CH 27

Lisa leaned against the wall of the elevator feeling empty after leaving Mark. I have to find a way to end things with Paul soon, she thought as the elevator door opened on John's floor. She quickly found John's room knocking on the door.

"It's about time you got here sis," John flung the door open. "He is going to be here any minute."

"Stop panicking I'm here now and I will deal with him," Lisa shut the door.

"Why don't you just let me kick his ass and make everyone happy," John grinned at her.

"You know why the consequences will be too painful," Lisa sat on the sofa.

"I can handle anything that bastard pulls on me. You should have no doubts that Mark can handle them too. Its Christina you're worried about, isn't it?" John crossed his arms staring at her.

"She can't afford to lose that business right now. She needs to support Kelly and give her a good life. I don't buy Kelly's father is paying child support," Lisa said seeing John tense up.

"So you're going to put up with Paul's shit and miss out on your happiness with Mark for Christina's sake," John raised his voice. "I think you should let Christina worry about her own damn self."

"I'm worried about Kelly's well being more than anything."

"Bullshit, you're doing this for Christina. You defend Christina but she has evil streaks look what she did to Glen," John was getting upset.

"John, I'm not going to argue. We never agree when it comes to Christina so just drop it," Lisa sighed shaking her head.

"Ok you want a new subject. How come you never told mom or me about the baby? I thought you told us everything," John sat down next to her.

"I had every intention too then when the miscarriage happened I just didn't tell anyone. I didn't want upset mom. You know how much she wants lots of grandchildren. The baby was gone there was nothing anyone could do."

"We could have comforted you. All of us just thought you were depressed because of Adam leaving. You needed your family at a time like that. I finally understand why you were getting sick every time I cooked around you back then," John tried to take some of the tension away.

"I thought you would have figured it out then because I've always love your cooking," Lisa smiled making him laugh.

"Sis, please don't keep anything like that from me again. I always thought we had a close bond. To me you are my real little sister I don't care it's only through our parents marrying," John said making her smile even more.

"We are close. I'm closer to you than I am to Christina," Lisa hugged him. "No more secrets I promise. I need to ask you something and I want you to answer me honestly."

"Of course I will."

"Is what I'm doing with Mark wrong?" Lisa asked.

"I don't think it's wrong. You and Paul are for the most part pretty much history. You're just following your heart nothing wrong with that. I've known Mark for quite a few years and I think he is perfect for you. You two look good together and you get along very well. I saw how much he gets to your heart Adam and Paul never have done that. I wouldn't mind having him as my brother in law," John widely smiled.

"You're getting way ahead in time," Lisa said silently thinking about how in time she would definitely like to settle down with Mark.

"Don't think about right or wrong just concentrate on your heart's desire and it will never lead you wrong," John patted her hand as the knocking started on the door. "You ready to handle Paul?"

"Yes," Lisa stood up taking a deep breathe before opening the door. She gasped when she saw Paul. She had never seen him so pale like a ghost. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah as ok as I can be," Paul stared at her with his bloodshot eyes. "My life is in the toilet right now between my injury and my relationship with you on the rocks. I get one night to spend with you and blow it with my jealous ways. I didn't sleep at all last night. Can I come in?"

"Sure," Lisa motioned for him to come in noticing John had gone into another room.

"I brought your bag," Paul put her duffle bag on the floor. "Sweetheart, I'm sorry for my behavior once again. Please forgive me." Paul slowly came towards her taking her hand. Lisa tensed pulling away from him. "What's wrong?"

"Paul, I found a tape and some photos in your apartment," she stared directly into his eyes. "I want to know how you got them."

"That really isn't important is it? The issue here is you found out Adam was cheating on you. I'm not taking the shit for his actions," Paul rested his hands on her hips. "I hid them to protect you."

"Do you think I'm an idiot? How did you get them?"

"Remember when we first started dating you let me stay at your apartment for a few days while I was on a break? The first time we slept together?" Paul got a smile remembering making love to her.

