Chapter 9

Sorry for the delay!! I promise to get back on track!! LOL

Anemone flowers...fragile

I came home from the early morning practice to find the house quiet, even though Avery’s truck was still parked out in my driveway.  I walked upstairs and found her where I left her this morning except this time, her face was tear stained and I could tell the pillow was wet from her crying.  I crawled across the bed and lay down next to her on my belly as I gently pushed some of hair out of her face.  “What is wrong, beautiful?”

“Nothing,” she mumbled.

I left out a quiet chuckle, “Okay, I’ll believe that when it snows in LA.  You slept like a fitful mess last night and now I come home to find your pillow soaked with your tears…”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Joff,” she mumbled with pleading eyes.

“This wouldn’t have something to do with Evan, would it?” I asked, knowing that I might be in trouble for crossing the line, but the whole situation has bothered me ever since the first episode.

She took a deep breath through her mouth and bit on her lip.  “It does, but I really can’t talk about it right now, Joffrey.  I just need time to explain it to you and right now is not the time.”

“Did he hurt you?” I pushed, wanting to know because if he did I was going to give the guy my two cents and possibly a few punches.  He’s a baseball player and I’m a hockey player, I’m trained to fight, he is not.

“Not in the way you are probably thinking.  Please, leave it go,” she said with an edge that told me to listen or otherwise I’d be starting a fight.

 “Mommy!” Sofia yelled happily as she let go of Nana’s hand and ran across the parking lot to me. 

I had been at the rink for almost an hour already, talking with Krissy and just pacing around the concourse, worried about how the evening was going to go.  I was glad to finally see my little one again, feeling a little more normal.  As much as I loved my weekend with Joffrey, I still felt like something was missing when she wasn’t near me.  I was trying to focus on my excitement for Joff and his big return to the ice.

We spent the afternoon napping and then I made him, Krissy and Bobby dinner as I put on a happier persona, hoping he wouldn’t see through my screen.  My heart was breaking because I knew I would have no way of getting around the whole Evan deal.  This was it and I truly had no idea how either of the boys would react.  All I could do was hope that Evan wouldn’t figure it out when he saw Sofia this evening at the game.  I wanted to be able to tell him somewhere private, just in case a big scene was made.

Joffrey seemed to think that whatever was bothering me earlier had passed, so he was back to his normal hyperactive self, which only made it easier for me to smile.  Tonight we were celebrating his return to the ice and I wanted to make sure all my attention was on him.  He was so pumped and was literally bouncing around like a little kid when I watched him and some of the boys kicking the soccer ball around for warm-ups.  It was even cute when he asked if I would wear his jersey for the game.

Before we got in the Jeep to head to the arena, I felt him grab my hand.  I looked over at him in confusion.  “Yes?”

 “Um, I was wondering something,” he asked with his adorable puppy eyes blinking at me.

“Yes?” I asked slower this time.

“Would you wear my jersey tonight?  I mean you look good in what you have on, but I’d really like to have both my girls wearing my number tonight,” he said with a shy smile.

I couldn’t help but giggle as I nodded my head up and down.  “Yes, I will wear your jersey, even though I think it’s just your attempt to label me as your bitch…” I said with a smile.

“Yeah, that’s what it’s all about,” he said sarcastically as he pulled me in towards him to kiss me deeply.  “You are alll mine,” he said in a demonic voice.

I looked down at the jersey I was now wearing and couldn’t help but giggling at the fact that I was swimming in the damn thing.  It was a game worn jersey, so it didn’t fit nice like Nana’s and Sofia’s, but this one felt more special for the fact that Joffrey had worn it.

“Mommy! You are wearing Loops’ jersey!  It looks big on you.” She exclaimed as she jumped into my arms for a hug.  “I’ve missed you Mommy.  Are you coming home tonight with us?”

It felt longer than two days since I had seen her last and I couldn’t help but holding her a moment longer as I breathed in her scent.  I don’t know what I’d do without her.  “Yup, I’m coming home with you tonight,” I choked out as tears threatened to cloud my vision.

I put her back down on the pavement and we headed towards the arena where Joffrey was waiting for her.  He was already in his uniform and I couldn’t believe how much taller he looked in his skates.  “Hey Grasshopper!” He scooped her up, making her look even smaller than she was.

