Authors note: Whitney Houston sings the song "I Will Always Love You" – One of my all time favourites.
Chapter 12
The next few days were a blur to Vince, work was non-stop and Linda was tearing her hair out over packing and getting everything into boxes. He seemed to be caught up in it all but at the same time not really understanding what was happening. He helped Linda pack, although he hated every minute of it, it was getting to the point where he wanted to just grab hold of her and tell her she couldn't go and she couldn't leave him but of course, he didn't do it and now the removal men had just finished loading everything into the lorry and were driving off. Linda and Vince were left on their own now.
Linda gave a small smile. "Well then…"
"Yeah." Vince nodded. "Well then…" He said looking at her, he had a knot in his stomach and knew he was close to breaking down.
"I guess I better go." Linda said quietly.
Vince stared at her. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, "for everything."
Linda nodded and looked at him. "I know you are." Like Vince she had a knot in her stomach too, but she knew she couldn't stay.
Linda took a step toward him and gave him a kiss on the cheek as she stepped back Vince put his arms around her and drew her into a tight hug, she hugged him back. Linda heard Vince let out a small sob and she hugged him even tighter.
"You'll be ok, we both will, in time." Linda whispered to him. She drew out of the hug and saw that Vince was crying and this started her off. They still had their arms around each other, as if neither wanted to let go.
"This is for the best Vince, if I stayed, we'd only end up hating one another and I don't want that. You mean too much to me."
They looked at each other and their faces were just inches apart and Vince couldn't help himself he drew her to him again and kissed her passionately on the lips. They could taste each others salty tears and the taste was still on one another's lips as they drew away from each other after a good few seconds.
"I love you Lin," Vince whispered. "Always."
Linda nodded as she caressed his cheek. "I love you too Vince." She kissed him lightly on the lips again. "But I have to go."
Vince slowly and reluctantly relaxed his arms around her waist and let her go.
"Thank you Vince for, past few years excluded, a genuinely happy marriage and two wonderful kids."
"I'm supposed to thank you for the kids aren't I? You brought them into the world."
Linda smiled as she got into her car, her head was telling her that leaving was the right thing to do but her heart was telling her something completely different, but it was to late now, she had made her decision.
"Bye." Linda said looking up at him.
"Bye Lin," Vince said as she shut the door.
Linda started the car up and looked at him one more time, the radio came on. He was crying and so was she. With what felt like extreme effort she put the car into gear and slowly drove away.
If I should stay
I would only be in your way
So I'll go but I know
I'll think of you every step of the way
She looked up into his eyes and her heart skipped a beat.
"Linda, this is Vince. Vince this is my daughter, Linda."
They looked at each other and smiled politely, their mother's had just introduced them.
Linda was just thirteen years old but she knew she would remember the first moment she looked into his eyes for the rest of her life, even if she never saw this handsome boy again.
And I will always love you
I will always love you
You, my darling you
Linda watched as Vince stood up next to her and the place fell silent. Vince went through the formalities, thanking both his own family and Linda's for throwing such a wonderful wedding reception for them.
"And now," he said, looking down at his new wife, "I would like to thank this beautiful woman who is sitting next to me and just made the craziest mistake of her life by marrying me!" The audience, including Linda laughed. "But seriously, Linda you are the most beautiful woman I've ever known and I know not a day will pass without me thanking god that you agreed to marry me. You've made me the happiest man in the world and I hope that in our future life together I can make you as happy as you've made me. I love you so much baby." He sat down and everyone around them clapped as they kissed.
"I love you too Vince McMahon."
Bittersweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me
So goodbye, please don't cry
We both know I'm not what you need
And I will always love you
I will always love you
You
"What are you doing Vince?" Linda said laughing, she couldn't see anything as Vince had blindfolded her and said he had a surprise for her.
"Trust me!" He said as he guided her into the living room. "Ok, stay there." Vince said as he switched on the lights and lit the candles. "ok, you ready?" He asked.
"Yep, I'm dying to see what this surprise is!" Linda said in anticipation. It was their one year anniversary and they didn't have much money, so they had agreed not to go out anywhere but she still wasn't banking on this surprise Vince had planned.
Vince removed the blindfold and she gasped, it was absolutely beautiful. He had decorated the room with fairy lights and candles and some flowers that he had picked out of Linda's mother's garden. Linda recognized them instantly.
"I'm not exactly what you'd call a gourmet chef but I did my best." Vince said shyly as came back into the room carrying two plates. He set them down on the table and Linda sat down.
Vince had made lasagne and Linda knew he had never cooked a meal in his life, so for Vince this was a major accomplishment and Linda thought it was very sweet of him.
"Vince, you are the sweetest man I have ever known, I love you so much. Thank you for doing this."
"You're welcome and I love you so much too Mrs. McMahon." Vince beamed at her.
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you have all you dreamed of
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all this I wish you love
And I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
Linda sobbed out loud as she watched him fade away in her rear view mirror. She would always love him no matter what. She hoped that one day Vince would understand why she left him. She freely let herself cry, she felt as though she had lost part of herself, part of who she was. She hoped and prayed that the hurt she felt would one day go away and she could love another man again. But, Linda felt deep in her heart that that day was a long way off as yet and she would have to go through many sleepless nights before she was able to put herself back together again.
Ohhh I will always love you
I will always love you
I, I will always love you
You, darling I love you
Oh I will always, I will always love you
Vince walked slowly back into the house after her watched her drive away, already the house felt so empty and cold. He closed the door behind him and lent up against it. He felt as though there was nothing left, that he had nothing worth carrying on for. He sighed at himself but of course he would carry on, what choice did he have? His heart was broken, shattered beyond repair, yet somehow he knew that he would wake up tomorrow morning and go into work and do everything the same. Yes, his heart was broken but at the same time, Vince had a funny feeling that it just wouldn't let him die, his heart would continue to beat and he would just exist. Exist in a pointless life with no meaning until God would finally put him out of his misery and end his pitiful existence at least that was what Vince was thinking.