Chapter 4
Before I knew it, it was already morning and Glen was waking up next to me. He gave me a good morning kiss and was surprised to see me already awake. He asked me, "Are you alright? Normally you at least sleep in until Collin comes running in telling you he is hungry."
"I'm fine. I just had a rough night and could not get back to sleep after I had woken up. That's all."
"Okay, how about I order us some breakfast and then take Collin with me while you work on your article before we go back to the arena tonight."
"That's fine with me, but only order something light for me. I'm not feeling to good to eat a big breakfast. Okay."
Glen then got up from the bed and called for room service, while I headed towards Collin's room to see if he was up already.
After room service arrived and we were done eating. I got Collin's bag ready for Glen and told him what I had put in it for his lunch. I then handed him the bag and gave Collin a kiss and told him to behave for Glen. I then gave Glen a kiss on the lips and said, "I love you and have fun."
Once Glen left, I went over to my laptop and set it up. While I waited for it to come, I decided that I would get in a nice soak since I had the room all to myself this afternoon.
While I was in the tub, I thought back to what I was thinking about earlier that morning.
***(Barbara thoughts)*** A/N: (Time setting: Beginning of 1999)
Well, over the course of a year and half, I was getting really good at my job. I had several articles that were cover stories for both magazines. I even had some great photo shoots that made most of the covers of the magazines as well. Everyone thought I was one of the best journalist and photographer they had in several years. Even though I was happy with my job, and the life I was leading. I always felt I was missing something or someone in my life. Yeah, I had my share of the local men from Stamford and some of the wrestlers that I got to know over the years, but they never amounted to what I wanted in my life.
Well, one day I was in my office thinking about my life and was thinking that I needed a change. Therefore, I went to talk to Shane and asked him, "What do you think might make this emptiness in my life go away?" Shane told me, "That maybe going on the road with the company and taking more photos of the wrestlers and having some field work would help a little bit. On the other hand, maybe you should go home to Houston for a while and spend sometime there with your family, because I know that you have not been back to Houston since you have taken this job and you hardly ever go to Boston anymore either. I told him, "I'll think about what you said and thanks for the advice." I then went back to my office to think about it.
Several days later, I came up with a decision. I knew I did not want to go home just yet. So, I went to talk to both Shane and Vince about traveling on the road for a while. That I needed a change in my life and this might be what I needed. Of course, I still wanted to write articles for the magazines, but sending them to the editor on the road. They both said that they would have to think about it for a while before coming up with a decision.
Two weeks later, Shane and Vince called me into Vince's office and told me that starting the night before the Royal Rumble, I will be traveling with the company and taking pictures at the pay-per-views, live tapings, and some house shows, but also will still be writing articles for the magazines as well. I then thanked them and told them they won't regret their decision. I then went back to my office and started to get a couple of things together that I might need to take with me on the road, because I will be starting on Sunday and I had a lot of things to do before then.
I had to talk to my landlord to let him know that I will not be home a lot and if he wouldn't mind picking up my mail on the days I knew I would be gone and also to make sure nothing happens to the apartment. I also knew I might want to pickup a few new things I might need like luggage, clothes, a better camera and a new laptop.
When I got everything taken care of at the office with my sectary and my editor about what I would be doing and how I would be handling all my article assignments that I would be given. I told him that I felt that I needed a change and I had nothing against him, but I felt that I had to take this matter up with Shane, because not only was he higher up in the company, but he would also understand where I was coming from. I then called Stephanie and asked her, "Would you like to go shopping with me. So I can pickup a couple of new things for my new job?" Stephanie then asked, "What new job?" I then explained to her what I would be doing and decided what would be a good time to get together.
When it came time for me to leave, I left with Vince and Shane that afternoon, because they wanted to show me around and help me get use to traveling. Shane introduced me to some of the other photographers and told them that I would be in charge of them. He then said, "Whatever she says goes, understand." He also introduced me to some of the new wrestlers that I have not interviewed before or have not taken their picture either.
