Dream On (Jonathan Toews)

Chapter Forty-Four

Jonathan

We finish up training at Notre Dame and head home for the first game of the year. I've noticed Mary Kate has been checking her phone a lot lately and I usually brush it off but she was constantly on the thing. I wasn't about to accuse her of anything but I really hope she wasn't keeping things from me. "Can I ask you something" I ask as we sit on the couch. "Yes... I am in fact batman" she says with a straight face and I lose it. "That was not what I was going to ask" I laugh. "I know. What's up" she wonders. "Why have you been on your phone so much lately" I ask slowly. "Because I need to tell my people where to hide the body" she jokes. "Come on MK I'm serious" I say. "Fine, but you can't say anything yet because nothing is finalized" she says and I nod. "I'm starting a charity. The Fletcher Family Foundation. It's for athletes who are hurt and are struggling to get back or athletes who got taken out of the game because of injury and are struggling to transfer to real life. It's through the Hawks organization and it's basically finding ways to help people cope, new ways to get people back to their sport faster. A lot of it will be emotional support that people often forget about. But there's going to be money going to research on ways to lessen the chance of injuries or heal them faster. Plus it'll go with suicide and depression prevention. Basically a bunch of things to help injured athletes like myself still chase their dreams. I was lucky but I know not everyone gets their happily ever after, I want to help people find their happily ever after too" she says. Wow, that was not what I was expecting to be perfectly honest. I knew she had a lot of money but she hated it. She thinks it's dirty money and wants nothing to do with it, but it's awesome that she found something good to do with it. "I would have never guess you were doing all of that" I admit, she wasn't giving anything away. I was impressed. "Remember when I said that you would never know anything that I don't want you to, that's still true" she reminds me. "Is there anything I need to know" I wonder. "Nope, you know everything you need to" she assures me before tossing a skittle high in the air and catching it in her mouth. "Are you even real" I joke and she shrugs. "I don't know. I feel like more times than not I feel like I'm dreaming" she admits. I feel the same way every time I'm with her.

First game is Dallas today against the Stars. I get my pads and jersey on get focused for the game. "The start of another season eh Jonny" Patrick chirps sitting next to me. It's been him and I since the start and there's no one else I would want as my right hand man to take on these obstacles. "Another day another dollar" I joke and he rolls his eyes. "That was a total Mary Kate joke, you need to stop talking to her" he jokes. "Like I'm the only one affected by her. I saw you watching Tangled the other day... by yourself" I remind him. "Hey, that is a brilliant movie" he defends. "You were crying" I comment and he looks around before shushing me. We stop joking around and focus for the game, it was go time.

The first game of the season goes into over time because why wouldn't it. Nothing happens there and were headed to the shoot out. I go first like usual and score five hole. We end up winning the game and starting the 2014-2015 season with a win. I take a shower and do interviews then meet Mary Kate out at the car. "There's my shootout king" she says lacing her fingers behind my neck. "Here's my ice queen" I say pecking her lips. "Good game tonight" she says, her smile lighting the space around us. "Couldn't have done it without my favorite coach" I respond. I grab for her hair tie and let her hair down. She always had to wear it in a tight bun for games, since her hair was so long and thick it often times gave her a headache so I decided to take it down for her. I run my fingers through her long soft hair and let the scent of her shampoo surround me. It is fall in Dallas which meant it was still warm. "What do you say to a night out on the city" I ask. "I'd say, that sounds great" she smiles.

We walk around the city and enjoy the night live. This place is so different than Chicago but it was still an amazing city. "If you were offered to play hockey in the NHL would you take it" I ask her as we walked hand in hand down the busy street. "Actually..." she trails off. "Wait, you got people looking at you? That's great" I smile but she doesn't. "I know, and I'm more than grateful they're even batting a eye my direction. But I turned them all down" she informs me. "Wait... why? This is a chance of a lifetime" I tell her. "I get that, and I had not taking a opportunity such as this one when it's constantly been thrown at me. But my heart is in Chicago with the guys and you" she says. "I love you so much and would never let you go. But guys kill for this opportunity. I won't let me be the thing in the way of you and your dreams" I say. "But Jonny, you are what I dream of. Playing in the NHL would be a amazing honor, but I've already lost one family, I'm not about to lose another" she claims. I wanted her to play so bad but I didn't want to lose her either. She worked so hard to get to this point of her life, I understand where she is coming from. "Promise you didn't turn those offers down because of me" I say. "I promise. I've thought it through and I could never leave Chicago" she promises. "Okay. Then who offered a spot" I wonder. "The Avs, the Sharks, the Caps, and the Wild" she says. That's a lot of teams. "One day you will play in the NHL, I know it" I say and she raises a eyebrow. "And what makes you think that" she asks. "Because good things happen to good people. You dreams don't work unless you do, and you work harder than most guys in the NHL and you're not even playing right now. Great things seem to find you, I just know it will happen" I reply assuredly. We head back to the hotel and prepare for the rest of the season.