Thursday, January 22, 2009

Forever and Ever;;62

I took a few laps around the ice, but it really wasn't enough for me. I went into the locker room and found some old goalie gear, since mine was back at the our place. I hurried and put the equipment on and headed back out for the ice. Both of the guys gave me weird looks when they saw me.



"Take some shots will you?" I yelled at them.

Their expression didn't change when they looked at each other, "Are you sure about this?" Jimmy had to you since they were on the opposite side of the rink. I didn't get a chance to answer his question before I saw Aaron headed toward me. I watched as he shot the puck right over the net. At first, I thought he had missed, but then I figured out he was just going to mess with me. He circled around and came toward me again, this time shooting the puck high and wide.

I took my helmet off and let it fall to the ice next to me. "Are you seriously just going screw with me?!" I yelled at Aaron as we skated toward each other.
"Do you seriously think I'm going to let you get hurt again? Especially when you know whats coming along." He poked my stomach, making me jump.
"Aaron! I'm not for sure yet..." I trailed off.
"Oh, you know you are. When are you going to tell him?" I sighed and skated toward the locker room, I wasn't going to talk about this anymore.
****

The next few days seemed to drag along. I found myself pacing around for no reason. My lip was raw and all of my nails were gone, thanks to my bad habits.

One afternoon when Jimmy was out, my cell phone rang in the other room, I sprang up to get it, the number was unfamiliar at first, but It finally came to me.
"Hello? Miss Maltby?" A nurse said on the other line.
"Yes?"
"Congratulations! You're five weeks pregnant!"
The phone dropped from my ear suddenly, but I was quick to pick it back up.
"Tha- thanks." I hung up the phone.
I tried to swallow, but there was a huge lump in my throat.
I wasn't sure if I was ready for this. I was 23, I didn't think I was ready to be a Mom. And then there was Jimmy, I was sure how he would react or what he would do. I was going to try and make the very best of this.
I paced back and forth in the bedroom for over forty-five minutes, and figured the best way to tell him would be right way.

Just then I heard the front door open and heard Jimmy's keys slide across the counter top. I took a deep breath and wiped some of the tears that had fell from my eyes.
"Hey babe." He said as soon as he saw me.
"Hey..." I took a seat on the couch right new to him, taking the remote from his hand and turning the volume down.
He gave me a weird look, "What are you doing?"
"I was just wondering, how do you feel about kids?"
He shrugged his shoulders, "Kids are great, why? Morgan and Val popping another one out soon?" He laughed, but I couldn't.
"Not exactly, Jimmy, I'm the pregnant one.
I waited, but I couldn't read his expression. And, I chewed on my lip nervously.
"That's great! As long as you're happy, I'm happy." A huge smile spread across his face, and he wrapped me in a hug.
"Of course I'm happy, just surprised I guess."
"Right, so who knows?" He seemed so interested it surprised me.

"Well Morgan obviously, and Aaron, an-"
"Wait a second, you told my best friend before me?" I could tell by the look on his face he was furious.
"No, its not like that he gue-"
His face was beat red, I'd only seen his this mad once before, and that was earlier when we first started dating.
He clenched his hands together and got up quickly, without getting his keys off the counter, and slammed the door behind him. It didn't take me long to figure out where he was going. My jaw dropped as I knew what I had started between them, it made my stomach hurt so I held it tightly. Before I could even think straight I found myself running across the lawn.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Forever and Ever;;61



I spent the next couple days hanging out at Aaron's house. Derek had gotten over the flu and managed not to give it to Aaron, but did gave it to Quince.






Aaron paused the TV during Talledega Nights and turned to me with a weird look on his face.






"Come on dude! You're getting to the best part." I yelled at him.



"I'm not stupid Mads, tell me the real reason why you have been getting sick." I turned and looked out the window, blowing him off.



"You're pregnant aren't you?" He asked, louder than he should have.



"Would you shut up," I pinched his arm making him flinch.



He waited for me to say something. "I'm not sure yet, I have a appointment today...." I trailed off. "Actually I should get going." I got up off the couch right when Jimmy walked in.



My eyes got huge, as did Aaron's. I was hoping he hadn't heard our whole conversation. "Hey babe." I said to Jimmy, as I headed for the door.






I mouthed to Aaron behind Jimmy's back, "Don't say anything!" He nodded once, getting that he understood.



