Chapter 11:
I didn't answer my phone for nearly two months. I know it was horrible of me to ignore my friends, especially Eve, but I was afraid they would try to relay a message from Vince and I did not want to hear it. I moped around mostly because truthfully I missed my job. I missed hanging out with Eve and I was sure I was missing out on something with Randy even though I didn't quite know what.
"Abbi, there's some guy at the door for you." My grandfather popped his head in my room.
"Who?" I was sure it was Vince and I had every intentions of sending him away.
"He knows you, not me child." Grandpa snapped sarcastically. "He's on the porch."
"On the porch? You didn't invite him in?"
"This ain't no holiday inn. If he wants to see you so badly, he'll wait. He's a muscular fellow, I give him that." He touched his finger to his chin. "I think I'm going to go get the shot gun."
"Papa!"
"Just in case." He grinned.
I went to the door reluctantly and found him leaning in the door way waiting for someone to open it again and I had a feeling grandpa had shut it in his face because he still looked stunned.
"Really? You're just gonna run off and ignore all your friends."
"How did you know where I lived?" Randy sauntered past me and into the house and gazed around.
"Oh, about an hour on the internet and a twenty five dollar fee. You pay taxes, Abbi. You're not exactly untraceable."
"Well, who said I wanted you to come here."
"I figured you didn't, since you didn't answer my calls."
"Well, I never gave you my number."
"Abbi, aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?" My grandma always kept my manners in check.
"Randy, this is my grandma and grandpa." I said reluctantly, "This is Randy."
"And how do you know each other?"
"We worked together. That's all." I said giving him a stern look before he could answer.
"Oh, are you're one of those producer people like Abbi?" My grandmother asked.
"No Maam. I'm a professional wrestler."
"Well, that sounds nice and he has manners. I like him Abbi."
"Grandma, have you ever seen the show?"
"No."
"Ah." I laughed and whispered to Randy. "She's change her mind if she ever does." I couldn't help it. I could just see my grandmother's face when she saw Randy on the television wearing his skimpy ring attire. Her mouth would drop and she would label him the devil.
"Abbi, get out of your pajamas and let's go somewhere." Randy urged.
"That's what I've been telling her for pritnear a month now."
"Grandma" It was embarrassing for Randy to know I'd been sulking.
"Come on."
"Are looks really that important to you? I have to change?" I wanted to pick a fight, but Randy wasn't the one I wanted to fight with. He just happened to be the person who was standing in front of me.
"If you want to go like that" he shrugged, took my hand and drug me out onto the porch.
"Randy, I don't want to go anywhere!" I yelled at him and jerked away.
"Are you angry with me or are you just angry with the whole world?" He snapped. "Damn it Abbi. This is what happens when you take off on the people who love you. Eve's worried, Vince is worried and – and – I can't sleep because I'm too busy wondering if you're okay."
The 'L' word. He had named off other names, but he had included himself. I was deaf to the others and freaked out by his admission.
"I'm sorry, Randy, but right now, I just want to be left alone." I turned to go back inside and he touched my shoulder and gently turned me.
"Take this. Come to the show at least. Forget about Vince, hell forget about me, but it's pretty shitty of you to avoid Eve like you have. She's never done anything to you."
He was right. Eve was a great friend, but I didn't respond to him. Instead, I went in and shut the door.
I gave in. I got dressed and I went to the show. I had ring side seats and I took my grandparents.
"Is that the same young man that was at the house earlier?" My poor grandmother. She did not have a clue about what was going on, but I loved to watch her watching the show with the innocence of someone who knew nothing about the kayfabe.
"Yes," I said and I waited for it. I was expecting her to say something about what he was wearing. So far the wrestlers had been decent and I had to roll my eyes to the ceiling and ask why Randy had to be the first man to come out in briefs?
Randy checked the seats the moment he was in the ring and smiled when he saw them occupied before he jumped up on the ring and performed his pose.
"Well, he's got the body for it."
It was my mouth that dropped and I stared at my grandmother who had her head tilted and her eyes scanning Randy's nearly naked body.
"Is this one of those matches where the winner is the one who tears the other's clothes off first?"
"Grandma!" I was embarrassed.
"What? I heard they have those."
"The women have those matches, Mildred." My grandfather corrected and I hid my face with my hands and vowed I would never bring them to another show again.
After Randy's match, I excused myself and found my way backstage. I went to the Diva's locker room and Eve nearly knocked me over when she saw me. I felt I was going to suffer from whiplash.
"Where have you been? I was coming to see you after the show."
"Randy beat you to it." I said holding up the staff badge he'd given me.
"That dog. He should have told me. I would have gone with him – Wait. What did your grandparents have to say about him?"
"Eve, I really want to forget the things my grandmother has said about Randy." She raised an eyebrow. "I'm really starting to believe they've revisited the sixties. I'm going home and checking for contraband."
"Oh, leave them be. They probably realized that you've grown up and you're taking care of yourself well and they don't have to worry as much."
"Maybe."
"I'm done. Let's go get something to eat. We'll be back before the show ends. Do you think your grandparents would care?"
"I think they would be unusually understanding."
There was a mom and pop's diner across the street from the arena and I was surprised that no one recognized Eve because there were plenty of people standing around hoping to catch a glimpse of one of the stars. Of course, Eve was wearing a blond wig and had the strands half covering her face.
We were eating our food and catching up when I looked up and saw Vince standing there.
"I'm out of here."
"Wait, Abbi."
"Did he put you up to this?
"I had no idea, I swear, but Abbi. You really should talk to him."
It seemed I had no choice. So, I remained while he joined us and Eve excused herself to give us privacy.
"I had practiced a hundred different ways of telling you." He laughed nervously, "I didn't mean for it come out like it did and I'm sorry for that."
"You're sorry for that? What about my entire life? I never knew who you were. You could have seen me – been a part of my life in some way, but you did nothing."
"I thought I was doing the right thing. Now I see it was the worst thing I could have done."
"So, you thought you could make up for it by giving me a job? Well, I don't want your charity."
"Who do you think paid for you to go to college? Do you really think your grandparents had no idea what kind of classes you took? I'm the one that convinced them to let you follow your own path."
"Well, thanks so much." I said sarcastically. "but I don't' want anything I didn't earn."
"You've earned everything you've ever gotten. Yes, you're my daughter. My blood runs through your veins but I am a business man and I would never let an incompetent person handle as much as I have let you handle. Hell, I don't give that much responsibility to Stephanie and Shane because they are not capable." He nearly growled in response. "If you want to throw away your career that's your choice. Go ahead, I don't care, but like it or not, Abbi. I am your father and I have always cared about you."
"Can't see it where I'm sitting."
"Fine. Don't, but you should know that I've always seen you even though you haven't' seen me. You've had a detective following you for me all your life."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"
"Nope. I just thought you should know."
"I bet you're still having me followed."
"No. Not since you came to work for me."
"Vince. I'm not sure what I want right now. I'm mad at you, but I loved my career. And I can't work with you around all the time. I'm sorry."
