Chapter 10
Paul made his way downstairs where he found Stephanie waiting in the living room sitting on the couch. He approached her cautious and saw the look on face. She had a blank stare in her eye. She wasn't saying anything. She was quiet...terribly quiet. She didn't make a sound, never said a word, not even a peep.
Paul crouched down in front of her, his hands resting softly on her knees. "Stephanie." She looked at him with emotionless eyes still not saying a word. "Stephanie. Please. Say something," he pleaded in a soft voice. "Please baby. Talk to me. Anything?"
Paul looked at her with pleading eyes. She just stared back at him until she stood from her seat on the couch. She stood in front of him looking down upon him still not saying a word. Paul arose from his positon and stood in front of her still with pleading in his eyes.
"Stephanie. Baby please. Please say something."
She looked up at him, face still emotionless. Then her face changed into a scowl, her eyes becoming angry. Paul saw her right arm reach back and he knew what was coming. He let out a sigh, and closed his eyes, preparing for the blow. The very second he closed his eyes, *SMACK* right across the face. His head jerked back with force. He was knocked down to one knee. He looked up at her cradling his face where she slapped him viciously, panting, with wide eyes. To say it didn't sting would be a lie.
"Wrong number," She said
"Stephanie, I can explain," he said from his positon on the floor, this time on both knees, hands up in front of him.
"WRONG NUMBER?!" Stephanie repeated loudly.
"Stephanie, I'm sorry!"
Stephanie reached back and slapped him across the face again. "How could you do this to me, Paul? How could you...why would you lie to me?" she demanded crying
"Okay, Stephanie. I'm sorry! I admit it! OK? I admit it! I lied!"
"Why? Why did you lie to me?"
"B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b... " he stuttered. He threw his hands in the air. "AAH! Because I did it to protect you!"
"Protect me?!"
Stephanie went for another slap but Paul caught her by the wrist. He stood up with her wrist in his grasp. She went for a slap again and he caught her other wrist also. His grasp on her wrist was not tight enough to where it would cause bruising. She struggled to break free and he let her go. Stephanie lost her balance and slipped onto the couch.
"If you would just calm down and let me explain!"
Stephanie got back up, balled up her fists and started striking him on his chest and arms. "Why couldn't you just tell me?!" she asked him. "Why didn't you just tell me the truth?"
Stephanie hit Paul on his upper torso over and over, until he pulled her into his arms, close to his chest. She still hit him on the arms until she finally gave in and ceased with the hitting. The hits stopped and she just broke down into tears. She buried her face in his chest and bawled her eyes out. Paul lowered him and her to the floor, until he sat on the floor, not once letting her go. He rocked Stephanie back and forth to calm her down. Paul rubbed her head, stroked her hair, just letting her cry. His heart broke for her. He hated seeing her like this. He didn't care that she had slapped him. He loved her and it killed him to see her cry.
The sobbing had subsided moments later and he looked at her tear-streaked face. He wiped the tears aways gently with his hands and pulled her up to the couch. They sat there in silence with Stephanie still in his arms. He looked at her for a few seconds and spoke.
"I didn't want to tell you the truth about that phone call. But now I will tell you. Yes Undertaker called me. Yes, Undertaker was the one behind the burning symbol in the church yard that day at our wedding. Yes, Undertaker was the one behind me getting beat up in the parking lot."
"You heard Undertaker say what he said to me?"
"Yes I did. When the phone stopped ringing on the second ring, I was upstairs in our room, and I quietly listened in on the conversation. I didn't think he would call you."
Stephanie rested her head on his right shoulder. "Look at me, Stephanie," he softly requested. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to frighten you. It killed me seeing you that way at our wedding, your face full of fear...literally killed me. I didn't want to see that look of fear on your face again. Remember my vow to you? I told you I would protect you from whatever harm came your way. I also said I would never let anything happen to you. You can believe me when I say this...I will put my life on the line for you."
She looked up at him. "What if..." Stephanie started to say, then sighed. "What if one of these days I need you and you're not there?"
"That won't happen. I will make sure of that. I'm here for you... forever."
Paul pulled her mouth close to his until their lips touched in a passionate kiss. He promised to protect her, and protect her, he would.
"Forever?" she asked after they pulled apart from the kiss.
"Till death do us part, Stephanie. Till death do us part."