The Best Is Yet to Come

Chapter 18

Olli's P.O.V.

Nicole and I were sitting at her kitchen table eating breakfast the morning after our 3-0 win over the Sabers. We talked about the game and ate our hash browns Nicole had cooked up.

Her phone went off and she took it out of her pocket.

"It's Sid." She said looking confused and walking to her room, to talk in private.

I didn't think much of it it was probably just captain wondering if her mom was coming on the moms trip.

I didn't think much until she came out in tears.

"Nic what's wrong?" I hopped up and asked.

"It's Tanger." She sobbed, "he had a stroke. Catherine found him on the floor, and his mom and oh god and Alex." She rambled.

"Nic, Nic look at me. Go call Catherine and I'll go home if you want me to. I know you and Kris were friends."

"Ok. Ya I'll be ok if you leave, I'm gonna call Catherine." She told me.

"Ok. I love you." I told her as we hugged.

"I love you too." She said as I walked out the door and down to my car.

I couldn't help but think of Kris. He had helped me this year, both as a defenseman and as the new kid.

How could her have a stroke? It's rhetorical, I know but he was healthy. He was in great shape I mean he was a hockey player for fucks sake. I thought about his girlfriend and his adorable little kid, and his mom I couldn't imagine that.

I made my way back to my apartment and Beau, Borts and Jay were sitting in the living room talking.

I walked in and they all looked at me.

"You guys hear?" I asked somberly.

"About Tanger? Ya." Borts said.

"How's Nic taking it? I know they're friends." Beau said.

"Not so well. She's gonna call Catherine and then maybe go see him." I said as I made my way to my room.

Nicole's P.O.V.

I called Catherine and asked if she needed anything. She asked if I could come over and maybe watch Alex. Kris didn't want Alex to see him the way he was, my heart broke at the statement. I put on some jeans and my new team Canada jacket, and made my over to the Letang residence.

I rang the door bell and waited anxiously until Catherine opened the door, her face red from crying but she still had a smile.

"I'm so happy to see you." She smiled as she ushered me into their home and hugged me tightly.

"Do you need me to do anything?" I asked placing my bag on the kitchen table.

"Umm. Can you stay here and wait for Alex to wake up?" She said grabbing her purse, "I'm going to go see Kris."

"Ok. That I can do."

"I'm sorry if I seem so ungrateful, I'm just kinda stressed, you really don't know how much I appreciate this." She hugged me again.

"No, you don't have to apologize. And you know you have a whole team behind you." I told her.

"Ya. Thank you again." She said as she walked out the door and to her car.

I went up stairs to check on Alex and just as I was half way up the stairs I heard him start to yell for his mom.

"Hey little man." I said taking him out of his crib and checking his diaper. It was clean, thank god!