Dirty Little Secret (Patrick Kane)

Forty Nine

Patrick

After a long two months of recovery and physical therapy and endless doctors appointments comes the moment of truth. A testament to my will and my future as a hockey player. Finally we get to the real thing, the statement on whether I am released before the play offs or not.

I had been skating on the ice and doing light contact but that's as far as I can go without a full release from the doctor. I was feeling fine and the unhurt was a after thought at this point. I was more that eager to play in a game again.

Physically I felt great, I feel stronger than I've ever felt before. Every aspect of my physical apperence has gotten better. I spent a lot of my time in the gym and Emerson even turned the basement into a gym for me and she would work out with me on the days I knew I should but didn't feel like it.

And mentally I was in even better state. I have a lot of things to play for. I was about to get married and open one of the largest community centers in Chicago and go to LA for the emmys. I was on cloud nine, and in a few short minutes it could be cloud ten depending on the news I get.

I sit in the doctors office with Emerson's hand in mine. I play with the engagement ring on her finger as we wait for the results from the x-rays and other tests I've taken.

"No matter what happens, know that we're going to get through this" Emerson says softly. I look into her emerald green eyes and couldn't help but smile. You have to smile.

"I know we will" I assure her. "I love you."

"I love you too Patrick."

After a few moments of painful silence the doctor comes in. He puts up the old x-ray and the new one next to it. I don't have a clue to what I'm supposed to be looking at so I just wait for him to let me know the results. He sits across from me with a huge smile and relief falls over me.

"I have great news" he starts and I let out a sigh. "Your break is completely healed. There is no scar tissue and it looks like the swelling is down giving you a full range of motion. So it's your call Patrick, we don't know how you're feeling. Only you do. So what do you say, are you ready to go or not" he asks.

"I'm more than ready" I smile and he nods.

"Well than Patrick, it looks like you are hereby released to once again play for lord Stanley. I wish you the best of luck" he says shaking my hand.

"Thank you so much, I can't begin to explain how grateful I am for you and everyone else who has helped me these past two months" I explain.

"Hey, miracles happen every day. You're a good guy, god sent you a gift and I hope you use it well" he nods.

"I'll try my best."

After getting the good news we decide to go to lunch at Chicago cut. Kind of a big lunch but I wanted to be along the water and it was on the way home.

We get seated in the back for some privacy and I order some wine while Emerson got some water. Usually she orders wine but maybe she's just feeling dehydrated, it's been a long morning. We order our food and I couldn't help but get this weird vibe from Emerson.

"What's wrong" I finally ask and she snaps out of whatever funk she was stuck in.

"Nothing" she says with a smile.

"You have that look like there's a lot of your mind but you don't want to say anything because it's kinda big and you don't want to make waves" I insist.

"That was so specific" she giggles.

"And you're not denying it. So please tell me, what's going on?"

"If it was really that important don't you think I would tell you?"

"Of course. But I know you and I know you feel like sometimes you're getting in the way even though you never are."

"Listen, we just got some amazing news. You are getting a chance to play for the Stanley cup for the sixth straight time. And you have a real chance of winning. I want you to focus on that, I want all the attention to be on that because you're going to need it if you want to win this thing."

"I do want to win, but not at the expense of you" I insist and she sighs.

"I'm going to tell you. Just not right now. I promise when the time is right I will tell you" she insists.

"I have nothing to worry about, right" I ask.

"Not at all. It's good news, but like you said it creates waves and we just started sailing in calmer water. I want to float a little while longer" she smiles.

"We can do that" I assure her.

We eat a nice dinner and have some laughs. Afterwards we decide to walk off what we just ate by the water and stroll around. We look up at the tall buildings and enjoy the scenery this fine night.

As the sun starts to set on us I realized another day in this crazy life we share is coming to a end. Like all the others, this one is great and I can really appreciate what I have. I'm healthy and have a amazing almost wife and can continue to write my name in the history books.

"What are we going to do after the wedding? We're going to be so bored" I joke.

"I think we will be pretty pre-occupied" she claims and I turn to her.

"What is hat supposed to mean" I ask.

"All I'm saying is that if you're worried about being bored any time soon, you won't be" she assures me.

"Sure" I nod slowly.

We return home and let Princess out to go to the bathroom. She comes back in and joins Emerson and I on the couch. I hate how much I love that dog, but she was actually one of the coolest little things ever.

We sit back and watch some NHL Network as they too prepared for the playoffs. I haven't announced that I was back yet so they talked a lot about whether or not I will be ready. Little did they know, I was more than ready.