Just in case you haven't been paying attention, the notification system was down for the last two months or so. If you didn't read chapter 51, please make sure you go back and check it out.
Chapter 52: Before
Charlie and Lizzy walked back over to the team who was gathered in front of the school and he organized everyone so that on the count of three Jim snapped a few photos of everyone smiling. Once he had a few of just the team, Lizzy looked at Bombay as most of their families had gathered behind Jim. She motioned for him to come to them. "Come on, Coach. We're your team, we need at least one with you," Lizzy said.
"Yeah, you made us, now you're stuck with us," Charlie added.
"That didn't work when you were ten, Charlie," Bombay answered.
"You're right, I was 12, and it did work back then. You came back," Charlie sassed.
"Why do I put up with you?" Bombay asked, but he moved to join the team. Lizzy stepped away and looked at the team.
"Hey, you don't get to leave. You're as much part of this team as we are," Russ said.
"Yeah, but something's missing. Where's Orion?" Lizzy asked. She spun around and searched the crowd but she was too short to spot him. Portman was ahead of her.
"Coach Orion!" he called. "Come on." Orion stepped out of the crowd and walked over to the team. Lizzy stepped back to the team and Jim took a few more photos.
Once all the photos were taken, people started leaving and soon it was just Lizzy's and Charlie's family and Fulton's. Portman, Kenny, and Dwayne would meet up with Fulton and Charlie after dinner. Dwayne would be staying with Charlie and the other two with Fulton. "Are you sure we can't take you to dinner, sweetheart?" Michelle asked.
"Really, I just want to go home. Grab some take out and curl up with a good movie," Lizzy answered. "If you want to go out, that's fine, but I'm just not feeling it tonight."
"No, we understand. You take care of yourself, sweetie," Mrs. Jacobs said.
Lizzy turned to her best friend. "Far be it from me to hold you back from any kind of celebrating you want to do with—" she started.
Fulton waved her off. "I promised to drop you off and I'm going to stick to it. I see them all the time," Fulton answered.
"Alright then, we'll see you back at the house in a bit," Rob said.
"Hold it. Y'all go celebrate with Charlie. It's not fair to make him miss out for me," Lizzy said.
"It's no big deal," Charlie protested.
"Kinda is. Just cause I'm not feeling up for it doesn't mean you should miss out."
"Yeah. We'll keep Lizzy company until you get back." Mr. Johnson said.
"We can even take the little one if you want us to," Mrs. Johnson said. Her maternal grandparents probably felt out of place since her mom was no longer around to make this a full family affair.
Michelle looked to her husband who glanced at his mom and sister then looked at his nephew. Charlie did his best to keep a straight face but it was right there in his eyes. He really wanted to go out to dinner with his family and not just his mom and Bombay. Lizzy had to admit that it would be nice if her dad and brothers, who were Charlie's uncle and cousins, spent some time with him and for once they weren't focused on Lizzy and what she was going through, especially now that most of them lived more than a few states away. "If you guys are up for it," Rob said. The rest of the family agreed.
"You really don't mind taking him?" Michelle asked, looking at the Johnsons.
"He may not be our grandson by blood, but if you'll let us, we'll always consider you family. I don't think Becky would mind," Mrs. Johnson said.
"Ok," Michelle agreed.
Soon Fulton and Lizzy were in her car headed up to Stillwater with her grandparents behind them as everyone else went to dinner. "You sure you didn't want to go with them?" Fulton asked about halfway there. Of course, his favorite rock station was on low enough that they could talk over it but not low enough that he'd miss the music.
"About as sure as you are about not celebrating with your parents and granddad," Lizzy answered. "I really could have just gone home with them and gotten Ben or Seth to drive my car. Graduation's a big thing for most people." She stared at him as he continued to drive. Of everyone, Fulton was often the hardest to read. Charlie, on the other hand, was the easiest.
"Especially someone like me?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lizzy asked defensively. His face was still a blank slate and he wasn't looking at her but she knew how he felt. His grip had tightened on the steering wheel. It was so obvious that he was angry with her but she wasn't sure why.
"You and I both know that anyone who looks at me is only going to see a slacker and someone who struggled to pass so they all think I was lucky to graduate."
That made her angry. Fulton was a great guy and very smart, well decently smart, and to know that people couldn't see that in him just rubbed her the wrong way. She glared at him. He glanced at her before staring back at the road in front of him. "Because they don't know you, Fulton. See, I don't get that. The guys that fit the slacker stereotype aren't typically like that if you look more than skin deep. Half of them play defense for hockey or football so being big and grumpy is all in the looks and at nearly every school I've heard of, you have to be at least passing to be on the sports' teams if not better. Anyone who knows that should know looks aren't everything." She flopped back in her seat being careful of her shoulder.
"Right."
"Besides, you're not the one who failed the first grade," she muttered.
Fulton finally smiled. He stopped at a traffic light and looked over at her. "That's not really your fault either. If you hadn't had a terrible teacher, you could have counted higher than 25."
"Also true."
