Chapter 4
Like CinderellaThe word of our engagement spread quickly. Suddenly I had people coming up to me wanting to know whom I was. Adam was getting many compliments from his colleagues. He loved it. All the praise and attention put a beaming smile on his handsome face. Bryce and Nick also became the center of attention. They must have a lot of their father in them because they, too, were basking in the glow of everyone's affections.
Near show time Stephanie McMahon, General Manager of SmackDown!, found us in a locker room talking with Kurt Angle. She looked like she had something on her mind. Her hands were clasped behind her back.
"I am sorry to interrupt," she said, her hands now cupping each other at chest level. "But my father wishes to meet with Adam and Analei. Kurt your match tonight has been changed. May I speak with you in a few minutes? Meet me in my office." She turned and just before leaving, she tilted her head and spoke again. "By the way congratulations on both your engagement and birth of the twins. They are very cute babies, Adam." Then she walked out the door.
Adam picked the boys up and headed for Vince's office for the second time that day. When I asked what this little meeting was about Adam just shrugged his shoulders in response. In all my years watching wrestling I could not remember one time meeting with Vince had ever been a good thing. This put a serious damper on my mood.
Vince was sitting behind his giant cherry desk when we entered. He placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward to welcome us. He did not get up, but rather just told us to take a seat. I didn't like how he had not stood when we walked in. I was not at ease until he leaned back in the chair and placed his hands on his chest. It expressed a comfortable, kind nature to me. At least that's what I hoped he was trying to convey.
"Well it has been called to my attention that you have proposed marriage to this woman, Adam. Am I right?"
Adam must have been nervous, also. He nodded in response. He glanced quickly down at my hand held tightly in his. The new diamond glittered in the bright light of the room.
Vince saw where Adam's gaze when and smiled. "Well now," he cleared his throat. "This puts a bit of a kink in your return Adam."
Adam looked up again. There was a look of shock on his face. I knew what he was thinking. Vince was probably going to say that this wedding was not in the cards at this point in time. He would need the character of Edge back on the road.
Than to both our surprise Vince spoke in a kind, soft voice, "Congratulations to both of you. One of two things is possible here. Either you, Analei, can go on the road while the wedding is being planned or Adam can return when the wedding is over. The choice is your's to make."
I really could not believe what I had just heard. The man that runs his company with an iron fist just granted us control of the situation and Edge was one of SmackDown!'s biggest superstars.
Adam sighed and turned towards me. Vince saw that this would take some talking between Adam and I so he excused himself.
"That was amazing," I let a
breath out when he left.
"You have no idea how generous Vince just was being." Adam rose to his feet and stretched his long arms over his head. "Now which option do we take?"
My smile from the proposal of possibly spending even more solo time with Adam faded. Instead I had the right corner of my lip tucked in, chewing in contemplation. Neither decision was easy. One choice deprived me and his sons of his constant presence unless we traveled with him. I did not se how that was feasible so it would be a separation if this was our decision. On the other hand, I knew deep down in my heart Adam missed the wrestling business very much. I could not tell him that he would have to miss more of what he loved, plus the fans missed him terribly. No, there was no way Vince's nice gesture had made things easy.
Almost as if he could read my thoughts, Adam let out a sigh. "Well Baby, this is our first dilemma as an official couple. Damn, it's a doozy too." His eyes drifted towards the twins in their carriers. It was obvious he didn't want to part from them so soon. Both of them were sleeping and it brought a tiny tear to leave his eye because it had become one of his favorite things to watch them in peaceful slumber.
He looked back at me. His arms reached out for me and I walked into a comforting hug. He whispered into my hair that he thinks the four of us can do this. His thoughts were all pointing to returning to the road, but with me and the twins in tow. It was wrong of him to not take Vince's offer and go on the road to plan the wedding this way. I mean, he had given us the okay to get married in the first place. So Adam believed we could make do, at least for a little while. And with his confidence, I too believed it would work out all right.
Vince rapt on the heavy door before peeking his head inside, "Reach a decision?"
This time both of us had found our voices and said together in strength, "We have decided to plan the wedding while traveling." Then the owner of this multimillion-dollar company walked into the room. A big smile was on his face. He embraced both Adam and I together. Then we sat down to discuss travel arrangements. It was all done so quickly, like Vince had known this was going to happen. On second thought, the man is very smart and seems to know everything.
After everything was squared away Adam and I settled backstage to watch the show. SmackDown! was good that night. Kurt's match had been changed from a tag team match up with Big Show to face Brock Lesnar and Matt Hardy to a singles match with Matt. It was for the heavy weight title that Kurt held. Fortunately he was able to retain his WWE title. Adam was happy about that. He hoped to be making a title run soon after he got back to work. Edge's tag team stay was winding down to a close and he was ready for the big leagues. So were his fans.
Thinking about Adam returning to the ring made my mind jump tracks to the talk we had with Vince.