"Where are you going, I just got here." Jimmy pouted. I pecked his lips once, "I'll be back soon... And will you please shave that beard off, the playoffs are over, and I hate it on you!" I put an emphasis on the word hate. He ran his fingers over it once and shrugged his shoulders, while taking my place on the couch. I laughed and closed the door behind me.



****



I'm pretty sure the doctor was surprised to see my back so soon, he probably was beginning to think I was a whore. Which made me laugh, so not true. Jimmy was just one of the very few guys I dated. I was here a while ago, but it seemed like just yesterday, and I still had the same uneasy feeling in my stomach as before, only this time it seemed worse. We went through the same easy process as before and send me home, telling me they would call in two to four days.





I drove back to Aaron's house and noticed as I walked in that the credits of Talledega Night were rolling. Jimmy and Aaron were in the same exact spot they were in when I left.



"You guys suck, I wanted to watch the end of it."



They both rolled there eyes as I took a seat on the floor. Jimmy began playing with my hair as Aaron slipped Tommy Boy into the DVD player. It was my all time favorite movie, it felt weird to spend the day like this. I just wasn't used to it.



I felt like telling Jimmy and Aaron that we should go down to the rink. But should I really push it? Everything was telling me to do it, it had been so long. I wanted to feel that feeling I got when I was on the ice, the wind in my hair, the sound of the ice beneath my skates. I missed it terribly. I debated for over ten minutes. Ignoring Aaron and Jimmy laughing hysterically in the background. I came to a conclusion, we were going to the rink, and now.





"Hey, lets go down to the Joe."



"Babe, do you really think that's a good idea?" Jimmy debated.



"Don't, I need to go. Seriously.."



"You really shouldn't push it, you just got it off and-" Aaron joined in.



"Not you too Aar, I need to skate. Don't try and talk me out of it, I'll go myself if you don't want to come." They looked at each other and shook their heads, but ended up going with me.







Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Forever and Ever;;60

As of now I had put all of my college plans on hold. I had to many other things on my mind, and it wasn't my first priority, even though it should be. About three weeks after winning the cup I starting feeling really bad. I was thinking it was the flu, since a few of the guys had it, and I had been spending alot of time around the ones who were still in town. Most of them had gone home, and I was starting missing them already.

Jimmy's time came with the cup came in July. And we planned on going to see his parents in New York during that time.

In August my dad and I planned to go to Edmonton and visit family before training camp started up in early September, Jimmy was undecided about coming with me.





All the while I was still sick. I had terrible headaches alot of the time, and I was getting sick. I never once thought I was pregnant, I couldn't remember the last time Jimmy and I had even had sex.



I called up Morgan. Advice from my best friend usually helped.

"Hey Morgs, I got a question."

"Alright."

"Before you were pregnant, you had all the fun stuff like head aces, getting sick, all that fun stuff right?"

"Yeah... where are you going with this?"

"Just wondering," I told her casually.

"You couldn't be pregnant, you take birth control and stuff right?"

"Usually.."

"USUALLY!" She screamed in my ear, "It can work if you don't use it. We've had the talk before and you weren't. You shouldn't get all worked up again."

"Yeah, I know. We've just been busy lately and..."

"Well, when was the last time you guys had sex?" I didn't preferably like to talk about this to her, but whatever.

And then it hit me. I couldn't believe I hadn't remembered it before. The night we won the cup was the last time.

"Oh... shit."

"Guess you better go to your doctor, Let me know what you find out." She hung up the phone without saying goodbye, so something was annoying her. Most likely myself.

I called my doctor not long after, and made an appointment for three days from now. There was no reason at all for me to be worried. I had been in this situation before, and nothing was wrong. Maybe I could be overreacting.

That thought didn't last long, my stomach turned and I found myself running for the bathroom.
***

The day finally came along for me to get my cast off. Just in time to, I had to much other stuff on my back. Jimmy offered to come with me, but it wasn't a big deal, and I told him to stay home. He and Aaron were to wrapped up in some stupid comedy that had just came out anyway.

I put the thought of my other doctors appointment out of my mind for now and focused on today. It made my already queasy stomach worse just to think about it. I was so not ready to be a mom.



Once the cast was off the doctor told me to still not rush things. No hockey for another two weeks.
Major blow. I had planned to get started right back up, guess weren't going to work out the way I wanted them too. I was going to be so bad when I was back in net. Ozzie would definitely be better than me now.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Forever and Ever;;59

I woke up too early the next morning. But I couldn't help it, excitement was brewing in the pit of my stomach, and I was about to explode. At least that's what I thought it was. I was truthfully exhausted from everything last night, but I couldn't seem to fall back asleep.


