Chapter 1

May 30, 2010--Dallas, Texas   

Marty Turco grew up with the Dallas Stars since he was rookie in 2000 and never knew that he had to look for a new team for the 2010-2011 season. He wanted to stay with the Dallas Stars and stay with the girl that he loved, Gabrielle Jamison. But he knew that Joe Nieuwendyk of the Dallas Stars wanted to go in a different direction and that Marty wasn’t in the plan.  He knew it right away since the Stars traded for goalie Kari Lehtonen that he wasn’t going to be in the Stars’ future plan. He had to find another team for next year and prove to the NHL that he is proven goalie who can win the Stanley Cup.

But how was he going to survive without Gabrielle Jamison, his best friend and the one who helped him through the rough years of his NHL career.  He wanted to know if Gabrielle was willing to move with him and start over in a different city and team. He was going to ask her today after he went to American Airlines Center to meet with his teammates and get his stuff  packed up. He wanted to say goodbye to his best friend and teammate for 10 years, Brenden Morrow. He wanted him to know that they will keep contact with one another. Their close friendship with one another meant a lot to Turco as they kept each other company during the rough times….playoff exits and injuries. Turco was Morrow’s best man at Morrow’s wedding to Sarah and he is the godfather of Brenden’s daughter, Bryelle. You see…Bryelle is the daughter of Brenden and his late wife, Sarah. Marty can remember the time when Brenden had called him and told him what had happened to Sarah. That memory had stick with Marty ever since.

September 2006--Dallas, Texas

Marty had been resting at home, watching TV with Gabrielle. He smiled as he looked down at the one woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He was glad that Brenden had introduced her to him and he was glad that Gabby was great friends with Sarah, too.  Those two girls had seem to have instant chemistry with one another. He was happy to know that she had a woman to talk to if she ever had any problems.

“Marty, babe? The phone is ringing.” Gabrielle nudged Marty out of his train of thoughts.

“Thanks, sweetie,” Marty replied as he kissed his girlfriend before getting his iPhone and saw Brenden’s number on the screen. What was going on that Morrow was calling at 10 o’clock at night? “Hi, Brenden. How are ya?”

“Marty,” Brenden whispered, tearfully. He couldn’t believe it. He was at Baylor Medical Center, holding onto Bryelle as she was sleeping in his arms. “Something bad happened tonight, Marty.”
“Oh my word, Brenden, what happened? Marty asked, looking at Gabrielle as she turned off the TV and looked at Marty.

“Marty, my wife died. Bryelle was at Philippe Boucher’s home cause of a sleepover party that Vanessa, Philippe’s daughter, had.”

“Brenden, what do you mean that Sarah’s dead? We just saw her about a few hours ago. How did this happen?”

Gabby just glanced at Marty and couldn’t believe what Marty had just said. Her best friend was gone. She couldn’t believe and from what she could tell neither did Marty.

“She’s gone, Marty. I was in the house and these two guys just knocked on the door. I thought it was Boucher telling us that Bryella got hurt or was sick.  I opened the door and the guy pointed a gun at me as I walked over and sat near my wife. He and this other guy I can’t remember right now came over and told us to do whatever they wanted us to do. He took a hold of Sarah and I got up but the other guy got a hold of me. He just killed her by repeatedly beating her and then used a gun as he hit her heart. After they killed her, I panicked and one of the guys  grabbed me as he forced me against the wall, grabbing onto my arms before I could do anything. This guy who wasn’t holding me, pulled my pants down as he did the same thing and forced himself inside me. He kept thrusting in and out of me.  I said no five times and they wouldn’t stop as Adrienne’s dad started beating my back and hip up badly. I am the hospital and got checked out. I did an STD test and got some medication for my body aches. A guy came into the house and just shot her for no reason. Some random guy comes into my house and kills her.”

“My word, Brenden. We can be over there if you want us too. Is Bryelle with you?”

“Okay. Bye, Marty. Yeah Bouch and his wife came to the hospital, hugged me and gave me Bryelle. She’s sleeping my arms.  I am at a hospital bed.”

“Bye, Brenden.” Marty hit end on his iPhone and saw Gabrielle.

“Marty, what happened?” Gabby asked.

“Gabby, Sarah’s gone. She was killed with a gun as a guy came inside and just shot her for no reason. Brenden witnessed her death.”

