CHAPT49

Dinner that night went well and every one complimented the new way that the meal had been prepared. When we had all finished eating Nikki and I cleaned the table while the men went out onto the back deck to talk. Nikki looked at me and smiled her beauty queen smile. "It's nice having you here. Teddy seems to like you a whole lot."

"I love being here, and really I like him a lot too. Look I know that you and Kristen were friends and I know how it might seem with Teddy and me, but I can promise you that it's not like that at all."

She held her hand up to silence me. "You have nothing to explain to me at all. It honestly wouldn't matter to me if you and Teddy had been having a relationship for the past six months, because I think that they both checked out of the marriage long before that. Marriage is a piece of paper, nothing more. That certificate only says that you are husband and wife, not that it's right or that you are in love with anyone. She did him wrong and that is a fact. He is good, wholesomely good, and she hurt him badly. You are more like us though, you really fit into this family well."

I smiled at her and laughed. "Yeah, now if I could lose the nerves when I'm around Ted Sr. I will be alright."

"Give it time, you will." She closed the dishwasher and started it up then said, "What are you doing tomorrow?"

I shrugged my shoulders and said, "I don't know really. We only talked about dinner tomorrow night at his house. Other than that we have not really talked about anything."

"Let's do lunch and a little shopping. I have a baby shower gift to get and I would love you to come with me."

I smiled and nodded and then yawned. "I guess horseback riding wore me out today. I am tired."

We walked out onto the patio and Teddy looked up and caught my eye and smiled. My heart skipped a beat or two and I sighed. He stood up and walked over to me. "How are you? You look tired."

"I am. I was just thinking that I might go on up to bed. Nikki invited me to go out to lunch and shopping tomorrow so I want to be well rested. I'll have her drop me at your house when we are finished if that's okay."

"Sounds good to me," he said. "Maybe Brett and I can go fishing or something. I'll walk you up to your room."

He walked me in and up the staircase but he stopped outside my door. "I'll see you at breakfast, get some sleep." He leaned down and kissed my lips and then pulled back and smiled. "I'll see you in the morning beautiful."

I watched as he walked back down the stairs and headed into my room when he turned the corner. I got dressed for bed and snuggled in for a good nights sleep. I slept soundly until a soft knock sounded at my door and I heard it slowly push open. I was surprised to see the sun shining through the curtains when I opened my eyes to see Teddy's head peeking in the door.

"Good morning beautiful," he said when I smiled at him. "Mom said to tell you breakfast is in fifteen minutes."

I sat up in bed and stretched. "You can come in for a minute. I can't believe that I slept so deeply."

He scooted in the door and left it cracked. Walking over to the bed he leaned down and kissed me lightly. "I have to go change. Mom scolded me for still having my pajamas on when I got to the kitchen."

I laughed and noticed for the first time that he was wearing plaid pajama pants and a plain white tee shirt. He looked so good, with his still sleepy eyes and his bed head hair. "Well then I guess you better go change so I can get ready too." I kissed his cheek and loved the roughness of it. "You look amazing this morning."

He smiled at me and straightened up, heading for the door. "You do too, but then again you always do. I'll meet you back here in a few and we'll walk down together."

I nodded as I slid out of the bed and headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth and change into my jeans and tee shirt. I brushed y hair out and pulled it back up into a ponytail and headed back out to the bedroom at the same time that I heard Teddy knock at the door again. I walked over to the door and opened it with a smile. He looked so good, no matter what he was wearing. He was comfortable in anything so he wore it all well. In his jeans and thermal shirt he was amazing. He took my hand and we made our way to the dining room for breakfast.

After a delicious breakfast I headed up to my room to get ready to head out with Nikki and to make a phone call or two. I hadn't talked to my mom since the night I had learned about my title shot so I called her first.

"Hey mom, how are you," I asked when she answered.

"I'm just fine even though I just left the lawyers office. It looks like the divorce will be final at the beginning of November."

There seemed to be a lot of divorce going on around me these days. "Are you sure that you're okay mom?"

"Well of course I am darling." I could hear the smile in her voice and that eased my mind some. "Tell me how you are now Cassidy," she continued. "Are you still seeing whoever it was that you were seeing?"

"Actually I am and I really like him a lot. You will love him and his family."

"Well are you going to tell me who he is or do I have to guess?"

I laughed out loud. "Believe me mom you would never guess! I would have never guessed I'd like someone like him this much considering how I felt about him before I met him."

"Wait," she interrupted me. "I thought that Randy Orton guy was married. It can't be him can it? I know there weren't many you really couldn't stand."

"Mother, of course it isn't Randy! He is a total sweetheart and one of my really close friends now though. Actually mom, I'm seeing Ted DiBiase, and yes he is married, but they have filed for divorce."

My mom was silent for a second before I heard her laugh. "Well, my goodness, I never would have thought that those words would come out of your mouth. Randy is a friend and your dating Ted DiBiase? Have you met his parent's yet? I can only imagine that you were as nervous as a kid on the first day of school."

