Loving the Game

by Melody Heck Gatto

  “Taking the designated driver thing pretty seriously, sis?” Ty joked.

  “Something like that.” Talia answered.

  “You all know that I adore my children. It’s just nice to have an adult evening occasionally.” Sam said.

  “And you’re a wonderful daddy, but you are right.” Trina gave her husband a kiss.

  “Speaking of the kids, where are your other two? The dogs? I haven’t seen them since the kids went to bed?” Tyler asked.

  “Upstairs.” Sam said. “And you won’t see them unless you open a bag of cheese, that might get Toby down here. But other than that, they guard the kid’s rooms. One will lay outside of Hank’s room, and the other in Willow’s room, at the foot of her bed.”

  “Aw, that’s so cute!” Paige cooed.

  “Better than them begging for lasagna.” Trina added. She directed her attention to her brother now, “Tyler, are you ready for a dog yet? And dogs love babies.”

  “I need more wine. And we are not having this conversation, again. Talia, you got anything to bring to the table? Our sister wants a niece or nephew. I have no idea why she’s so set on this, seeing as she has two wonderful children.” He thought for a second. “I know, you and Sam should have a third since you have such baby fever.”

  “Woah” Sam put his hands up, “how’d I get dragged into this? I mean, I’d be happy to accommodate that, but...”

  Trina patted her husband on his leg. “Settle down, tiger. I don’t have baby fever. I just think we need another baby in the family. Because babies are fun.”

  “Again, I’m willing and able, just say the word.” Sam teased with a smirk.

  Trina glared at him with feigned disgust. “Do you need a cold shower, babe?”

  Sam shrugged. “Just sayin’. But we can always go play with Nick and Rylee’s new baby.” Sam suggested. He picked up the garlic bread, taking a piece off the plate, and passed it around the table. “Anyone want any more garlic bread?”

  Trina passed the plate to Talia and she handed it to Harrison so quickly that the garlic toast almost went flying.

  “Tal try not to break our good china—” Before Trina could say anything more, Talia ran to the bathroom, excusing herself on the way.

  “Is she okay?” Trina asked.

  Harrison nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure she’s fine. Just not a big fan of garlic.”

  “Since when?” Trina asked. “I can’t think of even one time she turned down garlic bread.”

  Harrison only grinned and shrugged as he shoveled more lasagna in his mouth.

  “Tal?” Trina asked as Talia slowly returned to the table, looking a bit more green-ish then she did before she left. “Are you still sick?”

  “No, I’m not still sick.” Talia sighed as she sat back down. Looking at her plate, she pushed it away from her and took a sip of water instead.

  Harrison whispered something to her, and she nodded.

  “Okay, what is going on here?” Trina asked.

  Talia looked at Harrison. He nodded. Talia let out a sigh before she said, “We’re pregnant.”

  "You're what?" Trina asked, her voice high-pitched and full of excitement. She jumped out of her chair and hugged Talia and then Harrison.

  Paige felt all the blood drain out of her face, her body was chilled, and her legs felt as if someone put stone blocks on her feet. Even if she wanted to walk away, she wasn’t sure that she could.

  She just sat there blinking. Maybe this was all a dream? Or a nightmare as it was.

  Paige cleared her throat to say something wonderfully supportive to her sister-in-law, but all she was able to croak out was, “Um, pregnant, huh?”

  Luckily, no one appeared to be paying any attention to her. Everyone was gawking and congratulating Talia and Harrison.

  “I’m going to be an uncle. Woo-hoo!” Sam shook Harrison’s hand. “Another little baby to spoil rotten.”

  Tyler shook Harrison’s hand and hugged Talia, congratulating them each.

  Paige wanted to be ecstatic for Talia, but instead, her heart ached. She managed to force a smile as a lump formed in her throat. "It's really exciting news. Who would’ve thought that was going to happen tonight?”

  She regretted how much her voice did not reflect her words. No one knew the secret pain she'd been carrying around watching all the WAGs have babies and start beautiful families.

  “I wasn’t really planning on telling anyone yet. But the fact that I can’t seem to hold down even a saltine cracker made it painfully obvious that something was out of sorts.” Talia confessed.

