Chapter 36

36

Faust

I don't even realize it's after five.

I just so happen to look at my phone.

What the hell…?

By now I should be with Shelby and Oakley.

I've been watching hockey film all afternoon.

This morning's practice was brutal and after we finished I came right back here to meet up with Audrey to go over some paperwork.

Stuff I need to talk to Shelby about…

Only Shelby is nowhere to be found. Which means Oakley is nowhere to be found.

I end up outside her apartment door, knocking for way too long.

I give up and get the key, then enter the apartment.

It's too quiet, too clean and too damn empty.

"Shelby?" I call out. "Oakley?"

I walk to the bedrooms and when I see Oakley's room, my heart sort of sinks.

Half the drawers are open. Clothes are missing. It's messy in a chaotic, we gotta get out of here right now kind of way.

I race down the hallway to Shelby's bedroom and it looks similar.

I hate to think the thought… but I'm wondering if she took off. Again.

If she packed up herself and my son and just left.

To go where? Back to her old apartment?

If that's what she wants…

"Fuck," I whisper.

I leave the apartment and go back to mine. I'm debating what my next move here is.

Obviously - call Shelby.

I have to talk to her and see what's going on here.

This cannot be like the last time.

Fuck no.

Things are way different now.

Shelby's got my heart racing like crazy once more.

Not a day that I've known her or been near her does she ever provide a sense of calm.

Her phone goes to voicemail.

"Fuck," I growl.

I don't even bother trying to text her.

I have to find her.

There's only two places I can imagine her and my son being right now.

Going to her old apartment is like going back to where this whole thing started.

She put a note on my door that I had a son. Then I end up finding her here.

It feels like a lifetime ago that it happened.

Yet here I am chasing her down again.

This time she's not here.

I knock. I look through the windows the best I can.

I can't imagine her hiding in the apartment with Oakley as though I'm some crazy murderer after her.

What the hell is going on with you, sweetie?

My next stop - which is my last stop I guess - is Dani's house.

I have my ways of finding out where people live if I need to do so.

Dani and her husband live in a nice neighborhood outside of the city. It really punches me in the gut that she and her husband aren't able to have a baby. They probably moved here in advance of trying and then…

Every relationship is hard. That's the whole point of falling in love. You fall in love so you can have something to grab onto when it gets hard. Love is the glue (or something) that holds it together when it's hard.

And maybe that's something Shelby never had or experienced before.

I know she loved her mother. But her mother died.

I know she loved Amy too. Her best friend.

That didn't end well either.

Not to mention Amy's car accident happened before the truth could be spoken.

"Shelby," I whisper as I pull up to Dani's house.

Shelby's car is in the driveway.

Dani greets me at the door.

She's looking like a mama bear , ready to attack me.

"Is this a good idea?" Dani asks.

"I don't know what's going on," I say. "She took off again? With my son? What do you expect me to do? Just forget about them both? I love them. They're my family."

"You love them. Wow. That's good to hear. At least for Oakley's sake."

"I don't want this to turn into anything…"

"Is that a threat? Should I get my husband?"

"Seriously?" I ask.

"What? You think Nathan can't take you?"

" Take me ? You think I'm here to fight your husband? Where's my son?"

"He's inside," Dani says. "Safe. Where he belongs. Your best bet is to let this play out. This is what you want, right? So if you don't want this to turn into anything, leave right now. Or else I'll call the police. Good luck getting custody then."

"Custody?" I ask. "When did I say… what the fuck…"

"She overhead you and your lawyer, Faust. Don't play that game."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Shelby. I can't believe I'm so madly in love with someone who is so stubborn and is always looking to self-destruct."

"Oh?" Dani asks.

I reach for my phone and open to a real estate listing.

I show it to Dani.

"And?"

"And… that's the house I just bought for me, Shelby, and our son."

Dani's eyes go wide. "You did what?"

"That's why I was talking to my lawyer," I growl. "She brought over some paperwork for me to sign. For the escrow and whatever else. So I could make sure my offer is in place. I wanted to surprise Shelby and Oakley and show them the house."

"You bought me a house?"

The voice is from behind me.

I spin around and Shelby stands on the sidewalk.

"What did you think I was doing?" I ask as I walk down the porch steps. "You thought I was trying to take our son from you?"

Her jaw tightens and she swallows hard.

"Oh, fuck, sweetie," I say. "I'm not out for revenge. Is that what you think? That I'm going to take our son from you? And do what? Keep him away for six or seven years? Shelby…"

"I don't know how to make it all up to you!"

I get close enough to touch her face. "You don't have to make up anything to me. I told you that. I'm never going to lie to you, Shelby. I told you it's going to take time. Time, sweetie. Time meaning us. Our family. You. Me. Our son. That's all I want. That's all I care about. And, yeah, you know what? I bought you a house. I bought our son a house. My lawyer was annoyed with me because of the money I have tied up in the apartments and because she felt as a woman she would want to be a part of the house hunting. So if you decide you don't like the house I bought, I'll sell it and buy you another one. Or just build one. I've loved you from the moment I met you, Shelby. I thought hockey was the dream… no. Hockey was something to do while waiting for my dream. You're my dream."

"Oh, dear God, just kiss the man!" Dani cries out from the porch.

I look back, she has tears in her eyes and she's fanning herself.

Shelby jumps to her toes and touches my face.

We kiss.

Behind me another voice chimes in.

"Does this mean my mom and dad are married or something?"

Shelby and I both laugh.

I turn and crouch down and motion for Oakley to come toward me.

It's the first time he's really called me his dad.

It feels… ah.

I don't think I can be called the angry goalie anymore.

It's more the guy who has the love of his life and has his son and is the happiest he's ever been in life goalie .