Jimmy groaned when I sat up. "Honestly babe, do you ever sleep?" He turned over to face the wall, he obviously knew that answer himself. I laughed and got up to warm up the shower. As that was getting ready I opened up the porch door, trying to see what the weather was like, to see what I should wear today. The hot air immediately hit my face. It had to have been at least 85 degrees out today. So, I settled on a the shortest jean shorts I had, and a new Stanley Cup Champions shirt I had got last night, it was white.



I washed my hair and dried it, pulling all of my hair back into a ponytail, except my bangs. I didn't bother to put much makeup on, it would all be off with the heat and such soon anyways. I put on my Champions hat, and went back out into the living room. Jimmy was just now coming out of the bedroom behind me. He one handily grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him. "Morning." I smiled, "Gooooood Morning!" I broke free of his grasp, and went out in the living room to plug in the X-box. I searched for NHL 08, but couldn't seem to find it in my collection of games. Then I had remembered that Aaron took it over to his place.


I didn't feel like walking over there to get it, my foot had been bothering me lately, so I called him instead. He answered on the third ring, and sounded excited.
"What up?!"

"Aaron, you had better bring my game back here right now!"

"Uh, I think I gave it to..." He trailed off and there was a long pause.

"I don't care who has it, get it back." I didn't mind that he used my stuff, but I never got it back or he gave it away. I didn't feel like arguing with him, so I just hung up. He would be over soon anyway. Him and Meech were riding with us to the Joe. We were all meeting up there first.
I looked at the clock on my cell phone, and it was 11:45, and we needed to be at the Joe by noon.

It didn't take Jimmy long to get ready, so we were out the door within the next few minutes. Aaron and Derek were already waiting by the car,
***

Jimmy had told me earlier that we would be riding in a Ford Truck instead of a float. So I wasn't surprised to see at least 30 Ford Trucks parked in front of Joe Louis. Jimmy, Derek, Aaron, and I all hoped in the back of a bright red one. We all waved and smiled at fans as we drove down Woodward Avenue. Aaron had one a huge pair on sunglasses. Way to big from his face, and every time I looked at him I couldn't help but laugh.
"Take those damn glasses off before I die!"
"No way! You're just jealous..." He ruffled his hair in the slight breeze and turned away.
Jimmy then put his arm around me and kept smiling at the fans.

By the end of the route I remembered one thing I had forgotten. Suntan lotion. I was definitely going to burn, I always did. Then, we all went on stage for speeches. Alot of the guys didn't have anything planned, so this wouldn't take long. Ken and Mick were the first to start, and they talked about what a great team we were and how we deserved to win more than anyone else, and so on.

The guys went up in pairs, Aaron and Jimmy went up together, said a few things but sat back down quickly. Aaron sat back down next to me, "Your getting really red you know that?"
"Yeah, I burn easily.."
He sniffed the air around him, "Do you smell...bacon?!"
"Oh my god, you are such an ass. I'm not going to smell like bacon!"
"Well, your gunna look like it then!" I shook my head even though it was probably true.
Huds came up to the podium next, and got the crowd cheering "Let's go Red Wings" but what was coming out of his mouth sounded more like "Vet's go Ved Vings." The crowd was cracking up, and so was the team.



[Well, this update was sooner than expected, I've been kinda busy lately. But, I have been in an amazing mood ever since the Wings won the Winter Classic. I was about ready to pull my hair out after the first period though. But it got better so that's good. Anyone watch? Wanna talk about it let me know!]

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Forever and Ever;;58

I finally found Morgan, who had said she was sitting with Val's parents the whole time. I could tell she had been crying- a usual for her.

"Did you see the pictures yet? I had her show them to me." She pointed to a nearby photographer.

I shook my head, "Nope."

"Oh, they are soo funny. I cried though. You and Aaron in the first one, just hilarious. "

I tried to think about back to the first one they took.. but, there were to many thoughts in my head right now, I would just have to wait til' I saw it.



I finally spotted my dad in the corner, and ran over to him.

"Daddy!" I screamed. "We did it." Oh god, here came the tears.

He smiled, to afraid to think he would cry too. It was hard for him to admit, but he was a big baby.

"We can talk later hun, go have some fun."

"Oh, ok..."



Aaron and Brett caught my attention from across the room. Aaron's eyes were halfway closed and they were both slurring their words. "This fuggin rocks!" Brett yelled. He was holding up a bottle, that I'm pretty sure he had finished it off himself. I shook my head, "I think you guys better get dressed. Don't you wanna get home?" I tried my best not to laugh at the confused looks on their faces. They nodded their heads, getting that they understood.



