Chapter 27
Cassidy
“Isn’t it nice to get out of the house, dear?” my mother says as we wander down Main Street toward Café DuPont.
It’s been several weeks since I’ve ventured out of the house. My blood pressure has been as bipolar as the Washington weather lately and with the fact that I still getting persistent contractions on and off throughout the day, I’ve decided to play it safe and stay inside. Yet, my mother has insisted I get out of the house for a little shopping, lunch, and then later tonight, the game.
That’s another thing; I haven’t seen Channing play for months, and I’m excited to see him live and in action in real time. We make our way to the restaurant and as soon as we approach the entrance, my name from the behind catches my attention.
“Cassidy, Mrs. Reynolds,” Vince says as he leisurely strolls to us, waiting at the hostess booth.
My mother’s eyes narrow as she excuses herself to use the restroom while we wait for our table to be ready, leaving me alone with Vince. He looks as good as always. His hair is slightly longer, thanks to the approaching playoffs I suspect. His eyes are bright and light and for the first time, he looks happy. Lighter. Yet, looking at the man I thought would be my husband, I can’t help but think how he doesn’t hold a candle to Channing.
“What brings you into town, Vince? Arizona’s playing in Boston tonight,” I say, not focusing on him, but looking for the hostess who has yet to return.
He shoves his hands into his pockets as he rocks back on his heels. A boyish grin on display. “I got traded to Carolina a few days ago, just before the trade deadline actually. We play the Skipjacks tonight.”
Ah, so that’s why he’s here.
“Good for you,” I say, with a fake smile.
“I didn’t think I’d run into you, but do you think we should talk for a moment?” he says nervously. “Since we have a moment alone.”
I don’t want to, yet part of me wants to hear what he has to say. I nod as my feet move toward the waiting area next to the café’s entrance.
“I guess congratulations are in order,” he says, as he takes a seat next to me. “I’m guessing that it’s Halloway’s?”
“Well, considering you chose bimbos over me, the person who was supposed to be your wife—” I start to say but trail off as I catch a glimpse of remorse on his face. “Sorry, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I said I was going to hear you out, so—”
“I deserved that.”
“You kind of did but continue.”
“I owe you so many apologies, Cassidy. I had a problem I didn’t want to admit for years, but recently, I’ve been mandated to get help. I’ve realized that I’ve been a bit of an asshole, but it’s too late,” he says, his head falling between his shoulder blades. “You deserve so much more than I could have ever offered you. I see that now.”
I take a deep breath as I look at his sulking form. “Did you ever love me enough to consider putting aside those problems?”
“I loved you, but I loved the pills, alcohol, and women more,” he says, honestly. “And for that, I truly am sorry.”
“Thank you,” I say, just as Mom comes over.
“Table’s ready.” she says, eyeing Vince with distaste.
I turn to look at him, pulling him into a hug and feeling a million times lighter than I did before we started this conversation. “Thank you again. I wish you all the best, Vince.”
“You too.”
Later that evening, my parents and I sit in the owner’s box, waiting for the team to take the ice for warm ups. I’ve been feeling good since my lunch with Mom. It was even better when I got home, and Channing greeted me with his head between my legs, only for me to return him a favor after he delivered me not one but two earth-shattering orgasms.
The lights of the arena dim, and the music ramps up as the opposing team takes the ice for warm ups, followed by the Skipjacks a minute later. I walk down to the glass with Sydney, Camden, and Everly as we watch the guys warm up.
Brooks does his usual skate by, stopping in front of us doing some fancy stick work with a puck before skating away and shooting it toward goal. Usually, Channing would be right behind him, but for some reason, he’s kept his distance. I tape on the glass in hope a to get his attention, only for him to scowl at me and skate back toward the bench and exit the ice.
Weird.
We hang by the ice a little while longer, watching the guys warm up. Some who know us stop by, tapping the glass to say hello, but my mind is no longer focused on them. It’s on the man who has completely ignored me and left the ice abruptly without a word.
I take my seat in the suite and pull out my phone to text Hayley. She’s down on the ice with the guys, so maybe she can find out what’s wrong with him.
Hayley: Not sure what’s wrong with him. He’s been in a mood since he left the locker room. I’ll try to pick Brooks’ brain during first intermission.
During the entire first period, I’m on the edge of my seat. Every time Channing takes the ice, it’s like he’s out for blood. Checking Vince into the walls. Even spent some time in the sun bin for tripping and high sticking. I know they have bad blood, especially now that Channing’s with me, but he usually strives to play a clean game.
The horn spins, signaling first intermission, and I eagerly wait for Hayley to text me back. Something’s wrong, I can feel it. I go to the bathroom and get a water before taking my seat again. I glance at my phone, hoping there’s a message but no luck. I take a deep breath, trying to relax my mind, but my stomach tightens from the unknown.
The lights in the arena dim again, and the team’s theme song blares throughout. The crowd cheers loudly as they skate back on the ice. I check my phone again for a text and see nothing. What the hell is going on?
Cassidy: Anything?
I hit send and wait for a response, yet nothing comes. The second period begins and again, Channing is all over Vince. The moment Vince takes possession of the puck, Channing comes from behind and checks him, sending Vince down on the ice. The whistle blows as two of Carolina’s players advance and exchange some words with Channing, earning him two minutes in the box, leaving Carolina now on a power play.
The clock ticks away as I watch Channing in the box. He is laser focused on Vince. The penalty clock shows fifteen seconds left, and Channing is right there at the door, waiting to get back on the ice.