I couldn't help laughing with her because she was totally right. "Actually I have met them and you're right I am still nervous around his dad. His mom invited me to their home for the week and to have a cookout tomorrow, so I'm actually here now."

Mom cleared her throat and I could tell that she was looking for a polite way to ask about how seriously involved Teddy and I were. "Don't worry mom, we are not sleeping together. When you meet him you will see that he is truly different."

"Well, you are a grown woman and you can do what you want. I told Jalen that same thing when she called a bit ago. Her parents were showing their butts this morning. I'm glad she got that job and that she has found someone."

I sighed. I know this morning must have been hell for Jalen and I was glad I was calling her next. I looked at the clock and saw that it was ten thirty and I was meeting Nikki at eleven. "I was about to call Jay anyway, and I have to meet Teddy's sister-in-law for shopping at eleven. I will talk to you soon though and I will see you in just a few days. I love you."

I hung up and called Jalen. I was preparing to leave her a message when she answered. "Hey Cass," she said.

"Hey yourself," I laughed. "I didn't interrupt anything did I?"

"NO, we aren't rabbit's silly. How's it going down there?"

I sighed and smiled. "I talked to mom and she said that your parents have already showed their tail ends this morning. It's barely nine forty five there; they got an early start huh?"

"Yeah, but its okay, Jeff was here. In fact we are about to head to North Carolina now, just to get away. Now tell me how it's going there!"

"Really well actually, it's beautiful down here. Teddy took me horseback riding yesterday and tonight he is cooking me dinner at his place. Oh and I noticed a few four wheelers out back," I said.

"Hmmm," Jalen said thoughtfully. "Maybe we should get the guys to teach us to ride and then have a little race, beginners against the pros."

I laughed with her and said, "I figured you would say something like that. I miss you Jay. I got so used to having you around these past few weeks. How about next week during our off days we have some girl time?"

"I think that sounds great," Jalen said. "So, I guess you and Teddy are doing okay then right?"

"Yeah we are, and I really love that I have the chance to see him around his family. I really like him a lot, and I like it here a lot too."

"I'm so glad that you're happy. You deserve it more than anyone I know."

"No more than you deserve it," I said. "You know Jay; I can see myself loving him for a long time. He's the kinda guy that every parent would want for their daughter and oddly enough he's the kinda guy I think I want too."

"I know that already, and one of these days you are really going to realize it. When you do your going to find your prince," Jalen said. "Jeff said to tell you hello, he just came in from loading the car. I think we are about to head out."

"Tell him hey," I said. "Oh crap! I got to run! I have to meet Nikki in a minute to go shopping! I'll talk to you soon! See you about one o'clock tomorrow alright?"

"Sure thing, we'll be there! Have fun!"

I hung up and rushed in the bathroom brushing my teeth and hair and then I grabbed my purse and hurried down the stairs. As I got to the bottom of the steps I saw Nikki coming from the kitchen carrying two bottles of water.

She handed me one and smiled, "You ready to go?"

"Sure am," I said.

"The guys are loading up Teddy's truck for a fishing trip so we can say goodbye on the way out."

We walked outside just as the boys were coming out of the storage building carrying fishing poles followed by Ted Sr. who had a cooler and tackle box. I squinted against the sun and smiled when I saw Teddy wearing a ball cap. It was something I had never seen him wear before and he looked so incredibly cute and young. He caught my eye and smiled.

"Hey there ladies," Ted Sr. said. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather join us for a little fishing?"

I laughed thinking how long it had been since I had been fishing. "Next time I am all in," I said.

Ted Sr. smiled at me and said with a wink, "I'll hold you to that."

Teddy walked over to me then and hugged me. In my ear he whispered, "You don't have to go fishing you know."

"I know that but I want too. It's been a long time since I've been and I miss it. You look awfully cute today," I said tugging the bill of his cap down over his eyes.

He smiled at me and said, "Not as cute as you are."

His dad walked by and said, "You can kiss her Teddy. You are a grown man and you don't have to hide it from your mom and me." I couldn't help but laugh.

Teddy laughed too as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. "I guess I had better listen to the old man," he said as he leaned down and kissed me. Wrapping my arms around his neck I kissed him back.

"Hey Teddy," Nikki called. "Why don't you let her go? I promise I'll bring her back."

Teddy pulled back and his eyes were sparkling as he grinned. "Have a good time today," he said to me. To Nikki he called, "You better bring her back or else I will have no choice but to hold your little husband there hostage. Have her at my place at seven if you don't mind." He was laughing and kissed me again. "I guess I'd better let you go so you guys can do your girl thing."

I looked at him and kissed his chin. "Be careful today alright?"

Clutching his hands to his heart he said, "Awww you care about me, how sweet!"

I playfully punched him in the arm. "Yeah you're growing on me country boy." I smiled at him and turned to head to the car where Nikki was waiting.

"I'll see you tonight Cass," he called out as I climbed into the passenger side of the car.