Thirteen years Later
Jennifer walked into the arena in Florida: the iPMACT Zone. She found her seat and sat down and wait for the show. She had changed a lot in the past thirteen years. She had dark brunette hair that was cut at her shoulders and had gained a few pounds. She smiled at the young girl that sat down next to her and the small boy who sat down on the other side of her.
All three of them watched the show with interest, following all the story lines as best they could. Once the show was over, they stayed back and waited for one of the security guards to come over.
"What do we do now?" asked the girl.
"We are waiting for someone," said Jennifer.
"Who?" asked the boy.
"Him," said Jennifer pointing to the security guard who walked over.
He opened up the gate and all three of them walked through. They followed behind him and stopped over next to the ramp and waited. A few minutes later a few of the wrestlers came over to them. They took pictures and signed autographs for the kids and took a few photos with Jennifer.
They were fixing to leave when another wrestler spotted them and walked over. He said hi to the kids and told them that they could go with the security guard backstage for a little while so he could talk to their mom.
Jennifer stood there and stared at the man. When he turned back to face Jennifer he sighed and ran his hand over his face.
"Kids, huh?" he said.
"Uh, yeah," said Jennifer. "Look Scott, before you…"
"Not my business," said Scott. "That's all you. Have you talked to Stevie?"
"Um, no. I was hoping to get out of here before I saw him," said Jennifer.
Jennifer's attention was drawn to the stage when she heard her son giggle. When she looked up she gasped, Stevie had her son and her daughter was following close behind. Scott turned back and smiled at her, but frowned when he saw she looked freaked out.
"What's wrong?" asked Scott.
"Um, well. I, uh…my daughter is Stevie's," said Jennifer quietly.
"WHAT?" said Scott.
"I got pregnant that first night at the house. I didn't know, obviously, until after I left. Then I met Coby's dad. He can't know!" said Jennifer.
As Jennifer let go of Scott's arm her daughter and Coby walked over with Stevie.
"I think these belong to you," chuckled Stevie.
"Mmhm," said Jennifer avoiding eye contact with him.
"I'm Stevie, by the way," he said sticking out his hand.
"He's awesome mom! He showed us all over the place back there. You should've come back there!" said Coby.
Jennifer smiled down at her son and is amazement. Jennifer nodded her head as she started to steer them out the gate.
"I can show you around if you want," said Stevie.
"Ahem," said Scott clearing his throat.
"Oh, didn't see you there," chuckled Stevie. "I see you've met Scott. Him and I go way back to…"
"She knows," said Scott.
"What?" said Stevie.
Scott walked over to Jennifer and pulled her hair back off her face and turned her to face Stevie.
"Picture this about thirteen years ago," said Scott. "She would've been about sixteen."
Stevie about fell out when he realized who she was. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before anything came out. Coby turned and watched the interaction between his mom and Stevie.
"Do you know him?" asked Coby.
"I knew him a long time ago, baby," said Jennifer. "You ready to go?"
"yeah. Can we get McDonalds?" asked Coby.
"Sure, baby," said Jennifer.
"Can they come too?" asked Coby.
Jennifer sighed and turned to face the two men, "If they want to."
"Good. I haven't had McDonalds in a while," said Scott following after them. "Stevie! Come on!"
Stevie regained his composure and followed the group out of the building. Each of them got in their respective cars and drove to the closest McDonalds. Jennifer parked her car and helped Coby out of the car while her daughter sat in the backseat. Jennifer set Coby down on the ground and looked at her daughter.
"Tessa, come on," said Jennifer.
"No," said Tessa. "Tell me the truth."
"What?" asked Jennifer walking over to her side of the car.
"Problems?" asked Scott.
"Can you take him inside while I talk to her?" asked Jennifer
Scott nodded his head and walked with Coby into the restaurant. Jennifer opened the door to her daughter's seat and leaned against the car.
"What are you talking about?" asked Jennifer.
"You told me Coby's dad was my dad, but I never looked like him. You always said that was because I had more of you in me," said Tessa. "But that was a lie and you know it. I look like him, mom."
Jennifer sighed as she sunk down to Tessa's level, "I said that because I was sixteen at the time. Yes, Stevie is your father, but he doesn't know that. He can't know that. Okay?" said Jennifer. "I'm sorry I lied to you. Forgive me?"
"I guess," said Tessa as she climbed out of the car.
The two of them walked into the restaurant and found the guys. Once they had their order they sat down in a corner away from everyone and at their food. Tessa kept fidgeting in her seat the whole night. It upset her that her own father, who was sitting five feet from her, didn't know she existed. She knew her mom was going to be mad, but she couldn't help it anymore.
"Stevie?" said Tessa getting his attention.
"Hm?" he replied.
"Do you have any kids?" asked Tessa.
Stevie chuckled and Scott and Jennifer chocked on their drinks.
"Um, no I don't," said Stevie. "I though about it long time ago, but I just haven't gotten around to it."
Jennifer shot her daughter a look that said 'shut up now' but Tessa pressed on.
"Let's say, hypothetically, that you did have a kid, but didn't know about it. How would you react?" asked Tessa.
It was Stevie's turn to choke on his drink. He turned to look at Tessa, who seemed genuinely interested in his answer. Stevie took a deep breath before he answered.
"Uh...well…I don't know," said Stevie. "I guess I would have to play it by ear if that ever happened."
Jennifer let out a quiet breath when it seemed Tessa was going to drop the subject. She counted her chickens before her eggs hatched. Tessa let the big one drop.
"You have a daughter," said Tess.
All three adults choked on their food when Tessa said that. Tessa stood up from the table and walked to the bathroom. Coby laughed at his mom as she drank her drink to get the fries down her throat.
"What is she talking about?" asked Stevie looking at Scott.
"Don't look at me bro, talk to her," said Scott picking up Coby and walked over to the play place.
Stevie turned and stared at Jennifer while she looked at nails. Stevie cleared his throat and Jennifer reluctantly looked up at him, and he didn't look happy.
"Jennifer?" said Stevie.
"Yeah," she said.
"Is…is Tessa….is she…um…" started Stevie.
"Yes she is your daughter," said Jennifer.
"Why did you never tell me!" asked Stevie?
"I don't know. Maybe because, as you so graciously put it the day I left, I was sixteen!" said jennifer. "I didn't know until after I had gotten to Texas. I had other things to deal with that tell you never crossed my mind. And them I met Coby's dad. And he said that he would put his name on the birth certificate."
"You still could've told me," said Stevie.
"I know, and I should've. But I couldn't bring myself to," said Jennifer. "Shit, Tessa didn't even know until we got here. Look, I apologize for not telling you. But we have to go."
Jennifer got up from the table and took Coby from Scott and grabbed Tessa's hand and walked out of McDonalds. Scot walked back over to where Stevie was sitting.
"So how did you handle it?" asked Scott.
"Not well,' said Stevie. "I'm going to head back to Philly and talk to Paul E."
"Already called him, he didn't know about it either. Didn't even know she got married and had a son. You wont get much out of him," said Scott.
"Married?" asked Stevie.
"Yeah. Second marriage. Soldier," said Scott.
"What about…" started Stevie.
"Tessa told me that Coby's dad was on the 9/11 flight," said Scott.
"Oh," said Stevie.
Stevie watched as Jennifer pulled out of the parking lot. He started to get up and follow her but Scott kept him in the booth.
"Dude, she's gone. She was gone when you didn't follow her thirteen years ago. She is happy, don't ruin that for her," said Scott.
Stevie nodded his head as they walked out of the restaurant. At least he knew where she was and that she was happy. That's all he really wanted for her, even thirteen years ago.