault,” Kris whispered to Phil once the video was over. Phil nodded with a long sigh, “let’s play this game for Sid, let’s do it, everyone!”

Notes