"Really, Lizzy, it's fine. I can have dinner with Grandpa anytime and I'm doing my parents a favor. This gives us time to get the guest room ready for Kenny and Dad can get started on developing those photos."
"Ok," she agreed, feeling better about Fulton driving her home instead of going to dinner with his family.
The morning of the surgery rolled around and Lizzy found herself more nervous than she had ever been. She was glad she wasn't allowed to eat. She was about to change into an oversized shirt when she heard a tap against her window. It was followed shortly by another, then a third. She walked over and yet another tap was heard. "Hold your horses." She pushed back the curtain and saw the Ducks in the yard. Julie's arm was drawn back in mid-throw. Lizzy lifted the window with her good hand before Julie could throw another rock and stared at the team. "What is this? A bad 90's rom-com?" she called down.
"A fairy tale more like. Lizzy, Lizzy, let down your hair!" Russ called up.
"You're hilarious!" She paused to listen. She could hear someone moving around in the kitchen and a toilet flushed. Someone was awake. "The front door is open, just keep your voices down. My grandparents could be asleep." The team went to the door and Lizzy quickly got dressed. She came downstairs to find her team in the living room, waiting for her. "You guys really didn't have to come all the way up." They were spread along the huge sectional that took up most of the room. She wedged herself between the Bash Brothers.
"True but we wanted to," Adam said.
"And we brought presents so we had to," Averman said.
"Averman!" Connie warned.
"I'd have gotten that from the bag Russ is holding," Lizzy answered, smiling softly.
"Hey, Liz, are you—" Rob started.
"That sentence better not end with hungry," she warned softly.
"Right, is your team hungry? I can make them something," Rob backtracked.
"Anyone who hasn't eaten?" Lizzy asked. It stayed quiet. "Looks like we're all good here. On a side note, we don't ask the team if they're hungry, because they're always hungry. We just ask if they've eaten, usually means in the last three hours." The team laughed because it was true. Any parent or coach who was around learned quick not to ask if the team was hungry. Usually Portman, Fulton, Goldberg, and Averman were quick to answer yes even if they had just eaten 20 minutes beforehand. It was cheaper and easier to ask if anyone hadn't eaten which would garner a more accurate time of the last time they had eaten and if they should be hungry again.
Rob nodded. "Ok, let me know if you need anything." The team agreed.
"So, draft is coming up in June, what do you think of your chances?" Lizzy asked. She was hopeful that talking about hockey would keep them from talking about the surgery. The less she could focus on that the less nervous she would feel, hopefully.
"Is anyone actually old enough for the draft?" Averman asked.
"Or eligible?" Dwayne asked.
"Everyone who is 18 before September 15th of this year, which is everyone, is eligible for the draft even if they decide to go to college," Charlie said.
"I'm surprised they didn't pick Banks last year," Matt dropped in as he plopped down in the big easy chair across the room.
"I am not that good," Adam answered.
"There are guys on my team I wish were half as good as you."
"You weren't drafted, were you?" Adam asked.
"Lizzy?" Matt asked, looking at his sister.
"He was. Went straight to the minors for some reason." Lizzy wasn't sure she had heard the story as to why her brother hadn't gone on to college. She was pretty sure he could have gotten a full ride should he have chosen to go.
"College wasn't for me. There was nothing I was interested in besides playing hockey. Drafted third round in '89. Played for the same team Bombay played for. The Minnehaha Waves. Played for them for five years before I got signed to the Redwings. They technically traded me for a draft pick."
"Who was your NHL affiliate?" Guy asked.
"Chicago, since the Stars left Minnesota that year," Matt answered.
"Blackhawks or Mustangs?" Portman asked.
"Blackhawks. Again, I'll ask why you didn't get drafted last year, Adam?"
"He wasn't old enough last year. His 18th birthday is next month. Last year's draft, only myself, Charlie, Fulton, Portman, and ..." Lizzy looked around trying to remember whose birthday was in September. Then she remembered. "Russ were all 18 before September 15th," Lizzy finished.
"Liz, we gotta leave in 15," Rob said. "Matt, go wake your brothers."
Lizzy flinched but tried not to let her nerves show. "So, is everyone but me going to college next year?" Most of the team nodded.
"What are your plans for the summer, Lizzy? Are you staying here or ..." Julie asked.
"As long as there are no complications, after a couple of days, we'll head back for Ohio. Dad's checked around and some of the best PT clinics aren't all that far from my house. Plus, he'll be able to keep working and be there."
Suddenly, Portman reached behind Lizzy's head. Lizzy looked over her shoulder to see Portman's hand on Ben's chest. She raised her eyebrow at Ben who backed off. "Right, sorry," Ben said.
"It's fine. We all know you're the blondest one of my brothers." Lizzy grinned at the blond. Technically, Ben's hair had browner in it than Matt's did, his was pure blond, but that wasn't what Lizzy meant.
He rolled his eyes. "That's not cool," Ben answered.
"But I love you," Lizzy said sweetly. She grinned widely.
"Yeah, yeah, sure you do," Ben answered.
