Chapter 26

The day finally came for Jennie’s ultrasound. I was hopeful we’d find out what we were having.

I really have to pee. We were still sitting in the waiting room to be called back. She’d had to drink thirty-two ounces of water an hour beforehand. No pregnant woman who’d had to consume that much liquid should be kept waiting. If I had to use my status, I would.

Be right back. I marched over to the reception desk and knocked on the counter. “My wife needs to use the restroom, but she can’t do that until she has the ultrasound. We’ve been waiting for fifteen minutes.”

The woman sitting there rifling papers around the desk never even looked up at me. I knocked on the counter again. “Did you hear me, miss?”

Her head snapped up. “I told you I’d try to find out.”

“Well, I’m deaf. You have to look at me when you speak.”

“Oh. Sorry.” A light came on in her head. She snapped her fingers and pointed at me. “You’re the Silent Defender! We’ll get your wife right back. You can meet me by that door.”

She pointed to the right at a door leading to the exam rooms. Jennie was already standing when I went over to escort her. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, sweetheart.” I put my hand on the small of her back as we walked toward the woman holding the door for us.

Once we were in the ultrasound room, I helped Jennie up onto the table. She signed for me when the technician came in.

Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Eriksson. I’m Carmella and I’ll be doing your ultrasound today. Do you have any questions before we get started?

We both shook our heads. Carmella lifted Jennie’s shirt up and pushed the waistband of her pants down, exposing her big, beautiful belly. She gave a small jump when the tech put the gel on her. And then it started.

Well we certainly don’t have to guess at the sex anymore. Do you see this? She moved aside and pointed to the screen. You’ve got yourself a baby boy in there.

I looked at Jennie, her eyes bright with unshed tears. A boy. Oh, Mags, I hope he’s just like you.

I had no words so I just hung onto Jennie’s ankles as I had been. Either a boy or a girl would have been incredible. Honestly I didn’t care, but now my mind turned to teaching my son how to swim and fish and play hockey.

Not only would I teach our son how to play, but I’d teach him how to respect the things around him. I’d teach him to be gentle and kind, and only tough when it was warranted. But above all, I’d teach him to always take care of his mother. To worship her for the sacrifices she’d already made for him and the ones she would continue make for the rest of her life.

Jennie

The next few weeks flew by as I wrote article after article on every free agent in the league. I enjoyed the sojourn away from simple locker room reporting, and I loved working from home. Secretly I hoped they never had enough room for me in the new offices when they were complete.

I was now seven and a half months pregnant in the middle of July. Heat was my constant companion, and because I was always so hot, I was seriously having trouble sleeping. Poor Mags was beside himself.

Our moving date had arrived and I was in a piss-poor mood. I know I can’t lift anything heavy, Mags, but I can damn well get lunch together for everyone at the new house if you’ll just take the groceries I bought over!

Honey, we can order pizza. How about this? I’ll have the guys unpack the deck furniture now and you can sit out there while they move the rest of the stuff in, okay?

For whatever reason, six of Mags’ teammates decided they wanted to rent a big truck and do the moving themselves instead of hiring someone else to do the heavy lifting. They said they got lazy in the summer and needed to burn off calories.

Whatever. I didn’t care, I just wanted it done. Just forget it. I left Magnus in the living room and went off to search for Cage. I found him in our bedroom taping up a box with bedding and linens in it.

“Hey, Jen. How goes it?”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“Go for it. I’m sure dickhead has it coming.”

Mags and Cage rarely used each other’s names. I had to assume that was just a guy thing, because they were pretty inseparable these days. “Could you give me a ride over to the new house? I have two bags of groceries I need to take over and want to get started on making sandwiches for all of us. Mags is busy.”

“Too busy to take you over? The same Magnus who dogs your every move?”

I crossed my arms, daring him to question me further. When he looked like he was going to do just that, I used the strongest weapon in my arsenal: tears. “I don’t know, Cage. I want to be in my new house, in my new kitchen, and make food for my friends who are all helping us out without asking for anything in return.”

Evil as I knew I was being, I smiled inside when he dropped the box and put his arm around me. “Come on, I’ll take you over. Let’s go get those groceries. Okay, honey?”

I sniffled. “Thank you. I’m sorry about the tears.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m sorry I upset you.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I’m a little sensitive these days.”

***

To my surprise, Magnus didn’t come running after me when he found out I’d left. He did text me, though.

