James lead Sara back around the building and towards the entrance, both not saying anything to the other. Sara slid her hands deep in her pockets, glancing occasional at James and thanking him as he held the door open for her. Once they settled down in the cafeteria, she slid off her jacket and hat. “So why the coffee?” She asked, looking across the table at him.
“Why not?” James asked, taking a sip and wrinkling his nose slightly “Not like it’s great coffee.”
“Just wondering why a complete stranger would offer to buy a stranger coffee.” Sara replied, grimacing at her own coffee which brought on a laugh from James.
James calmed his laughing before replying. “Well you looked like you needed a distraction from her being in treatment. Your daughter has captured my heart as well as the other players and you seem interesting.” Sara shook her head in return and leaned back in her chair.
“I’m far from interesting Mr. Neal. Honestly for the past 5 months I’ve spent my time spilt between hospital visits and my work. Luckily they transferred me for the time being to a store closer to the hospital and I work all early mornings when Cait is normally sleeping plus I get a lot of family medical leave that’s paid for and the Ronal McDonald house is helping me stay closer to her.” Sara said, keeping her eyes focused on the beeper sitting on the table in front of her.
“Is that for when she’s out of treatment?” James asked, nodding towards the little black device and receiving a nod in return. “Well Sara I find you intriguing. What disease does Cait have?”
“Leukemia. She is starting her first round of chemo and radiation. It’s possible that she will have to go through a few more rounds after this. Hopefully after a few more days she’ll be able to come home before her next appointment. They said as long as she has no severe effects to the treatment and at this point she’s healthy enough that they want to give her some time at home before possibly being stuck in the hospital.” Sara was finding it very easy to talk to James, he actually seemed like he was listening to her. Not once did he look at his phone, or the people around them, just kept his eyes on her face. He nodded and asked questions as Sara explained what the treatment would be like for them. He wondered once again where Cait’s father was but remembering Sara’s face the first time he asked, he decided to keep it too himself for now.
“Well me and the guys were talking and once Cait is able to, we would like for you two to come down and watch us from Suite 66 for a game. We could arrange the transportation from the hospital and make sure there was medical staff on hand just in case. That is if you would want to. I could reserve you seats as well for right behind the bench.” James offered, raising an eyebrow at Sara who looked slightly taken back.
“Of course we would. But not to sound rude, isn’t that a bit much? I mean we are just a bunch of people you met today.” Sara replied, still taken back from the offer.
“You aren’t a bunch of strangers. You are a group of people who got dealt a horrible hand in life. It makes someone like me count my lucky stars to be as fortunate that I have the life I have. What’s wrong with giving a few hours back to someone who isn’t as fortunate as me?”
“Well when you put in that way…” Sara said, looking back away from his intense blue eyes to her coffee once again. “What are you doing?” She asked when he saw her grab for her phone.
“Putting my number in here of course. You can let me know when you want to come and we can set everything up. “ James replied, typing away on her phone before obviously sending himself a message from her phone. Sara stared at him in stunned silence, not even able to respond to him. She was not used to such high handed tactics of someone trying to get their way except from her friend Vikki and even that took at least 10 years to get used to. Their conversation was cut off by the beeper buzzing away on the table.
“I have to go. I’ll think about your offer.” Sara said quickly before grabbing her phone and the beeper and shoving them in her pockets before she practically dashed away from the table. Not only was she in a rush to beat the nurses back to Cait’s room, she also wanted to leave James Neal as quickly as possible. She left him at the table with a gapping look on his face, stuttering out some words after her that she ignored. She was practically sprinting towards the elevator, sliding in there before the doors closed. Leaning against the cool steel wall, she tried to calm her heart and those devious butterflies that were in her stomach. “Get a grip Sara. You have no time in your life for that.” She muttered to herself as she walked down the hall towards the dreaded room 418, right as Cait was being pushed into it.
After being reassured by Leeann that Cait was fine, just very tired from treatment and watching her set up the continuous drip of drugs that were going into her daughter’s little body, Sara set up the small reclining chair next to the bed and watched over Cait. She texted her family and Vikki to tell them that Cait was out of treatment before letting her eyes linger on the new contact that was in her phone. Shaking her head she put down her phone and closed her eyes, hoping to get a few hours of sleep before her little girl woke up.