"Lizzy, do you want to change?" Rob asked.
"No, I'm good. Dad's right though," Lizzy answered, looking back at her friends. "I should get ready to go."
"But first, presents," Charlie said.
"Ok," Lizzy said. She looked at Russ who handed over the purple gift bag in his hands. Lizzy pulled out the tissue paper, tossing it at Fulton who brushed it aside. Deeper inside the bag was something soft and squishy. She pulled it out and found a green and purple mallard duck. "Aww," she cooed.
"You like it?" Kenny asked.
"I love it. I'm going to call him Nicky," Lizzy answered, squeezing the duck to her chest.
"Why Nicky?" Julie asked.
"Goose?" Lizzy asked, glancing at Portman.
"Nick Bradshaw." He smirked.
"I don't get it," Goldberg said.
"I've heard that name before but I don't remember where," Charlie said.
"Isn't that Goose's real name?" Rob said.
"How do you know that?" Lizzy asked. She stared at her father in disbelief.
"Because you watched that movie 20 times the first week I let you watch it when you were nine. Seth got pissed when you nearly wore out the tape that he got for his 10th birthday. Though it is technically Chris's fault we had the video to begin with," Rob answered simply.
"How is that my fault?" Chris asked. The older Jacobs boy stepped into the living room.
"Because you told me you were going to take Seth to the park when you were 11 and he was 9. Instead, you took him to the movies to see that. The plane movie. The movie came out on tape on Ben's ninth birthday and Seth begged for two months for that movie. I still don't think any of you were actually old enough to see it but I was out of the house too much to really ban you from it," Rob said.
"Top Gun is rated PG," Portman threw in.
"Really?" Rob asked. "Even with that scene with Maverick and ..." He fished for the other character's name.
Lizzy could only come up with one scene where it would be a little touchy that had to do with Maverick. "Charlie?" Lizzy asked.
"What?" Charlie asked.
"No, that's the character's name. Yes, even with that scene because you don't really see anything." There was a scene that had been added in post-production of Maverick and Charlie a.k.a. Charlotte Blackwood, together that was much more mature than the rest of the film, even with Goose's death being shown on screen. However, because it was added several months later, the screen was lit in silhouette instead of something that allowed you to see whatever they were doing more clearly. Rumor was because it was shot after filming had wrapped.
"We also got you these," Connie said, handing over another gift bag as she changed subjects. This one had several tank tops and spaghetti strap shirts. "Figured it would make it easier with everything."
"You guys are the best," Lizzy answered.
"Five minutes," Rob said.
"Right. So, hugs." Lizzy stood and looked around at her team.
Goldberg stood first and gently wrapped her in a hug. "You're going to be fine. We'll see you in a few hours." Lizzy nodded. After that, the rest of the team took their turns hugging her with the exception of Fulton and Adam.
They said goodbye one more time in the driveway then the Ducks were off. Portman lingered a bit behind everyone else. Lizzy stared up at him for a few minutes before she wrapped him in a hug. "I'm going to be fine, Goose," she said softly.
"Yeah. You're going to do great. I know you don't have control over it, but you're strong. You'll come out the other side just fine."
"Exactly." She looked past him to the driveway to see Kenny, Luis, and Julie standing next to his car. "They're waiting. You should go. I'll see you in a couple hours, I promise."
"Yeah. What am I worried about? You're Maverick. Maverick can do anything."
Lizzy laughed. "Absolutely. Maverick's never worried about anything." Portman pressed a kiss to her forehead then walked down to his car. Lizzy stood on the front lawn until Matt set a hand on her shoulder. "Our grandparents want to see you before you head off," Matt said. Lizzy followed him inside to see her grandparents.
Soon Lizzy found herself in her car with her dad. "There's something I want you to promise me," she said, toying with her new duck.
"Lizzy," Rob answered.
"Please," she begged.
"Ok, fine."
"If something happens to me—" He shot her a glare. "If, please. If it does, I know you get everything and I don't care what you do with it except this," she said, holding up a piece of paper. "Three things. In a box under my bed in Ohio is my Peewee Ducks jersey, I want Fulton to have it. In my duffle in the trunk is a stuffed rabbit, give it to Dwayne. Third and most importantly, in the bottom drawer of my dresser is a black hockey jersey from Morgan Park. Give that and this duck to Portman."
"Nothing's going to happen to you, sweetheart. It's a routine surgery and you'll be home tonight. I promise." Lizzy looked at her dad for several long seconds then looked back out the windshield. She sighed heavily.
"I'm not a little kid any more, Dad. I know how the world works and that you can't promise that. On the other hand, you can promise this though."
Rob stopped at the red light and looked at his daughter. She didn't look at him, but fully stared out the windshield. He nodded, glancing at the light. "I promise I will do that, but you're going to be fine." He set a gently hand on her shoulder and rubbed his thumb back and forth for a moment.
"Yeah. Green," Lizzy answered. Rob shifted his attention back to the road and continued to the hospital. Lizzy's nerves settled a bit as they continued. With everything taken care of, all that was left was to get through the actual surgery.