While the guys were changing I sat with Morgan, chatting about the game and how we almost went into overtime for the second game in a row. I tried to blow it off, since it didn't matter now, but we could be going back home right now, without the cup.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, so I took it out and looked at the caller ID. It was Jimmy. I looked around, wondering why he didn't just tell me to come over himself, without calling. I shrugged my shoulders and picked up anyway.
"What?"
I could tell he was laughing slightly, "Where the hell are you? I can't see you anywhere."
"Uh, I'm sitting with Morgan, close to Val's locker you dumbass...." I laughed.
"Oh well, come over here. I can't celebrate with out you!" And then he hung up.
I shook my head, but what he said but a smile on my face. "What is it?" Morgan asked, now standing very close to Val.
"Oh, its Jimmy. I'll be right back."
I pushed through crowds of people, finally making my way over to his locker.

He wrapped his arms tightly around me before I could say anything. "I love you, more than anything in the whole world." He whispered in my ear. I was surprised, not knowing why he needed to tell me this now, but it didn't matter.

I played with his hands, "I love you too..." I smiled, showing all of my teeth. He smiled to match mine. There was nowhere else I would rather be than right here. We stood that way for a few minutes, before Babcock came in and told us it was time to go. Going home made me happy, but I really wanted to stay in this moment forever. Jimmy zipped up his bag and held his hand out to me, "You ready to go?" I shook my head yes, and took his hand. I took one last look at the now trashed locker room, knowing this moment would be with me forever.
***

We all went to Cheli's when we got home last that night. Jimmy and I didn't stay long though, after a few beers we went home. I wanted to stay longer, nights like these don't come often. Tomorrow was the parade and we should be getting at least of few hours of sleep. That wasn't going to come easy though.

Jimmy threw his stuff down next to the love seat and sat on the couch, flipping on the TV. I came and sat next to him, watching a recap of the game on FSN.
"You know," He looked over at me "I still feel like I have some..unneeded energy." I was getting his drift.
"Oh really? Well you should go take a run or something."
He leaned over and kissed me roughly. "Actually, I had something else in mind." I raised my eyebrows, "Oh really, and that is....?" I tried my best to play it cool, and act like I had no idea what he was talking about, even though I knew all to well. "Oh, I think you know." He winked and shot me a mischievous grin.
He placed his hand on my lower back, throwing me over his shoulder like it was nothing. Headed for our bedroom. "Well then, you'll know sooner later."

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Forever and Ever;;57

I was finally able to meet Jimmy's parents. They seemed like amazing people. And you could tell they loved him alot. Hid Dad, Jim was sweet, not very talkative, but he knew his stuff. Jimmy looked just like him. His mom however, was talkative and very sweet. I was just hoping that I made a good impression. I talked to them for a while, explaining myself to them. It was hard to not notice my last name, so of coarse we talked about that.



As they were bringing the cup out I decided I would talk to Aaron's parents. I knew it hurt them to see me with Jimmy, they had always thought Aaron and I were perfect together. But I assured them we were still great friends. We talked for a while, until I stopped paying attention.



Each time the guys lifted the cup, my heart skipped a beat. After losing last year, this made up for it. The smiles on their faces made me amazingly happy. But I couldn't help but glance over at the Pens. Some of them were sitting against the boards and others had already gone in the locker room. I searched along the boards for Sid's 87 and finally found him. We weren't to far away from each other. I was close enough to tell his head was down and he wasn't talking to anyone. I closed my eyes and sighed, I was going to have to find something to say to him.



I made my way over to him as best as I could, and sat down next to him. He glanced up at me quickly, then back down.

"You played really great Sid.."

He didn't say anything. "You practically beat us there in the end.." I was trying to get him to say something, anything. But he didn't. So I sat there, and I waited.



"You seriously don't know how it feels to lose anything do you?" He finally said. I had never seen that look on his face before. And honestly, it scared me. But I wasn't afraid to say what I felt.

"You know Sid. I've lost alot."

"Yeah right. Something that meant everything to you? Something you worked so hard for? I don't think so.."

"No, but I've watched my dad come so close to winning it so many times. You don't even know, these guys are my family. I cried for days last year when we came so close. Don't act like you know shit about me, you seriously don't."

He looked at me like I was crazy. But he obviously didn't know anything about me. I was pissed.