“Hi Loops,” she said with a big smile as she kissed his cheek and squeezed his neck.  “Good luck tonight!”

“Thanks baby girl,” he said as he kissed her back and handed her off to Bobby so she could give him a good luck hug.

As Sofia was busy picking on Bobby, Joff pulled me into him and whispered, “You look hot in my jersey.”

“I look like I lost a ton of weight and forgot to buy clothing that fits me,” I said with a frown as I looked down at the jersey dress I was wearing. 

“Aah, but this way people won’t be tempted to take my goods,” he said with a cocky smile. Before I could complain he leaned down and kissed me.

“Eeeeew!” I heard Sofia squeak as everyone around us began to laugh.  We both started laughing as we stood with our foreheads still pressed together.  This was the first time he ever showed any affection towards me in front of her.  “Mommy, you told me not to kiss boys because they have cooties!  Now we need to take you home and wash them off!” She said as I looked down to find her with her hands on her hips along with a disgusted look.

Nana just walked over and said, “Shush young lady and mind your own business.  Where do we go to get to our seats?” she asked, trying to hold back her own laughter.

I stepped away from Joffrey and said with a smile, “See you after the game.” 

“Bye, ladies,” Joff called out as we walked down the hall to the elevator.

Once again we were up in one of the club seat boxes.  As soon as I took a step into the room I found myself wanting to step out.  I knew he was going to be there, but seeing him always brought back a flood of memories that I thought I had buried.  I was pulled from my thoughts as Sofia went running over to Krissy who was talking to Evan.

“Why hello, Miss Sofia!” Krissy exclaimed as she picked up my little girl.  “I’m so glad you came to watch the game with us tonight!  Are you excited to see Loops play tonight?”

“No,” she pouted.

A look of surprise crossed over all of our faces, even Evan’s.  “Well why not?” Krissy asked.

“Because he gave mommy his cooties,” she said seriously.

I snorted loudly and scolded, “Now Sofia, really you don’t need to worry about that.”

“And who is this precious gem?” Evan asked as he was still laughing like the rest of us but with a curious expression across his face.

“I’m Sofia,” my daughter blurted out, always excited to meet anyone who was new and interested in her.

“Nice to meet you Sofia, I’m Evan,” he said, amused as he bent over and held out his hand.

“You have pretty eyes,” my daughter said as she shook his hand.

I couldn’t help but laugh when he blushed at her compliment.  “Thank you,” he said as he looked over at me and raised an eyebrow.  “She’s definitely you,” he said.

I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled nervously, hoping to God he didn’t see his likeness in her; the likeness that I saw daily with so many of her mannerisms.

The game started and we cheered loudly as Joff got on the ice for his first shift.  He looked a little rusty but after few shifts he was out hitting with the rest of them and had a couple shots on goal.  Of course Sofia insisted on sitting on Evan’s lap and explaining all her new found knowledge about hockey.

“I don’t think he needs a play-by-play, Sof,” I chirped over to her at one point.  “He has two eyes and probably has a clue about what is going on.”

Evan started waving his hand back and forth in disagreement.  “No, please, I’m enjoying what she has to say.  I do play baseball and not hockey,” he said with a kind smile.

“So how old is she?” Evan asked as I walked back and got a drink.

“Five,” I said, not meeting his eyes.

“She’s beautiful, why didn’t you tell me you had a daughter?”

“I didn’t think it was very important.”

“Huh, because she sure does seem very important to you and I have a feeling she’s a big part of your life,” he said as he rubbed his chin, looking like the wheels were beginning to turn.

Here we go.

“You know, I had the same colored hair when I was that young.  Everyone always thought I was adopted because both my parents had dark hair.  Little did anyone know that the blonde hair came from my mother’s side, along with my blue-green eyes.”

“I see,” I said as I tried pouring the soda into my cup.

“Plus I got the thick curly hair from my dad’s side,” he said as he picked his hat off his head and mussed his own hair.

“Oh,” I said in a, ‘I don’t give a shit,’ voice.

I went to turn and walk back to my seat as his hand stopped me.  He lifted my chin and leaned down so that he was staring into my eyes.  “Why didn’t you tell me I had a daughter, Avery?”

I took a couple deep breaths, trying to keep the tears from coming but it truly was useless.  “I can’t talk to you about this right now,” I pleaded.

