Chapter Three
Part Two
15 April 2005
'Hunter, I can't thank you enough for what you've done for Colby,' Stephanie said, not taking her eyes off her son, who was ecstatically getting through a huge mound of presents that had been waiting for him that morning.
She turned to him briefly, smiling. 'For what you've done for the both of us.'
Hunter smiled gently at her, shaking his head. 'Just having you back is more than enough thanks, Steph. I'm…I'm just glad to have you back home.'
She felt a little warning bell go off in her mind. She wasn't ready for another relationship, much less another one with Hunter. Chris's death, although nearly three years old, was too still fresh in her mind. As was the pain and humiliation she experienced at the hands of Todd. No, it was much too soon.
Stephanie looked away, not saying anything. However, today was her son's birthday, and she refused to let anything ruin it, so she turned back to him, smiling back. She also didn't want any kind of dissent between her and Hunter. However, just as she opened her mouth to reply, they heard the doorbell ring.
She felt her heart begin to suddenly pound against her ribs.
'Stop it!' Stephanie commanded herself sharply. 'It's Hunter's house, and it's someone for him. There is no way Todd could ever know where I am.'
'They're here,' Hunter said, flashing her a quick grin and walking away.
They?
A different kind of nervousness came over her. He was definitely up to something, and she was afraid to find out what it was.
*
Although he had taken Stephanie's thoughts into consideration, Hunter hadn't been able to help himself. She had said that she wasn't yet ready to face the rest of her family, having made Linda promise not to mention anything and had threatened to leave again. He had been stunned when Linda had kept her word.
But this was more than just special occasion, more than Colby's third birthday. It was Stephanie's homecoming. He knew how important she was to many people, and he wanted her to know how deeply she had been missed, how much she was still loved. Especially after the lousy couple of years she had had.
He opened the door, and was greeted by a group of package-laden people. Linda and Vince; Isabelle and Shane, with their four year old daughter, Mechelle, and ten month old son, Ryan; Jessica and Raven, with their six month old twin boys, Andre Michael and Lucas Jonathan; and to his surprise, Chyna and Billy, with their one year old daughter, Joan.
'Where is she?' Shane asked eagerly, straining to look over Hunter's shoulders above his brightly wrapped gifts. 'How is she?'
Hunter stepped aside to let them all in. He smiled at the excited anticipation on everyone's face.
Although Stephanie was still very thin, she had gotten the colour back into her face and didn't look quite so sickly anymore. The blonde was slowly being washed away, and she had taken out her green contacts, so they weren't going to be too shocked at her appearance.
'Shane, wait!' Linda suddenly called out in a loud whisper, which made everyone turn to her in surprise. 'I…I think that maybe I should go and see her first,' she suggested. 'It's going to be a huge shock if all of us just shows up at once, and I don't want to scare her away. Just let me prepare her, okay?'
'But-'
'I think she's right,' Hunter agreed, cutting Vince off. Although not having second thoughts about his decision to surprise Stephanie, he knew that she was very vulnerable and sensitive at the moment. 'Just stay out of sight for a few moments.'
As he turned away, he caught Chyna's eye. She smiled at him, nodding encouraging as she put down her bag of gifts, Joan still in her arms. Hunter was grateful for her and Billy showing up, silently reminding himself to thank Jessica later for having called them.
*
Stephanie heard muffled voices out in the lobby, and she felt her hands begin to sweat. She thought she had heard Shane's voice, but she wasn't sure.
'Look, Mom!' Colby called out happily. 'Isn't it cool?'
She looked down, and had a mini heart-attack when she saw the toy that her son was holding up for her to see. It was one of those old, stuffed wrestler toys she had loved when growing up. This one was of Randy Savage in full Macho Man gear.
'Is it something bad?' Colby asked worriedly, obviously having noticed her reaction to his new present.
Stephanie shook her head quickly, kneeling down beside him and taking the toy from him. 'No, not at all,' she smiled at him. 'I used to have one of these when I was little.'
Wrestling. She wondered if she would ever get away from it.
'Steph?' she heard Hunter call out, and she looked up. However, she froze when she saw her mother standing beside him, her arms full of brightly wrapped parcels.
'Hi, honey,' Linda smiled gently at her. She turned her attention to Colby. 'Hello, Colby. Do you remember me?'
'Sure,' Colby replied. 'Nanna Linda!'
Linda laughed, walking towards them and kneeling beside Colby. 'That's right. And look what I brought for you.'
'Wow! More presents!' Colby stood up and hugged Linda, much to the older woman's delight. 'Thank you!'
'Happy Birthday, Colby.'
Stephanie felt her heart expand at the sight of her son hugging her mother, and she felt tears begin to form in the back of her eyes. If she had any regrets about coming back to America, all of them promptly disappeared at the look of pure happiness on Colby's face.
As Colby started to open one of Linda's parcels, her mother turned to her, standing up and helping Stephanie do the same. 'I have something for you as well, Steph.'
She knew what her mother was talking about, or at least suspected, but she still looked at her expectantly. Her heart had started to race again, and she could feel the butterflies in her stomach beginning to flutter. She didn't trust herself to speak.
