Chapter 47

Before I knew it, it was October. Sidney and I had managed to mostly avoid the neighbors since dinner that one night. Of course that didn’t stop Tamara from practically prancing around in next to nothing outside every time she was home from school. I was embarrassed for her.

On October 2 it was time to figure out how Sidney and my daily routines were going to work. It was a game day, and opening night. I wanted to stay out of his way, but I’d never been around him the day of a game before. After getting my third dirty look from him in half an hour I locked myself in the office and worked on a paper until he left for the rink.

Vero picked me up a little while later and all the girls got together for dinner and drinks before the game. Then we headed into the arena and watched as they lifted the banner announcing them as the Stanley Cup Champions for 2008-2009. We all stood grasping onto each other as our eyes filled with happy tears of the memory of that Cup win.

Then it was game on. I couldn’t help but scream in excitement at both Sidney’s goal and him being announced as first star of the game. It looked like the team hadn’t missed a beat over the offseason. If this was a sign for things to come, it was going to be a hell of a season.

Two weeks later I got into bed and flipped off the bedside lamp. Sidney had gotten into bed a little while before me, which hadn’t surprised me. He liked getting to bed early the night before a game. I was surprised however that he was still awake when he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me on the forehead.

“Happy birthday,” he whispered.

“Not until tomorrow,” I told him. He chuckled and placed another kiss on my forehead.

“It’s midnight, Babe,” he said. I glanced over at the clock and saw that it was in fact midnight. He lifted my chin up and kissed me before we fell asleep in each other’s arms.

I groaned when his alarm went off the next morning, but rolled over and fell back to sleep when he got up. The alarm went off a second time without him in bed and I turned it off, really annoyed. Why would he set a second one? I turned back over to go back to sleep again and within five minutes the alarm went off a third time.

This time I got up and made my way downstairs to ask Sidney what the hell he was thinking waking me up three times on my birthday. I mean really, who does that? I walked into the kitchen ready to scold when I smelled the waffles. Sidney looked up and smiled at me. I saw the plate of waffles and the bowl of strawberries with a can of whipped cream sitting next to it.

“You were this close to being in trouble,” I told him with a smile, and indicating a very small space between my fingers.

“Would you stop? Just eat,” he commanded. I sat down and placed a Belgian waffle on my plate and then loaded it with strawberries and whipped cream.

“You made me breakfast?” I asked in surprise before taking my first bite. He gave me a sheepish look.

“I had them delivered,” he explained. I laughed at him. “You know I would have found a way to screw them up!” I only laughed again as I started eating.

He left not long after for morning skate and I went back up to bed where I managed to fall asleep for another hour. I was woken up by the ringing of the doorbell and wondered what the hell someone could possibly want at 10 am. I walked downstairs as the doorbell rang a second time and saw Grace standing on the other side.

“You woke me up,” I grumbled at her when I opened the door.

“Oh well. Let’s go,” she said. I looked at her in confusion. Did we have plans?

“Go? Go where?” I asked. She pointed behind her to the driveway. I glanced out and saw the limo parked there with all of the girls hanging out and calling to me. “What’s this?”

“Sidney set up a spa day for all of us. Then dinner after. Then the game where we have a nice luxury box ready,” Grace explained. My eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t said anything about any of that.

“I have to change,” I told her looking down at what I was wearing. I had on a pair of Sidney’s sweatpants and a ratty t-shirt.

“Why are you worried about clothes? You’re going to be naked all day!” I heard Vero call out from the limo. I rolled my eyes and laughed before grabbing house keys and locking up.

The limo took us to the spa. Sidney had gone all out for us. We had massages, facials, body wraps, and mani/pedis. It was amazing. It was great to hang out with all of the girls. It had been our first opportunity to really all get together outside of the rink since opening night of the season.

Just as I was about to ask how exactly I was going to look presentable for dinner and the game with just sweatpants and a t-shirt with me I was ushered into a room where we all had our hair, or a new wig in my case, and makeup done. Then I was handed a beautiful dress and a pair of shoes to change into. I got dressed and we got back into the limo.

We stopped at a restaurant for dinner where we were given our own private room. We sat around the table laughing, drinking, and eating. While I was sad that I couldn’t spend my birthday with Sidney, I was glad that I had all of them to enjoy it with. I was also so grateful that Sidney had set all of this up for me. He was getting a BIG thank you when we got home after the game tonight.

