Chapter 2

“How is your wife doing after her liver transplant?” The doctor asked.

“Very good; so far, she hasn’t needed to take any anti-rejection drugs.”

“That is quite unusual, meaning you were well suited as donor and recipient.”

Several minutes later, Chris returned, saying everything was ready. “Brad, come with me; I have your prescription ready for you to take.”

“I hate taking pills.”

“I’m sure you’ll enjoy taking this medication.”

Doctor Aubry led Brad into the Senator’s dressing room. “Put those on, and I’ll see you on the ice.”

Brad was stunned beyond belief. There hanging up was a Senator’s hockey sweater, red in colour, which meant no body contact. Below it on the bench were a pair of hockey skates, track pants, gloves, a white helmet and visor, and lastly, Daniel Alfredsson’s hockey stick. Brad was quick to put on the gear and enter the hallway.

Abby shrieked with love and pride for Brad, seeing him dressed in Senator colours. Doctor Aubry led them down the way to the Senators player’s bench and placed a hand on his shoulder. “My prescription is good for the body as well as the mind and soul. Go for a skate, do some stretches, and shoot some pucks.”

Abby leaned up on her tiptoes, hugged, and kissed Brad. He opened the bench door and stepped onto the clean ice. He only needed a few strides to get to cruising speed. He glided and gazed in wonder at the three levels of empty seats for 18,650 fans. He couldn’t imagine that many people were there for a hockey game.

Abby sat on the player’s bench and slipped her arms into the white button-up sweater she brought. She looked at him with undying love and pride as he went through what would be his pre-game ritual with the Falcons.

The unfamiliar skates took a little getting used to. As the minutes passed, he increased his speed, cutting hard behind the net and, using the face-off circles, tracing them with his skates. He came to the bench, already short on breath from a lack of good, constant conditioning.

“It looks like you’re having fun,” Abby smiled.

“I sure am! It feels good to be on the ice again.”

The trainer appeared with a basket of pucks and a water bottle. He took a much-needed drink and sprayed the ice with pucks.

Coach Clouston stepped onto the ice wearing his skates, gloves, and holding his stick. He set up several small pylons in a staggered pattern. “May as well put the time to good use,” he said as Brad stopped beside him.

“You okay to carry on?”

“Yeah, just a little out of shape.”

“Let’s see just how out of shape. First, I want you to do stops and starts on the whistle, end to end.”