3-2-1, Channing skates on the ice, immediately ignoring Coach and heading straight for Vince, checking him into the boards, battling with him for the puck. Vince frees the puck from between them and sends it to one of his teammates but doesn’t leave Channing.
Channing holds Vince’s jersey in his solid grip as Vince tries to maneuver out of it. Before the refs can get to the two men to intervene, gloves are dropped to the ice. Both guys rain punch after punch on one another. Meanwhile, my stomach tightens and turns at what’s happening on the ice.
I’m shouting for the two to stop, but I know neither can hear me. The pain intensifies in my lower abdomen as the refs finally break the men apart. I take deep breaths, trying to calm myself, as I feel a gush of warm fluid drip down my legs.
“Mom!” I say, clutching my lower belly as my abdomen tenses again.
Either I just peed myself, or my water just broke. My mother rushes to my side as I grunt out in pain at my belly tightening again. No, this can’t be happening. It’s too early.
“Someone call 911,” my dad grits out as he runs to the other side.
“Ahh,” I grit out as I feel my stomach tighten again. The pain shooting down my back brings tears to my eyes. “There’s no time, Dad. Get me to the car now.”
It all becomes a blur as Lucas picks me up and carries me toward the freight elevators, while Mr. Richards instructs him to take me to the paramedics on standby. My parents follow as I yell for Sydney to call Hayley and have her tell Channing what happened.
Paramedics rush to my side as soon as we enter the underground parking garage. Directing Lucas to sit me down on the stretcher as they load me up into the back of the ambo. Mom gives them a quick run through as she takes a seat beside me, gripping my hand while reassuring me it will all be okay.
Yet deep down, I don’t know if everything will be okay. Channing seems mad at me and while I’m concerned about what shifted in him, the fear of giving birth ten weeks early weighs heavily on me.
We arrive at the hospital, and they quickly take me to the maternity wing. Everything is going so quickly, I’m not sure what’s going on. IVs are placed as they swab the fluid pooling between my legs to check and see if my water is in fact broken.
Newsflash, it is.
My doctor comes in and checks my cervix and notes that I’m now four centimeters dilated and fifty percent effaced. She’s coming, and there’s no way to stop her. The doctor advises the nurse to administer a steroid to help her lungs and an antibiotic to prevent infection.
Things settle down as my contractions space out and become more regular. I check my phone for messages from Channing but come up empty. I send a text to Hayley, asking if she could talk to Channing, but I get nothing but radio silence.
Every time there’s a knock on my door, I think it’s going to be him, but it never is. Hours pass, and I know the game has ended, yet I have yet to hear from either him or Hayley. My stomach flips and turns as realization that something terrible had to have happened. And the fear that I’m about to do this alone slowly creeps in.
“How are you feeling?” my doctor says, coming into the room.
I look to Mom, who smiles at me with love and support before responding, “I’m okay.”
“Well, your contractions are kind of spaced out, but I want to just check to see if maybe we need to start some Pitocin to help you along,” she says, as she grabs a pair of gloves from the cabinet.
I move to the edge of the bed as she asks for come gel. “If my contractions stop, does that mean I’ll be able to keep her in a little longer?” I ask as she begins her exam.
“She’s now six centimeters and seventy percent effaced,” she says to the nurse before looking back at me to answer my question. “I’m afraid that despite your contractions spacing, you’re still dilating. So, prepare to have this little girl today or tomorrow at some point.”
A tear streams down my face as I pull my phone out.
Cassidy: Channing, please call me.
I place my phone down on the bed as the nurse hooks some more medications up to my IV. A sudden knock sounds on the door before it abruptly opens. A tearful Hayley rushes over to my bed, pulling me into a hug as Brooks follows her.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t call or text or come sooner. A lot happened, and I think you have some explaining to do.” She rushes out as Mom stands to excuse herself from the room. Brooks stands off to the side of the room, his arms crossed and a scowl drawn on his face. “Don’t mind Brooks; he’s here to find out the truth as much as I am.”
Truth?! What in the God’s name is she talking about? I know she can tell I have no clue what she’s talking about as the look of confusion plays on my features.
“Is this baby Vincent’s?” she says, cutting straight to the chase.
“What? Why would you ask me that? No way in hell is this baby his,” I say, as another contraction happens, stealing the breath right away from me.
Brooks’ features relax slightly as Hayley takes a seat next to me and holds my hand. “Channing thinks you lied to him about the baby and were using him. He thinks Vince is the father.”
“Why would he think that?”
“This is why,” Brooks finally speaks as he hands me his phone.
Burch reunites with Reynolds for baby bliss.A contraction rips through me as I read the headline, and all sorts of alarms go off. Nurses and doctors flood the room, helping me to my hands and knees to help slow down my contractions. Her heart rate steadies as they reposition me again. I take deep breaths as the doctor checks my cervix again and states that I’m now at seven centimeters.
I look to Hayley and Brooks as they embrace one another with tears in my eyes. I want that. I want Channing here, embracing me as we embark on this journey together. But I know by reading that headline, he’s not coming. He thinks I’ve lied to him.
Brooks and Hayley have a silent exchange before he excuses himself and leaves the room. “He’s going to try to get a hold of Channing.”
“Hayley, I would never lie to Channing about something like this or anything for that matter,” I say, sobbing slightly. “I love him.”
She squeezes my hand as I breathe through another contraction in silent support. I never thought I’d say those words aloud to anyone again. Now that I have, I just hope I get the opportunity to tell them to their faces.