Chapter 27: Karma

"Shh my angel it's time for bed" Ashley rocked 1 week old Faith.

Faith looked up at her mother with her big blue eyes. Although Ashley could tell Faith was exhausted the infant seemed to fighting to stay awake. Ashley wondered what Faith thought happened after she fell asleep because she refused to fall asleep.

"You aren't going to make this easy on me are you?" she asked the infant.

She placed the baby on her shoulder and began to rub her back. She gently rocked back and forth and began to sing the same song her mother sang to her when she was Faith's age, Amazing Grace. Much to her relief Faith finally fell asleep.

"Good night my little angel" she gently laid the baby in her bassinet and kissed her brow. She wrapped the blankets snugly around the infant before straightening up and turning on the night light by the door. She closed the door behind her with a tired sigh and went to go make herself a cup of green tea. She looked up in alarm as the front door swung open.. A scarlet faced Randy emerged from the darkness.

"Randy what the hell!" Ashley exclaimed her hand over her still racing heart.

"Sorry I'm just really pissed right now" he apologized walking closer to her.

Dean was asleep on his shoulder "Where can I put him?"

"Just put him in Phin's bed " Ashley told him.

Their eyes met for an instant before he left her to put his son to bed. She knew instantly that something was wrong.. She had known Randy long enough to be able to read his face, that and she could see the redness in his eyes that could only be from crying. She busied herself making another cup of tea for him. Randy reemerged from Phinnigan's bed room.

"I made you a cup of tea" she said offering it to him.

"Thanks" he replied emotionally exhausted.

"Let's go into the living room and talk" she suggested leading the way into the toy cluttered living room.

"You'll have to excuse the mess" she said scowling "it's impossible to clean up after a 2 year old and take care of an infant"

"It's fine believe me I have seen some of the hotel rooms you and John used to trash in your younger days"

"What can I say we were young and stupid ... John still is" a hint of a smile crossed her lips.

"So what happened?" she took a sip of tea and waited patiently for Randy to answer.

"You know if you had talked to me this morning I would have told you that this was supposed to be the happiest day of my life but that all turned to hell" he muttered bitterly.

She placed her hand on his arm in a comforting manner "What happened?" she asked again gently.

Flashback

"Courtney I'm home" Randy entered his girlfriend's home with a bounce in his step and a whistle on his lips.

"In the living room Randy" she called.

He placed the bouquet of peach roses that he was holding behind his back and made his way to the other end of the house where his girlfriend was waiting for him. The somber look on her delicate features tipped him off right away. The broad smile he once wore was replaced with a look of concern and confusion.

"Here baby I have something for you" he showed her the flowers he had bought especially for her knowing that peach roses were her favorite.

She made no motions to take the flowers out of his hands nor did she show any hint of pleasure in seeing them. Undeterred he took it upon himself to put the flowers in a vase and place them on the dining room table. She followed him, standing there in a baggy sweatshirt with her arms wrapped tightly around her body.

"We need to talk" she finally said.

He glanced at her with curiosity. It was never good when anyone said those three dreaded words and he expected this time wouldn't be any different.

"About what?" he feigned ignorance.

"You and me" she said looking at the ground.

"What about you and me?" he asked not sure about what was going on.

"I ... I can't do this anymore Randy ... I'm ending this here and now" she stated firmly.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked completely blindsided by her sudden dismissal of him.

"No Randy you didn't do anything"

"So why are you doing this?" he asked devastated by that point.

"Because I can't deal with this whole instant family thing anymore, you are a great guy and Dean is amazing and I really do love him ... it's just that I'm not his mom and I shouldn't have to be"

"So you are dumping me because I have a son?"

"Randy you made the decision to become a father but I didn't decide to be a mother and it's unfair to expect me to be one" she explained "it's only a matter of time before that happens ... you and Ashley and John, you all decided to adopt kids all that is all well and good but I didn't adopt Dean and right now I don't want to be a part of a family"

"I'm sorry but did I actually just hear what I think I just heard because if I did then that has to be the biggest load of horseshit I had ever heard in my life"

"It's the truth Randy I can't help the way I feel" she tried to justify herself.

"Come on Court you don't mean any of this ... we are good together and I know if we just sit down and talk this out you'll see that" he tried to reason with her.

"No Randy I've felt like this for some time now and I thought maybe if I ignored how I felt it would go away but I'm miserable and I actually drove myself to do something I swore I would never do ... I cheated on you Randy and you know what I feel no remorse in doing so because when I'm with him I'm free, I have no worries or responsibilities"

"How could you do that to us ... to me" he didn't bother to hide his tears.

"It just happened and now you know so I would appreciate if you would pack up your stuff and just leave me alone" she turned her back on him and walked away.

"I'm grabbing my son and I'll be back for the rest of our stuff tomorrow" he informed her.

Randy grabbed Dean who was sound asleep in his bedroom. He didn't even bother to take his truck. He walked the two blocks to John's house and used his key to let himself into the house.

end

"So now you know the whole story" Randy remarked miserably after he finished telling the story.

"Oh sweetie I am so sorry" Ashley really couldn't think of anything else to say.

"And you want to know the worst part of this whole thing is?" he asked reaching into his pocket " I was going to propose to her tonight" . He pulled out the box and showed Ashley the ring he had picked out.

"Rans I know you are devastated right now but you know what karma will come around and bite her in the ass don't you worry. It's her loss she didn't see what a wonderful man she had in front of her and if you weren't like one of my brothers I'd totally date you myself because you are one of the very few good men out there"

He wiped the tears from his eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into and embrace. He rested his head against her shoulder and just let her hold him. He knew she was right of course but that didn't make the pain hurt any less.

"I really don't want to be alone right now" he finally said breaking away from her.

"I know I speak for both me and John when I say you and Dean are welcome to stay with us for as long as you want"

"Thanks Ash I don't know what I'd you without you and John"

"Well you will never have to know but for right now lets both try to get some sleep because I think we are both ready to collapse"

"Yeah I guess I didn't really notice how tired I was until right now" he yawned.

"Good night Randy" she kissed his temple "and don't worry just remember what I said karma is a funny thing"

"I'll try to remember that" he replied " it still hurts really bad but I'll live"

"That's my boy" she patted him on the back before leaving him to his thoughts.