Linda looked towards Hunter, and nodded slightly.
Stephanie also turned to look in the same direction, and almost fainted at the scene that greeted her. Her friends. Her family.
*
Shane stared at his baby sister. She looked so different, but so familiar. Not the woman that had left the country all those years ago, but the little girl who had cried when she had badly scraped her knee after falling off a tree.
Stephanie was pale with shock at the sight of them, he could tell. But he had never been so happy to see anyone in his life before. He all but ran the few metres of distance separating them, quickly dropping the parcels on the floor, and threw his arms around her.
'Steph, it's so good to see you!' he said, hugging her fiercely.
However, emotional as he was, Shane did notice that she wasn't returning his hold. But he didn't really care at that moment. Stephanie was back. His baby sister was finally back!
Over Stephanie's shoulder, his eyes travelled down to the little boy who was watching him with wary curiosity. His nephew.
*
Jessica handed Lucas Jonathan to the person nearest to her, who happened to be Hunter, and raced over to where Stephanie had managed to pull herself away from Shane. She threw her arms around her bestfriend, trying hard to keep back her tears.
'Jess?' Stephanie whispered, sounding as if she didn't quite believe it.
'My god, you bitch!' Jessica laughed, hoping she didn't sound too hysterical. 'Where the hell have you been? I've missed you!'
She had been surprised at the very obvious decline of Stephanie's health, and she was also concerned. She wondered if it had something to do with Chris's death, or whether it was something else. Jessica had estimated that it had been nearly three years since her friend's passing, having mourned him despite not knowing the exact date, and knew that it couldn't be the reason for Stephanie's poor health.
Or could it?
Jessica had seen Stephanie and Chris together, and had been amazed at their compatibility. Every time she had looked at them she had always wondered why it had taken so long for two people who were so unmistakably perfect for each other to finally get together.
Stephanie pulled away from her as well. Jessica frowned slightly, hurt. Something was definitely going on with her friend, and it wasn't Chris. Or at least, it wasn't just Chris.
But before she could ask, Isabelle came up from behind her and hugged her sister-in-law. Jessica took a step back, and her eyes caught hold of the little boy who was watching Stephanie with a concerned frown on his face. This must be Colby, Stephanie's son.
Although not surprised, Jessica was still stunned at the similarity between the little boy and his father.
*
'Mommy?' a small voice was calling beside her, tugging on the bottom of her top.
Stephanie looked down at Colby, trying to disentangle herself from the sudden group of people around her. However, at the boy's word, everyone suddenly just stopped and watched them.
'Mom, are you okay?' Colby asked worriedly, looking a little distressed.
She bent down and framed his face with both her hands, smiling at him. She hated seeing him upset, but his concern touched her deeply. 'What makes you ask that, Prince Charming?'
He stared into her face, not glancing at anybody else. 'Lots of people, and I don't know them. And you don't look happy.'
Stephanie pulled him towards her, hugging him tightly. 'Oh, baby, I'm very happy. All of these people are friends and family, and they're here to meet you.'
'Are you sure?' Colby asked, his voice muffled slightly as he pressed his face against her neck, his arms tightening around her. Although he was a very outgoing little boy, large groups of strangers tended to frighten him.
'I'm very sure,' she assured him. 'They're here for your birthday, Colby. It's like a party.'
Colby straightened up, smiling again. 'A party? For me?'
Stephanie smiled back. Although overwhelmed didn't even begin to describe what she was feeling at the sight of so many missed faces, she had to admit to herself that she was actually glad they were all here. 'Especially for you.'
She looked up and was surprised to find that everyone was staring at her. She stood up self consciously, looking down and smoothing back her son's dark blonde hair. However, when she looked back up again, one face she had missed earlier caught her eye.
Vince.
*
Vince stared at the much missed face of his daughter, and a feeling of shame swept through him. He hadn't been there for her when she had needed him the most, and as she looked back at him with eyes that revealed nothing, he feared that he had lost her.
Then, she smiled. It was small, and it was reluctant. But it was a smile nevertheless. 'Dad.'
He felt tears of joy behind his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. 'Stephanie.'
She walked towards him, her son's hand firmly in hers, and stopped within arms length from him. She bent down and picked up the little boy, who stared curiously at him.
'Colby, I want you to meet someone.'
Colby smiled at him, and Vince felt instantly in love with the boy. His grandson. Stephanie's son.
'This is my father. Your grandfather.'
He quickly turned back to Stephanie's face, who was looking at him with tears in her eyes. And still smiling.
'Hi,' Colby greeted with a small voice.
Vince turned to look at him. Deep down he knew that it was him who had ripped apart his family all those years ago, starting with the alienation of his son. He had placed business before family, and had paid dearly for it. It had taken the birth of his first grandchild to make him come to his senses. Fortunately for him, his children were as forgiving as their mother. 'Hello, Colby.'
The little boy smiled, and Vince was reminded of Chris Jericho. 'Can I call you Grandpa?'
He couldn't help smiling back. 'Grandpa sounds good.'