Staal [A Jordan Staal Story] Chapter Seventy-three

"The next morning after breakfast Miriya's cell phone rang. "Hello?" She asked without looking at the caller id.
"Hey, it's Haley."
"Hey," she said excitedly. "How are you and Pat?"
"Great, actually that's why I'm calling," She got more excited with every word. "Pat and I are going to have a baby."
"Oh my god that's great! When did you find out? Does Pat know?"
"I found out this morning and haven't told Pat yet, do you think he'll be excited?"
"Haley Ann Kane, trust me, Pat will be happier than when he gets a hat-trick."
"I'm glad, well I've gotta figure out how I'm going to tell him, but I just wanted to let you know."
"Thanks, and congratulations! When the baby's born you have to come to Pittsburgh so I can show it the best hockey team in the world."

Pat came home from practice later that day to find the house empty and a note on the refrigerator. 'Hey baby, I knew this was the first place that you would go when you got home. You're so predictable, but I love you. =] I'm at the store picking up some stuff for dinner, so don't eat too much junk. I have something important to tell you tonight. Love, Haley.' 'Oh boy, what could she want to tell me?' He thought taking his hand off of the door. He took out his cell phone and made his way to the living room.
After a few rings a familiar voice answered, "Hey Pat, what's up?"
"Hey Johnny, I got home and found a note on the fridge from Haley, she has something important to tell me tonight. Should I freak out, because I kind of am."
"I don't know man, it could be something big, like maybe she got a job somewhere else."
"That would kill me Johnny, she's my everything, I love her more than the Hawks!"
"I know dude, it's probably not that anyway. I mean this is her dream job, right?"
"Sort of. She really wanted this job but in Pittsburgh. She told me that when she was younger she told Dan Potash that she was going to take his job."
"Nice," Johnny said with a laugh. "Well she does have the same job as him just in a different city. And she gets to interview us instead of Sid and Jordan."
"If it's not something about her job what could it be?"
"I don't know man," He paused. "Wait, maybe she's pregnant."
"You think?" He asked excitedly.
"I said maybe."
"You're right, I shouldn't get too excited. But could you imagine what our child would look like?" He said this more to himself than to his best friend. "Her eyes and my hair, damn that's one good looking kid."
Johnny couldn't help but laugh. "You'll have to let me know, okay?"
"Will do, talk to you later." Just as Pat closed his phone the front door opened an in walked Haley. "Any more bags in the car?"
"Yeah, would you mind grabbing them for me?"
"Not at all," he kissed her cheek as she set two bags down in the kitchen. With his hands full of groceries he kicked the front door closed and walked to the kitchen. "So this important thing, can you tell me now?"
"Nope," she said with a smile. She saw that he was disappointed, "Don't worry, I'll tell you at dinner." She pressed her lips to his and pushed him against the wall. "I should start dinner," she said pulling away.

The table was set, candles were lit, and Haley was nervous. "Can you tell me now?"
"Not yet, I'll tell you when you're done eating. I want this food to be eaten, I didn't make it so that it would be wasted," she said with a smile.
"Okay," Pat said putting a spoonful of mashed potatoes on his plate. When his and Haley's plates were empty he spoke up again. "Okay, we're both done eating, can you tell me now?"
"Pat, this is something really big, okay? Life changing."
"Should I help you pack your bags, what city wants you?"
"Huh?" She was quite confused.
"You got a job with some other team, so I'll only get to see you a couple times during the season. What city wants you?"
"I'm staying here Pat," she said with a laugh. "I love Chicago, as much as I want to work for FSN Pittsburgh."
"Okay good," he said with a sigh. "What's the big news then?"
"Do you think Chicago is big enough for another Kane?"
"You mean?" He face lit up.
"Yes Pat, we're going to have a baby."
"How? When?" He asked excitedly.
"I'm due in mid October, and as far as how; I'm pretty sure that you can figure that out."
"Oh my god," he said, standing and kissing her cheek. "I've gotta tell Johnny he was right."
Haley stayed at the table with a smile as Pat went to the kitchen, practically jumping up and down. She took out her cell phone to call Miriya to let her know and Pat was in the other room waiting for Johnny to answer. "Hello?"
"Johnny!"
"Pat! How'd it go?"
"You were right, she's gonna have a baby!"
"Congrats man, give Hails a hug for me."
"Will do, I'll see ya at the arena tomorrow."