He stepped closer and grabbed onto my arm, not tight, but enough to get my attention.  “We will be talking about this.  I won’t cause any trouble here, but I think you owe me a very lengthy explanation after the game.  Until then I will be sitting with my daughter and enjoying our first time together,” he said in an upset tone that told me he was hurt.

I reached out and grabbed his arm this time, “Please, don’t say anything to her.  Not right now, Evan…” I pleaded.

“Not right now…but she will know soon.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, the goal horn sounded and I could hear Sofia screaming, “Looooooops! Looooooops!  Mommy, Looooooops scored a goooooaalllll!!!”

I quickly wiped away my tears, glued on a happy face and went over to my bouncing daughter as I watched Joffrey’s first goal of the season replay on the jumbo-tron. 

I knew something was wrong when I got into the family room, expecting to see my cheering section and instead I found Krissy standing by herself with none of my girls to be found.  “Where are Avery and Sofia?”

“They stayed to watch the game, but Avery said she had to leave and to tell you that she would call you tomorrow.  She also said congratulations on your goal,” Krissy said hesitantly, giving me a hint there was more going on than what she was saying.

“What happened?  Does this have anything to do with Evan?”

Krissy looked at me with worried eyes and shrugged her shoulders.  “I think it might but I’m not sure.  They seemed fine the whole time; Sofia was even sitting on his lap for the whole game.  However, right before you scored I noticed them talking quietly over by the drinks.  They looked to be in an emotional conversation; Evan even leaned close to her as he held her chin.  When you scored I watched her wipe some tears away from her face and then put on this happy face that truly was not happy.  The rest of the game she seemed quiet yet still stayed involved for probably Sofia’s sake.”

“How was Evan after the conversation?” I asked, thoroughly confused by everything.

“He just paid a lot of attention to Sofia and stared a lot at Avery, seeming very attentive to her even though she acted like nothing was different.

“Did you get a chance to talk to him at all today?”

She took a deep breath like she was afraid to tell me but decided that she would speak.  “Apparently they ‘dated’ on and off over the last several years, and I use the word dated loosely because it sounded more like a series of hook-ups.  I guess at one point they were pretty serious about one another in college but then he went to Tampa Bay.  It seems the clincher was when he admitted he had messed around with several women, like any kid who gets thrown into the limelight.  He said he had asked her to move with him to Florida, but after telling him she would let him know her decision she basically disappeared.”

“Well, she had a kid, it’s not like she could just up and move in with him without knowing if it was going to work or not…”

“I don’t think he knew about Sofia,” Krissy said point-blank.

“Really?” I asked, shocked because of how much Sofia was apart of Avery’s life.

“Yeah, it sure seemed that way.”

“Do you think…nah, never mind,” I said deciding at the last minute my idea was most likely way off base.

“Do I think what?” Krissy asked curiously.

“Never mind,” I said, now sorry I even said anything.

“Do I think Sofia has Evan’s nose and chin?” Krissy asked with a raised eyebrow.

“You think he is Sofia’s father?” I asked, almost glad I wasn’t the only one wondering.

Krissy took a deep breath and nodded quietly.  “There is a good chance of it and it would explain a lot of how Avery has reacted around him.  I just don’t understand why she didn’t tell him if our thoughts are correct.”

“I don’t understand why I can’t see Loops!” Sofia cried as her temper tantrum kicked into full force as I carried her, kicking and screaming, to the truck.  I just left her cry, wishing I could do the same.  I wanted to be down in the family room, waiting for Joffrey to come out of the locker room so that I could congratulate him on his first game back and his first goal of the season, instead I was shipping my daughter home with Nana so I could have the talk I have dreaded ever since the day she was born.  

“Sorry, Nana,” I murmured as I closed the door to the truck, still able to hear Sofia screaming at the top of her lungs.

“This is what you need to do.  I love you child,” she said as she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek.  I watched as she looked over at Evan and nodded with a sad smile.  He reached out and shook her hand and said goodnight. 

I stood still until they drove out of the parking lot and then I looked over at Evan, “Well that was my ride…”

“I figured we could go back to my place; I’ll put some coffee on.”

I shoved my hands in my pockets and nodded, following him over to his black Lexus sports car.  He opened the door for me and I got in, buckling my seatbelt, trying to hold on to any normalcy I thought I had to hold onto.