Tricks Of The Game

Chapter 41

*Duncan's POV*

I paced back and forth in the waiting room, unsure of what to do. The love of my life was laying unconscious in a hospital bed and I couldn't even see her. They refused to tell me her status or the status of my baby. My baby. Not Patrick's. He was not going to sweep in and take my woman and the kid he swore he didn't want. I wouldn't let him.

I walked up to the front desk, armed with my most menacing glare.

"Sir, you need to sit down," the woman behind the desk told me.

"No. You need to sit down and listen. That is my girlfriend laying in that room. She is pregnant with my child, and I haven't been told what condition either of them are in. You are going to let me back there right now, or I will have my lawyers here immediately," I promised.

She sighed. "Fine. Go back to her room and I will have the doctor sent back there to inform you of what's going on. But leave your cohorts out here," she said, motioning to Patrick, Bri, Brandon, and Toews who had just showed up to help control the situation.

I nearly ran back to Kelsey's room, not bothering to tell any of them where I was going. I tried to mentally prepare myself for the worst, but I couldn't. I couldn't picture my life without the girl I love so much, or without the little baby that would be here before we know it. That girl meant the absolute world to me, and in that moment I knew I needed to tell her that.

I rounded the corner to her room, and there she was. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful. I was breathtaken. My girl looked like an angel. I kneeled next to her bedside and took her hand, begging God to please let my beauty queen and my baby be okay.

In the midst of my bartering with God, the doctor walked in, breaking my concentration.

"Are they okay?" I asked, afraid to hear his answer.

"Both mom and baby are fine. Her collapse was caused by a sudden spike in blood pressure, likely because she was in a stressful situation at the time. She's still asleep because we sedated her in order for her to get the rest she needed, so she should regain consciousness in a few minutes. I understand she is assistant coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, but she needs to be able to control her stress levels as her blood pressure rates are making her at risk for preeclampsia. Also, I was going to wait to tell you until Miss Campbell had regained consciousness, but while we were taking a peek at the baby, we noticed a definite pronounced area, and while it's still too early to tell, there's roughly a 70% chance that you two are expecting a boy."

The last sentence painted an enormous grin on my face. I was going to have another little boy running around, and his mother was the most stunning woman in the world. Colton was going to have his baby brother. But most importantly, my girlfriend and my son were okay. I thanked the doctor profusely, and he left the room after explaining that he would be back in about an hour to clear us to go home. I sent a text to Bri, letting her know that Kels and the baby would be just fine.

Shortly after the doctor left, Kelsey started to stir.

"Duncs?" She opened her eyes, gathering her surroundings.

"Right here, my love," I smiled at her, so happy to hear my baby's voice.

"Is the baby okay?" She asked as tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

"Yeah baby, he's just fine and so are you." I grinned, wondering if she would pick up I  the hint I dropped. She breathed an audible sigh of relief, then paused and looked at me as she realized what I said.

"Wait- did you just say he?" Her eyes lit up.

"There's a 70 percent chance we're having a boy, baby." Tears welled up in both our eyes as we smiled at each other. Soon, though, her tears turned to tears of sadness as she undoubtedly remembered what had happened leading up to the hospital.

"I'm so sorry Duncan," she cried. "I made a terrible mistake..."

"Baby shhh...." I soothed her, remembering what had landed her in the hospital in the first place. "I already know. And I understand. He's the biological father and I know you still have feelings for him, and you want what's best for the baby. And honey, I know you know he isn't it. I love you, Kelsey. I. Love. You."

"Duncan, I love you too. God I'm an idiot. I fell right back into the palm of his hand when I already have the only man I will ever need right here. I love you so much. Please forgive me," she sobbed.

"Baby," I took her hand and kissed her. "You were forgiven the moment it happened."

We sat there for a minute, just starting into each other's eyes. I loved her beyond a shadow of a doubt. I knew she was the one I wanted to marry and spend the rest of my days with.  She silently tugged on my arm, signaling me to lay next to her. I did as she wanted, pulling her close to me. She gently played with my hair, her face unreadable. Her hand dropped down to caress my cheek before resting on my chest.

"I love everything about you," she said as a frown slowly began to form. "I wish this baby was biologically yours." My heart broke a little as she said the words we had both been thinking.

"Baby, as far as the court is concerned, he is. Patrick signed the papers. He has no rights to this child. But I know what you mean," I said, trying to reassure her.

"I know. I just want to know that you're sure about this. Once you sign the adoption papers there isn't any going back. I don't want you to feel trapped." She tried to blink back the tears but to no avail.

"Kelsey," I lifted her chin slowly so she was looking up at me. "I'm not him. I won't abandon you. I love you. I'm yours, baby, and I have every intention of always being yours." I sealed my promise with a kiss. I vowed to myself that I would go pick out a ring for her tomorrow morning and start planning how I would propose to her.

After awhile of cuddling together, the doctor came in and informed us that everything looked good and it was safe for us to go home.

I helped Kelsey change into the fresh clothes I had brought for her, signed all the release papers, and we made our way out to the waiting room. Bri stood up and wrapped Kelsey in a hug. Patrick was the next to stand up, pulling her into a hug before I had a chance to stop it. Clearly uncomfortable, she pushed him away.

"What?" He raised his voice, borderline enraged. "So you go out with me, let me kiss you, tell me you're going to let me see my kid and then you push me off you when I've been out here scared to death for the last 3 hours? You are such a bitch!" He seethed. Before I had an opportunity to knock his ass out, Brianna stepped up and slapped him across the face. She began yelling at him, but I didn't stick around to hear the contents of what she said to him. As Jonathan and Brandon stepped between the two of them, I told Brandon we would pick Colton up in the morning and ushered Kelsey out to the car. We were headed home at last.