Ch 14

Mark neared the deck hearing the low sounds of music coming from the open kitchen door. He slowed his pace when he reached the top of deck stairs watching her hum along with You want to Make a Memory by Bon Jovi as she finished mixing up a salad to go along with the grilled chicken for dinner.

"She is finally relaxing. I don't have the heart to tell her Adam was here and didn't come to see her," Mark softly sighed trying to figure out what to do as he neared the door.

"Did my Dad give you trouble?" Stacy asked stepping out on the deck.

"No problems with him," Mark answered looking out into the woods.

"Then what's wrong?" she neared grabbing his chin making him look at her.

"Stacy, lets have dinner. Everything is fine."

"We can have dinner after you tell me what's bugging you," she said. "Please Mark."

"I saw Adam at your Dads," he softly responded.

"Where is he? Did he stay at my Dads?" she looked down the path for her husband.

"He is on his way to New York City."

"What?" her face clouded with confusion. "Why didn't he come home first?"

"He told me to tell you he will call tonight and he said you would understand him not stopping by," Mark touched her cheek. "I'm sorry Stacy; I really didn't want to tell you this."

"Mark, you have to tell me things like this. Please don't ever keep things from me. You're one of the few people I can trust," she wrapped her arms around herself stepping away from me. "I can't believe he didn't come even say hello for a second. He had time for my dad but not for me. Do you know why he went to see Dad?"

"He wants his title run bumped up."

"I should have known it's always about his career!" she exclaimed turning away looking into the night trying to hid her tears. "At least we don't have a child together, how would I explain to a child that Daddy has no time to come home but he had time to make a stop for his career. There is no way in hell I'm having his baby."

"Shhh calm down," Mark came up behind resting his hands on her shoulders. "I don't like when you're upset."

"Would you mind if I go lay down for a little while?" she asked rubbing her face.

"Yeah I would. You're not running away. Come on talk to me. Its better than going upstairs and crying your eyes out," he said making her turn to look at him with such sadness in her eyes it made his heart ache. He slowly wrapped his arms around her hugging her close.

"Mark, I'm tired of complaining and crying about Adam. I just want to have dinner with you then take the dogs for a walk," she whispered against his chest.

"Stacy, we can do that. I'm fine with that. I just want you to understand that if you want to talk I'm ready to listen."

"I know I can always count on you," she slowly raised her head looking into his eyes. He felt lost for a moment reaching out caressing her cheek resting his head against hers. "We should eat, dinner is getting cold," she stepped away from him feeling her own desires trying to take control knowing at that moment it wasn't the right time.

Mark spent the rest of his break with Stacy trying to keep her distracted while she helped him find a divorce lawyer. When he left on Friday morning for the road it was the first time in a long time neither one of them knew what to say. They hugged goodbye for a long time till Mark finally pulled himself away. Stacy watched him pull out of the driveway before disappearing into the house. She went into the kitchen cleaning up the breakfast dishes. She finished up took her vitamins and was about to go for a jog when the bad Adam had left at her Dad's caught her attention. She meant to look at before but she had been enjoying her time with Mark and forgot about it. She stared at the bag for a few minutes then slowly picked it up.

"Well Adam, let's see what you got in here," she started to unzip the zipper of the bag. Suddenly she felt an arm go around her waist making her jump and drop the bag.

"Stacy, I'm so sorry didn't mean to scare you," Adam kissed her cheek holding her tighter.

"Adam? What are you doing here?" she asked turning to face her husband.

"I live here remember beautiful," he smiled. "I thought I would surprise you. I decided to swing by pick you up and take you with me to the shows. They are in the Philadelphia area so we can drive and catch up along the way."

"Its nice you thought of me," she coldly responded breaking away from him.

"Whoa what's that attitude for?"

"Why didn't you come see me the other night when you were at my Dad's?"

"Baby, I had to run I barely made my appearance at the hockey game," he tried to touch her stunned when she pulled away.

"Adam, you could have cut your visit with Dad short and come to see me for five minutes. A kiss hello and goodbye would have been nice," she stared at him feeling the tears coming to her eyes.

"Come on Stacy, I'm sorry I had to ….,"

"You had to take care of your precious career," she sarcastically finished his sentence letting out a deep troubled sigh. "My Dad finally gave you a title run why can't you be happy with that? Why do always need to get more?"

"I was trying to make sure I was around for the baby," he stared her down.

"Baby? You better get thoughts like that right out of your head. Our marriage is in serious trouble. I'm not having your baby now," she said making him hit the counter in frustration making her jump.

"Damn it Stacy! Our marriage is fine. What are you afraid to have a kid?"

"No, only in your head our marriage is fine. I have no fear of having a baby. I just want to make sure when I do I'm giving that child the best life possible with a loving mother and father."

"Stacy, I love you!"

"Bullshit! It's becoming more clearer you love that I'm a McMahon and the boss' daughter," she yelled making him tense. "You thought the minute you said I do your life was going to be set. Well guess what I'm seeing through your games and I'm not going to let you manipulate my father anymore."

"What games? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Why do you want a baby now?"

"What?"

"You heard me. If you're not playing a game then tell me the real truth why do you want a baby now? What do you gain from us having a child?" she came close staring directly into his eyes waiting for the answer. "Ok you don't want to answer maybe I'll just take a look in the bag," she picked up his bag.

"There is nothing to see in there. Just workout clothes," he grabbed the bag from her hand roughly.

"I'm your wife I should be able to look in anything I want unless there is something in there you don't want me to see," she said as he clutched the bag tightly. "Adam, what are you hiding from me? I'm not joking around. You need to come clean with me now or I'm walking out the door." Dead silence filled the air as he nervously looked away from him. Suddenly he smirked laughing softly. "Adam, what is so funny?"

"I think you may already be a mommy. That would explain your crazy mood swings," he smiled reaching out to caress her cheek.

"You're the crazy one. I'm leaving," she pushed his hand away grabbing her car keys.

"Stacy, where are you going?" he called after her as she opened the door to the garage.

"Far away from you," she said opening her car door and sliding in. She hit the door opener just as he neared her car pulling on the handle.

"Open the door Stacy!"

"Good bye Adam," she said slamming the gas to the floor. Her mustang shot out of the garage as Stacy tried not to look back at her husband.