Page 166 of Secrets on Ice

The morning of, I wake up at five and can't get back to sleep, so I sit on my couch in my half-empty apartment and look at the wall for a while.

My phone buzzes.

Cassidy: Good luck today. Love you. Go win the thing.

I put the phone down and go and get my bag.

One game.

Then everything else.

48

EMBER

Issy has the baby the night before game seven. The girls' chat goes off at some ungodly hour and wakes us both up.

Issy: Alberto Alessi St. Pierre, also known as Alby, arrived at 2:14 a.m. Mother and baby doing great. Father is a mess.

Included is a photo of a red, furious, absolutely perfect little face, all screwed up and outraged about the entire situation, and I actually make a noise out loud.

Collette: OMG he’s here.

Jo: Look at our gorgeous nephew.

Harper: Hey, Alby, your new best friend and cousin Bastien is ready to play with you.

Harper inserts a photo of Bastien smiling.

Cassidy: Congrats, he is gorgeous.

Ember: Proud of you, Mama.

Issy: I’m exhausted but not as exhausted as Pierre. I told him to go home and get some sleep before today.

Harper: Felix said he’s doing good, so don’t stress.

Issy: Not the best timing, he was supposed to come next week.

Jo: He’s a true St. Pierre. He wanted to watch the game.

Issy: Oh no.

Harper: We will come up and see you before the game.

We head up later that day with the world's largest bunch of flowers. Issy looks wrecked and radiant, propped up in bed with her hair scraped back. And then she looks down at the bundle in her arms and her whole face changes.

“Little Alby.” She smiles. “I named him after my father.” Tears well in her eyes. “Wish he was here to see him.”

“He’s looking down on you.” Harper hugs her.

“He would be so proud.” Issy smiles.

“He would also have Alby signed up for a ten-year deal before he could work. He would say he’s a legacy.” Evelina laughs.

“Oh my gosh, he would, wouldn’t he? Alby wouldn’t have a choice, it’s hockey or nothing.” Issy laughs through her tears.

“As if Pierre would allow him to play anything else,” Jo adds.