Page 117 of Hot Puck
“We should tell everyone. As soon as Oakley calls today with an update on Shelby, we should tell them about the baby. Give everyone some good news.”
“We can,” Chase hedges. “Or we can wait a few more days until they bring Shelby out of her induced coma.”
Yesterday’s update was good. Shelby is getting better every day. The swelling on her brain reducing every hour, but they’re keeping her medicated. I can’t even imagine how Walker feels. Gannon. Oakley mentioned Gannon blaming himself for not forcing Shelby to move when he was first traded.
None of us were aware she was moving here this summer.
“Okay, let’s see what Oakley says, then go from there.” Chase guides me inside to the kitchen. Lowering his voice, he says, “Although I think Pa and Blake have worked things out.”
“Pa has.” When he looks at me, one eyebrow cocked, I explain, “He gave me some crackers to take to bed last night so they would be on my bedside table this morning.”
“Ah, right. Is the nausea getting better or worse?”
“Can’t tell. My stomach is churning with worry over everything so it could be that or the baby.”
“I knew it!”
Blake’s voice has me jolting back against Chase. “What the hell, woman! Scare me to death, why don’t you.”
Laughing, Blake wraps her arms around me, brings her mouth to my ear. “I suspected. After the finals in Vegas.”
“What? Why?”
“Because you two were different. And yes, I know your relationship has been evolving all along but those weeks after, during the Cup final series, there was something…I just got a hunch I guess.”
Pulling out of Blake’s arms I glance around to make sure no one else can overhear us talking. “We were just discussing telling everyone.”
“Some good news in the face of this horrible situation.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to until they bring Shelby out of her coma, and we know how she’ll do.”
“Oakley messaged us about an hour ago. Didn’t you read it?”
“No. I left my phone in here on charge.”
“Well, they took Shelby off the sedation meds this morning. Or they’re weaning her off them as of this morning.”
“I still think I should wait un?—”
“Yeah, might be best because if you read the text, you would know that Shelby was ten weeks pregnant when she was assaulted. She lost the baby.”
“Oh fuck!”
Chase’s growl makes me jump but it’s Blake’s words that has me pressing a hand to my belly and my eyes filling with tears. “Did Gannon…”
“I don’t know any more than that.” Blake shakes her head, her own gaze filled with tears. “I can’t even comprehend what this will do to the two of them.”
“Nothing good and everything bad,” Chase murmurs.
“We need to bring them home. Here. So they’re surrounded by family. Can we do that? Bring Shelby here?”
“Not yet. Pa said he’s looking into things. He’s talking to Oakley and Walker more than the rest of us, but I think Gannon is keeping a lot from them at the moment. Oakley only knows about the baby because she overheard a couple of nurses talking.”
“Oh, and she told us?” I can’t imagine how hard it is for Oakley and Walker to keep that to themselves. “Did they question Gannon?”
“I don’t know.”
“Sorry. Of course.” Blake would tell me if she had any other information on Shelby’s condition. “I don’t like not being able to help.”
