The Accidental Fate.

Chapter 6: The Hockey Game

Rosie. 

When Addison showed up at our door with a huge grin on her face, I knew she had something up her sleeve. "Guess what I got?" She said, practically bouncing with excitement.

I raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Three tickets the hockey game this Saturday! Front row!" She exclaimed, waving the tickets in the air.

My stomach dropped. The last thing I wanted was to step into Nathaniel's world, especially with Michael. "Addie, I don't know... it's just too complicated."

"Come on, Rosie. Michael would love it. Besides, it's just a game. We don't even have to interact with Nathaniel," Addison argued, trying to convince me.

Before I could respond, Michael ran into the room, his eyes wide with excitement. "Mommy, can we go to the game? Please, please, please!"

Addison grinned. "See? He's already excited."

Seeing his eager face melted my resolve. How could I deny him something he wanted so much? "Alright, alright. We'll go," I said, ruffling his hair. "But just this once."

The week flew by in a blur of preparations. The closer the game day got, the more anxious I became. What would Nathaniel think if he saw us? What would I say if I had to introduce Michael as my son? The thought of the possible confrontation made my stomach churn.

Saturday arrived sooner than I was ready for. Michael was bouncing off the walls with excitement as we got ready. H"e proudly wore his favourite hockey jersey, with Nathaniel's number 21 on the back. "Mommy, I can't wait to see the game! Do you think we'll see Nathaniel Hart?"

I forced a smile. "Maybe, sweetie. We'll see."

Addison arrived to pick us up, her enthusiasm a stark contrast to my nervousness. "Come on, Rosie. It's going to be fun. Michael will have a blast, and who knows, maybe it'll be good for you too."

I nodded, trying to keep my worries at bay. We piled into Addison's car and headed to the arena. The closer we got, the more my anxiety grew. By the time we arrived, I was practically trembling.

The arena was buzzing with energy, the excitement of the crowd palpable. Michael's eyes were wide with wonder as we found our seats. "This is amazing, Mommy!" He

Addison smiled at me, trying to reassure me. "See? He's having the time of his life already."

As the game started, I found myself getting caught up in the action. It was easy to forget my worries for a while and just enjoy the game with Michael. But as the game progressed, my eyes kept drifting to Nathaniel on the ice. He was in his element, commanding the rink with confidence and skill.

About halfway through the game, Nathaniel glanced towards the stands and his gaze landed on us. I saw the flicker of recognition in his eyes, and my heart skipped a beat. He looked surprised, but quickly turned his attention back to the game.

"Mommy, did Nathaniel see us?" Michael asked, his eyes wide with excitement.

"Maybe, sweetie. Let's just enjoy the game," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

As the final buzzer sounded and the game ended, the crowd erupted in cheers. Michael was on cloud nine, jumping up and down with joy. "We won! We won!"

Addison leaned over. "Why don't we go congratulate the team? I've got a friend who can get us into the locker room area."

I hesitated, but Michael's pleading eyes made the decision for me. "Okay, let's go."

We made our way through the bustling arena, following Addison's friend to the restricted area. My heart was pounding in my chest as we approached the locker rooms. What was I going to say if I ran into Nathaniel?

As we waited outside the locker room, the door opened, and Nathaniel stepped out. His eyes widened when he saw us. "Rosie?"

"Hey, Nate," I said, trying to sound casual. "Great game."

He looked down at Michael, who was beaming up at him. "Who's this little guy?"

"This is Michael," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "He's... he's my son."

Nathaniel's eyes flickered with surprise, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. "Your son?"

Before I could respond, Adrian appeared, grinning. "Hey, Nate. Who are your friends?"

Addison rolled her eyes. "Just some old acquaintances."

Adrian's grin widened. "Well, any friends of Nate's are friends of mine."

Addison scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself."

Nathaniel, sensing the tension, stepped in. "Adrian, this is Rosie and her son Michael. Rosie, this is my teammate, Adrian."

Adrian gave a playful wink to Addison. "Nice to meet you, Rosie. And you too, Michael."

Michael looked up at Nathaniel with wide eyes. "You're my favorite player, Mr. Hart!"

Nathaniel smiled down at him. "Thanks, buddy. I'm glad you enjoyed the game."

Addison, trying to deflect Adrian's attention, turned to Nathaniel. "Great game tonight. You guys were amazing out there."

Nathaniel nodded, still processing the news about Michael. "Thanks, Addison."

As the conversation continued, I felt a mix of relief and anxiety. Nathaniel hadn't pushed for more information, but I knew the questions would come eventually. For now, I was grateful for the momentary reprieve.

After a while, we said our goodbyes and headed back to the car. Michael was still buzzing with excitement, recounting every detail of the game. Addison gave me a reassuring smile as we drove home. "See? It wasn't so bad."

I nodded, but my mind was still racing. I knew I couldn't avoid the truth forever. Sooner or later, I would have to tell Nathaniel the full story. But for now, I was content to take it one step at a time, enjoying the small victories and the moments of happiness with Michael.

As we pulled into the driveway, I looked back at Michael, who had finally fallen asleep in his car seat, a smile still on his face. I smiled too, feeling a bit more at ease. Whatever came next, we would face it together.