The show was fun, and after a fresh churro, and a brand new Randy Orton cap, Richie seemed to be enjoying himself. I felt so bad that it didn't work out like he had hoped, I know how excited he was to meet Ted, and part of me was hurt that he didn't tell me himself that he was trying back out for the wrestling team. He's always been into wrestling, and I knew it broke his heart when he didn't make the team last year. My mind raced on what I could do to make it up to him, I had an idea but I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back in time to face those people all over again.
The show was a week ago, and Richie seemed to be over it, and back to his jackass ways. He was my little brother, and I loved him dearly but he was a jackass, like most teenage boys, but he had a good heart and loved me and his little sister dearly. I stretched out on my bed, glancing at the clock that sat next to my bed, was it really 1AM already? I reached out for my cell phone, noticing the symbol on the front screen that meant I had a voicemail message. I had kept my phone on silent most of the time, mainly cause most of the people who called me were nothing more than debt collectors. I grabbed the phone, accessing my voicemail, typing in my 4 digit code.
"Hey, is this name right? Is this Riley Mitchell? The same Riley Mitchell from Clinton High School? *silence* Well anyways, my name is Ted Dibiase Jr., and I wanted to apologize for not making it to the WWE show last week. The radio station gave me this phone number, but uh…I guess no one is picking up…so I'll try back later." I pressed repeat on my phone, listening to the deep voice with a slight southern drawl, my stomach immediately filling with butterflies. I hadn't heard that voice in so long.
I had received 2 more calls from the same blocked number since the voicemail, it's not that I didn't want to talk to him, but I wasn't ready to face my past. The thoughts ran wild through my mind, I had just dropped Richie and Rachel off at school, and was now on my way to an address that I wasn't even sure was still good. I still felt bad for Richie, and I had convinced myself if there was a way to get Richie something without talking to Ted Jr I was gonna do it. I went through the trouble, pulling out the guestbook from our parent's funeral, glancing at the book, I quickly entered the address I was looking for into the GPS system and here I am now, only a few miles away. I honestly had no idea what I was doing, as I turned down the road, driving by one house but according to my GPS I still had to continue on, finally at the end of the road I pulled up to a security gate. I took a deep breath, before pulling forward, pushing the intercom button.
The thoughts ran through my mind, I was convinced they wouldn't remember me, they couldn't, when a female voice spoke through the intercom
"Yes?" it spoke
"Uh yeah, my name is Riley Mitchell…uh…I'm not sure if you remember me, I used.." I tried to explain, when suddenly the gates opened as if on cue. I pulled through the gates, pulling my car up to the driveway, shifting it into park. Before I could even get out of the car, the front door to the house swung open and the man that once gave me a ride to school, came walking hurriedly out of the house. I got out of the car, shutting the door softly, smiling wide at the older man.
"You better get over here and give me a hug girl!" Ted Dibiase Sr. spoke with a smile, pulling me into his arms, hugging me tight. It felt good seeing him again, it really had been too long. The hug broke, a wide smile on his face as he looked at me, as if he was admiring how much I had changed when I spoke
"I wasn't sure you'd remember me…" I said sheepishly
"It would be hard to forget the girl that once gave my son a black eye" he said laughing.
"I'm sorry about that, but Brett did deserve it." I tried to explain, remembering the day it happened.
"I'm sure he did" Ted Sr. said smiling, grabbing my hand wrapping my hand around his arm, as he walked me into the large house. No more than a step inside the large house and I was greeted by Melanie as she walked around the corner, wrapping me in a large hug.
"You remember Riley don't you?" Sr. asked his wife, as she cupped my chin in her hands, looking at me smiling.
"Of course I do, if I remember correctly you were the one that gave Brett the only shiner he's ever had." Melanie said smiling, as I blushed wildly
"Yeah that was me." I said, glancing down at my feet, when she spoke again
"Come on, let's sit outside and catch up." Melanie said happily, as I followed them onto their patio. I walked onto their lavish deck, overlooking their yard and led into a beautiful pool area, their house was beautiful I couldn't deny it, and I didn't expect anything less from the man who people referred to as The Million Dollar Man. I sat down on the chair across from Ted and Melanie, as Ted Sr. spoke
"So how are Richie and Rachel?" he asked smiling
"I'm surprised you remember their names, but they're doing good." I said, holding my cup out as Melanie poured some lemonade into my cup.
