Chapter 15
15
COEUR
Seeing Irene and Stephen at the rink had been the most incredible thing ever – and knowing she was there for him?
The best.
One of the guys recommended this place for dinner, and Barrett would have to thank him on Saturday, because it was amazing. They had anime stuff all over the walls, chopsticks with tiny plastic connectors at the top that helped Stephen use them, and offered a variety of cooked stir-fry for Irene since she was pregnant. The raw fish of sushi could be bad for the baby, and he would accommodate her however he could while still making this outing ‘fun’ for everyone.
This place is the coolest – and I love my jersey!
You look great in it, Barrett replied and then chuckled, looking at Irene. “I didn’t even think about the chopsticks and the signing.”
“It’s no different than using a fork.”
“Did I tell you the electrician is coming out on Monday? They are finally installing the flashing smoke detectors throughout the house. I was trying to have it done before we moved in, but they had a job they needed to finish,” he explained apologetically and saw her surprised smile.
“No, you didn’t mention that.”
“Sorry. It’s been a hectic few weeks, and I wanted the house to be safe if there was a problem.”
“I think it’s wonderful.”
“Good,” he replied awkwardly, smiling at her. “I’m glad. I didn’t want to overstep. I was surprised to see you come by, though. What brought that on?”
“I just wanted to get out of the house.”
“Was there a problem? Is something wrong?”
“Just some dumb stuff to work out in my own head,” she said evasively and he paused, putting down the sushi bite he’d just dipped in soy sauce, looking at her carefully.
“Want some help?” he offered gently as it hit him that she was not being completely honest with him. Something was bothering her, and she didn’t feel like she could tell him. That hurt, but then again, they were still working on communication and building their relationship. Maybe this was personal, and she didn’t feel she could say something. If that was the case, then he needed to reassure her differently.
“You know you can tell me anything, right? I mean, nothing is off-limits. Poop jokes, clogged drain, you wrecked the van… just unload and share it with me.”
And she didn’t answer; she just took another bite of her grilled steak and fried rice, chewing silently.
“Irene?”
To his surprise, she took another bite, chewing, and tossed him a look that immediately put him on alert. Yep. Something was wrong, and she didn’t want to talk about it. Fine, he would take a wild shot in the dark to see if he could guess, immediately turning to the most important thing in the world to his wife – her son.
Stephen , he motioned. How was school today? Did anything happen?
It was great! I love my new class, and when they found out my dad is on the Wolverines, they asked if I could bring a few signed pictures. Do you mind signing a picture for me?
I’ll do one better, he replied, watching Irene carefully. Why don’t I bring some goodies to class and say ‘hello’ like I did at your other school? Maybe I can get the captain or one of the other players to come with me.
Really?
Buddy, you’re my son and I would do anything to keep you and your mother happy with me. I’m not the easiest guy to be around, but you guys are my world.
“Barrett,” Irene said thickly, and he continued, unphased.
And if you need something, just tell me or your mom, and we’ll figure it out as a family… because that is what family does. We talk about everything together.
Thanks, Daddy.
Daddy? - And Barrett melted, looking at the boy gazing at him like he was some superhero. He stood up, moved slightly and hugged the child who had just unmanned him with a single word. He couldn’t speak because he was afraid that he would cry right now.
Irene’s kid was amazing, and the fact that he’d accepted him so easily didn’t go unnoticed. Boucher, today, told him about some of his problems at home with his new family. Not everything was going smoothly for some of his friends – but Barrett?
He was blessed.
“I love you, kiddo,” he said and signed, looking at the child before hugging him again. “I think you are amazing.” They hugged for a few moments before he wiped his eyes, chuckling.
I love you too, Daddy.
Now, eat your vegetables, boy – you need them to grow big and strong, Barrett teased and ruffled Stephen’s hair, pointing at a piece of broccoli. If it wasn’t Stephen, then it was something wrong with Irene.
“How are you feeling? How’s the baby?”