"Thanks for ruining my night by being an ass. I know your upset, but I was just trying to help."

"I'm-" I stood up and walked away. I had better things to do than argue with him. I made it back to Jimmy's parents just before he lifted the cup. It was his first, so that made it special.

A little later we headed into the locker room. Val and Kronner were holding up a copy of the Detroit Free Press. The front of it read "CHAMPIONS" I quickly read through it, just getting the main topics. I guess back home the Joe was packed. Fans went crazy when they watched us win on the Jumbo Tron. I was definitely ready to get back to Detroit and celebrate. But there was still a little bit of celebrating to do here, and I wasn't going to hold back.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Forever and Ever;56

The first period was just....okay. We were winning 1-0 by a wrist shot from Rafalski, We could have been doing better. We all headed back into the locker room. I talked to Jimmy about nothing in particular, he wasn't talkative anyway. I noticed his hand shaking, god was he nervous. I looked at him, and he finally met my gaze. I smiled and pecked his lips. He flinched away, as I noticed I has accidentally bit his bottom lip. I looked surprised, "What was that for?" I laughed, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He still stared at me, expecting me to say something more. I moved around in my seat like a little kid, and it made him laugh. "I guess I'm just really nervous. "


He shook his head, "Yeah me too."


"I could tell." I pointed to his hand, which was still shaking.


I kissed him one more time, this time managing not to bite his lip. "Ew PDA!" Aaron screeched as he walked past. I punched his in the shoulder.





This was one of the times I missed Stevie the most. He always had something to say at this time. As where Nick was more of a quiet guy and kept to himself. But that was a whole different story, and it wasn't time for that anyway.





I guess I was caught up in my own thoughts because everyone was filing out the door for the second period before I knew it. I quickly got up and ran out behind them. When the Pens stepped back onto the fresh ice, their fans went crazy. The place was packed, I couldn't fine one empty seat even if I tried. And then there was our fans. Who had came all the way from Detroit. There was a few of them, scattered around in different spots. I let the guys warm up while I talked to the press. They wanted to know everything, but I told them practically nothing. I didn't even know why they talked to me anymore, but I found it amusing.





Eight minutes into the period Val scored a sweet backhand from Sammy and Kronwall. We were doing good... for now. The game was getting more intense as time ticked away. Most of the guys were exhausted already, I sat there wishing I could do something. We took one to many penalties and the Penguins took advantage of that. I groaned when Malkins slap shot when in the back of the net. Sidney looked amazingly happy when he skated past me, giving me a small smile. I looked away, acting like I didn't see him. And that was all for the second period.

I kept trying to get ahold of Morgan, I wasn't sure where she was but I knew she had came on the trip. She wouldn't have missed this game for anything. I kept calling her phone over and over again, but she never answered. She probably couldn't hear it over all the noise.

Into the third Ozzies goal tending was making me nervous. He was doing well... for now. I always thought he cracked under pressure but I would never say that to him. We were way ahead in shots, and the Pens seemed to be lagging. Our guys were slowing down also, but I tried my best to keep them going. I wasn't sure if it was really helping, but whatever. Hank scored not long after Babs told the guys to "Move their asses"



Time ticked away as the period was going by fast, there hadn't been any penalties yet. Jimmy kept counting face offs, which we were also ahead in. My heart was pumping faster as there was only two minutes left in the period, but the refs called a penalty on Huds "Hooking", yeah right. Now we had to pull this off. Babcock told the guys his plans and sent them back out. I guess his talk didn't help much. Hossa scored not long after on a slap shot. I kept trying to tell myself it was okay.

The last forty seconds were chaotic, we needed to clear the puck- and now. Hossa and Sid came speeding towards the net. Hossa tried to back hand it in, Ozzie came out as far as he could and went to stop it with his arm. The whole time by heart didn't beat once. It skitted across the line just as time expired. I could tell that it wasn't a goal. My jaw dropped and the final buzzer rang.

Ozzie shook off his equipment as all the guys jumped on top of him. I stood by the bench, letting them have their moment. Aaron came up from behind me and put a Stanley Cup Champions hat on my head, "You're part of this team to you know."
"I know, but I can't really skate over there too well with a cast on, so I'll just wait."
He looked at me like I was crazy, and picked me up like it was nothing. He skated over and put me down next to Jimmy, who was surrounded by his friends and family. I looked up at him, a huge smile on my face. I stood on my toes and kissed him like crazy, and everything around us seemed like a blur.