Chapter 53
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Emma muttered, walking carefully through the Seattle hospital corridors with three-week-old Frankie strapped to her chest in a carrier.
Beside her, Katie pushed Charlotte in a stroller, having insisted on coming along for the trip. "Someone needs to help with the babies while you visit Jack," she'd reasoned practically.
The flight from Boston had been Frankie's first, and he'd slept through most of it, much to Emma's relief. Charlotte, now four months old and more alert, had charmed the flight attendants with her bright eyes and ready smiles.
"Room 314," Emma said, checking the hospital directory. "This way."
They found Jack propped against pillows, his left leg in a cast and his face bearing the colorful evidence of his encounter with a guardrail. But his eyes lit up when he saw them approach.
"Emma," he said, voice slightly hoarse. "You actually came."
"Of course I came," Emma replied, settling into the visitor's chair while Katie positioned Charlotte's stroller where Jack could see her. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got checked into the boards by a freight train," Jack grimaced, then noticed the baby carrier. "Is that...?"
"Franklin Alexander," Emma said, carefully lifting Frankie from the carrier. "Three weeks old. And this is Charlotte," she gestured to the stroller, "four months."
Jack's expression softened remarkably as he gazed at both infants. "They're beautiful, Emma. Absolutely beautiful."
"Thank you." Emma felt the familiar pride swell in her chest. "How's your son doing while you're here?"
"Missing his daddy," Jack admitted, pulling out his phone to show photos of a chubby-cheeked toddler with Jack's green eyes. "Veronica's assistant is watching him until she gets back from Milan tomorrow."
Katie stepped forward. "I'm Katie, by the way. Friend of the family."
Jack studied her face curiously. "Katie... you're the surrogate, aren't you? For Charlotte?"
"Among other things," Katie replied easily. "Mostly just family now."
Emma appreciated Katie's diplomatic response. Their relationship had evolved far beyond its original parameters, but explaining the complexities to Jack felt unnecessary.
"The accident," Emma said, redirecting the conversation. "What happened?"
Jack's expression darkened. "Honestly? I was distracted. Got a call from my agent about a potential trade rumor, and I took my eyes off the road for two seconds." He gestured to his injuries. "Two seconds changed everything."
"Is the trade serious?" Emma asked, unable to suppress her professional curiosity.
"Seattle's rebuilding," Jack shrugged. "Everyone's expendable, apparently. Even aging forwards with young families."
Emma heard the worry beneath his casual tone. "Where would you go?"
"Calgary's interested. So is Minnesota." Jack's gaze drifted to Charlotte, who had begun making soft cooing sounds. "Either way, it means uprooting everything again."
"That's hard with a young child," Katie observed sympathetically.
"Harder than I thought it would be," Jack admitted. "Veronica's career is finally taking off internationally. My son needs stability. Sometimes I wonder if professional hockey is worth the constant upheaval."
The vulnerable admission surprised Emma. The Jack she'd known had lived and breathed hockey above all else.
"Fatherhood changes perspective," she said gently. "I'm learning that myself."
They talked for another hour, Jack sharing stories of his son's latest milestones while Emma found herself relaxing into the familiar rhythm of their old friendship. The romantic complications that had once defined their relationship felt like distant history, replaced by the comfortable understanding of two people who'd known each other at pivotal life moments.
When Frankie grew fussy, Emma excused herself to feed him in the family lounge, leaving Katie and Jack chatting about the challenges of managing young children.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Alek: How's the visit going?
Better than expected, she replied. He seems genuinely happy for us. How's Grandpa?
Sleeping most of the day. Natasha's flying back tonight to check on him.
Emma frowned at this news. Natasha had returned to her residency program only two weeks ago, after spending months helping with Franklin's care. For her to drop everything and fly back to Boston suggested her grandfather's condition was worse than he'd been admitting.
Should I come home immediately? she typed.
Not yet. Give Franklin another day to stabilize. He was asking about your trip this morning.
Emma returned to Jack's room to find him holding Charlotte, who was gazing up at him with serious concentration.
"She's remarkably alert," he observed. "My son was sleeping constantly at this age."
"Charlotte's always been curious about the world," Emma said, settling back with Frankie who had dozed off after eating. "She takes everything in."
Katie glanced at her watch. "We should head back soon. Visiting hours end at eight, and the babies will need proper rest."
As they prepared to leave, Jack reached for Emma's hand. "Thank you for coming. I know it was complicated, with everything between us."
"That's all in the past," Emma said honestly. "We're different people now."
"Better people," Jack agreed. "Parenthood suits you, Emma. Both of you look happy."
"We are," Emma confirmed, meaning it completely.
"If I do get traded," Jack said carefully, "I'd like to stay in touch. Not romantically," he added quickly, seeing Katie's protective expression. "Just... friends who've been through a lot together."
Emma considered this. "I think that would be nice."
As they left the hospital, Katie pushing the stroller while Emma carried Frankie, the late evening air felt crisp and clean.
"He's different," Katie observed. "From what I expected, I mean."
"Fatherhood changed him," Emma replied. "Just like it's changing us."
Their hotel suite had been arranged with cribs for both babies, allowing Emma to maintain their normal routines despite the travel. As she settled them for the night, Emma reflected on the day's unexpected emotional journey.
Seeing Jack as a father, vulnerable and questioning his priorities, had provided closure she hadn't realized she needed. Their marriage had failed partly because they'd been unable to support each other's growth and change. Now, as a friend rather than a former spouse, she could appreciate the man he was becoming.
Her phone rang as she dimmed the lights—Alek calling to check in.
"How was it really?" he asked without preamble.
"Healing," Emma said, settling into the hotel room's chair. "For both of us, I think. He's struggling with career decisions and family balance."
"Sounds familiar," Alek said with dry humor.
"How's Grandpa?" Emma asked, getting to her real concern.
Alek's pause told her everything. "Dr. Singh says his heart function has declined significantly. The episodes are becoming more frequent."
Emma closed her eyes, the weight of Franklin's mortality settling heavily on her shoulders. "How long?"
"Months, not years," Alek said gently. "But he's determined to see the babies grow as much as possible."
"I'll be home tomorrow," Emma decided. "First flight I can arrange."
"The babies travel well enough for that?"
"They'll have to," Emma said firmly. "Grandpa comes first."
As she ended the call, Emma gazed at her sleeping children—Charlotte's peaceful face and Frankie's tiny fists curled beside his cheeks. Franklin had lived to meet both his great-grandchildren, a victory against time that had seemed impossible just months ago.
Now came the hardest part: learning to cherish whatever time remained while building the family legacy he'd entrusted to them.
Like zamboni time in hockey—the methodical process of smoothing rough ice to create a fresh surface—some transitions required patience and care to prepare for what came next. Their visit to Jack had smoothed old rough patches, creating space for healthier relationships moving forward.
But the most important zamboni work awaited them at home, where Franklin's time was running out and their real family legacy needed tending.