Fearing Death

Jordyn screamed as Patrick Kane tossed her from the deck of Bryan’s boat, making him laugh as she resurfaced, her little turtle floatie keeping her above the water, seeing as she wasn’t the strongest swimmer.

“Cannonball!” Patrick Sharp called, tucking his knees up into his chest as he jumped off of the nearby deck to swim out to the boat. Jon helped Abby along, now at an incredible eight months pregnant, carrying the cooler for her as she rubbed sun block on her protruding stomach.

“Jord! Come on! Sunscreen!” Jon called as Davey pulled the second pontoon up to the boat, hooking it up to the back of the fishing boat before Abby could waddle onto it, taking a seat with her big, floppy sun-hat hanging over her eyes and wide smile. Patrick held Jordyn’s waist, helping her paddle back out to the boat, lifting her up from the water of Lake Toews onto the fishing boat. She hopped over to Jon excitedly in her new yellow with white polka-dots two-piece, as well as her short, shoulder-length hair that she had cut the previous week.

“Dad?” She asked as he rubbed the back of her shoulders down rather vigorously. “When’s Sara getting here?” She asked.

“Any moment, JT.” Patrick assured as he dripped water all over the floor of the fishing boat. “We have a surprise.” He winked, making Jordyn’s eyes grow wide.

“I love surprises.” She whispered as Jon turned her to rub down the front of her shoulders as well. “Now you.” She insisted, as he was finished, taking the bottle as he turned, straddling the back of the bucket seat as she squirted the white lotion all over his dark skin. They had been up in Winnipeg relaxing out on the lake for the past three days, celebrating, eating, swimming, fishing, and spending the days with family. The Blackhawks had finished their season much earlier than expected, being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round, and while Jon was disappointed, he was looking forward to a long summer with his friends and family. “All done!” She said, giving him two pats on his back as Davey sat himself down on the captain’s chair.

“Where is my co-captain?!” He called loudly from under his Aviator shades.

“Everyone on the boats!” Jon announced back to the few friends of his that were still sitting on the deck, watching as they loaded onto the pontoon hooked up to the boat that would be towing them out to the middle of the lake. Collectively, the boats held Jon, Jordyn, Davey, Patrick, a late arriving Sara, Abby, Patrick, Brent Seabrook with his girlfriend, Brianna, Hjalmy, and Byfuglien.

Jordyn hopped into Davey’s lap, taking off his shades and placing them on her face before Abby could snap a few photos of the two that would no doubt end up on the walls in the Toews’ family home.

“Come on, you two, right here.” Abby said, making Jordyn and Davey turn, Jordyn’s arms around his neck as they smiled widely. Jon laughed, sipping a BerryWeiss as he sat back, his long arms stretched out across the backs of the seats before he could place a hand on Abby’s baby mound.

“Ready to pop?” He asked, pulling his sunglasses from over his eyes to rest them on the top of his head, looking down at her stomach that was covered by a pink terry-cloth tube dress.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.” She laughed, fanning her face with her floppy hat. “At this point, I just want him out so I can hold him with my own two hands, you know?” She asked, making him nod his head. “Almost a year since you brought Jordyn home, can you believe it?” She asked him in return.

“Not at all.” He shook his head. “It’s going by a lot faster than I want it to.” He said, watching as Jordyn helped Davey steer the boat just out to the lake, close to a small island covered in sand and trees. The water near the banks was shallow enough that Jon felt comfortable with Jordyn swimming there.

“And her birthday soon, too, one more year till she’s a big bad teenager.” Abby nudged his shoulder with hers.

“I don’t even want to think about it.” Jon squeezed his eyes shut making Abby giggle and sling an arm around his shoulder.

“Don’t worry Daddy, you’re going to do just fine.” She assured, “plus Patrick can learn from your mistakes.” She teased gently. “Jordyn’s a good kid, Jon, I would be surprised if she gives you too much grief. She adores you, don’t think she could ever stand to make you mad or disappoint you.” She added.

“I can only hope.” Jon replied, watching her as she had the time of her life, pointing out her fishing rod to Davey as the slowly approached the island.