“Oh good,” Irene chuckled, shrugging and looking a little more relaxed. “I mean, I can’t feel it moving yet, and we just saw the doctor this morning. So yeah, I mean, it’s the same as earlier… you know – pregnant.”
Not the baby… interesting , he thought silently, taking a bite and chewing thoughtfully before pausing as it clicked in his head.
“Oh man, I completely forgot about your phone being broken. Can I see it? I can take it and have it replaced tomorrow morning and…”
“NO!” Irene interrupted bluntly, almost shouting the single word at him, causing his eyebrows to shoot up as he looked at her in shock.
“No? Why?”
“I’ll take it tomorrow.”
“Irene, give me your phone.”
“I’ll handle it,” she said mulishly, poking around at her food and not meeting his eyes. Yeah, she was definitely hiding something from him, and he was starting to get a sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with her ex-husband.
“What are you hiding from me?” he asked pointedly and shook his head as Stephen tapped his arm, gesturing that he wanted him to sign so he could understand. No, this is private, buddy – I’m sorry.
“Barrett, I’m not… well, I’ve got something I’ve got to handle, and I’m perfectly capable of taking care of it,” Irene began, looking worried, and the fear in her eyes was killing him.
He rose up out of his chair, reached over the table, and grabbed her purse at the same time she did. They both hesitated, holding the purse above their plates, jostling the table, as their eyes met.
“Stephen is watching us,” he said tightly, trying not to lose his temper. Whatever she was hiding was big – and important – which meant it was definitely Eric or a phone call from the doctor. Either way, he deserved to know what his wife was hiding from him. To his surprise, she released the purse and looked at him.
Barrett felt the shift in the air before she even spoke. The tension in Irene’s body, the way she curled inward as if bracing for impact, set every protective instinct in him on high alert. Her voice was barely more than a breath when she whispered,
“Don’t be mad.”
His jaw tightened. “Don’t hide stuff from me.”
Her hesitation made his pulse hammer harder. He knew. Even before she spoke, he knew .
“Eric contacted you?”
“He texted – yes,” she whispered, looking away.
His stomach dropped. He exhaled slowly, fighting the instinct to snap, to demand why she hadn’t told him sooner. Instead, he reached into her purse and retrieved her phone, his movements deliberate but controlled. “I figured something happened,” he muttered, eyes flicking to hers as he turned it over in his palm. “It’s not broken, is it?”
She shook her head. “No.”
She swallowed as he powered it on, and that small, nervous gesture sent something sharp and aching through his chest. The screen lit up, and almost immediately, it chimed—one message, then another. He felt his blood heat with every vibration in his hand. Clicking on the messages, his breath left him in a slow, simmering exhale as he took in the venomous words on the screen.
Threats. Harassment. The same toxic bile her ex had spewed before, but this time, Barrett was holding the evidence in his hands.
He lifted his eyes to hers. She looked scared.
“I promise - I’ll handle it,” she whispered.
He shook his head, voice quiet but firm. “You’re not alone, Irene.”
He let those words sink in, let her see it in his face. He wasn’t angry at her —he was furious for her. Furious that she had lived with this weight on her shoulders for even a minute, that she had carried it alone for even a second when she didn’t have to.
Without another word, he pressed the call button.
“So, you finally got enough nerve to call me back…” the voice began, not bothering with a simple greeting – and he felt his temper surge.
Irene was so gentle and sweet that she didn’t deserve any of this hatred aimed at her that he was taking the brunt of right now as the man unloaded verbally, finally pausing.
“Are you finished?” Barrett said bluntly, not bothering to hide his disgust.
“Oh ho, so the little slut went and…”
“And I’m gonna stop you right there!” Barrett snarled, interrupting the other man, slamming his fist down on the table causing all of the plates and glasses to rattle loudly. His words were steel, sharp, and cutting as they sliced through the man’s filth. His grip on the phone was tight enough to crack it. He forced himself to stay calm, to stay in control, but his voice dropped to a dangerous, low growl.