"Analei," Vince started. "I usually don't allow this sort of thing. You know, non-wrestlers to travel with the company, but I think this is a special case. Adam, here, has grown very attached to the twins and yourself. It would be wrong of me to deny any party of each other. Plus, I feel that both fiancés should share the wedding planning responsibilities. And last but not least, I desperately need Edge back on my show. With all of this being said I wish the four of you to begin traveling with SmackDown! next Friday. There is a house show scheduled for New Hampshire and then another one on Sunday in Rhode Island. Monday night's event is in Massachusetts and the week ends with the SmackDown! taping at Mohegan Sun. Tickets for a plane from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to New Hampshire will be held at Pittsburgh International. Adam, I am giving you permission to rent a safe and reliable vehicle. Your family should have the safest transportation at all times. This permission is extended for every leg of traveling. Also a plane ride is scheduled to take you back home. I am done with my speech now. Enjoy the show."
Before I knew it Adam, Nicholas, Bryce and I were driving the lonely stretch of highway to Pittsburgh. It was home sweet home, for now at least. And that's when it hit me. Hard too.
My life was changing I realized as Adam parked the car in the garage below my building. In a matter of minutes my career and future was not what I had all mapped out. Oh my! Another thought came to mind. Work, what was I to do about work? I am still scheduled to be off for the next three months. That means the magic two-week grace period wouldn't apply to me. The thing was, I was going to give up my career. I was 26 with a marketing degree, three-month-old twins and a fiancé whose concept of home was a hotel room. This was something huge and I had already agreed to the plan. How could I have been so dumb to not really think this through? My love and admiration for Adam, coupled with the excitement of his proposal, kept my mind from functioning properly. My degree that I worked so hard to achieve would be useless and so would my apartment with all its furniture.
My head was hung low as I carried the boys' bags up the two flights of stairs. Turning the key in the lock I noticed all the little things around me, like the scratch marks on the wall from moving in. It was a weird sense of detachment I felt as I opened the door.
Once inside I helped Adam with the carriers. Both Nick and Bryce were fast asleep. They looked so happy with little smiles on their faces. It was quite peaceful this way.
Adam called to me from the living room. I hadn't noticed him leave the room. "Ana, Hun, give Layla a call tomorrow. She left a message to have lunch or something. I think that's a great idea. You get to have a day of fun and I can play with my sons."
My heart stopped cold. Layla… I was leaving my best friend. She is the only family I have, my rock that holds me up and makes me strong. That's going to be the most gut-wrenching thing, moving away from Layla.
"Sure, that would be great. I could use a lunch where I don't have to feed three mouths instead of just one. Besides, I need to talk with her any way. You know, about my most recent life events." I now stood in the doorway between the living room and kitchen; my arms were limp with fatigue. Boy it had been a long day, but good things had happened.
He walked over and hugged me so tight I thought my ribs would break. "Oh Analei," he whispered into my hair. "I love you so much."
The words 'I love you, too' were barely audible pressed against his strong chest. And it was true, almost frighteningly true. I love Adam Copeland with all my heart. I would do anything for him as long as he was happy. Even travel from town to town with him.
"Alright baby, let's go to bed. I am beat from traveling." Adam took my hand and we made our way back to our bedroom. Funny, I now thought of my apartment as a shared home. That was a comforting thought. Seeing "us" together and thinking of things in terms of both of ours was going to make the transition a lot easier in the coming months.
I silently disrobed and slipped between the soft cotton sheets. Feeling Adam's hand on my shoulder, I turned around to face him. A tiny tear was leaving his eye as a lazy, tired smile danced on his lips.
"Thank you for being you." That's all he said before drifting into a sweet slumber. The corners of his mouth stayed up turned. My babies get so many mannerisms from their father. The smile while they sleep was just one of them.
I rolled onto my right side and shut my eyes, willing sleep to befall me. Alas, it did not. I lay there pondering once again the events of the day. Adam proposed to me. The love of my life and father of my precious children asked me to be his wife. That alone was enough to keep me all atwitter. Then through a whirlwind of decisions I was now a part of the WWE SmackDown! road crew, albeit unofficial. I would be leaving my beloved city of Pittsburgh. Oh there were so many memories to recall.
I remembered my first day of college. The first class I had was Calculus, my worst subject. But somehow by the grace of God, a spunky girl with long dark hair was sitting next to me. It was Layla and she just happened to be a math major. We became fast friends, and not only because she helped me get an A in the class, but we shared a passion for professional wrestling.
In fact that's where my obsession with all things Edge started. Layla and I would spend hours fantasizing out loud about our favorite wrestlers. My only thing was meeting Edge. When that came true the end our sophomore year, I convinced myself some day we would date. Oh how Layla used to laugh at me. Well I would show her who gets the last laugh at lunch tomorrow.
