Chapter 19

"Dave, you aren't going to believe this," Andy Lacroix told his brother a few days later. "I got online and Googled our future brother in law and did that background check too. I found all kinds of shit on him."

"Like what?" Dave asked.

"Well, Tyler was telling the truth when he said this guy wrestled for the biggest company in the world. He's a former champion to boot; pulls down six figures a year. The background check also brought up some interesting shit. The old man is some fancy ass lawyer down there in Austin. The mother is up in New Mexico. There's a brother that's deceased, but another one is some director out in California. The dude's half Hispanic, fairly decent credit record, no arrests, and lives in the same building Sandy does."

"Well, from what you've told me so far, I guess we don't have to worry about him being a scumbag."

"That isn't all. You should turn on your computer and see a picture of this guy," Andy added.

"Jesus, he isn't one of those scary wrestlers, is he?"

"Not by a long shot. More like he's a dead ringer for a younger Mike."

"Say what?"

"I'm telling you, Dave, he could almost be Mike's twin."

"Well, maybe that explains why Sandy is so ape shit about him."

"Yeah, maybe. But when I saw this guy's picture, it about scared the shit out of me. It was almost as if Mike came back from the dead."

"Now let's hope he's as grounded and sensible as Mike was," Dave said. "If this dude is going to be in the lives of our sister and nephew, woe be upon him if he isn't good to them."

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"Mother, I cannot believe you actually condoned all this!" Sandy cried to her mother. "What on earth possessed Andy to go digging around in Paul's business? The man has very little privacy in his life as it is!"

"Where did you hear about this?" Marie asked.

"Tyler told me everything. He had talked to Andy and my dear brother just happened to let it slip that he was 'doing some research' on Paul. Long story short, I am not happy right now that someone would invade his privacy like that."

"I didn't ask Andrew to do that, Sandy," Marie replied. "The boys were curious. We don't know this man you're marrying and wanted to know more about him."

"You could have asked, you know," Sandy said. "Paul wouldn't have minded; he doesn't have anything to hide. But to go sneaking around his back? It couldn't wait until we came up there in a couple of weeks?"

"Don't be so dramatic, sweetheart. You know how your brothers are since your father died."

"Yes, a total pain in the ass. If they're smart, they won't even as much as look at Paul the wrong way unless they want drop kicked into next year."

God! Sandy thought a short time later after she'd hung up. Brothers! Impossible! And to think her own mother thought this was okay. She just hoped their visit to Philadelphia had a better ending.

If anything, Paul should have some advance warning, she thought, heading down to his apartment.

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"I don't know why you're so upset, babe," Paul said reassuringly. "If I had a sister marrying a guy I never met, I'd be checking up on him too."

"Paul, they treaded on your private life," Sandy protested. "That doesn't bother you?"

"Wouldn't be the first time someone butted into it," he replied. "The fact is, baby, there's nothing I can really do about stuff like this. I can't shut myself off further from the world than I already have, and you know I'm not like that. It's unfortunate because there's a lot of quality people out there. And your brothers are just looking out for you. Hell, I'd be more concerned if they didn't check up on me. We haven't met, and as far as they and your mom know, I could have been some serial killer."

Sandy began to chuckle, suddenly feeling better. "Maybe you are one," she joked.

"Do I look like one?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, Ted Bundy didn't look like a serial killer either."

"Yeah, good point. So when are we meeting this snoopy family?"

"The weekend following No Way Out. I'd figure you'd have a few days off after that and be well rested. I have a feeling Dave and Andy will be interrogating you to no end and you could use the strength."

"This should be a blast," Paul agreed. "So are you ready to meet mine?"

"I just hope they aren't that disappointed in me," Sandy sighed. "especially since it's out that I'm older than you and I have a teenage son."

"Don't worry about it. I think Dad's over it now he had screamed off my ear. On the other hand, Mamá is eager to meet you and Tyler."

"Are you serious?"

"Mamá has been trying to marry me off since I learned to walk, what do you expect? Must be a mom thing; then again, I'm surprised you haven't started on Tyler for not having a girlfriend."

"Paul, Tyler's almost seventeen. He'll find one when he's ready. I think he's more into his friends and doing things boys his age do. Just because you 'lost it' when you were his age doesn't make it the norm for all boys."

"Yeah, sometimes I think that boy has more sense than I do," he laughed.

"Well, in any sense, we better be prepared on both sides," Sandy said. "Because you never know what we can expect with all of this."