A month ago, babies would have been the last thing on his mind. And now his world is revolving around one. A part of me feels bad for forbidding him from telling his team about the baby yet, but I know it’s too soon. I just worry that by making him keep it a secret I am subjecting him to the same loneliness I felt. The Seattle Spears are his support system and he will want to lean on his team for support, especially being on the other side of the country.

We did call his parents though, Tracy and Alek. To be specific, he called them while I listened in from beside him. I didn’t even want to be in the room. I begged for him to call them when I wasn’t around but he assured me they would be ecstatic about becoming grandparents. I was reasonably worried about what they would think about him, about me. Would they look down on me because I hurt him in the past? Would they admonish him for being foolish enough to sleep with an ex? I didn’t want to be by his side when they scolded him, pretending to be happy about the news.

They retired a few years ago to Florida in a home Liam bought for them with his first transfer bonus when he traded to Vancouver. They are proud of their son, but to them it could have looked like he was moving backwards instead of looking to the bright future parents want for their kid.

They were surprisingly supportive of the news. Understandably confused and shocked at first. But once it settled in, they began gushing about finally becoming grandparents and asking him if they could fly up to meet me and Jack before the baby is born. But Liam gave them a non-committal answer. I was grateful to not be put on the spot. It was strange to hear a mother so excited about her son’s one-night stand getting pregnant, but I guess it helped that I’m not a complete stranger to them.

We met a few times when Liam and I dated, so there was probably some relief that I’m not just around Liam for his athlete status. Still, I wonder if they called him after the fact to ask more questions. To interrogate him about me and my intentions. But I’ve had to remember that not all parents are like mine. Some are genuinely happy for and supportive of their children, no matter what. It’s refreshing to see, and now I know exactly where Liam gets it from. I saw it especially when Liam met Jack, and it somehow didn’t go horribly wrong. As I sat twiddling my thumbs in the waiting room, I run the event over in my mind.