"Of course I remember," she huffed wondering what his point was.

"While you were at work a package arrived, I signed for it and thought it looked weird so I opened it. After I saw what was inside, I decided it was best to keep it from you. There was no point in rehashing your past with Adam," Paul said making Lisa doubt what he was saying. "If you don't believe me, feel free to go to my apartment anytime you like and look in my top drawer you'll find the confirmation of delivery to your apartment and my signature on it."

"Paul, I'll check it out but …" Lisa stopped when his cell phone started ringing.

"Hold on one sec sweetheart," Paul smiled at her answering his phone. She went to move away from him to give him privacy. Paul didn't want her to go wrapping his arm around her waist pulling her against him. She knew better to resist as he talked to Vince for a few minutes before hanging up. "I have to get to the airport. I promise we will talk about all of this either before or after Raw. I'm going to miss you so much."

"Have a good trip Paul," she coldly said knowing he was going to cheat on her.

"Hey, don't be an ice queen," Paul whispered in her ear. "I love you and I will make everything up to you. Don't give up on us yet. I will call you tonight when I'm settled. Can I please have a kiss goodbye?" Lisa turned in his arms kissing his cheek.

"Paul, please understand I need some room right now. We will talk more on Monday," Lisa touched his cheek running her fingers over his facial hair. Paul sighed getting tears in his eyes.

"I love you," Paul kissed her forehead. He walked away from her heading towards the door suddenly stopping. He rushed back to her taking her hands in his. "Lisa, I want you to come to rehab. I will find time to be with you and talk all our problems through." Lisa was stunned by his request. What about your secret lover, she thought searching his eyes seeing he was sincere with his request.

"Paul, I can't come with you. I have a photo session this afternoon and a meeting with Stephanie afterwards," Lisa felt relief that she had a legitimate excuse for not going. She really wanted to stay with Mark.

"That's cool you can't come today. I'll leave a ticket for you and you can come tomorrow," Paul grinned wrapping his arms around her picking her up. "Please sweetheart, come tomorrow. You'll make me so happy."

"Ok Paul I'll come," she said quickly figuring she would find a way to cancel the trip later.

"Thank you angel," he squeezed her tight kissing her. "I love you sweetheart and I'll see you tomorrow." He gently put her down kissing her one more time before heading for the door with a bounce in his step.

"Bye Paul," she let a sigh of relief as he left. She went to the door locking it behind him.

"Are you out of your mind?" John came out of the bedroom. "You can't be serious about going to meet him tomorrow."

"I'm not going. I will find a way out of it. There is no way in hell I'm going to see him," Lisa leaned against the door as John smiled. "I just wanted to get rid of him."

"That is a relief," John patted his chest as Lisa froze hearing the knock on the door fearing Paul had come back. She looked at John as he motioned for her to open it. She slowly opened the door seeing Adam staring down at her with tear filled green eyes.
"We need to talk now," he brushed past her before she could object. She turned looking at him hoping she could deal with talking to him without shedding more tears.

The silence and tension between Adam and Lisa was intense as John sat down on the sofa planning to keep an eye on his sister. Lisa looked away from Adam not able to stand the pain she saw in his eyes.

"I guess I'll start. I'm sorry for you having to find out about my affair this way. I should have told you when it first happened," Adam cautiously touched her chin making her look at him. "I loved the baby and you. I didn't want to leave you that way. I never thought once that losing our baby was your fault. You told me that night something didn't feel right. I should have taken you to the hospital instead of insisting you get some sleep. So if you want to place blame, blame me I already blame myself. I bet our baby would be alive right now if I took you right away to the hospital."

"Adam, no one should blame anyone. You were right it was God's way and for whatever reason you and I were not meant to have children and a future together," she took a deep breathe trying to keep her composure. "The way you left was so wrong and I think it's the worse thing you could have done."