“Come on, Dad! You promised!” Jordyn called already standing by the poles, pulling on Davey’s zip up as a cool breeze came by, the men’s zip up falling to her knees as it hung loosely off of her body.

Jon smiled, hauling himself up from his seat as he made his way over to the front of the boat, settling on the bench seat before pulling her down into his lap, sticking his face in her neck and making biting noises, making her giggle wildly. Curling up into his lap, she sighed as she could rest her back against his chest, tucking her head under his chin; and as they both looked out onto the horizon, Jon knew that there was nothing life could throw at them that they couldn’t handle.

“For he’s a jolly good fellow! For he’s a jolly good fellow! For he’s a jolly good fell-ow! Which nobody can deny!” Jordyn giggled as Jon’s friends sang to him hours later after a long day of fishing, swimming, endless eating, and now, cake with presents.

“A new watch!” Patrick grinned as Jon opened up his gift from his best friend. “That one from last year was getting a little dingy.” He laughed as Jordyn helped him strap on the much more subtle, but still undeniably expensive and classy-looking timepiece.

“I like this one a lot better.” Jordyn grinned at Jon who sent her a secret wink.

Presents were optional at this party; all of the attendees either opting out of a gift, or giving prank ones. Besides, what do you get a man who has more money than he could ever need? Abby and Patrick gave him a box full of diapers and baby food.

“For when you and Jordyn baby sit.” Abby laughed as he opened the card to reveal a gift card to he and Jordyn’s favorite sushi place. Soon, it was Jordyn’s turn to run to the cooler on the pontoon where her gift was stashed behind it under a seat. She lift the cushion and grabbed the little box as well as her card.

“Baby girl, you didn’t have to get anything for me.” He insisted as she took a seat down by him, beside the cooler that held all of their catches of the day that Bryan would no doubt be grilling up for dinner tonight. Jon made sure that Jordyn didn’t hold one fish long enough to make a bond with it, or for the least part, name it.

“It’s your birthday, every one likes presents on their birthday.” Jordyn insisted as he leaned over, kissing her cheek gently while slowly opening the envelope. Jon willed the tears of happiness to keep from falling after reading the heartfelt card and opted against passing it around like he did with the rest of his cards that were mostly funny and joke-oriented. This was going in a special place back home.

“For you.” Jordyn said, handing him the small black box. He looked at it oddly for a moment, giving her a slick grin before he could carefully snap it open.

“Oh wow.” His eyes widened, taking out the simple, silver chain. It was thin, but masculine looking as a small ‘JT’ charm hung from it that would no doubt look wonderful against his bronzed skin. “Jordyn, this is great.” He smiled excitedly, grabbing the two ends as he clipped it around his neck, looking a lot like the chains his teammates wore that bore their jersey numbers, but this meant so much more.

“Y’know, ‘JT’, for me and you.” She smiled. “But you know… mostly me.” She giggled as he squeezed her tightly into his side.

“It’s perfect, I love it.” Jon said, brushing her hair back from her forehead to kiss it gently.

“I’m happy you like it, I just didn’t know what to get the Dad who has everything.” She blushed.

“I only have everything because I have you.”

•••

“Where are we going?” Jordyn asked, swinging her legs as she sat in the back seat, downing a ten piece chicken nuggets as Jon mowed down his own series of Big Macs in the front seat. Shortly after leaving the apartment, the hungry bug had bitten them both and Jon was more than happy to swing by the drive-thru.

“You’ll see.” Jon insisted with a big grin, it was only two days since they had been back from their great vacation in Winnipeg and Jordyn had noticed that Jon was definitely keeping something from her since then. Jon was rather terrible at keeping secrets.

“Is Patty and Sara still coming for dinner?” She asked, tilting her head as she finished off her last nugget.

“Still hungry?” Jon laughed, “yes, they’re coming, we’re making steak,” he said, making Jordyn pull a face. “But I can throw some chicken on the grill for you, too. Sara’s bringing the side-dishes, so I’m sure she’ll make her potato salad for you.” He assured. “I was thinking you and I could try to manage something for dessert.” He finished.