Miriya's cell phone rang as the team walked down the runway for the first intermission. "Coach Staal."
"Oh sorry, Miriya, I forgot you had a game tonight, do you want me to call you back later?"
"No it's cool, it's intermission. How'd it go?"
"You were right, he was super excited. I think he was jumping up and down when he was talking to Johnny."
"I'm glad, hey Pat's going to the All-Star game, right?"
"Yeah, oh I heard you're the East's assistant coach, congrats!"
"Thanks, I'll see ya in two weeks."
"Yep, good luck tonight."
The boys took the ice and won the game. Nik scored a beautiful goal, stick side, top shelf, with two minutes left in the third period to break the zero, zero tie. The game had been hard fought by both the Pens and Stars, Marc stood strong in net and ended up with a shut-out. When Nik's slap shot hit the twine the crowd jumped to their feet and after the replay of the goal Nik's family was shown on the jumbotron.

After the game Miriya pulled James aside, "Jamsey."
"Yeah coach, what's up?"
"I haven't talked to you in a while, which is good because you're doing your job out there. But on a personal note, how's Brooke?"
"Good, she's here tonight actually."
"Tell her I say hi, go get showered."
"Kay, bye Staalsy."

The next day there was no practice but Miriya was at the arena, lacing up her skates. Grabbing a stick and a bag of pucks she went up the runway to the ice. Stretching her arms she made her way around the ice, she stopped at the bench and finished stretching. She dropped a puck at center ice and launched a slapper top shelf. After a few shots and working on her 'back-checking' she went to the bench to take her hoodie off. There was a whistle and the sound of skates, Miriya turned to see Mark skating towards her. "Looking good."
"Thanks Mark, you're looking good too." He wore a plain black t-shirt and black shorts. "So are the other guys here?"
"Nope, I figure I would come skate with my best friend."
"Aw, I love you Eats," she gave him a hug.
"I love you too Staalsy." The two of them skated for a while before Scuds, Conks, Georges, Ryan, and Brooks came out from the runway. All of them skated for a while before going to the locker room where they shed their skates, changed back into jeans and hoodies, and went to Miriya's office.
"So I know it would be easier if we did this in the lounge or locker room, but it's official here." She paused. "Okay, you know what, who cares about official. Meet me in the lounge in five minutes." She said as she saw the boys standing awkwardly. The guys made their way to the lounge where they sat on the couches with cans of pop in their hand. "Oh I feel loved, way to get me a drink."
"You are loved Staalsy," Mark said handing her his can of Pepsi.
"Thanks Eats. Okay guys, I know we're more than half way through the season and I wanted to do this earlier in the year but we're always so busy. The reason you guys are the ones here is because you're the oldest guys on the team; the leaders, and I want to get your perspective on things."
"Don't take this the wrong way Staalsy, but even we didn't believe that this season would go this well," Georges said.
"We knew you'd be a good coach, but we didn't think you'd be this good," Scudsy before taking a sip of his pop.
"Never doubted you though," Brooks added with a smile.
"It's just not very often is a coach able to get a team to have this much chemistry, have them playing this well and consistently for over forty games in their first year."
"Thanks guys, I see your point Ty. So the fact that I'm at least ten years younger than all of you doesn't bother you?"
"Age doesn't matter as long as you have the skills," Ryan said.
"And believe me, you have the skills," Big Georges said with a smile.
"Seriously Eastern Conference All-Star coach and you have doubts?" Brooks questioned.
"I knew said I had doubts, I just wanted input."
"Well you're great, we love you and respect you as a coach and friend." She smiled as Rob said this.
"STAALSY!" Someone yelled from the locker room.
"Oh great, it's Max," she said causing the guys to laugh. "I'll see you tomorrow at morning skate."