“See, you’re going to deal with me now because you sure as heck can’t act like a man.” He exhaled, steadying himself. “Here’s what you’re going to do?—”
“Whatever, dude?—”
“No.” His voice was absolute, firm as bedrock. “You are going to lose this number, forget Irene, and never contact her again. Because if you ever do, I will have an attorney on you so fast it’ll make your head spin.” His tone darkened. “Harassment. Child neglect. Abandonment. You name it, and I’ll bury you in it. And I don’t do anything halfway or quickly. We’ll be in court so long you’ll be living on a park bench somewhere, regretting the day you ever made Irene or Stephen feel like they were less than they are.”
His voice dropped even lower, each word slow and deliberate, meant to land like a hammer.
“Now, crawl back into whatever cesspool you emerged from and find someone else to harass. This conversation is over , and I don’t want to ever, ever hear of you bothering my wife again, or I will see you in court.”
And with that, he hung up.
Silence.
Not just at their table— everywhere .
It was as if the entire restaurant had gone still. Conversations halted, forks frozen midway to plates. But none of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was Irene.
She was pale, staring at him, her eyes shining with emotion. He opened his mouth to speak, to apologize for losing his temper in public, but before he could, she whispered.
“I love you.”
His heart clenched.
She swallowed hard, her voice thick with unspoken emotion. “I love you so much for saying that, for sticking up for me, for… for all of that. ”
And the restaurant exploded in applause around them. Irene’s beautiful gaze held his as he drank her in, memorizing that single look, because she’d finally said the words he’d longed to hear. His chest ached with how much he loved her.
“Irene,” he said softly, reaching across the table and taking her hand in his. “You’re my wife. No one— no one —is going to treat you that way. I won’t let them. Because I love you, too.” He squeezed her hand gently. “I love both of you. And it kills me that you thought you had to hide this from me.”
She blinked rapidly, her fingers tightening around his. “I just… I didn’t know what to say, or?—”
“Say you need me,” he interrupted, his voice gentle but insistent. “Say you want to share something with me. Say you need to talk, or scream, or throw something. Because I’m your husband, and I will take on anything you need. I will fight any fight. I will always, always have your back.”
Her chin trembled. “Can we go home?” she whispered, eyes pleading.
He chuffed a soft, knowing chuckle, shaking his head. “Nope.”
Her brows furrowed, and he smirked, leaning in, his voice full of quiet love as he handed her back her purse – and her cell phone. “You need to finish eating.” He moved slightly, reaching out, and tapping a finger gently against her plate. “That’s my child growing in you. And our boy?” He gestured toward Stephen, who was currently attempting to slide a piece of celery under his napkin.
Barrett narrowed his eyes.
Stephen froze.
Eat that, Barrett gestured openly, holding the child’s gaze, and we’ll play a video game before bed.
Stephen scowled as he motioned. But it’s celery…
Barrett raised an eyebrow. And celery is good for you.
Without breaking eye contact, he plucked up a piece himself and took a deliberate bite, chewing with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Your mom is going to eat all of her vegetables. And you have to, too.
Stephen groaned but reluctantly picked up his own piece, shoving it into his mouth with the enthusiasm of a kid taking medicine.
Irene let out a soft, watery laugh, and Barrett knew—knew in the marrow of his bones—that no matter what came next, they were his . His family. His heart. His world .
“Don’t let that phone call ruin our first date.”
“I don’t think anything could… Daddy,” she whispered playfully, but there was an undernote to her tone that spoke volumes. Yeah, he couldn’t exactly leave right now if he wanted to – not with her incredible blue eyes watching him like that and that single word floating around in his mind.
“You watch that, Troll doll,” he whispered breathlessly, giving her a deliberate smile as if to communicate what was going through his head. “We’re in public and have an image to maintain for the team.”
“And when we’re in private?”
“It’s game on… wife.”