**THANK YOU so much for reading this update! I'm really sorry that it's been so long, but I'm back and the story will be updated on a regular basis. I want to give a shout out to Kinley Orton for helping me figure out this chapter and the direction of this story. Check out her stories!**
It was a horrible Monday morning. Amanda was SO thankful that she had taken today off of work so she could focus on getting Brandon back into his routine. Brandon was running around the house naked, shrieking at the top of his lungs refusing to get dressed for school. He was having a rough time and Amanda was trying to be patient, she knew that he had a very busy and overwhelming weekend with being reacquainted with Becky and Nathan and Randy's parents, but this was more than she prepared for on a Monday.
In the middle of the chaos, she heard her phone ringing. She grabbed it and looked at the caller id, but it was an unfamiliar number.
"Brandon, PLEASE get dressed! You're going to be late!" Amanda answered it, but before she could even speak Brandon ran past her shrieking so all the other person could hear was the craziness.
"Is this Amanda Orton?" the deep voice asked.
"This is Amanda Johnson. I used to be Orton." She replied cautiously. "Please don't let this be another bill collector." She thought to herself.
"I do apologize Ms. Johnson. This is Vince McMahon, we've met a few times awhile ago." Vince replied.
"Oh, yes Mr. McMahon, I remember. What can I do for you?" Amanda stammered.
"Well, I'm calling regarding Randal Orton."
She sat down, "Oh God, is he ok?"
"Yes, yes everything is fine. Actually I wanted to talk to you about something, I hope that's ok." Vince reassured her.
"Ok, please excuse me for a minute." Amanda asked. Then she pulled the phone away from her mouth and called out, "Brandon, if you don't get dressed, Tinky Winky is going on a time out. Final warning. Get dressed NOW." Then she brought the phone back, "Sorry about this Mr. McMahon, you were saying?"
"Please call me Vince." He said with a light chuckle. "You see, I know you and Randy have had your share of troubles, and I'm thinking about releasing him from rehab early on two conditions."
"Let Randy out of rehab early? I don't mean to be rude, and I'm trying to look at it from the business side, but I think taking him out just to turn and put him in the ring right away is playing with fire. What if he gets hurt? Then he'll be pumped full of painkillers and we'll be starting all over. Not to mention that he'll be around the people he used to use with." Amanda spit out.
"Well Amanda, first off, I went to see Randy the day after you left, and I can tell that he has done a complete 180. All he could talk about was you and your son. He showed me pictures and talked about how he wanted to become the father that he could be proud of. Second, he won't be returning to the ring until his suspension is up. I want him completely sober and healthy. Finally, I DID say it would be with a couple conditions. Would you like to know what those conditions are?" Vince replied firmly.
"Oh yeah, sorry Vince, I've had a rough morning. Please continue." Amanda said sheepishly.
Vince cleared his throat, "First, he would have to continue his treatment program as an outpatient in St. Louis. Second, he would have to move back home with you and Brandon so he can get his priorities straight and learn how to become the husband and father that he wants to become, while maintaining his sobriety."
Amanda about choked on her coffee. Brandon walked into the kitchen pouting and mumbling, but he was dressed. "I'm sorry, did you just say move in here?"
"Yes I did. I think that this would really help both of you out. Are you okay with that?" He confirmed.
She took a deep breath, this was something that she would have to think about. It was bad enough she was already trying to not fall for him again, but this would impact Brandon. That was a lot of adjusting to go through. "Um…well, with all due respect sir, I don't know if I'm okay with that. I don't know how much of our history Randy has enlightened you with, but there are a lot of unresolved issues. Not to mention that my parents are already PISSED that I've given him the time of day, I couldn't even tell them that I had gone to visit him. And that's a HUGE change for Brandon to have to adjust to. And God forbid he falls off the wagon, then it's not only me he would hurt, but it would be Brandon as well."
"Brandon, that's right. I couldn't recall his name. Anyways, I completely understand where you're coming from. We were all very upset with him as well. And I can see where you're coming from. Unfortunately this isn't the first time I've been in this position and it won't be the last. But what I can tell you is that I firmly believe that Randy is a changed man. And as an added bonus, I would add you and Brandon to our health plan and it is very good coverage."
Amanda thought about it for a moment. Yes, it would be a very nice benefit to have Brandon's medical expenses covered by insurance…but was it wise to take this gamble with Randy? If Randy ever came home drunk or high, Brandon would never forget it. The kid didn't forget anything. She looked over at Brandon sitting at his little table, he was talking quietly to the picture of Randy. God that kid longed for his daddy. Maybe this would be the incentive Randy needed to stay sober?
Ever since she had left, she couldn't get Randy out of her mind. She thought about him constantly. Was this worth it? Even though she was trying to fight it with every ounce of her being, she still loved him. And even though her head was screaming NO, her heart was what made her say "Ok Vince, we'll try."
"That's the spirit!" Vince roared happily. "I'll be on the phone with the facility. I'll talk to him and let him know the conditions of his release. I have a good feeling about this Amanda, he won't let us down. Randy will call you with his landing time." And Vince hung up.
She hung up her phone and put her head in her hands. Then she prayed she was doing the right thing.
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