Tarnished Armor

Chapter Thirty

I arrived at the airport, rented a car, and drove to Dana's home. I picked up my cell and called her.

"I'm outside,"

"I see that. Just come up the stairs. We'll take it from there."

"Alright."

I ended the call and walked up her stairs. There, Maddie opened the door and both girls gave me the tightest hug they could. Dana met me at the end of their hall and hugged me too.

"I'm glad you're here. I don't know what to do. It was all so sudden."

"I understand sudden deaths. My husband just went back home to help bury his little sister."

"Oh my god, Lindsay, why are you here with us? Who has the girls? Where's your husband?"

"Husband is back at work, his mom has the girls who come back this weekend and I'm here cuz you need me."

Dana smiled under her tears.

"Do you ever have time to yourself?"

"Not usually, no. I just roll with everything. When I was watching Raw last night, I got a message from a nurse at the facility my birth mother was. I learned..."

I couldn't continue talking without feeling my own tears spill from my eyes.

"What?" Dana asked.

"My birth mother committed suicide."

"Good Lord in heaven, Child. What makes you so strong to handle someone else's grief when you've had so much yourself?"

"I have that kind of heart. It makes a person stronger when you deal with a lot. My faith carried me through a lot of things. God..."

I looked up at the ceiling a minute.

"Gave me Colby, my daughters, an awesome job, great friends and the best grandparents I could ever want."

"God gave you the heart of a warrior. Jim would be proud."

I couldn't even think of it right now. I just sat at their kitchen table, talking to Dana and the girls and thanking God my grandmother took me to church.

********

Colby returned to work, lookiing for Randy.

"Thanks, Man."

"For?" Randy asked.

"Taking care of my wife for me."

"Dude, I understand. She's a friend of mine besides Charlotte doesn't quite understand the connection I have with Linds."

Colby looked at him.

"What do you mean 'connection'?"

"Lindsay and I were almost married on screen. We needed to be seen out and about among fans and press. I spent one night with the woman and let me tell you, Rollins, your wife is the sweetest woman I've ever met. You don't have an idea just what she went through when you were gone the first time, do you?"

Colby looked at him.

"I was with her a good majority of the time before and after that."

"Dude, you don't get it. She missed you so much. She cried over you."

"She cried over me."

"For you, over you, hell I had to listen to her talk about you. You know your daughters would kick my damn hand when I tried to touch Lindsay?"

Colby smirked at that.

"Dude, she loves the hell out of you. She doesn't want to lose you so whatever you wanted her to do with Phil...she won't ever do."