The next morning Sara was awoken by whispering voices beside her face, mumbling slightly she slowly opened her eyes and saw a dark haired head leaning close to a red haired one, both of them coloring on a giant coloring book. Once she rubbed her eyes and her focus wasn’t so fuzzy, she realized that it was James Neal coloring with Cait. “What are you doing?” Sara asked her voice still groggy from sleep.
“Well I felt bad about the horrible coffee yesterday so I brought Starbucks and this giant Disney princess coloring book since Cait won’t be able to leave her bed for a few days.” James replied in a voice that was far to cheery for the morning as he pushed the coffee towards Sara. “Café Mocha, extra shot. At least that’s what that Nurse Leeann told me to get you.” Sara nodded in response, still in a daze as she took at sip of the coffee. She glared at him slightly as the delicious liquid hit her tongue. Cruel man, bringing her favorite coffee and coloring books. He was starting to ender himself to her even though she was confused by his presence. James and Cait continued to color together as Sara tried to not be horrified by the fact that she was still in yesterday’s clothes and she probably looked like a mess. But she figures he would have to deal since he budged his way into her morning. Not like she had time to care about what he thought about her anyway. She had Cait to take care of, her number one priority. “Sorry to say this ladies, but I must be off to practice. Have to get ready for the game tonight. You’re going to cheer us on, right Cait?” James said, standing up and stretching slightly.
“You bet. Will you give Sidney my picture?” Cait said, holding up a surprisingly well colored penguin that said ‘Lets go Pens’ at the top in her scribbled writing. James nodded and high fived Cait before glancing towards Sara.
“Enjoy your coffee Sara” He gave her another one of his charming smiles before leaving the room. Cait asked Sara to help her finish her picture that James had left and Sara complied, silently wondering what really made James show up at the hospital.
James drove silently to the arena, his thoughts more focused on the blonde and redhead he left back at the hospital. He knew his agent would tell him not to get distracted but he couldn’t help it. After meeting Sara and Cait yesterday he couldn’t stop thinking about them. Most of the other family’s there actually had family there. Both parents, or other members of the family there. But it was just the two of them against something that was very frightening. He couldn’t help but feel the tug at his heart. He caught a glimpse of vulnerability in Sara’s eyes that he couldn’t shake. He saw how strong she carried herself, the stiffness in her shoulders and her head held high. And Cait was like a ray of sunshine that shouldn’t be that bright for someone, especially a child, who had to have a life threatening sickness. He was filled with a sudden need to offer his help, to ask Sara more questions about who was being strong for her while she was strong for her daughter. When he pulled into the players garage, he grabbed his duffel bag and the picture that Cait made before making his way to the locker room. Most of the players where there and getting ready for the practice, some were joking around; others were talking about tonight’s game. After dropping his stuff in front of his locker he handed the picture to Sidney. “Sid this is from Cait”
“When did you see her again?” Sid asked, smiling at the picture before turning his questioning eyes towards the winger.
“I stopped by this morning. Drop off some coffee for Sara and some more stuff for Cait.” He replied as he started to change into his uniform, ignoring how the room had quieted slightly.
“You went back this morning? Did I miss something?” Sid asked, putting the picture up in his locker, making sure it was just so. James blushed slightly but didn’t reply, causing Pascal to look at him closer.
“Did you have other motives to stop by besides out of the goodness of your heart?” Pascal said, nudging James slightly. The statement made the younger man blush more and caused Pascal to start laughing at him.
“Nealer, whatever you’re thinking, forget it. She’s not some chick you’re picking up at the bar. She has to take care of her daughter and you can’t do that to her.” Sid said in his captainly voice, staring more intently at James.
James shrugged and shook his head “I know that. I don’t know what it is. It’s just, there was no one else there. Where’s her father at least? I asked about him and Sara shut me down but Cait mentioned him a few times. I just feel like I should help for some reason.” He said with a frown, pulling on his jersey. Before anymore could be said Coach Blysma stepped out of his office and called for the players to get on the ice. James grabbed his phone to send a quick message before heading out behind the rest of the guys.
Back at the hospital, Sara had got a quick shower in the en suite bathroom and was brushing her hair when her phone buzzed.
“I hope you enjoyed the coffee. Sorry for the intrusion.”
Shaking her head at the stupid that suddenly formed on her face, she glanced quickly at Cait who was fast asleep from the drugs before replying back.
“No intrusion at all. It was wonderful. Good luck at your game.”
Sara ran her hand through her hair and settled back in her chair with her book, thinking about how strange hockey players seem to be.
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