As the weeks went on, I was really enjoying myself and getting along with everyone including some of the wrestlers that I thought had major attitude problems while I was interviewing them at the office, but most of them I got along with really well. I still did keep to myself most of the time though.
While I was on the road, I found out al about Mark and what he was doing and became friends with him, but he did not recognized me since I left all those years ago. I also became really close to Glen Jacobs and Paul Levesque, but I never got to close to them though.
Well about three weeks before Wrestle Mania, I got a phone call from my brother telling me that our grandma was in the hospital and they did not know if she would make it or not. Therefore after I got as much information out of my brother, I went to tell Shane and Vince what was going on and that I needed to go to Houston to check on her. They agreed to let me have sometime off, because maybe this would also do me some good, but if my grandma was well enough that I must returned to do Wrestle Mania and then I could go back.
When I got into Houston, David picked me up and took me strait to the hospital so I could see how our grandma was doing. When I got there the doctors said that your grandma only had maybe a few days left, because we were not able to catch the cancer in time and it spread throughout her body. I was truly devastated; I could not believe I was about to lose the one person that took care of me most of my life after my mother had died. After I got done talking to the doctors, I went into see her and when she saw me, she had this huge smile on her face. Her and me talked for hours about everything and anything. I explained to her what I had been up to since the last time I had written to her. I also told her how my life was going and that I had met a few nice men. My grandma was happy for me and told me Mr. Right is still out there for you, you just have to keep looking for him. I then told her bye, and said I would be back in the morning.
Well two weeks went by and it looked like I would be able to go back to work and come back after, but my grandma took a turn for the worse. She had past away in her sleep, and when I heard the news I was heartbroken.
David and I made all the arrangements for her funeral. We called everyone we knew and all the family members that were still alive. We also made sure that there were plenty of flowers and everything that she would have wanted taken care of. After all the arrangements were taken care of, I called Vince to let him know what was all going on and that I would be back to work as soon as I can, but I would not be able to make it for Wrestle Mania in time.
The funeral went fine and I was holding up pretty good. I only cried when they lowered her into the ground. I stayed back a while to finally say goodbye to her.
After the funeral we had a little gathering back at the house and everyone gave their condolences to our family including Mark and Anthony. Mark was glad to see me again after so long even if it was under these circumstances. We talked about how our lives were going. Mark told me that he was divorced now and that he was doing great in his career. He even told me, "I really do miss seeing you around here "Babs," my old nickname he gave me." I really started to feel special again since he has not called me that since I was ten. I then just listened to what else he was saying about his life even though I already knew about it. I then went and told him that I really enjoy what I have been doing and where I live now. I explained to him that as of right now, I travel about four days a week to write articles and take photos for the magazine company I work for. We talked some more, but I got called away by another family member.
Several days later, I decided I needed to get out of the house and do some major thinking about my life and my job. I also needed to figure out what I wanted to do with my grandma's property. I thought maybe a nice jog in the park might help me get my mind clear and figure out what I wanted to do. When I was jogging through the park, I ran into Mark, who was sitting on a bench near the lake with a beer in his hands. I walked over to him and asked, "May I join you?" He nodded and I sat next to him. We started to talk some more what we have been up to in the past couple of years. I told him all about the interesting things I did in high school, college, and the job I have right now without giving too much detail about who I work for exactly. Also what I have been doing for the past couple of months. We also talked about all the good times David, Anthony, him, and I shared. We started to laugh at some of the things we did back then. We were starting to get a little bit tipsy with the beer we were drinking.
Then all of a sudden, I saw Mark lean over and gave me a kiss on the lips, but it was not just any type of kiss, it was a kiss that contained some stored up passion and desire. When it was happening I thought, "What's going on…I can't be doing this…He is like a brother to me, but it does feel so good…" Then I started to relax into the kiss and kiss him back with the same stored up passion and desire.
I then felt him move his hands up my back to my face and then the kiss was deepened even more. When we pulled away, we were both were breathless. I asked him, "Mark, what was that for?"