My most recent Pittsburgh memory, though, had to be my graduating tenth in my class from business school. A week later I landed the job that I currently have. It was such a wonderful feeling. There I was just barely twenty-five and I was making good money doing something that I loved and living on my own in a big city. It was an independent woman's dream.
Silent tears trickled down my cheeks. I did not know whether they were tears of joy or those of inevitable change. One thing was for certain though. My young life had just picked up to a more interesting pace. Never would I have dreamt in my wildest dreams that a simple autograph session would alter my life, but that's just the way things go sometimes.
Finally, my brain activity ceased. I left those bewildering tears stain a track down my face. Sleep washed over me and pulled me into a deep dream of all the places I might see.
**************
My knuckles tapped lightly on the glass door that lead to Layla's office at Mellon Bank's corporate office. She was on the phone, but looked up to see who was at the door. Almost immediately when she saw it was I, she ended the call and rushed over to let me in. I was embraced in a warm hug that I gratefully returned.
Layla gestured for me to sit down in one of the red leather chairs that sat facing her black granite desk. I declined by shaking my head and got a quizzical look from my best friend.
"I am here to rescue you from the evil monster called work," I flashed her my most masculine grin. "To lunch, mah daling?"
She giggled a little at my overdone southern accent before retrieving her purse from the cloakroom. Then we were off. She didn't ask where we were going and I didn't say. It was an understood thing between the two of us. Almost everyday for two years, until the time when I took my leave of absence from work, Layla and I ate lunch together, always at the same place, too, Palomino. They had the best food or so we thought. Over the years Layla and I sampled everything on the menu, but our favorite dish was the chicken and broccoli Alfredo. The hostess recognized us and promptly escorted us to our usual table over by the window facing Fifth Avenue.
After our order was taken I smiled at Layla. She of course smiled back, but then she began to talk.
"Ana, I missed these little lunches with you. Oh my God did I need to get out of that office. No, no the whole building. The call you so thankfully interrupted was with the new financial advisor for my department. He keeps insisting we redo all the numbers for the last ten years worth of paperwork. I have just had it with all his stupidity. There is just no way we could ever do all that again and keep up with today's constant flow of invoices. So enough about why I am going insane, it's your turn. How are my honeys doing and how is Mr. Help Around the House?"
Oh boy was there so much to say and the most important part was the most difficult. "Geez, Lay, where do I start?" Yeah I was vying for time here, but what can you expect? "Nick is doing really well. He coos more than Bryce. But the doctor likes Bryce's progress too. She says that Bryce will catch up with Nick in time. Adam is doing great with them. He's a wonderful father. It truly is a blessing that he pushed to stay when they were born. That's how I am here solo, able to enjoy food all by myself."
"Good. I can't wait to see them again. We should chill this weekend, just us two with the babies. They must miss Aunt Layla by now," she giggled then noticed my face. I was chewing on my bottom lip. Whether or not Layla picked up on this I do not know. She jumped tracks onto another topic. "So how was the SmackDown! taping? Any juicy news I would care to know?"
That put a smile on my face. This was one thing that was almost jumping out of my skin to tell her. I couldn't believe she hadn't noticed the ring yet. Though I was never one to be flashy with my happiness.
"Now that you asked, there was something extraordinary that happened in Ohio," I said this as I brought my left elbow to the tabletop and leaned on my left palm. This was the one time I would subtly gestured towards my good fortune.
"Analei!" she gasped. "No way…"
I interrupted her exclamation, "Yes way. Adam asked me to be his wife yesterday before the show." I could no longer contain my excitement. And neither could she as she got up from her seat and gave me a huge hug. Layla was possibly the only person I that knew I wanted Adam in my life. It was something I confided in her while pregnant with Bryce and Nick.
She composed herself as our server brought the food. Layla was definitely bubbly. Her happiness for me was infectious, but part of me held back the joy. I knew the next piece of news was going to crush her and I couldn't down play the seriousness with a lot of laughter.
We ate in silence for a little while. I was savoring not only the last Palomio lunch with Layla but also the delicious food I had come to love Pittsburgh for. When the guy came around to ask about desert I quickly answered, "Two slices of chocolate mouse, please. Oh and a pot of hot tea." Layla looked at me after he left. We never got desert, usually because we were too full from our meal. I figured it was better to sit a little while longer with her.
"My treat, Lay." I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "There is something else that happened in Ohio. As you know Adam is going back to the ring. Well when he proposed Vince asked to speak with the both of us. He is all cool with the wedding. In fact he is happy we are getting married. It's just he decided, and so did Adam and I, that it's best we plan it together." I gritted my teeth before I continued. "I am going to travel with him, Lay. I leave Friday morning."
I saw her breath catch in her throat. She was not expecting this, not at all.