  Harrison leaned in and kissed Talia. “I’m not sure I would’ve been able to keep it a secret much longer anyway. I’ve almost slipped twice already.”

  Trina elbowed Paige and with an odd overly supportive tone, she asked, “This is amazing news, huh Paige?”

  "So much." she nodded, defending her words. "Just shocked. I mean, I didn't know that you guys were trying? I thought you didn’t want kids." She regretted the second part as soon as it came out of her mouth. Talia wasn’t her sister. She had no business making such a statement.

  "We weren't." Talia scrunched up her face, probably just as uncomfortable with Paige’s comment as she was. "And you’re right. There were no plans for a baby. I mean, you guys I’m forty years old! I figured that phase of my life was long past. But I apparently was wrong."

  "Well, surprise babies have been known to happen." Trina smiled and shrugged. "Kaden and Ali made it work. I’m certain you guys will too."

  Trina wasn't wrong. The Renegades goalie, Kaden, had no plans of being a daddy and he truly embraced his role like he was born for it.

  “Yeah,” Paige added, acting more supportive, even if it killed her inside. “and the way Harrison is beaming, I’m positive this is a good thing for you two.”

  “Looks like I was an excellent addition to your life. Just in time to shake things up.” Harrison beamed with pride.

  "Why are you staring at me like that?" Talia asked Tyler harshly.

  “Really?” Tyler arced his eyebrow. “But you’re forty.”

  Trina shot Tyler a nasty look, then quickly spoke up, "Aren't you on the pill?"

  “What a weird thing to ask your sister.” Talia seemed a bit taken aback by Trina’s words. "All of your kindness is overwhelming.” Talia rolled her eyes. “Please pick your jaws up off the floor. Tyler, FYI, I’m forty, not dead. And, yes, I was just as shocked as you all are."

  “I wasn’t.” Harrison grinned and wiggled his eyebrows as Talia smacked him playfully on his arm. Harrison wrapped his arm around his wife. "I couldn’t be happier, surprise or not."

  "And you?" Trina directed her words at Talia.

  "Me? Still shocked. I really thought that I was well past the age where I needed to worry about it. I just didn't think that I could still get pregnant so, no, I wasn't on the pill."

  "So, the food poisoning?" Tyler questioned.

  Talia shook her head. "No. I thought it was the food poisoning. Because, why would I assume it was anything else? All the symptoms pointed to me being sick. And my skipped period I assumed was perimenopause. I didn't even question it until I was feeling better, but still having symptoms."

  Paige did get a chuckle out of Tyler wincing at Talia talking about perimenopause.

  “Ty, grow up. Perimenopause happens, it’s the facts of life. Just like low testosterone in men.” Talia teased.

  Tyler shook off his sister’s comments. "Yeah, poor Harrison, he was really worried about you."

  Paige’s stomach was twisting with jealousy at this entire conversation. And she was mad at herself for it. This was wonderful news and she was feeling like a jerk for being jealous.

  "I know.” Talia pouted and hugged her husband. “And he certainly wasn't expecting that outcome! Neither of us were."

  "But you're happy about it?" Tyler asked.

  "Um, yes." Talia chewed at her lip. "I am. Let's just say it's going to take some getting used to. After all thes
e years of trying with no luck, and then - boom!"

  "Isn't that your and Harrison's M-O? You guys seem to do everything big and passionately." Trina said with a swoon.

  "I think you mean carelessly?" Talia said with a laugh. "And if alcohol and Vegas didn't say careless, then this certainly does!"

  “I’d like to think we do things awesomely.” Harrison shrugged.

  "Well, they are all good things, regardless of how they came to be." Trina gushed. "I am so happy for you two! I was just talking to Tyler about this."

  "You were?" Paige asked, turning her attention to her husband.

  "Yeah, he told me I'd have to work on Talia if I wanted to be an aunt anytime soon."

  “That wasn’t exactly the conversation that we had, but—” Tyler tried to backpaddle.

  Trina pretended to wipe something off her hands. "My job is done! I get to be an auntie!!"