“OMG! She’s gone. She can’t be. My best friend can’t be dead,” Gabby screamed before going into Marty’s arms, crying hysterically. She couldn’t believe the one person who died, was gone from some dude killing her. Poor Brenden he had to deal with his wife’s death. They needed to be with him for this rough time.

“Yeah, she’s gone, Gabby,” Marty whispered as he rubbed Gabby’s back, wondering what to do.

Marty shook his head as he remember that flashback and stayed at the hospital with Brenden as Gabby took Bryelle back to her apartment that was near Marty’s apartment. It had been 4 years since Sarah’s death but it took a toll on both Marty and Gabby along with Brenden. Brenden is now married to Abigail and Bryelle is doing great. But it is such a sad story that Bryelle won’t know her real mother and all the wonderful things that Sarah did for Bryelle before she died.

He walked into the Stars locker room, trying to keep his head up high and not wanting to cry. He didn’t want Nieuwendyk to know he got the best of him or any of his teammates to see him in such a vulnerable spot. He knew how his team wanted to move on and get a better team:  fast, young team to win a Stanley Cup. He will not cry or regret anything he has done for this team. He knows he did his best and now he is ready to move on and prove to the NHL that he can still win a Stanley Cup.

He went inside as he saw the team look up at him and went to his locker with boxes. He was ready to pack his stuff and get moving on. He looked around before seeing Morrow. Morrow looked over and smiled at him before going back to what he was doing. He needed to talk to Morrow once the meeting and the ever last team picture were done. He needed to talk to his buddy on how to keep contact and to see if they wanted to do anything before a new season started since they are going to be in two different cities.

Marty started packing everything and memories just popped up everywhere. His first year when Brenden introduced himself and then Gabrielle, someone he grew fond of and someone that shared a love of hockey. He can remember that day as if it where still here.

September 2000--Dallas Stars training camp

Marty entered the locker room, uncertain of what kinda of future holds for him on this team as he waited for someone to show where he is supposed to go. He looks around before seeing a young man with auburn colored hair and steel-grey eyes walking over towards where Turco was standing. A young woman with light curly brown hair and dark brown eyes walking very closely to the young man. “Hi. You must be Marty Turco. I am Brenden Morrow and this young woman standing besides me is Gabrielle Jamison.”

“Nice to meet you, Brenden, Gabrielle.”

“Marty, you can call me Gabby. I don’t mind cause everyone else does.”

“Sure, thing. I don’t mind.” Marty looked at Gabby and felt an instant connection between him and Gabby. He didn’t know at first if she was a photographer, writer, singer or all three of them. She had a mystery about her that Marty wanted to know. He didn’t know much about her but after meeting her, he wanted to.

“Well, I better show you where your locker is.”

“Okay.” Marty nodded.

“Bren, I am going to go see what Hitchcock needs.”

“Okay, Gabby.”

Gabby nodded at Marty as he did the same thing. She walked over towards where Ken Hitchcock, Doug Jarvis and Rick Wilson were as the coaches had a meeting about the training camp. She wonder about the new young back up and why all the sudden she had the instant connection with a guy she barely knew.

Marty walked over to the locker and looked back at Gabby. He wanted to know her badly, inside and out.

“Marty!” Brenden yelled, waving his hand back and forth trying to get the goalie’s attention.

“Sorry, I am here.” Marty mumbled as he looked at Brenden before glancing quickly at Gabby.

“Marty, my word. You have a crush on my best friend since childhood and she is the new graphic design artist and photographer. She also does modeling and singing in her spare time. She’s looking for someone to treat her right.”

“Yeah, I do. I am sorry but I haven’t felt this way in a long way. I wanna get to know her inside and out. Gabby seems to be someone I can get along with.”

“Gabby is one amazing girl once you get to know her.” Brenden knew right away that both Gabby and Marty had chemistry. He wouldn’t be surprised if they both started dating.”

Marty smiled as he looked at his locker, remembering that special day of meeting Brenden as their close friendship started to developed and of course meeting Gabby. He was wondering if he can keep these memories with him. He needs to know if these memories will last forever or disappear into thin air. He kept packing up his stuff and then pulled his name off as he tossed it in the trash can.

Before he knew it, the coaches let everyone know that the 2009-2010 team picture will be ready and the realization came to Marty that he’ll never wear a Dallas Stars uniform again. He has not even sold his condo yet. He needs to do that as soon as this gets done. Maybe after he talks to Morrow. He needs to talk to Morrow before he does anything else.