"I'm a big girl. I can deal. Oh! Analei!" She let a tear trickle down her face. Quickly her hand flew up to brush it away. "I'm going to miss you, that's for sure. I am just too happy you found love. These boys need their father anyway. So do you. There was no way you could have taken care of them, worked enough to support them and kept yourself sane. Analei Chasez, I have known you for so long. We are more like sisters than friends. No matter where you go in life or what you do, I will always love and support you."
Those words were the kicker. Both her and I were bawling by the time our chocolate mouse arrived. It was just what we needed, a large, fattening piece of food to bond over for the last time. This moment was etched into my mind now. I would have called it the closing of one chapter of my life, but it really wasn't the end. It was more of a growing, loving experience and I was spreading my wings. I just hoped they were strong enough to fly.
**************
Soon, too soon, I was on the road. The first few days were exciting. It began like a vacation. The plane ride and renting of the vehicle all reminded me of the summer trips my mom and I used to take. That was so long ago though. I could not have been older than six or seven.
Adam's physical technicality was just as good as when he left the ring. Probably because I urged him to go the gym a few times a week. Luckily we joined the crew for three house shows before a live taping, but Adam still looked great after all that time off. SmackDown!'s show was more than spectacular. The fans were eager for his return and definitely welcomed him with open arms. Vince was very smart. Like I said he knows everything and anticipated how crazy the crowd would react. His solution was to keep his presence unknown until the main event. That's when Edge ran down the ramp to interrupt a match between Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. Seeing him perform from backstage was magical. Every single body was on their feet as Edge attacked Kurt. It was obviously ended in a D.Q. but it was clear Edge was back and ready to be better than ever!
That night was special. After the taping a big group of people went out to celebrate. Vince, of course, knew the Connecticut area very well and recommended this wonderful restaurant. Our part took up a significant amount of space. Kurt was the ringleader of this outing and he made sure Adam got only the finest service. Billy and Torrie joined us. Again she was fascinated with the twins. It was a bit of a relief that Torrie was so fond of them. It meant I could take a break from hovering over them. I will admit it I am a protective mother. A few other guys had trooped along instead of heading straight for the hotel or airline. Adam was at the head of the table with me on his right and Kurt was across from me. The way everyone sat down I ended up with Stephanie next to me. She was quiet at first and not at all how I expected the boss's daughter to be. It wasn't until after everyone was settle and chatting with one another that Steph turned towards me.
"Analei," she smiled, a warm, inviting look in her soft brown eyes. "I am glad you're on the crew. We were so shot on females. I was kind of lonely before, but now…it's just going to be a lot of fun."
Steph's smile and energy was infectious. We talked non-stop all through dinner. I was making friends on the road. Both Steph and Torrie were very nice to me. It was a relief to know the others would not regard me as an outsider because besides Adam and the boys I truly was on my own.
When the dinner ended everyone went their separate ways. The four of us headed to the nearest hotel for the night. It was late and Adam was obviously exhausted. So was I. Nick and Bryce had fallen asleep long ago, though. Even with all the commotion at the restaurant they were out like a light.
The next two weeks, when we finished traveling, were spent cleaning out my apartment. Adam pointed out that our lovely sons would not stay so tiny forever and my bachlorette pad just would not contain twin toddlers. All of my keepsakes were shipped to his home in Tampa where my life would begin after the wedding.
Also, I met with my boss and informed her of my intentions. She wished me the best of luck in all future endeavors. I saw in her eyes that she was upset at my request to leave. I had been hired as a young, promising employee. She told me that a month or two after joining the creative team. This was not an easy thing to do, just up and leave the amazing group of people who had become my family. Now, thought, I had a more important family to take care of and they were relocating me to Tampa, Florida. I was getting a very good recommendation from my current employer so when I was all settled I could begin working again. Thinking about all these changes made me realize it might not be such a hard adjustment. I was moving to a sunny location where I could raise my boys with plenty of space for them to play. I was also marrying the most loving, caring, generous man I had ever met. It turns out the situation was for the better.
Our down time from then on was spent in Adam's spacious home, our home. It was still difficult to get used to first the idea of living in a large house and second because it was weird to think now I was sharing all I had with another person. Although Adam did make it a lot easier with how much he truly loved me.
**************
Steph found me the day I was really going insane. She overheard Undertaker comment about the maelstrom of paper coming from the break room.
I heard the door open, but did not look up. I was beyond frazzled. She approached me with cautious footsteps. Guess she thought I would go off on her.
"Ana," Steph spoke slowly as not to disrupt me. It wouldn't matter if she had; I was at my wit's end with this all. "Are you alright?"
For once I let my eyes shift upward from the magazine on the table. Steph's usually soft brown eyes were shining with genuine concern. I let out a long, exasperated sigh. Boy that was needed.
"No," I answered. "I am driving myself nuts. Do you know how many wedding dress styles there are?" I pointed to the dozen or so bridal magazines spread out in front of me. Again I spoke, not giving her time to formulate an answer.
