"Can you forgive me?" he asked.
"You want me to forgive you for everything you said to me? Everything you did to me?" I asked. "Those days were the worst days of my life. I trusted you with my life. I trusted you with my heart and you let me down. You almost got me killed Jake. What am I supposed to with that? You can't just show up out of the blue five years later and expect everything to be okay." I paused. "Listen, I already forgave you a long time ago. I got to know who my dad really is underneath all of the drugs that he was on for most of my life. If I can forgive him then I can forgive you. But I need to ask you one thing."
"Anything." he said.
"Why did you do it?" I asked.
"Do what?"
"When I told you I was leaving for WWE, you got some of your friends to beat the crap out of me. I was in the hospital for a week and it took me two months to fully recover. I just wanna know why."
"Katie, I could tell you the real reason why but sitting here listening to my reason now it just reminds me how blinded I was. I thought you were gonna leave me. I thought you would find someone better and then we would be done so I wanted to do something to make you stay. I wanted to make sure you never made it. And I know that it was stupid and it was hurtful. I can't tell you enough how sorry I am for all of that. I was completely in love with you. I'll admit it. I was head over heels for you and I was blinded by that love. All I could see was you. I never wanted to see anything else. I know I messed things up for myself and I regret it every day but clearly you're really happy and I'm happy for you. I really am. You deserve a guy that is gonna treat you like a queen and support you and let you chase your dreams. I know I just wasn't that guy." he said.
"Jake, I don't know what to say. You really hurt me but I forgive you. I just hope that you learn from that. I hope that you learn how to treat a girl." I said.
"Me too. But nobody that I ever date or get married to is gonna be as good as you."
"That's really nice of you to say." I said. "So what about Ray and all of you buddies?"
"They're in prison. They did it to one other girl and I testified against them so they're in prison for life." he said.
"Good. They should never be able to do anything like that to anyone ever again."
"Well, I should go. I just wanted to tell you all of that. I'm really sorry."
"It's all good now. Thank you." I said. I got up and walked back inside.
"Are you okay?" Joe asked.
"Yeah. I'm good." I said.
"What did Jake want?" uncle John asked.
"To clear the air. He wanted me to forgive him for everything. I did." I said.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because if I could forgive my father for doing what he did, there's no reason I shouldn't be able to forgive him." I said.
***
Uncle John had left and Joe was cooking dinner. I walked in there while Joelle was playing a game in her room. "Hey you." I said.
"Hey." he said.
"Whatcha cookin good lookin?" I asked.
He chuckled and looked at me. "Seriously?"
"What?" I asked smiling.
"I'm sorry about what you went through."
"Uncle John told you?" I asked.
"Not exactly. He just summed it up. Maybe you could fill in the holes?"
"What exactly did he tell you?"
"Just that you dated that guy and he tried to get you to stop following you dream by hurting you."
"Yeah. Pretty much. He didn't physcially hurt me himself. six of his friends did. They took me into an alley and they beat me and I was gang raped. It was horrible but then I think about everything that I went through with my dad and I just don't think it's as bad anymore." I said.
"That sucks that you had to go through that." he said.
"Yeah. Me too. But I don't wanna talk about it anymore. I just wanna enjoy this night with you and our daughter and then work on the nursery. It's gonna be a good night." I said.
"It is. Happy Mother's Day, by the way."
"Thank you." I walked up and kissed him passionately.
***
After dinner, we laid Joelle down in her room and then we started on the nursery painting it. It was really turning out good. The paint was a darkish blue and beautiful.
"I can't believe this is really happening." I said.
"I know." he paused. "You know, the greatest thing about all of this is being able to share it with you."
"You're so corny." I said.
"I know but it's true. I love you so much and I love our little boy." he said.
"I think I have an idea of the name."
"Really? Let me hear it."
"Connor. Connor James Anoa'i." I said.
"Connor James. I like it."
I smiled. "Connor it is." I walked up to Joe. "I am so lucky to have a man like you. I don't know what I would do without you."
"Me either. You goof." he said. He wiped paint on my face and my mouth dropped and then he kissed me.
"I'm gonna head to bed. I'm really tired. Coming?" I asked.
"Yeah. Just let me finish a little more in here and then I'll be in." he said.
"Okay." I said. I kissed him one more time and then walked out of the nursery.
I walked into the bathroom, took a shower, and then changed into my pajamas which consisted of just a long night gown. I mean, I would wear pants and a shirt but it's so much easier just to wear the nightgown.
Once I was done with everything I laid down and drifted off to sleep.