  Paige instantly became nauseous like a rock dropped into the pit of her stomach. She quickly gulped in air; afraid she might hyperventilate.

  “So, no kids for you yet Tyler?” Talia asked looking at Tyler and Paige.

  “This is what I was trying to avoid by saying you were next, sis. I know I don’t need people pressuring me saying just because I am a certain age I should be thinking about a family. And I don’t want Paige to go through that because women are even worse with those questions. Whatever we decide is between us.” Tyler shot back. He paused to look at Paige.

  “Right,” she added, satisfied that her husband, her knight in shining armor was coming to her defense. He knew how bad she wanted a baby, and by the look on his face, he knew exactly how she was feeling.

  “Babe, you good?” Tyler asked. He put his hand in hers.

  She wasn’t okay, not even a little. But instead of having this conversation with her husband in front of his whole family, she simply nodded.

  Tyler slid his arm around her and placed a soft kiss on her head. His warm embrace helped to calm a few of her worries, and hoped it brought some color back to her face.

  “I’m just really tired, and I think the wine is getting to me. Babe, do you mind if we head home?”

  “Sure, anything you want.” Tyler smiled. “Thanks for dinner, guys.”

  "Sorry, congrats, Talia. What a blessing! Really!” Paige mumbled quickly.

  She and Tyler said their goodbyes, grabbed their coats, and hurried out of the house.

  Talia? Pregnant? Her head was spinning and all she wanted to do was hurry to the safety of her boring little home.

  PAIGE HAD ENOUGH TODAY. She woke up feeling hung over and nauseous. She did drink a lot of wine last night after hearing the news about Talia. The stress of that surprise itself could make a person nauseous. Another negative pregnancy test helped to round out her miserable morning. And only a few hours into her workday, the morning meetings had her head spinning. She was ready to go back to bed, pull the covers up over her head, and hide.

  She had used her last little bit of caring at her last meeting, and her emotional tank was empty. Closing her laptop, she gave up. Her head hurt, her stomach churned, and her stress level was at an all-time high. Thinking about what her doctor said, she made an executive decision that nothing needed her immediate attention, and she was over it all.

  She needed to look out for her and only her if she was ever going to get pregnant. And her twisting stomach was proof of that.

  Melanie bust into Paige’s office with a heavy breath, making a beeline for the couch, and propping her feet up on the coffee table. “Look at these things! They look like Christmas hams!”

  Paige winced. “Christmas hams? That’s a weird analogy.” And it made her not want ham anytime soon.

  Melanie shrugged. “I don’t know. But look at my feet and ankles! I barely shoved them into these slippers this morning.”

  The trade deadline was in a week, and the armchair GM’s were out in force, behind their keyboards, spreading inaccurate rumors faster than they could put them out. Paige was tired of looking at it all while trying to do her own job. The post season was approaching, and they had lots of events to line up and squeeze in before then.

  Melanie no sooner had her feet up on the table when the secretary knocked on the door, her arms filled with two fast food bags, and a drink tray holding two milkshakes. “Melanie, your lunch order is here.” She set the bag and drinks on the end table by Melanie.

  “You hungry? I ordered sandwiches and milkshakes, because baby wanted one. Then I started to crave a salad, so there’s two salads in there as well. Help yourself. We’re going to need brain food if we’re going to keep up with today.”

  Paige’s stomach turned at the thought of food. She hadn’t had much of an appetite so far today seeing how she still felt nauseated from last night. Melanie was already eating a sandwich before she could even answer.

  “So, why do you look so green this morning, Paige?”

  “Me? Ugh, too much wine last night. Kidd family dinner at Trina and Sam’s, and Talia and Harrison dropped a big surprise.”

  “Oh?” Melanie perked up. “Harrison usually can’t keep secrets. What’s going on?”

  “She’s pregnant.” Paige deadpanned.

  “Talia?” Melanie questioned.

  “Yep.”

  “Oh, wow! Harrison is going to be a daddy! That is so great!” Melanie cheered.

  Paige shrugged. “Yeah, great.”

  “Oh, Paige,” Melanie said, her voice changed from delight to pity as she read her face.