"Thousands, Steph, thousands. Adam wants an early summer wedding. May is just six months away. There's so much to do and I can't even decide on a dress yet. I am hopeless."
My head dropped on the heap of glossy sheets. I felt Steph lay her hand on my shoulder. She rubbed and squeezed it, letting me know she wanted to help me. I raised my face towards her. I wasn't crying. It was too stupid a reason to cry, but my eyes had to reveal the twinge of frustration I felt.
"That's the only thing you are freaking about? Picking a dress?" Steph was now seated beside me her right elbow leaning on my copy of Bridal Boutique. Her head rested on her right hand as she cocked it to get a good look at my face.
"Analei, honey. I am here for you if you need my help."
A glint of hope came into my eyes.
"Really, Steph?"
"Sure. That's what friends are for."
I breathed a sigh of relief. She took it as a sign that I accepted her offer.
"Besides, I am known for my fashion sense."
I giggled as I glanced at her outfit. She wore a filmy pink turtleneck tank and black slacks. As GM of the show she had to look professional, even hours before show time.
Steph reached for the magazine directly in front of me. The look she threw me told me it was one to quickly look passed. She flipped through the next couple of pages. Magazine after magazine she did this to and not even one word was uttered. Fifteen minutes later all of those issues lie in a neat pile in front of her. She turned to me then and spoke.
"Have you even decided what your dream dress would look like?"
It was a curious question and not one I had thought about at all.
"Well no," I responded slightly puzzled as to where she wanted my attention to go. "Should I have?"
Steph's eyes increased in size as her jaw slowly fell open. The look she gave me was one a child would give a mother when she had been told that marrying her favorite actor was not to be.
"Yes!" she almost screamed. "That's the most important part. No wonder you're lost."
"Help me fix it then Steph." I really was clueless as to why having a dream-wedding gown would allow me to pick one out of these pictures.
She reached across the table and snatched a napkin from a pile someone had left from lunch.
"Pen please," she instructed. "First things first, sleeves or no sleeves?"
"No sleeves, but no tiny straps either."
Steph jotted these down and then looked at me again. "Material…silk, satin? For the bodice."
"OOO satin. That would feel like heaven against my skin." Again she wrote on the napkin.
"Long or short gown? Also a-line or full?"
I thought of a fairy tale. All the brides wore long, full gowns. They looked magical. I, too, wanted that.
"Long and full. Crinoline lining and…," I paused. "Can I change my mind?"
She smiled. "Of course. This is your dress. I am just the caring best friend here to help you think calmly and visualize."
Stephanie McMahon just called us best friends. Odd, but comforting. We had only been chatting for a month or two. Then again life on the constant go really did bond travelers together.
"In that case. I wish for the bodice to be velvet, the full gown skirt to be satin with pink roses around the v-cut waistline. The skirt will also have a train, three feet long. I want a tiara veil."
I finished my explanation with a grin a mile wide. I had described my dream dress. She deserved a hug so I leaned over and engulfed her in a friendly one. That felt so good to have a friend to hug like that. But it did make me miss Layla. No one, not even Steph, could ever take her place. Underneath it all Layla and I were sisters connected forever at the heart. It would be a near impossibility for someone to affect my life the same way.
So it was set. I knew what my wedding dress should look like. The next step was not easy. Steph explained that on every leg of the tour across America we would stop in as many bridal gown stores as time would permit. She swore to be as much help as she could that meant she would use her celebrity status to get me what I wanted.
After that tumultuous day in the catering area, Steph and I spent a lot of time together. Torrie came with us several times, but she was more than content to stay with my boys. She easily became their second mother.
It wasn't long before we found IT. Somewhere in Washington state, a small town I think, was my dream dress. The gown had all the specifications I wanted. It was a miracle we got there when we did. The shopkeeper informed us that it was the only one she ever received from this particular designer. Then when I tried it on it immediately fit like a glove.
There was no deliberation. I handed the woman my credit card. The total accrued to around a grand, but it didn't matter. This was my dress. During the drive back to our hotel I thought about my good fortune. I was beginning to think fate guided me towards that little store. A curious question popped into my head. I pulled the dress to the front seat and looked for the designer's tag. Oddly enough I could not find one. I chuckled and gently placed the dress in the back of the car.
*************
Everything, planning wise, after the dress hunt was a piece of cake. The guest list was extensive, only on Adam's side though. The entire company was invited along with Adam's family. I, on the other hand, only had Layla. But she was to be in my wedding party, which had yet to be discussed, so I really didn't have anyone to watch me walk down the aisle. It was a bit depressing to dwell on so I just didn't. Besides WWE had welcomed me into their arms. I felt that they were my family as well as Adam's.
The invitations were ordered before Christmas. The date was already solidified. I would be Mrs. Adam Copeland come May 4. Adam wanted an outside wedding. May would be a little cold everyplace else but Tampa so we were to be wed at his house. Adam owned a very large piece of land, plus it would be private and out of the sight of the public.