"I did worse than that I'm the one responsible for your mess with Paul. I just stood by and let him romance you for over a year before I did a damn thing. When I finally did get some guts it was too late. He had found a way to manipulate you and keep you in the relationship. Your misery is my fault. If I would have been a man you would be happy right now if not with me than at least you would be free to be with Mark," Adam stared deep into her eyes.

"Tell me how this all happened. You were never one to go drinking after the shows. You used to always call me and we would talk till one of us almost fell asleep. Why did you agree to go drinking with Paul that night?" Lisa needed to know ever detail of how Paul manipulated his way into her life.

"I thought Paul was a friend. I was torn apart about the baby and Vince forcing me back to work when I wanted to stay with you. I just wanted to escape and Paul convinced me a night on the town was the best way. I never caught on he was setting me up till after the damage was done," Adam threw his head back trying to keep his emotions under control. "He kept buying me drink after drink. I don't even remember going to the hotel with that girl. Shit I don't even remember sleeping with her. All I remember is the satisfied look on Paul's face when I came out of the room and he gave me the choice that I leave you or a package would be delivered to you with photos and a tape proving my infidelities. I couldn't hurt you like that knowing all the agony you were already in from losing the baby. I thought leaving would be easier. You would just hurt for awhile and move on to a better guy."

"Adam, we were talking about marriage. You swore to me that we would work through losing our baby together. You filled my head with all this hope for our future," Lisa felt the tears welling her eyes as she let all the emotions of the past fill her. "You were my first real love and you broke my heart without even the slightest warning. Do you remember our phone conversation that night before the show?"

"Yes, how could I forget?"

"What did you ask me hours before you slept with that whore?"

"You're talking about this right?" Adam reached into his pocket pulling out the diamond ring he got for her a day before they lost the baby. He planned to take her away for a romantic weekend and propose to her. Instead he proposed to her over the phone not able to wait till he saw her again.

"Yes that," she looked away from it. "Imagine how I felt when you came home and said you made a mistake proposing that the right thing to do was separate," Lisa trembled. "How could you just throw it all away like that?"

"You will never understand my reasons. I did what I thought was right it is as simple as that," Adam rested his hands on her shoulders. "Why do you think I want to help you and Mark? At least that is something little I can do to make up for all the pain I've caused you. I brought Paul into your life and I'm going to take him out of it no matter what it takes. Can we work through this? Can we still be friends?"

"Adam, I don't know I guess time will tell," she looked up into his eyes seeing a kindness she always saw in him.

"At least let me continue helping you and Mark once I get Paul out of the picture I'll stay out of your life if that is what you want," Adam ran his hand slowly up her shoulder along the curve of her neck cupping her face. "I will do whatever you say."

"I need all the help I can get now to deal with Paul and his games," Lisa sighed. "Adam, please go and try to get some rest. We all have a photo shoot in a few hours and you look a mess. The past is settled between us and in time the pain will hopefully subsided."

"I believe it will," Adam smiled at her. "I hate to tell you this but since I'm spilling my soul I might as well say this. I still love you." Lisa trembled at his words she didn't want his love anymore. "Don't get nervous I know there is only friendship in our future. I love you enough to be happy that you have Mark in your life. Don't say anything more I'm leaving now and will see you at the photo shoot."

"See you there," Lisa said as his fingers lingered along her cheek for a few moments as he stared deep into her eyes. He finally sighed walking slowly out the door giving her one last sad glance before shutting it. Lisa took a deep breathe feeling her body still trembling as John came to her resting his hand on her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" John softly said as she turned burying her face in his chest.

"I will be in a minute it hurts because I care about him. I hate seeing him like this," she stuttered letting her tears soak his shirt. "Can you please call Mark and ask him to come here? I'm going to take a shower."

"Sure sis," John hugged her tightly before letting her go. He watched her sway slightly on the way to the shower wiping the tears from her eyes. He picked up the phone hoping Mark could take his sister's misery away.