Chapter 4: The Parade

"Do not go to that parade," my lawyer said on the phone.

I was already standing on Public Square with Pete, in a black dress and flat shoes, with the whole city around me.

A hundred thousand people in navy and white waved flags at the Cup parade.

The Ironmen floats rolled past one at a time, with players waving from the top and confetti coming down.

Ty's float came last, carrying the trophy and the captain.

He looked tired, and he scanned the crowd on both sides of the street for someone.

He didn't find me.

Behind his float rolled a second one, covered in balloons, and a banner on it said IRONMEN FAMILIES.

Bernadette stood at the front in a navy coat.

Shelby sat beside her with Eli on her lap, and the boy was waving at strangers.

Around Bernadette's neck, on a thin gold chain, hung a small gold cross.

I knew the exact nick on the left arm of it.

"Pete," I said.

"I see it."

"Can you get me onto that stage?"

The parade ended at a platform in front of the Terminal Tower, where the mayor, the owner and the whole team would speak.

Pete looked at the security guard at the barricade, a big man in a staff jacket.

"Hey, big man," Pete said. "Remember the Toledo game, when I took that puck for you?"

The guard looked at my belly, then at Pete.

"Pete, the puck hit me in the ankle."

"And I made sure everyone said you were brave about it."

The guard unhooked the barricade.

"Two minutes," he said. "I never saw you."

I walked up the side steps of the stage with my hand under my stomach, in front of a hundred thousand people.

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