Chapter 2
Now or Never

Melissa walked over to her mother, and placed her hand on her shoulder.

"I've missed you mom." She said trying to smile though the tears she felt she was going to cry. Her mother just stood there not saying anything. Melissa stood next to her mother in silence until Shane walked in and saw Stephanie just starring at them.

"So Melissa, what brings you to town?" Shane asked as he took a seat with Stephanie. She turned to look at him and her face was expressionless.

"Here, take a seat we have a lot of catching up to do." Her mother spoke very sweetly. Melissa took a seat next to her mother and felt as a slight grin started to grow on her face. "How have you been?" Her mother asked seeming to be very curious.

"Well, honestly I've been better." She sighed and the grin had left her face.

"Why, is it your job or something?" Stephanie asked trying to get in on the conversation.

"Yeah, see about nine months ago while on duty I got shot twice in the back." Melissa started as she chocked back her pride.

"What!" her mother shouted, "And you didn't call or tell us what happened?" her mother became very upset, but Melissa couldn't really understand why. She knew she cared because it was her mom, but it's not like her mother had been making an effort to talk to get in touch with her.

"I'm okay mom, please just calm down. See that's not what my problem is." She said taking her mother's hand in hers.

"Well then what is it?" Shane asked very concerned for his sister's well being.

"Well, they never told me they weren't going to put me back out there. They wanted me to have a desk job and do behind the scenes crap and that's not what I've been working for." She started to become very tense. She took a deep breath and thought about what she wanted to say. On the plane she went over and over in her mind what to say to her mother. She contemplated for a few seconds whether or not to bring up now or talk about it later.

Her mind went off and she listened and followed along with another conversation. After about twenty minutes of listening to useless fluff she made up her mind. There was no need for dancing around the situation.

"Mom," she spoke "Can I use your phone?" She asked very politely.

"Of course deer." She smiled and pointed over in the direction of the kitchen. Melissa got up and walked into the kitchen and picked up the phone. She couldn't believe she choked, but it was for the better she did promise she would call Eddie. She picked up the phone and she noticed how her hand trembled as she dial their number. The phone rang a few times before it was picked up.

"Hello?" Eddie asked when he answered the phone.

"Hey hun, it's me." She said feeling a little relief.

"Hey you, how's everything gong so far?" He asked and she could hear the joy in his voice.

"Everything so far is going pretty good. How's life back in New York?" She asked and the joy slowly left him.

"It's okay, I really miss you." He whined a bit. Melissa giggled a little under breath.

"I haven't even been gone a whole day." Melissa said trying not to laugh out loud.

"I know, but babe I got to get to work. So I'll talk to you later." He said with a kiss noise and then hung up the phone. She hung it up now dreading reentering the living room. She slowly got her self up from the kitchen table chair where she had been sitting and took her time walking back to everybody.

"So Mel, who did you have to call?" Stephanie asked leaning back in the couch.

"Oh, I had to call my boyfriend and let him know I was okay." She sighed and quickly found her seat back next to her mother. "Hey mom how's things with dad?" Melissa asked very cautiously afraid of what her mother might say.

"Your father is doing great. The business is great." Her mother smiled. I guess she was happy that Melissa didn't hold anything against Vince.

"Oh that's good, but what I meant was how are you and dad?" She saw, as her mother did not let the smile on her face vanish.

"We are better. Yeah your father and I have been seeing a marriage councilor and we're doing okay." Linda said leaning over and putting her arm around her daughter.

"Um, mom can I ask you a favor?" Melissa asked since she felt there was never going to be a better time.

"Of course, what can I do for you Melissa?" Her mother kissed her cheek.

"Do you think dad would give me a wrestling job?" She asked and noticed as Shane and Stephanie got a slight 'Uh oh' look on their faces.