Chapter 2
Unfortunately for me, my son was a huge fan of the WWE. At only three years old, he already had his favorites in the ring—John Cena and John Morrison. Thankfully he didn't care for the Viper Randy Orton. I could only imagine how upset Caden would be if he knew Randy was his father. I've followed Randy's career since we've been apart; he is so impressive in the ring and to me it looks like he forgot all about what we had a few years ago. I wish I could forget all about him, but I have a daily reminder named Caden who has his steel blue eyes.
The WWE was doing a house show this weekend in our home town of St. Louis. One of the lawyers I work with knew that Caden was a huge wrestling fan and got us front row rickets to the show Friday night. I was polite, smiled, and thanked him, but inside I was screaming. What if Randy was going to be there? What would I do? I haven't talked to him since that last argument we had and I stormed off on him. Caden was beyond excited to find out that we were going to the show. He kept talking about how excited he was to see John Cena wrestle right in front of him. My co-worker also got us passes to an autograph session before the show. Great. I was hoping to avoid not running into Randy at the arena, but now there's a good chance that I might run into him while our son asks him for autograph. Just great.
The day of the house show came quickly. Caden was so excited all morning; he kept jumping around doing the 'you can't see me' thing that John Cena does. After the hundredth time of him doing it, it was starting to get irritating, but I brushed it off when I saw his little face light up when I told him it was time to leave for the arena. I got Caden buckled into his car seat and took off to pick up my friend Julie. Thankfully she had agreed to come with us tonight. Julie was one of best and oldest friends; she knew all about how my relationship with Randy ended. She had no interest in professional wrestling but agreed to come with anyways for moral support just in case I did run into Randy.
Julie kept Caden amused in the car by singing the ABC's while I tried to maneuver through traffic. The streets were packed every time the WWE came into town. Because Caden was so in love with the WWE, I knew every time they were in St. Louis, and up until someone at work had gotten us tickets for tonight, I had avoided St. Louis like the plague when they were in town. I didn't want to take the chance of seeing Randy again. What on earth would I tell him if I did run into him? How would I explain Caden? Would he even want to meet his son? All I can think of is how Randy had told me over and over again about he didn't want children, he didn't want to get married, all he wanted to do was wrestle and be famous. Well, that's what he got. He wrestles and he's famous and rich. But I think I got the better deal out of the end of our relationship. I got a handsome son who is my pride and joy. It's a shame that Randy doesn't get the same pleasure I do out of being a parent to Caden. He's my whole world.
At the arena
Randy's POV
I was getting bored signing these autographs. I had been sitting at this table with Cena for almost two hours. It had to be over soon, right? I know I should appreciate the fans for all of their support; without them, I wouldn't be where I am. But it's still annoying to me to have to sit here and pretend to be happy posing for picture after picture. After about an hour, the fans all start to look the same anyways. I glance at my watch, another half an hour and I'll be done, I can hang onto until then. I can't wait to get home after the show tonight. I love wrestling in St. Louis only because then I get to go home afterward and sleep in my own bed.
I looked at the line still coming in through the door. I counted only fifteen more people to get through. I could hold on until then. I look over at my buddy John. He loves this stuff. He can't get enough of the fans, unlike me who had enough of them after the first hour. I watched him sign an autograph and take a picture with the last couple of fans. I watched with interest as a little boy, maybe three or four years old, talked John into hoisting him up on his shoulders while one of the women took a picture. For some reason the little boy looked familiar, but I had no idea why. Maybe all of the little kids that came through here started to look all alike after a while. The two women thanked John and moved away, the little boy stopped in front of me and held out a picture of me for me to sign. I tried to smile as I took the picture for him, scrawled my name across it and handed it back to him. He whispered a very quiet thank you. The two women he was with stood behind him, he turned around to the one with long brown hair and the most amazing blue eyes I have ever seen, and pulled her down to his level. He whispered something in her ear and she nodded handing the camera to the other woman she was with. I assumed the woman the little boy was talking to was his mother. She looked familiar. Really familiar and I couldn't figure out why.
"Do you mind if Caden takes a picture with you? We understand if you're in a hurry to get going since we're the last ones. But it would mean a lot to him," the woman with the long blonde hair asked me. I nodded distractedly at the blonde, but couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from the brunette. Why did she look like someone I knew? It was driving me crazy. The little boy came over next to me and I lifted him on the table in front of me, we smiled and the camera flash went off. I set the little guy back down on the floor and the blonde shook my hand, saying thank you. I looked over at the brunette who was trying to avoid my eyes. Why did she look so familiar? If I didn't ask her who she was, it was going to drive me insane.
"Thanks for coming to see us, buddy," I said to the little guy, giving him a high five. "I'm sorry, miss, I don't mean to be rude, but you look so familiar. Have we met before? I grew up in St. Louis, maybe we went to high school together?"
She turned and faced me, the second I got a good luck at her eyes, I knew who she was. It was Sara...the woman who had left me almost four years ago for almost no reason at all. "Nice to see you again, Randy..." she said softly as she took the little boy's hand and led him out of the room. What just happened?