After one of the best meals of my life we all declared this restaurant to be the place where we’d go for every girls’ night from then on. It was time to head to the rink for the game and we piled back into the limo. We arrived and were escorted upstairs to one of the luxury boxes.

We gave orders to a waitress who stopped by to ask what we wanted to drink and continued to hang out until game time. With all of us a little drunk we cheered on the guys as they skated out on the ice, and then laughed at the fact that we’d never done that before. We went crazy when Guerin scored less than 5 minutes into the game to open the scoring, just enjoying the entire night.

The game continued on and the Pens were playing well. I so badly wanted them to beat Tampa to continue my amazing birthday and they seemed to be on their way. There was a stoppage in play in the first period and the red light went on behind the penalty boxes signaling a TV timeout. I turned away from the ice to get up and grab a drink.

“I’d stay here if I were you,” Vero told me with a smile.

“What?” She pointed at the Jumbotron and I was shocked to see my face up on the screen.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins organization would like to wish a very special Happy 22nd Birthday to Tanner Falco,” the announcer said over the loudspeakers.

I felt suddenly self conscious knowing that an entire arena of people were looking at me. As I smiled nervously I heard the sound of sticks clanking on the ice. I looked down to see Sidney at center ice tapping his stick on it, with the rest of the team tapping theirs off of the ice and boards.

Soon after the Lightning players began to tap their sticks as well. Before I knew what was happening the entire crowd began to clap and get to their feet. I was completely overwhelmed by the support and generosity of everyone in this building. Tears filled my eyes at the sight and I covered my mouth with one hand to keep from sobbing.

Vero and Grace wrapped their arms around me from each side. I smiled and gave a wave to the crowd before mouthing the words “thank you”. I watched the light go out, signaling the TV timeout was over, but the crowd was still on their feet and still clapping. I looked back down at Sidney who was still at center ice. Even from this distance I could feel his eyes on me and I knew he was smiling. It was by far the most amazing thing that had ever happened to me.

The Penguins easily dispatched of the Lightning 4-1 and Sidney was named the second star of the game. He pointed up to me as I cheered when he skated out to acknowledge it. Then we all made our way downstairs to wait in the wives’ lounge for the guys to come out. All the guys hugged me and wished me a happy birthday when they walked in and I thanked every one of them.

Unlike usual, Sidney wasn’t the last one to come into the room. I knew he must have basically blown off the media and rushed through everything to do that. I also really appreciated not having to wait in the room by myself for him on my birthday. When I saw him walk through the door I launched myself out of my seat and into his arms. I could hear him laughing as I buried my face in his neck.

“You’re amazing,” I murmured and he pushed me away, far enough to kiss me.

“I just wanted you to have a good birthday,” he replied. I continued to grin up at him.

“I did, thank you,” I assured him.

“Don’t thank me yet. It’s not over unless you’re too tired.” My eyes grew wide with excitement and I shook my head. “Good. It’s been a while since you’ve been out so I thought we’d head to Diesel.”

He was right. Sidney and a few of the other guys piled into the limo with us and we headed to Diesel. I was dancing almost immediately upon entering the club. The last time I’d been out was before I’d found out about the cancer, so it had been 7 months. The girls all joined me and we danced until we needed a break.

I fell next to Sidney on the couch he was sitting on, and he handed me a glass of champagne. I talked with him and some of the others for a while until I heard “Happy Birthday” being played. I giggled as I looked up to see a giant cake covered in candles being wheeled over to me. I made my wish, blew out the candles, and began to pass the cake around to everyone.

“This has been the best birthday ever,” I told Sidney when I noticed that it was after midnight and no longer officially my birthday.

“With tomorrow off for us, I thought we’d make it a full weekend,” he suggested. I looked at him in surprise.

“What did you have in mind?” I questioned. He gave me a nonchalant shrug and took a sip of his drink.

“I thought all of tomorrow it could be just the two of us since I didn’t get to see you much today. I was thinking about a trip to the zoo, a nice quiet romantic dinner somewhere, and lots of sex before, after, and in between,” he explained. I laughed and kissed him.

“It sounds perfect to me.”

We didn’t stay out much longer. We got home and Sidney carried me up the stairs and put me down on the bed. He didn’t get any argument from me when he started placing kisses down my neck. When we were finally too spent to stay awake any longer I thought back on the entire day. Only three words came to mind. Best. Birthday. Ever.