That was all we were able to do before the hustle and bustle of Christmas pounced on us. There were shows to tape and gifts to buy. Also I had arranged for Layla to visit us in Tampa. It would be the first time seeing my best friend since September. Oh it was a busy time.
The weekend before Christmas it was crazy around the WWE locker room. Velocity and SmackDown! were taped Sunday evening in Vancouver. Vince threw a holiday bash Tuesday before Christmas. The entire company was there so I also got a chance to meet the RAW roster.
It was a super cool party. There was a giant gift exchange done with each roster independently. Adam had gotten Undertaker. But what in the world would that man need? Somehow Adam knew that Mark was thinking about getting his daughter's name tattooed on the back of his neck to compliment the "Sara" one on his throat. Adam presented Mark with a card and gift certificate for his hometown's tattoo parlor.
"This is sweet! How the hell did you figure out that I wanted my baby girl's name done in ink?" I heard Mark bellow in his gruff voice that was so unmistakably his. I grinned to myself knowing that Adam had his ways of always finding things out. He is sneaky, I will give him that, but he is also one of the most thoughtful people on Earth and will go out of his way to give you exactly what you have been looking for. I had noticed that quality in my man. It is just one of the millions of reason I was more than happy to become his wife.
I even got a name in this whole ordeal. Luckily the females trade with each other so I did not have to pick something out for one of the guys. My pick served a double purpose because I got Torrie. I was going to give her something anyway for always taking the boys.
"Hey Torrie," I said with a smile. She walked over to me. The box was in my left arm as I was carrying a happy Bryce with my right. Adam had Nick in his arms. Once again he was being a proud poppa. My attention quickly turned back to Torrie.
"This is for you. Thank you for being such a sweetheart. Happy Holiday too."
She took the box and ripped the wrapping off. Inside was a t-shirt that said "World's Best Second Mommy." Nick and Bryce's handprints and footprints were also sported on the shirt. Torrie gasped when she laid eyes on it.
"Analei this is the cutest thing anyone has ever given me." She leaned forward and gave me a hug, being careful not to crush Bryce in the process. When Torrie pulled away she bent down to be eye level with my son. "And you, you doll." She kissed his round little cheek. He giggled at the light brush of her lips. "I absolutely love being your second mommy. Hopefully one day you and Nicky will have some play friends to run around with backstage."
It was my turn to gasp as her body stood to full height. Her eyes twinkled with delight as she saw my thoughts processing her last statement.
"Are you?" I spoke when my mind finally stopped being in shock. Torrie pulled her bottom lip in with her top teeth and shook her head slightly. I let out a tiny sigh. It wasn't that I didn't think she was ready yet. Hell, she was practically raising my children backstage. But I just wanted her to go a bit with her career before she took time off for a family.
"Nah, not yet. Billy and I are thinking about planning the wedding though. We've been engaged for a good year and a half, damn maybe even two years now." She giggled. "It's so bad that I forget that, but it was so long ago that he proposed. Add traveling almost constantly to it, and days just blend together."
I nodded in agreement. I know there were days in a row that I had no clue which day of the week it was. Usually I measured the time by home time or travel time. It was always one or the other. Sunday through Saturday really didn't exist in the wrestling world. Especially on the SmackDown! crew. We were always messed up because we tape on Tuesdays. But the two shows air Thursday and Saturday. It really does fuck with your heard after a while.
"Well anyway," Torrie continued. "I was thinking of taking a bit of time off, at least from active ring work, after our wedding. But that's probably a long way off. Thank you again Ana. Have a good holiday." She hugged me quick and laid a kiss on my cheek. Then she walked off to join her fiancé.
I turned to look for Adam. It was getting late, I was growing tired and Bryce had become restless in my arms. A pair of chocolate eyes met my blue ones as I focused my gaze. It was Steph.
"Merry Christmas Ana!" she squealed. "I have a gift for you."
"Steph you shouldn't…" A bulky box being thrust into my free hand interrupted my protest.
"Open it," she ordered. I handed her Bryce, who welcomed the fresh face.
The wrapping was beautiful, all gold and shimmery. A green bow was placed in the corner with a tag that read "To: Analei, my best friend. Love, Stephanie." I carefully pulled the paper off. It was almost too beautiful to open. Then I lifted the lid of the shoebox to reveal a pair of glass shoes. These were definitely more precious than the gift-wrap that now lie at my feet. Between the two shoes was a tennis bracelet composed of at least a hundred tiny diamonds.
"Jesus, Steph, what is all this for?" I looked at her with wide eyes. She stood and smiled for a while, just taking in my reaction.
Finally she spoke, "Its' for you silly. I figured with you r perfect dress you would need perfect shoes. Also a girl just is not complete without a tennis bracelet."
I thanked her and we talked for a few minutes before Adam came around to take us to the airport. We said our quick good-byes and hurried to get the flight home to Tampa.
