This Love Will Be Our Downfall

“Gold!” Pat said sitting on my lap and clapping. I smiled at the little boy. “Mommy, gold!”

“Yeah Daddy won a gold.” I smiled playing with his straight blonde hair. “We beat Canada, finally.” I laughed.

“What mommy?” Pat asked me confused.

“About a year before you were born in the other Olympics daddy lost to Canada and we got a silver medal instead of a gold.” I said explaining to my three year old.

“Mommy where is your gold medal for figure skating?” He innocently asked me.

“I don’t have one yet. Instead.... I got you!” I said tickling him, and he started to laugh. We settled down and watched the US get their medals, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was hell of road for this little family, and it was only three years.

On May 8th, 2011, Patrick “Pat” Timothy Kane III was born. He came out with all ten fingers and ten little toes. He was perfect in every way possible. Patrick even emotional when got to see his son for the first time in an ultrasound cried even harder when he was handed his son for the first time. Pat was also a deceptive little baby too. I was big, and he was so little. He only weighted seven pounds and three ounces. He was a little baby. Everyone said it was sign that Pat was gonna be as small as his father growing up. Patrick simply replied with a laugh.

When Pat was born everything right where we wanted it to be. We got a house with a backyard, and it started to feel like home/family. Pat was a pretty fussy baby, but not all of us can be a quiet baby. Patrick and I mixed with our major lack of sleep fought constantly to the point where Katey would come over to make sure we slept a little bit so we wouldn’t fight. It wasn’t his temper and my fury that made us want to rip out each other’s throats but more so we were just so tired. We both just wanted to sleep. Patrick’s lack of sleep actually turned him into hockey machine more than he already was, and actually got into about three fights that season and lost none of them. He knew how to fight. However, We almost broke up more five times, but we never actually were gonna stay broken up. We just wanted sleep, and we both understood that. The explosive fights turned into apologies pretty quick.

Everything got better when Pat got older, and didn’t cry as much though. When we were able to sleep a full night without a crying baby, it was golden. Like, now it really was golden.

I just watched Patrick assist in the OT winning goal against Canada in the Olympics. It was like 2010 all over again, but except this time we won. I was never so excited in my life, well actually Stanley Cup win was better, but this was amazing. I was also in Russia for it too, because I guess I could have two dreams pan out for me, because the next day was my big day.

I had Pat, and a month later I was back in a rink getting my skates back on my feet and trying to make up for almost eight months off my ice skates. I never pawned my son off on anyone to try and get back to my ice skating career. The times I was in the rink Pat was wrapped up tightly in warm clothes in his seat sleeping. When he was up I would give him my undivided attention, and we’d go home. Then as Pat go older it was kind of easier to practice, because he’d be amused by watching me ice skating, and it was entertaining for all of us. He was always hypnotised with the way I moved on the ice. He was also stuck in a trance when Patrick was playing hockey. His first hockey game when he was able to watch and pay attention his eyes never left the ice. He didn’t fuss or anything. He wanted to watch the game. It was weird how Pat just seemed to love ice already.

Then when Pat was almost freshly three years old there was the HUGE push for the Olympics was coming. Patrick got called up to camp, and I started to hardcore train for the Nationals. Pat was thankfully old enough where I could take him out on the ice with me. I taught him how to skate while I was making a quad flawless. There was hardcore press coverage with Patrick and I with all of this, and it was kind of annoying. I felt my privacy finally being invaded. I also watched out for Pat too. I wanted him to have a normal childhood, not one with cameras in his face. However, when I placed first at nationals it was quite the confidence boost for me. I was ready for the biggest stage of my life.

When I got to Russia I was greeted by tons of cameras from all over the world. I got off the plane with my boyfriend and son ready for the world to show what I was capable of doing. The whole experience was cool being here. I had all my family here. Pat was staying with the Kanes that were here. Even my parents showed their faces here, and met their grandson for the first time. Needless to say, Pat does not like my family. Pat said they aren’t fun like Grama and Grampa. Patrick always just rolled his eyes when Pat said that.

“Hey Fatty Lumpkins.” I said to Katey who was sitting right by me. “Sucks to suck.” I said laughing.

“What in the world are you talking about, Lizzie? Just because two Canadians are inside of me doesn’t mean that I’m not rooting for the USA.” Katey said rubbing her stomach.

Katey was still Katey, except she was Katey Seabrook now. She was also pregnant with twins. I sometimes couldn’t help but be jealous of Katey sometimes. She may have thought I was the pretty one and the one that got whatever my eyes laid on, but I’m still Elizabeth Anka Czech. I wasn’t married, and I don’t think Patrick had any desire for it. I never asked Patrick about it, because even after three years of knowing each other and dating, Patrick was kind of nervous about relationships. I wasn’t expecting a huge ring or anything romantic. I just wanted to Elizabeth Kane.

That was the least of my worries right now though. I had a gold medal to win. I was already number one on the table with people dragging far behind me, but I wanted to be the best I could be. I wanted that gold medal more than anything right now.

“How do you get use to your back hurting all the time?” Katey asked me as I rubbed Pat’s hair.

“I don’t know. It just kind of happens.” Pat was falling asleep with his head on my shoulder. “Well we better get going downstairs. I have to hand off Pat to Patrick, and then I have to go practice and press. FUN.” I said getting up with Pat half asleep. I walked downstairs to restricted areas with my pass and I saw Patrick getting out of the locker room with his gold medal.

“Pat wake up little guy. Daddy is here.” I said in Pat’s ear and he shot up so quickly. He jumped out of my arms and ran to Patrick.

