Chapter 1
Bubba Ray Dudley sat and watched her pace back and forth. Every few minutes she'd fiddle with the small cross around her neck, bite her lower lip, search the crowds that were unloading from the planes then start pacing again. She was a nervous ball of energy about to explode. "Honey, calm down. The plane's just a little delayed. He'll be here soon."
Trish Stratus stopped long enough to flash him a crooked smile. "Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it."
"What are boyfriends for? Since we have some time, why don't you tell me about him?" Bubba suggested and patted the seat next to him.
She sat down beside the big wrestler and leaned against his beefy shoulder. "My mum had relatives in England and decided to work there after graduating from university. She met this widower, fell in love and got married. There was a bit of adjustment because he had a son from his previous marriage, but everything seemed to be okay. Then I came along.
"I'm not exactly sure why, but my parents started fighting. When I was five, they divorced, and Mum took me back to Canada. My brother stayed in England."
Bubba gave her a gentle hug. "Did you get to visit each other much?"
"Not very often," she sighed regretfully, "but we write each other on a regular basis. It got a bit harder when I began to travel so much. I send him postcards, and he probably has one of the biggest collections of hotel stationary in the country. A friend of his set him up with an email account, but he still isn't used to it."
"So how does he feel about you becoming a wrestler?" Bubba asked tilting his head.
"Well, I think it raised some eyebrows," Trish admitted, "but so long as I'm happy, it's fine with him."
"Has he seen any of your matches live?"
"No, tonight will be the first time. Thank god it's not a bikini match. I'm so excited!" she gushed, stood up and started pacing again.
Bubba merely smiled and turned his attention to the monitors. "Looks like his flight's arrived."
Next thing Bubba knew he was being yanked out of the chair. For a little thing, she sure had a strong grip, he mused as she dragged him to the passenger unloading area. Bracing herself against him, she stood on tiptoe straining to find her brother. "There he is! There he is!"
Bubba looked to where she pointed and saw someone so different from his petite, blond girlfriend that he blinked in surprise.
The man was tall, had short, dark wavy hair with a touch of gray and wore glasses. He seemed to be searching the crowd then smiled as he heard Trish's squeal. She dropped Bubba's hand, ran then flung herself at him and gave him a big hug. The man visibly relaxed and wrapped his arm around her.
She grinned from ear to ear as she brought him to Bubba. "Honey, I'd like you to meet my brother, Rupert Giles."