"My gosh, how old are they now? Last time we saw them was.." Melanie's voice tapered off as I glanced from her to Ted Sr. as he finished the sentence
"The last time we saw any of you was at your folks funeral." Ted Sr. finished calmly. I swallowed the tears, thoughts of that day flashing through my mind as I spoke.
"Yeah I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch or anything…things have been…well they've been hard actually." I said running my hand through my hair. Ted Sr. put his glass down on the table, reaching out taking my free hand with his
"Like we said that day at the church, if you three need anything…" Ted Sr. finished, giving me a wide smile as I smiled back at the older man. Taking a sip of the lemonade I put the cup back on the table as I spoke
"Actually Richie is the reason I'm here." Ted Sr. and Melanie listening intently as I spoke.
"Richie won a contest through the radio station to have a private meet and greet with Teddy a few weeks back." I explained as both Ted Sr. and Melanie smiled wide at the mention of their oldest son's name, I fought the blush that attacked my face as I continued
"Well, Teddy missed his flight and Richie was pretty bummed about the whole thing. So I was curious if I could get an autograph or something from you." I explained before a few moments of silence passed before Ted Sr. got up from the table, walking into the house before returning with an 8x10 of himself made out to Richie. He smiled as he held it out to me, right when I reached out for it, he pulled it back laughing
"I tell you what, I'll give you this now, but how about you bring Richie and Rachel over for a cook out next month?" Sr. asked, finally handing me the photo.
"Oh please do, I would love to see the little ones!" Melanie added excitedly.
"They're not so little anymore, Richie is 16 and is obsessed with everything wrestling. He's trying to make the team at school but hasn't had much luck. Rachel, well she's 13 and obsessed with everything fashion, make up and the band Big Time Rush." I explained, opening my purse showing them recent pictures of Richie and Rachel.
"So next month then?" Sr. said smiling as I shrugged my shoulders.
"Um sure, just let me know when it works for you." I said skeptically as I handed them a small paper I wrote my cell phone number on and inserted their home phone into my cell's contacts. I glanced at the clock on my phone as I spoke
"I really should get going." I said as I stood from the table, walking back through their house. I gave Melanie a quick hug before Ted Sr. offered his arm to me as he walked me out to my car.
"Are you sure you don't want to stick around? Teddy should be here sometime in the next couple hours." Ted Sr. spoke with a smile as I blushed.
"How are you two by the way?" Sr. spoke as I let go of his arm, opening the door putting the 8x10 on the passenger seat before turning back to Ted Sr.
"We're not anything. Up to the voicemail he left me a few days ago, I hadn't spoken to him since high school." I spoke, acting as calm as I could.
"Well let me catch you up, he's single, he's a current wrestler on the WWE roster, he's already won the tag team titles, and he asks about you every time we drive by the old house." Ted Sr. spoke, my skin blushing the moment he said the last part.
"He…he uh…asks about me?" I asked, scratching my head, Sr. laughing out loud as he spoke
"Still got the hots for my boy huh?" Ted Sr. asked with a knowing smile, as I shook my head in defense, but could tell Ted Sr. didn't believe it for a minute. Releasing a sigh, I gave Sr. a hug before climbing into the drivers seat rolling down the window when Ted Sr. leaned against the window
"I meant what I said. If you three need anything, you just let me know alright?" He spoke seriously, as I nodded my head. I took a deep breath before I spoke
"Look about Teddy…Could you just tell him that you took care of the radio winners. Tell him he doesn't have to make it up to me, that everything's been taken care of." I said seriously watching as Ted Sr. nod his head before responding
"I'll tell him, but my boy's too much like me. He's not gonna be happy with that response." Sr said with a sly smile.
"Well Junior is just gonna have to deal, so just tell him alright?" I said as Sr. smiled stepping away from the car as I pulled out of the driveway heading back home.
