Chapter 20: Seeing you again
February 2006
Boston was 10 months old now. Although people usually think he I a lot older because he is a very big baby. If I didn't know any better I'd say he was a year old myself.
"Addie I'm going to work" Ashley said.
"But today is your day off" I said.
"I know but I'm still trying to pay off my credit card bills from Christmas so every little bit helps" she said.
"Ok well don't worry we'll be fine" I said.
Boston and I had been playing with his toys on the floor. Ashley came over and picked Boston up.
"Boston give mama loves" she said. This of course meant give mama a kiss.
Boston shook his head no, which is something he had just learned to do.
Ashley faked gasped and pretended to be sad. Boston giggled and relented giving his mother a kiss. He was a very bright boy for only being 10 months old.
"Mama has to go to work" she said "so I want you to be a good boy for auntie ok"
Ashley gave Boston another kiss and returned him to the floor.
"Wave bye byes to mama" I told Boston.
He waved his little hand.
"There are 5 bottles pre made in the fridge" she said "I just gave him a bath so just feed him and put him to bed ok"
"Gotcha boss" I replied. "I know and I'll even sing the stupid song that is all about death"
I knew that would piss her off. Which is exactly why I said it.
"Oh yeah Randy called the WWE is in town and he's gonna crash here for the next 3 days" Ashley said.
"Ok no problem" I said.
I put Boston to bed and sat around. It was a Saturday night and I had finished all my work so I was just relaxing. The door slammed shut and I looked up to see Ashley. She looked upset.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"Why is it when everything seems to be going good something bad happens" she said.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I saw John tonight" she replied.
The red flags were going off in my head this couldn't be good.
Ashley sat down and laid her head on my shoulder.
"You wanna tell me what happened?" I asked.
"Might as well" she said.
"It was going good I had been working for about an hour" she said "I saw Randy walk in so I figured he had come to keep me company till I got off work… you know like he does sometimes but then I saw John and it was like everything that was keeping my heart in one piece disappeared"
"Randy came over to the bar and the minute he saw me he knew that this was a very bas situation" she explained.
"Ashley I am so sorry I had no idea you were working I asked Maddie 3 times before I suggested we go here and she said it was your day off" he said.
"It is my day off but I'm working a little over time" I replied.
"I swear I'll keep John away from the bar" he said.
"Ok… please do I don't think I'd be able to face him" I said.
"I am so sorry" he said.
"Make it up to me by tipping well and giving these pictures of Boston to Maddie" I said.
"Ok I will" he said.
"Randy kept his promise and kept John away from the bar but just seeing him did it's damage" Ashley said.
"I'm so sorry honey I wish I could help you through this" I said.
Ashley reserve broke she allowed herself to cry. She hadn't cried since John had left her and with everything weighing down now it's amazing she had lasted this long.
"I don't understand why now?" She cried "why couldn't he just stay away?"
"Do you need anything?" I asked.
"All I want to do it to make a huge bowl of popcorn and feel sorry for myself" she said.
"I guess you deserve that" I said getting up to make the popcorn.
Ashley curled up on the couch and closed her eyes.
I brought in her popcorn and then left the room again. I went into my bedroom to watch TV and wait for Randy to get here so I could kick his ass. Technically he hadn't done anything wrong. But seeing Ashley cry made me feel helpless and I hated feeling that way.
It was past 5 when Randy came strolling into the house. Ashley had went to be hours ago so I returned to the living room. Randy's face fell when he saw me.
"I know what you are thinking and it was an accident" he said.
"I know it was" I said.
"Then why do you look like you want to kick the shit out of me?" he asked.
"Not you… John I'd like to kick the shit out of him" I said.
"So do you wanna hear my side of the story?" he asked.
"Well the sister in me says just kick your ass and get it over with but the lawyer tells me to listen and seeing as the lawyer side pays the bills I'll run with it" I said.
"I didn't know she was working I asked Maddie about 10 times. Rayne is the only bar around here that I know, so we went there and I kept John away" he said.
"Yeah I got that part what happened when you got back to the table?" I asked.
"I was putting the pictures in my coat when he asked me what I was doing I told him I was putting picture's of my sister in law's son in my pocket to give to my wife the next time I saw her" Randy said "then he asked if he could see the pictures so I handed them to him"
"What did he do then?" I asked with growing interest.
"It was the weirdest thing he read the back you know where is says the name of the baby and the age and then he smiled and said cute kid and then he handed the pictures back"
I shook my head John could be the most infuriating person in the world and this moment was one of those times.
"He did ask who kid it was?" I asked.
"I guess he just took the nephew explanation" Randy shrugged.
"Yeah probably" I said.
It was obvious that he wanted to come and see his son but he was too stubborn to. That stubbornness would cost him in the long run.