He told me, "I don't know, Babs, but all I do know is that I liked it and I have wanted to do that to you ever since I first saw you again."
We eventually went back to my grandma's house. When we got there I invited Mark in for another drink or something to eat, but I think Mark had other things in mind. He walked up behind me and put his arms around me and pulled me into his body. He then kissed me again. He then kissed me again. While still kissing me, he picked me up and carried me up the stairs to my old bedroom.
When we got into the room, he put me down gentle on my feet and continued to kiss me. While we were kissing, his hands were working on pulling my t-shirt out of my jogging pants. He then proceeded to get my shirt off and then started to work on taking my bra off. I then asked him, "Mark, what do you think you are doing?"
He then told me, "Babs, I'm trying to make love to you. I've been wanting to do that ever since we kissed back in the park, because you are so beautiful." He then finished getting me all the was undress and then proceeded to do the same for himself. When we were both completely naked, he pulled me over to the bed and proceeded to make the most passionate love to me imaginable.
The next morning when I woke up, I felt this most strangest feeling. I felt something holding me down, and it felt really warm against my skin. When I finally looked at what was holding me, I could not believe my eyes I could not believe that Mark was holding me and we were in my bed together. I turned to look at him and find out why he was here, but nothing came out of my mouth. Mark then said, "Good morning sweetheart, did you sleep well."
I finally got my voice back and asked him, "Mark, what are you doing here and why are you in my bed?"
He then said, "I don't know, Babs. All I remember is coming back here after we came back from the park and then all I remember is waking up here with you. But whatever happen, I think we enjoyed it."
I then got out of bed with the sheet covering up my naked body, and walked over to the bathroom to take a shower. While I was in there, I think Mark got out of bed and decided that we would need to talk about this later, but now must not be the right time. So, I guess he got his clothes back on and left leaving a note saying he would be back later to talk.
When I came out of the bathroom, I noticed that Mark was not in the bedroom and all his clothes were gone. I also saw that there was a note on the bed saying we need to talk and he would be back later. I then got dress and stated to cry myself to sleep. I never thought my dreams would come true. That I would ever get a chance to be with him.
Several hours had past and I had woken up to the phone ringing. I answered it and it was Mark wondering if he could come over so we could talk about what happen. I agreed that we needed to talk and told him to come on over.
When he got there, I showed him into the living room and asked him if he wanting anything to drink. He then said, "Sure, a beer would be nice." I then went into the kitchen to get a beer for him and something a little bit strong for me. After I came back into the living room with the drinks, I sat down next to him.
We started to talk about what had happen that morning and the night before. Mark thought maybe we could start seeing each other, but I thought differently. I thought it was not a good idea at this time. I explain to him what happen was just a big mistake on both are parts considering we were pretty much intoxicated at the time. We continued to talk for a while, but I think Mark was hurt that I did not want to continue what we started.
At around ten o'clock I told Mark, "Goodnight, and have a nice trip back." Once I shut the door, I knew I had some major thinking to do, the first thing I knew I had to do was get in contact with Vince and let him know how long I might be still. Then I had to decide if I wanted to continue to stay on the road or go back to the main office and work there.
The next day I called Vince to let him know that it might be a couple of weeks before I would be able to return to work, but I still could work on some of the articles I still had been assigned already. I also explained to him what I still had left to do in Houston and what other things I had in mind when I returned to Stamford. So, I was all set to get everything personal taken care of so I could get on with my life.
For the next couple of weeks it was getting harder for me to deal with finalize the sale of the house and packing everything up and selling things. I was also having a hard time dealing with what I was going to do when I went back on the road and how I would have to face Mark and my feelings towards him. Yes, even though I told him that I thought what we did was a mistake, I still loved him and knew we would not survive a relationship together after being away from each other so long.
Two more weeks past and I had everything done and was ready to leave Houston to return to Stamford to go back to work at the thing I love the most. ******