“DADDY!” Pat yelled hugging his legs.

“Patrick!” Patrick said picking up his son and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “You see that goal Daddy helped with?”

“Yeah Daddy real good pass. Left Winger not paying attention.” Pat said to his father. Patrick just laughed at him. He was right that was the scary thing.

“You gonna play hockey like Daddy?” Patrick asked Pat.

“I play hockey just like Daddy. I wear medal Daddy?” Pat said touching his dad’s medal that was around his neck. Patrick with his free hand put the medal around his son’s neck. Pat smiled and looked at while Patrick walked towards me.

“YES!” I said hugging my boyfriend. “Ugh Patrick I was so happy. It made me forget about 2010. Ugh it was just so amazing. I loved it.” I said finally all excited.

“I’m glad you were excited.” Patrick said kissing me.

“I gotta go babe. I have practice of my own and then press. Just once you are done give Pat to your mom.” I said smiling.

“Okay.” Patrick said kissing me one last time and we parted ways.

Practice was never fun it seemed it was beyond strict and people yelling all the time. Press was okay, but people were more interested in asking me how I felt about Patrick winning a gold.

Oh the downsides of your boyfriend being one of the golden boys of US Hockey team...

Sixteen hours later I was getting ready for the biggest moment in all of my life it seemed. I was never so nervous in my life. I just stretched out and took a breather. I could do this. I was the last one to skate, because of the best/highest score. When it was my turn to get on the ice I just looked up in the crowd and saw Patrick in the crowd with Pat on his lap and they were watching attentively. My parents were right next to them and so were Patrick’s family. I just took a deep breath when I got on the ice and let the music start and where I started my routine.

I was going for a 4-3-3 pattern. No one tried it yet. I had to try. I could land a quad with no sweat now. My coach at the time explained my routine as almost a death routine full of intricate jumps, spins, movements, and emotions that we haven’t seen in skating for a very long time. I was expected to do the unthinkable, and the pressure was unbearable at times.

I landed two quads in the routine, and enough spins to make anyone puke. Then when the music stopped and I took a deep breath and just threw my hand up in the air. The crowd went wild and I just smiled.

That night I was at the closing ceremony wearing a gold medal. I couldn’t actually believe I did it. I was happy with my medal. I was happy with my life. But... It was time for me to just disappear back to being a mother of a three year old boy.

However, this year was an amazing year. Because...

WE WON THE STANLEY CUP AGAIN.

It was against the Penguins. It was Game Seven in OT that made Chicago a victor. YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE HAPPENED?

Patrick scored the winning goal again. This time with no “did it go in” questions. It went in this time. The lights went off, and that feeling being in the United Center that night left me speechless.

“YES!” I said standing up “WE FUCKING DID IT!” I yelled. Pat was standing next to me jumping up and down.

“MOMMY DADDY DID IT! DADDY WON AGAIN!” Pat said hugging my leg. “WE GOT A GOLD AND STANLEY!”

“Don’t forget Conn Smythe too Pat.” I said picking up my son and hugging him. “Mommy is so happy right now.” I said smiling.

“Mommy we see Daddy soon?” Pat said smiling at me.

“Oh yeah just a few more minutes little guy.” I said smiling at him. “Hey fat ass you okay over there?” I asked Katey who was sitting next to us. She was the size of a house. I never want to have twins.

“They lost...” Katey said. Katey still managed to be a Pens fan after marrying a Hawk. I didn’t get it. I mean I’ve been a Hawks fan since I was little, and it only got worse when I started to date Patrick. For twenty minutes I watch the pass the cup around. Then we went on the ice. I got on the ice holding Pat’s hand. Patrick met us halfway.

“Stay there hold on.” Patrick said to me. I stopped and looked at him. “Pat can I have what I asked you to hold on too” Patrick looked at his son. Pat walked over to his father and hide something from me. Then it happened. Patrick got down on one knee.

No way.

“Elizabeth I was gonna do this today even if we didn’t win. I love you. I want you to be the only girl in my life. You made me a father, and Patrick was one of the best things to ever happen to me. You were also one the best thing to ever happen to me. I was there for you and your dreams and you were there for mine. I don’t want to share them with anyone else. Will you marry me?” Patrick said to me. I started to cry from everything that was going on, and I just nodded my head.

Patrick kissed me, and I felt flashes all on us. He put the ring on my finger, and I couldn’t help but feel overjoyed with everything thing that was going on right now. I was so happy. I was never so overjoyed in my life. Things honestly were so perfect in my life right now, I’d be a sorry sap not to love my life.

“Miss Czech!” I heard someone say to me while I looked around and saw a camera crew and reports all around us.

“Yes?” I said.

“What are your feelings on this whole year so far?” The person asked me.

“It has been an amazing year. I can’t like express how amazing all of this is...” I said still in shock with everything that was going on. Patrick picked up Pat and Pat just held onto his father.

“Are you gonna play hockey like Daddy one day?” They asked Pat. Pat smiled and went...

“Yeah! Right winger play for Hawks!” Pat said smiling.

Pat was right about that much. Pat did start to play hockey really young, and he was always better than everyone else. It wasn’t the deranged hockey mom speaking in me, it was fact. Moving up to leagues with people twice the size of you and still kicking their ass wasn’t me being “My son is god.” speaking. Pat was gonna be an amazing hockey player.

Then when he was the right age and following the footsteps of his father, Chicago just so happened to have first pick. Whether my son ranked two in the draft pick meant that Chicago was gonna take the son of one of their best players they had in decades wasn’t up to us.

It was up to the hockey gods...