*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much*
Walking down the stairs to the living room I hear a beautiful piano piece being played. I smile as I round the corner to see Sky sitting at the piano playing her heart out, pouring all of her emotions into a song with a sad melody. I smile as I watch her play away, hitting the keys with perfection, her curly dark hair moving with her head as she plays. I walk closer to the piano and watch her closely. She's in a world of her own playing away. "That's beautiful," I say as she finishes.
"Thank-you, Dad," she says putting the lid down over the keys. "I just felt like playing besides when I play it keeps Jennifer calm."
"She likes the music already," I say with a smile as I take a seat next to her on the bench. I place my hand on her stomach to see if I can feel my granddaughter kick.
"She's sleeping," she says with a smile. "Classical music always relaxes her and puts her to sleep. I hope the pattern continues after she's born."
"Yeah good luck," I say, "babies do their own thing and make up their own rules. You'll have to adjust to her," I say.
"I'm scared to be a mom. I feel like I am way too young for this. I mean I know I was always way too young for this but as we get closer to her due date the more nervous I become. Is that normal?"
"Very normal," I say. "Before Summer arrived I was a nervous wreck. I wanted everything to be perfect. I wasn't sure if I could handle having a baby. I was nervous. I thought I would screw up and I wouldn't be doing anything right. I had never had baby experience before. Hell, the day you showed up at my hotel door and the day I got the word that I was your father I was scared. I had never had any experience with children before and I was scared shitless. I tried to run but someone talked some sense into me so I came back around. I know it's a scary thought being a parent but that moment you hold that little life you created in your arms and look into their little face you forget all the fear and feel nothing but unconditional love."
"It is," she says nervously. "You have this little life that will depend on you for everything. You have to take care of it. You are responsible for another life. I'm scared what if I do screw up with her?"
"You won't, Sky, it's scary BUT you are an amazing person. You are so wonderful with your little sisters and brother that I know you're going to be a great mom. I have a lot of faith in you."
"Thanks, Dad," she says with a soft smile. "I'm just really nervous."
"Is this why you're playing the piano?"
"That and I have a lot of things on my mind at the moment," she says, "Playing the piano helps me think. It helps me clear my head it always has just like playing the cello has always helped me with that. I need to clear my head."
"What's going on, Sky?" I ask with concern.
"Nothing really it's just I have a lot on my mind with school I have finals next week and I'm stressed about that."
"Something else is bothering you. I know you, Sky, you are intelligent. Those finals are no load on your back. There's something else eating at you so spill it"
"I'm sorry that you lost your job, Dad."
"There's nothing for you to be sorry about, Sky."
"Yes there is it's my fault that you lost your job. If I hadn't went around sleeping with different guys and all this other stuff like getting married and getting pregnant you would still have your job. It's my fault that you lost it."
"Sky, that's not your fault," I say. "Look there are a lot of factors to me losing my job and even if you were one of them it's not your fault. The media circus surrounding your mom played a role in it as well but I am not blaming anyone for losing my job. It was a great 8 years and a great 8 seasons as a coach and I am thankful for that experience. Everything happens for a reason. What does the Bible say about plans?"
"That God makes plans for us but his plans aren't supposed to hurt us but give us hope and a future."
"Exactly," I say, "God gave me the opportunity to be the football coach at Georgia Tech and to take them to a bowl game undefeated and to win that bowl game is more than I could have asked for. My work with Georgia Tech is done and I am okay with that. I loved the job but it's time to move on to something else and make a new adventure with my life."
"So you aren't upset that you lost your job at Georgia Tech?"
"No like I said everything happens for a reason. There is something else out there for me to do. I did all that I can with Georgia Tech it's time to move on."
"Are you going to coach again?" she asks.
"No I don't think so. I couldn't coach for another football team it wouldn't seem right. I have to stay loyal to my alma mater but I have been doing some thinking about what I want to do or what I could do."
"So what do you have in mind?" she asks. "Are you leaving Georgia?"
"No we have too much here we have the shelter here and we have the community center here so we're going to stay in Atlanta."
"Then what are you going to do?"
"I was thinking of opening up a couple of gyms in Atlanta. I also want to open my own wrestling gym here in Atlanta and train up and coming wrestlers. I mean that's my plan."
"I think that is a fantastic idea, Dad. I think that's something you'll love," she says with a smile. "You would be like Uncle Afa."
"I know," I say with a smile. "I have some money laying around that I could easily do this but I have to buy a house first."
"Oh yeah," she says, "Are Charlie and I still allowed to live with you or would you rather us get our own apartment?"
"If you want to still live with us you are more than welcome to but if you feel like you and Charlie want to move into your own place I have no issues with that. You're married. I can't tell you not to he's your husband."
"Are you sure, Dad? Because Charlie and I have been talking about it, we feel like you and Mom have gone through so much that having us and the baby around is too much."
"You can do what you feel you need to do but you can't keep us from Jennifer's life. We still want to see her as much as we can."
"And you will," she says with a smile. "I want her to know her Papa."
"Papa," I say shaking my head. "I sound so old. I am going to be a Papa."
She smiles and says, "You're not that old and besides you may be the best looking Papa in the world."
I let out a small laugh, "Thanks but I don't care. I'm ready to spoil my grandbaby. Rachel and I have been talking about trying for another one."
"Dad," she says with a smile. "That's great! I hope that you two do have another baby after everything that's gone on in the last few months you really deserve that."