The next few days were hectic to say the least. Although I was always on the go, it was my first Christmas with Adman and also as a mother. Christmas day marked Nick and Bryce's sixth month of life. Even though they were barely able to roller over, Adam splurged on every toy he saw. Both boys ended up with a boatload of stuff.
I had decided to play hostess for Christmas dinner. Layla came down from Pittsburgh. She helped me make the large meal. It was so nice spending time with her again. Adam's parents flew in from Toronto. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met. You would have thought that they would be reserved around me, the woman who tied their young son down. Nope, they were the complete opposite. His mother approached me with open arms, literally. Adam's dad went right to his grandsons. I saw, in that first moment, where all the Copeland males in my life got their charm. Adam's father had it also. Jason Reso and his parents completed the dinner guest list.
After a very filling meal, of which I received rave reviews, a bit of gift exchange commenced. Once again the twins, who could just hold a rattle, made out like bandits. I went to bed that night feeling very fulfilled in my life.
Our momentary break was short lived. The next week it was back to normal. The fact that I now considered normal to consist of rental cars, suitcases and arenas should have been alarming, but somehow some way it felt meant to be. The travel time also meant that the wedding plans would resume. There were lots of things yet to do, but it was the easier tasks to complete.
Late one night, Adam and I figured out the menu for the reception. It was a simple one that could be catered in his backyard since that's where we would party after the ceremony. We would never have been able to move all those people some place else anyway. Also he contacted the local pastor in our section of Tampa. We sat after that deciding on the wedding party.
"This is the easy part," Adam announced as he held the notebook containing all our decisions for the big day. It had become almost as important as our sons. He scrawled Groom and Bride at the top of the next blank page. "Jay's my best man." Adam wrote that down.
"Duh, Adam, of course he is," I giggled. It was such a silly thing to say, but I was just happy that day. Bryce had started crawling. That put me into a great mood. Well the fact I was drinking lots of Pepsi could have something to do with it too. Either way I was beyond giddy. "Layla is my maid of honor. I promised her the title years ago. Plus you nor I have female relatives close enough." Again I just beamed. This was fun, just the two of us building our future teeny step by teeny step.
"True. Who else is going to be up there with you and her?" It was a good question. Layla was my only female friend. I sat there thinking a bit. The caffeine was definitely affecting my mind and it's ability to function. Then that little light bulb went off in my head.
"Steph and I have become pretty close. Write her down. Oh and Torrie, too. She's just a wonder, you know with the boys and all. Granted I still must ask them, but I doubt they will object."
Adam jotted those two down. He looked up at me and next he rattled off his choice for groomsmen.
"I think the Hardys would be my best choice. Before the split, Jeff, Matt, Jay and I were near inseparable. Kurt, though, I can't leave him out. He has really been an awesome best friend since Jay and I had broken up. I am adding him to the list." He did just that. A "hmm" escaped his lips. "Now we are a bridesmaid short."
"I really don't have anyone else."
"Ummm…." Adam looked at me.
"Whatcha looking at me for? Don't you know someone?" Despite the seriousness of this dilemma a giggle was elicited from me. Adam was deep in thought and his brow was all furled. It looked amusing through my drug-induced state.
He turned to me at the sound of my girlish laughter. He looked like he would grunt at me. That only furthered my hysterics. Soon I was clutching my stomach. Adam began to laugh also. It started as a soft chuckle brought about by my antics, though soon it was his full on booming laughter. Both of us stopped when the tears started flowing. I ended up with my face close to his, so I stole a kiss. Just as Adam was going in for a second kiss, I pulled back.
"I know I am not good friends with Amy Dumas, but I know her and Matt are together so I think I have found our missing person."
He looked hurt for all of two seconds and answered with, "That's a good idea." Amy's name was written down in our notebook then laid aside.
Sleep hit me like a rock right at that moment. Before my eyes fell shut I cuddled closer to Adam. He was already asleep too. Instinctively his arms wrapped around my body. The light beside the bed was left lit. I didn't care though because everything fit comfortably and there was going to disturb that.
*************
It was finally time for the Big Day. I stood in the master bedroom of my house. All around me were arms and hands each doing their own thing to make me the most beautiful I could be. The dress fit like a glove, as did Steph's Christmas presents. My reflection in the mirror told me I was stunning on the most important day of my life. There I was in a mêlée of human appendages just staring at myself in amazement.
"Ana," a voice called softly. I didn't respond. "Ana!" The voice grew louder. It was Layla. She was next to me in the pale blue dress I had picked out for my bridesmaids. Her shouting my named pulled my attention from the mirror. She was good at pulling me out of my ravine. "Girl you are beautiful."
"Yea," a
soft voice agreed from behind my girls and veil she was fixing into place. "Your dad is going to cry at the sight of
you."