Magnus: Really?

Me: Really.

Magnus: I love you, stubborn woman.

Me: I love you too, stubborn man.

Magnus: Don’t do anything strenuous.

Me: I’m making sandwiches. I have pasta salad that I made last night, and I even have very light paper plates to put everyone’s food on. I am using a sharp knife to slice tomatoes, though.

Magnus: Smartass.

The doorbell rang as I was cleaning up my mess. I waddled over to the small monitor in the kitchen to see Karen standing in the entryway holding a houseplant. I pressed the intercom button. “Hey! Come on in.” I pressed another button and the door unlocked.

I loved this house. The convenience of not having to traipse up and down the stairs to answer the door was welcomed.

“Jennie?”

“Up here!”

Karen’s eyes were huge as she took in the unobstructed, ninety-degree view of the ocean and accompanying inlet. “Holy shit. This is magnificent, Jen!” She gave me a warm hug after placing the jade tree she’d brought on the table. “I love it. Can Cage and I move in?”

I laughed, suddenly happy and carefree. God, I loved having friends around. Karen and I were both fortunate when we met over a particularly volatile interview with her husband.

Cage was known for his trigger temper. After a particularly bad game for him, one of the other reporters insinuated it was because of trouble at home—quietly, so no one else would hear his accusation, of course.

Karen had still been dealing with her inability to bear children from the accident and Cage flew off the handle. He punched the reporter and then spat in his face.

Things went from bad to worse when the other reporter decided to press charges. When I stepped up to say that I’d testify against the reporter, I gained a friend for life. Cage was difficult to interview, but he wasn’t an ass; he was just, well, a little rough around the edges. Push come to shove, though? I’d take him in my corner every day of the week.

“You can, but not Cage.” She laughed along with me.

“I know. Can you imagine the conversation? The only words we’d hear would be ‘dickhead’ and ‘dbag.’ Why do guys do that?”

“Eh, I think it’s because they love each other, but they don’t want to admit it.”

Karen grabbed me in another hug. “Well, I’ll say it. I’m so glad we met, Jennie.” She drew back and looked me in the eyes. “I feel a strong connection to you. I think we’re going to be good friends the rest of our lives. Speaking of, where’s Izzy?”

“She’s visiting her grandfather, but she’ll be here soon.”

“Great. How about I give you a hand with these sandwiches?” It didn’t take any time at all to have lunch ready and waiting in the fridge by the time the rest of the crew found their way to the kitchen.

By seven o’clock, everyone was gone and Mags and I were sitting on our new deck.

Thank you, Mags. This is…I don’t even know. Surreal. Jesus, look at this view! I was giddy with happiness. It scared me. I had the very best husband in the world, a gorgeous house to live in, and the cherry topper—a baby boy on the way. I launched my big-ass body at him and he hardly even flinched.

We were face to face. “Ah, Jennie. I wish you knew how much you mean to me, sweetheart. This house is just a house—although I admit, it’s pretty fucking awesome—and the view is breathtaking, but I hope you realize that I’d be just as happy with you, our baby, and a seven-hundred-square-foot apartment.”

Tears immediately came to my eyes. “Oh, Mags. Me too. I would!” I took a breath and wiped my eyes. “But I sure do love the nice house, even if I do have to start all over with the nursery that we’d just finished in the other house.”

He laughed and then kissed me. It was hours later when he finally left our bed after making gentle love to me. There were only three days to go before he got fitted for his external hearing apparatus. Guarantees weren’t real, and both he and I spent many hours pondering that thought.

The only thing that seemed to sooth his nerves was watching the rhythmic pounding of the waves crashing upon the shore. I wished I could assure him of the results of his upcoming procedure, but I couldn’t.

Magnus

The morning had arrived. After this appointment, I’d know whether I’d be able to hear or not.

Sweetie, stop fidgeting. She was right. I couldn’t sit still. We still had a half an hour to go before we were leaving for the appointment. I’d already changed my shoes twice, as if it mattered, and tried on two different pairs of pants.

Sorry. Shit, Jennie. I think I’m panicking. I don’t really have to do this, you know?

She smiled but told me the truth. Yes, you do have to do this. You’ve gone back and forth so many times in your mind. This could be incredible or it could fail. Come on, babe, it’s time to find out. She kissed me deep. Either way, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t define you.

I don’t deserve you, you know that, Jennie?

She flashed me her saucy smile. Of course I do.