"Thank-you," I say with a smile. "I love you, Sky and I am so proud of you."
"Thanks, Dad," she says with a smile as she hugs me and I hug her back.
A COUPLE DAYS LATER:
"What are you up to?" asks Rachel as she comes into my office as I am on the internet looking at houses for sale in the area as well as abandoned buildings to buy to turn into a wrestling training center.
"Just looking at some houses," I say as she walks over to me. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing," she says, "I was just watching TV but then I got bored. I wanted to see what you were up to."
"Just house hunting," I say, "what do you think about this house right here," I say pointing to the screen. "It's not too far from here and the asking price is 2.5 million dollars. It's a nice house. It has 7 bedrooms, a backyard, it's in a private gated location. There is a kitchen, dining room, laundry room, finished basement and a 3-car garage. It's not much different than this house," I say as I click on the pictures. "Here look at the pictures and tell me what you think."
I click through the pictures as she looks at them with me. I look up at her occasionally and see a smile on her face. "I like it," she says. "I really do like it. It does remind me of this house."
"Do you want to check it out because I can make an appointment if you're interested?"
"Yes make an appointment," she says with a smile. "I'm kind of glad they're making us leave this house. Even if they weren't I don't think I could live here knowing everything that happened with Briana in that kitchen. Every time I walk in there I just see her on the floor. I can't live like that."
"And we would be leaving regardless," I say as I motion for her to sit on my lap. "How are you feeling?" I ask as she takes a seat on my lap.
"I'm feeling all right," she says, "It feels great to be free but I was told I can't go to Summer's or Storm's end of the year party."
"Why not?" I ask.
"You know why," she says wrapping her arms around my neck. "People around here are always going to think what they want. No one cares that I was found innocent. If they think I'm guilty then I'm guilty."
"I'm sorry," I say, "but we're doing our best to move on from this. We're working on expanding our family once more," I say with a smile as I touch her stomach, "and I'm opening up a wrestling school."
"I'm sure your wrestling school is going to be amazing and I am sure you're going to help a lot of people make it in the business."
"Thanks," I say, "What about you? Are you going to get back into making tutus and little outfits and hairbows?"
"I'd like to but no one is going to order anything from me anymore. You know what America thinks of me."
"Stop beating yourself up, Rachel. There are people out there that do believe you're innocent. Screw the ones that think otherwise. You can't let them dictate your life and let them make decisions for you. I don't care what anyone thinks of you. I love you, Rachel and you're my wife. You're in it with me through better or worse no matter what life throws at us you're stuck with me."
"I caused you to lose your job," she says,
"Why do you and Sky insist on blaming yourselves for that? Losing my job with Georgia Tech is no one's fault. Life just happens. I came and did what I needed to do. It's time for me to do something else. Do not blame yourself for that."
"I can't help it," she says sadly. "It's just we were so happy and then everything just went to hell. How did we have such an amazing life last year and then in the last few months everything just went downhill?"
"Hey," I say lifting her chin. "Trials and tribulations happen. Storms are going to come and go but it's all about how we react to this storm. I will not deny that we have been through the biggest storm in the last few months but I'm not letting it stop me from living my life. At first I was upset. I wanted it to just be over but I kept focusing on all the bad things and not the good things. There's always something good to be found in the bad times. Like right now, I don't have a job but I have money. I have money to keep us well for the next 15 years. Just like we lost River and I am devastated about it but at the same time we still have 4 beautiful kids to love and spend time with. We've had dark times before but we found the light. We can always find the light in the darkness we just have to look for it. There's something good that's going to come out of this. I'm choosing to believe it and while this may not be how we envisioned our lives, Rachel and everything is unexpected we will be okay. You and I have been through a lot. We have been through a lot together but every time we made it through. In a couple months America is going to forget about you and there will be new news. Don't beat yourself up over this, Rachel. It's not worth it. You know the truth and that's all that matters."
"But when I am banned from my own children's parties at school and I get evil looks on the street how much does the truth really matter? It doesn't because everyone is going to believe what they want. I don't know what else I can do, Roman."
"You can hold your head up high and not let the haters get to you. Believe me I have learned that the haters do NOT control your life. You can't control what people think about you or what they say about you but what you do control is how you let it affect you. Don't let them take away your happiness don't let them tear you down. I think you are fascinating and amazing. I couldn't be prouder than to call you my wife, Rachel. We're going to get through this I promise but as long as you're allowing everyone to beat you down and you're letting what the world thinks of you control how you live your life we are never going to get through this. Don't change who you are and what you want to do because you're scared of what people might say. Screw them, Rachel, be the one in charge of your own happiness and your own destiny do NOT let them take away who you are. Don't, Rachel," I say. "Okay, Baby?"
"Okay," she says with a soft smile. "I love you, Roman."
"I love you, Baby," I say before I softly kiss her lips. "So how about we go work on expanding our family?"
"Sounds like a plan to me," she says with a smile before I stand up holding her in my arms and take her up to our bedroom where we spend the afternoon working on moving on with our lives and expanding our family. I don't care what anyone has to say about my wife or what they think of her. I know the real Rachel and I know she is innocent. She never cared what people thought of me so it's my turn to show her the same respect.
*A/N: How do you think Sky is going to handle being a mom? Do you think she will be able to do it? What about Rachel? Do you think she will ever be able to rise above the hate of everyone and prove it doesn't matter what they think of her? Do you think Roman's speech helped her? Please review and thank-you for reading.