  Paige briskly walked over to her desk chair and sat down, opened her laptop and pretended to read an email. “It is what it is.”

  “From the look on your face, I gather you were hoping to make that announcement next?”

  “I’m happy for them,” she closed her laptop. “I really am. You should see Harrison; he is just beaming with excitement.”

  A wave of nausea hit her suddenly. Paige took a deep breath and closed her eyes hoping to will it away.

  “Okay, that wine did a number on you. Take a break, or take the rest of the day off, whatever you need.” She looked at her own feet. “You know what, I’m taking the rest of the day off too! They don’t need us in the locker room, so I’m going to work from home.”

  Melanie wobbled her way to her feet, grabbed her bag of food, and headed towards the door. She dropped a sandwich on Paige’s desk along with a milkshake. “Eat something, then get out of here. That’s not a request.” Melanie smirked before closing the office door behind her.

  Paige nibbled on the sandwich, but the only thing that didn’t make her stomach angry was the milkshake.

  Deciding maybe a nice run in the cold would help shake off this hangover, she changed into her sweats and sneakers. It was late February in Western Pennsylvania, and the winter was just beginning. The cold wind whipped around her face, and chilled her body, yet oddly enough the brisk temperatures breathed new life into her.

  She sucked in a deep cleansing breath of the cold, fresh air. Paige had a few hours to clear her head before Tyler would be home. A run would do her good.

  Another wicked wave of nausea hit her right by the local animal rescue group. She stopped in front of the building to catch her breath. Maybe she should’ve eaten that sandwich after all.

  Compelled to look inside, hoping to play with a kitten or two, she took a break from her run and went inside. Anything to help her stress level, which with everything going on, was at its max capacity.

  The sound of barking filled her ears as she walked in the lobby.

  “Hi!” a cheery young woman called from behind the counter. “Can I help you?”

  Paige hadn’t planned this pit stop, so she wasn’t prepared for the simple question. “Hi. I just wanted to visit with the cats, maybe play with a few?”

  “Sure!” she pointed down the hall. “Go down this hallway, and to the left, there’s signs that point to the cats.”

  Paige nodded; she knew the way to the cat room. No matter how many times sh
e came here, the sight of so many crates with homeless cats and kittens always stopped her dead in her tracks. If she could take every single one of them home, she would. But, for now, giving some of them a little face time with a human, love, and snuggles would have to be enough.

  If she had the extra time, she’d volunteer here, but she was lucky to stop by once a week. Going right to the little rooms that housed a handful of cats and kittens, she chose the one with kittens.

  One little guy hid behind her leg the whole time that the others played. Paige tried to coax out the little Tuxedo kitty to no avail while the other kittens crawled all over her and played. Almost forgetting about the shy little guy while she playfully taunted the others with their toys, she felt a gentle head butt on the back of her calf.

  “Hey there, little guy.” She cooed softly.

  The tuxedo kitty scrunched his back up and rubbed against her leg.

  “Oh! C’mere little guy!” Paige scooped up the shy kitten and cradled him in her arms. He didn’t squirm or try to get away. Instead, he began to purr and rub his little head against her.

  “I’d say he likes you.” A volunteer commented.

  “You think?” Paige didn’t know a lot about cats. “The way he was hiding, I didn’t even think that he would let me pick him up.”

  “Yeah, he is shy with most people. He won’t even let most of the volunteers hold him. He must trust you.”

  Paige looked down at the black and white kitten, so content in her arms. For a brief moment, all her stress was nonexistent. The pieces of her that felt broken were whole for that second when she looked into his sweet little eyes.

  “Are you looking to adopt?”

  Paige stopped and stared at the girl, not sure how to answer that. Adopt? Her and Tyler hadn’t talked about that yet. Would she consider adoption if she really couldn’t have a baby?

  The young girl nodded to the little napping kitten in her arms. “Were you looking to adopt a cat today?”

  A cat... of course the young girl meant adopt a pet. After all, she was at the animal rescue.

  “I...I don’t know. I hadn’t really considered getting a pet.” The kitten stirred in her arms, then let out the biggest yawn for such a little mouth.