“Like cake?” Jordyn asked as she threw her trash in the McDonald’s bag on the floor of the car.

“Something with less chance of eating raw egg, maybe cupcakes?” He asked.

“Okay.” She shrugged, taking out her iPod and playing ‘brick’. Jon pulled up to a very modern and beautiful home on West Webster Ave, parking the car. “Whose house are we at?” She asked, looking up at the big home with the modern and chic curb appeal. Jon got out of the car, walking around to Jordyn’s door to open it for her with a wide smile.

“Well, how about we go in there and find out?” He asked, reaching out his hand to her. She grabbed it, holding Doug to her chest as she cautiously followed him. Jon used his own car keys to open the door and she immediately saw photos of the two of them hanging in the beautiful entryway.

“Is this our new house?!” She squealed, tugging his hand excitedly.

“First one up the stairs gets dibs on bedrooms.” He smirked, watching as she bolted up the grand staircase in the entryway, giggling as Doug swung back and forth in her hand. Thankfully, Jon had locked his bedroom door before they had come over, leaving her to pick from one of the three other bedrooms on the second floor.

“This one is mine!” She announced. Jon made his way up the stairs, following the sound of her voice to see that she had picked the biggest room available down the hall from his. A spacious room with a bay window equipped with a reading bench, a view of the backyard pool, a decently sized closet and an en suite bathroom.

“This room is far from mine.” He hinted gently, knowing that sometimes she had a hard time sleeping through the night.

“But I like the window.” She spoke softly, not wanting to disappoint him.

“That’s just fine, I just want you to know what you’re getting yourself into.” He said, hauling her up onto his hip as they peered out the window down at the sparkling pool. “And you’re fine with the bathroom?” He asked, seeing as he still needed to check on her once and a while when she was bathing. Jordyn gave him a nod before setting her head on his shoulder, looking around her big, new room. “What color are you thinking?” He asked, rubbing his hand up and down her back, cradling his body into hers.

“Um, red?” She asked looking at the now stark white walls.

“No, you’re not old enough for a red room.” He shook his head, making her giggle. Hopefully they would be here for a long time, and granted Jordyn was eleven now, when she was seventeen and eighteen, all he could think of was that a girl’s room being red meant her having a sexy room. And that was just not going to happen.

“Not even if I make it a Blackhawks room?” She asked, grinning, roping her arms around his neck.

“Nice try, but no.” He shook his head again. “How about we check out the rest of the house.” He suggested, carrying her down the hall, she crawled all over his shoulders until he was giving her a piggyback.

“I want this room!” She squealed as he showed her the master suite. “That’s not fair!” He chuckled; the master suite was nothing to sneeze at.

“You can spend as much time in here as you want.” He reassured, knowing that soon as they got her bedroom set up just the way she wanted, she would love her own room. He walked her down stairs to the main level where they checked out the family and living rooms, the kitchen, the dining room, and the back patio with the great backyard and pool.

“A pool!” Jordyn squealed, hopping down from Jon’s arms and running towards it. She sat herself down at the edge, dangling her legs into it before looking over her shoulder at Jon before patting the space beside her. He laughed, peeling off his tennis shoes and socks before sitting beside her.

“So do you think you could like it here?” He asked. “There’s two great big rooms in the basement. I figure one can be an awesome theater for our movie nights and the other can be a big play room for us to share.” He added.

“Does this mean we can get a puppy?” Jordyn asked, tilting her head as her tiny legs dangled into the water beside his big powerful calves.

“I’ll think about it.” He insisted, even if he knew already that they would be getting a dog very shortly.

“Please?” She asked, looking up at him with wide eyes. “I really want one, Dad.” She insisted.

“Just, trust me, okay?” He said, giving her side a nip with his fingers, her legs swinging into his gently in the cool water.

“Okay.” She sighed, the two of them fell silent, watching as the sun bounced off the glittering blue water.

“This is pretty alright, huh?” He asked, putting his arm around her shoulders. “We could be pretty happy here.” He added.

“We don’t have to be anywhere to be happy, we just have to be together.”