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Just plain spitting it out is my best option. Sam will respond better to me delivering direct information instead of beating around the bush.
“I need to let you know that I’m being deported from the US, effective this morning. I have to leave in a couple of hours and I won’t be allowed to obtain a visa to play hockey for another two years.”
Sam’s eyes go wide, and his mouth falls open. “You’re what?!” he says, standing out of his chair, his hand flattening again his desk as he leans forward toward me. “But you have a K-1 visa. Did something happen between you and Juliet?” he asks, his voice elevating with alarm.
“No, it’s not that. It’s more like… my original visa had an administrative issue due to my sports agent’s assistant not sending in the check with my application. My visa wasn’t going to get approved in time. I ran into Juliet by chance and asked her to marry me in order for me to get my green card.”
I thought it would be hard to tell him, and I wasn’t supposed to tell him it all, but once I started, it all came rushing out.
“You paid Juliet to marry you for a fiancé visa… have you lost your mind? You could get deported indefinitely and she could do prison time for that.”
I knew he was going to be pissed about the decision I made.
“Not to mention that this could look really bad on the Hawkeyes if this comes out. Did you consider that?”
“No sir, I didn’t. It was the only option for me to stay in the States and help out the team,” I say.
“We could have put you on leave for a few weeks or a month, for Christ's sake, until the application went through. You’ve jeopardized yourself, Juliet, and this hockey franchise.”
Shit, I know he’s right and letting him down is the last thing I want to do. This team has been good to me and I never considered the team giving me a few weeks in Canada until my visa got approved. Players can’t just miss games. Especially not the starting lineup. But I should have come to him first and worked something out.
And Juliet… I could have helped her out without marrying her and going through the immigration office. I could have simply started dating her and that would have been enough for Marjorie to have given her the job.
At the time I thought I was doing the right thing by not putting this on anyone in the Hawkeyes franchise and fixing this myself. I was wrong.
“Sam, I don’t know what to say. I screwed up and I have no recourse—they’ll take this to trial. And the Hawkeyes and Juliet need to stay out of a legal battle over this. I don’t have any other option. I have to leave this morning.”
Sam blows out a breath and leans back, resting his hands on his hips.
“Losing our center and captain right before the playoffs…”
“I know. But this team is solid without me and they’re going to bring home the cup. I have full confidence. And as for a center… Slade Matthews on the farm team is due a shot. I can’t believe no NHL team has tried to snag him away yet.”
Sam doesn’t seem pleased with my recommendation, but he doesn’t have a lot to go on right now and he knows I’m right. He’ll have to fill my position fast, and he’ll have to do it with a player they already have in reserves.
I wish it were me playing for the championship, but it won’t be and I still want to see my team win.
“You’re right. I’ll look into him.” He comes around the desk and shakes my hand. “Thank you for your years on this team. I’ll talk with Phil and with legal and see how we can get you out of your contract as easily as possible without backlash.”
He’s offering more than he has to and I appreciate it.
“Thanks, Sam. Can you do me a favor and leave the K-1 visa issue on a need-to-know basis? The immigration office doesn’t want this getting out and I don’t want anyone around here looking at Juliet differently.”
I don’t think Marjorie would revoke the contract with Juliet now. Besides, what she pulled off yesterday was better than anyone has done in the years I’ve played here. Letting her go would be a mistake. Besides, Marjorie isn’t the kind of person to go back on her word.
“Juliet’s not going with you?” he asks, his eyebrows stitching together in confusion.
“No. She’s staying where she belongs.”
He lets out a disappointed sigh. “That’s too bad. You two looked good together. I thought you two were going to make it.”
Yeah… me too.
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
He gives a slow nod but looks away in thought.
“Ok, so, if I can’t tell Phil and Legal about the asshole who’s deporting you, what do you want me to tell everyone?”