I sucked in a quick
breath. My eye caught Layla making
motions for Torrie to shut up. Her
blush at the mistake she made, although she was not quite sure exactly what
that mistake was, was almost as audible as the gasp she sounded.
"It's alright," I calmed the two down. "She didn't now. I don't talk about life before Pittsburgh. Hell I don't even think about it, usually." I turned around to face my room full of bridesmaids. Then I announced, "I am walking down the aisle by myself. It may seem odd to you all, but I am a confident, independent woman."
As I finished speaking there was a knock at the door. A male voice spoke up through the wood. "Everyone dressed and beautiful?" It was a strong, robust voice. It belonged to none other than Vince.
"Yes," I responded. He opened the door to the makeshift dressing room loaded with makeup, dresses and gorgeous female superstars.
"So is my daughter ready to go?" He looked at me. What did he say? Steph's not getting married, I am. Now I was confused. I stood there trying to process the situation and it just was not making sense. Vince took another step closer to me. He raised his eyebrows. "So Analei are you not going to answer my question? The ceremony's about to start and the bride must be present."
I found my voice, "But I don't understand."
Vince chuckled slightly before answering. "Today, and for as long as you like, you are my daughter. And as tradition goes the father walks his girl down the aisle on her wedding day." He held out his arm. I linked mine with his and turned to look Steph in the eye. She had this gigantic smile on her face. Vince held me back as my bridesmaids filed into the hallway.
"You look….words cannot describe it, Hun. I am honored to be you father today. Like I said though I would be honored to be you father for as long as you would like. You are part of my extended family now. And I know you are the best match for Adam. He's never been happier." Vince talked to me as we made our way to the yard.
The bridal march began and everyone stood up to see me enter. The majority of the ceremony was the same as any other wedding. When time came to exchange vows, Adam and I had prepared our own.
Adam held my left hand in his. When he began his speech his voice wavered just a bit. "Analei Rebecca Chasez, before you I was just another egotistical superstar in the WWE. My life was one big party. Then there was a signing in Pittsburgh. It was a good three or four years ago. One look and you had me. Your face was the only one I have ever remembered among all my fans. I knew one day I would ask you to my room. My intentions were the same as always, but somehow the feeling behind it was different. I only wanted to hang out with you, but your beauty was too much to resist. Then when you phoned me of your pregnancy I was frightened. I let the news settle and realized it was my way back to you. You're like an angel and you have graced my life. I vowed the day I decided to be there for the baby that I would one day marry you. Now here we stand, hand in hand in front of all the people I care about, and you are about to become my wife. Ana, I promise to be there for you always and provide anything you could ever want. Most of all, baby, I give you my heart and soul. With that please accept this ring as a reminder of all you mean to me."
He placed the ring on the tip of my ring finger and slid it passed my knuckle. His eyes shown with the tears that threatened to pour forth. It was my turn now. I took a deep breath before I started, more to calm my nerves than anything. I shouldn't be nervous though. It was my heart's turn to speak.
"It started out small, my crush on you. Oh so long ago you captured my heart. I nearly flipped when you first spoke to me. Ask Layla. She was the one who calmed me down so I didn't look foolish. A miracle happened that night and it was one that would eventually join us forever. The next miracle came about when you showed up at my door. My heart actually stopped because it was something I had wanted for so long. The last few months have felt like Heaven. I am more happy than I have ever been." I finally looked at his eyes. He was crying now. Tears of joy slowly fell on his cheeks. The sight of course made me let a few tears loose. But I had to gather my strength to finish my vows. "Here I am in front of the man I dreamt about since like forever. There's a Cinderella dress on my body. In fact I feel very much like Cinderella. All around me is magic. It's absolutely wonderful. But nothing can compare to the paradise I will bestow you year in and year out. It is my solemn vow to stand by your side and support you through everything. I have tasted life on the road and I know its not easy, but Adam Copeland, you will always have my love to come home to and it will be with you every step of the way because in that instant we talked our hearts became connected."
I quickly slipped the ring on his finger as tears rolled down my face. This was definitely the best day of my life. It was etched in my memory so distinctly that I would remember every detail, right down to the taste of the salt in the Tampa air, until my dying day.
The reception was wonderful. Crazy too. It was and afternoon and night of dancing and eating. The food was excellent, well worth the money. I was able to mingle with all the employees of the WWE. I made many new friends that night. I truly felt like Cinderella. All of it was a fairy tale. My only hope was that it was real and it would last for all of my life. When I next fell asleep, sometime the next day and it was more like I passed out form exhaustion; a thought entered my mind before it shut off. Funny to think about two years ago I was just a wrestling fan who was infatuated with Edge. Now in that short time, I had become Mrs. Adam Copeland and mother of Adam's children. The thought made me snuggle closer to my new husband. The comfort I received from those arms is worth more than all the gold in the world. Sometimes those dreamy fair tales do become reality. When that happens it just fits perfectly.