3 days passed, and this vacation was the most relaxed the two had been around each other.
They had a routine. Light workouts in the morning. Emails after a shower, some talent videos, and then their favorite past time.
Either crazy reality tv shows on Netflix or classic tv. It was eye opening to the both of them seeing what they grew up with and bonded over. Paul couldn't do these things with Stephanie. He grinned at the impromptu cooking lesson he tried with Kamaria.
"Ok, the grease is hot, but it's not going to kill you. How do you eat when you are home?"
"Prepackaged meals", she looked at the pan concerned.
"Babe, that's no way to live. Come on, I'm right here. I promise it won't hurt you".
"You promise?"
"Yes, just put the fish in the pan"
She slowly put the fish in the pan and it sizzled. A squeak of joy left her mouth, and he laughed at her and hugged her.
"I did it!"
"I told you that you could".
They sat on the couch watching Perry Mason, her pick after dinner. She was intensely watching the show, and he kept looking at her and semi watching the show.
"Spit it out".
"What?"
"I can feel you watching me, what is on your mind".
"I have a family".
"Yes, I know".
"I never asked you if you wanted kids though".
She turned the TV off. It was something she thought about often. She wasn't getting any younger, but He wasn't young either. She decided to not think about it, because she didn't know what was going to happen.
"Honestly?"
"You better be".
"I thought about it, but I never thought we would be this serious. I mean secretly I hoped these days would come but I just forgot about it all and just enjoyed the moment. You have to understand being mistress you have to make the conscious decision that one day it could be over, just like that", she said with s nap.
"Well, now that it's not playing out the way you thought, what are you thoughts now?"
"I think children are the most challenging, beautiful, complex honor one could have. I could see myself as a mom, but would that be fair to the child, you or your children you have with Stephanie".
He thought about this after she said. In his mind it was going through the news, pregnancy, delivery and just seeing a mix of him and her in this new little person. Not the issues she mentions.
"Why do you ask?"
"I want more children, but never thought of it the way you mentioned. I just don't want to rob you of anything you want either. It's one thing to talk about what I want and why I'm walking away. It's something different to talk to you about your dreams and what you want".
"I'm open to it, I just don't want to take attention away from your older kids or have a child miss out because of our age".
"Let me worry about that. Just answer me this. Do you want kids…..with me?"
"Yes. I think we would have some great mini mes".
"Mini us".
"I said it correctly before. Mini me", she grinned.
"You are such a smart ass".
His phone went off to Stephanie's ring tone.
"Hey! How is everything?"
"Dad's vice special premiered and he wants back in".
"Steph no. Listen can we talk about it when I get back, I'm trying to relax".
"I saw the papers too".
He stopped dead in his tracks. He wasn't going to talk to her about the divorce until he came back. I guess the extra money paid to the lawyer wasn't worth it. Time to find another one.
"Again, can we talk about this when I get back".
"All I'm saying is I'll give you a divorce, but you aren't leaving this company. We have appearances to maintain. Let Kamaria know that as well".
"Is that a threat?"
"No, I'm just letting you two know that I know your plans, and wish you the best, but you won't be leaving. We can talk about Dad when you two get back".
Kamaria sat and watched the facial expressions on his face trying to figure out what was said. He ended the call and was breathing heavily. He threw his phone across the room as it shattered in pieces. She jumped at his anger. She tried to comfort him and her touch got him to breathe slower.
"The papers I had drawn up were delivered to her. I didn't want it to be like this. I wanted to talk to her first. I wanted her to understand why I wanted out".
"Honey, divorces aren't pretty nor planned. They are messy as fuck. Again, I'm not going anywhere but this is what I'm talking about. What else did she say?"
"We can't leave WW. We have appearances to maintain".
"Huh?"
"Yeah, this. This is what I'm saying. Add on Vince wants to come back".
"Oh hell".
"I don't want to think about it, I just want to enjoy the rest of the week here before I have to go back to that crazy shit".
"Alright, fair enough. Let's find something funny to lighten the mood, ok?"
She snuggled up with him and he was calmed to a point. It still unnerved him after everything he gave to this company, she had the nerve to dictate to him where he was going to work at.
~FLASHBACK~
2 days in the hospital after a heart attack and surgery wasn't fun times at all. Vince sent Stephanie and the PR team over to figure out how they were going to spin this without it being said it was a heart attack. Kamaria walked in with games and magazines.
"Listen, I got cards, uno, checkers, chess, like you requested, some car magazines, and the do it yourself home décor magazines. I don't know when….Oh sorry I didn't know", Kamaria said startled at the 7 people in Paul's room.
He waved at her but she could see he was annoyed. He wanted her to be there to distract him from the reality of no more wrestling or stressful activities. Stephanie gently took the pile of stuff from her, and then motioned for her to go outside with her.
"Let's talk".
"Ok".
"I know you are sleeping with my husband", she said walking down the hallway.
"Listen, I didn't plan for…"
"It's ok. We have an understanding. If we don't flaunt in public no harm, no foul. Here's the thing. This is family business, and we can't have you here. I do want to lay down some…..guidelines for you two, but it can wait until his out of the hospital, ok?"
Kamaria was confused. Normally this is where the fighting or the very least "stay away from my man" convos happen. No this woman literally said she knew and was ok, but wanted to give guidelines?
"Um ok".
"I'll have him call you, and thanks for stopping by. I gotta get back so we can plan this announcement. The ratings will be through the roof. May I can take time off to really play this all up", she said walking back towards the room.
Kamaria was in shock but began walking out to her rental. She texted him
"She knows".
"I told her".
"She also kicked me out the room".
"Now that I didn't think she was going to do. Hell I didn't expect them to show up here".
"Well she knows and wants to give guidelines?"
"Oh hell. I'll handle it. I want to ask you something, no pressure".
"Ok?"
"Would you mind camping out with me this week?"
"I thought you never ask".
"Come back around 7. I'm going into a private area of the hospital for my stay. We can be private for a while".
"Sir, no cheeks for you for the next 4 weeks. I heard the doctor".
"Doesn't mean I can't get you off thought".
"Really?!"
He laughed at her response. He was beginning to really second guess if this was the life he always wanted. Consistent people not thinking outside the box, and just a headache that included his wife sometimes. A picture of them popped up on his phone with the tag "The clerk sent this to me from our farm vacation".
He had on a hoodie and she had on overalls with a big hat. She was laughing at what he said and he was grinning really big.
"I bet if I pat you down you probably have fruit smuggled in places you shouldn't have them".
He laugh broke his thoughts. He didn't realize he was grinning so big until Kamaria said something.
"I didn't know Dick Van Dyke was so funny to you".
"No he is, but I was thinking about when I was in the hospital, and how much that meant to me. Especially the goofy picture you text to me. That's kinda when I began to really think about it all".
"Ahh. It was a weird time, and I definitely saw a change in you".
"Explain"
"You weren't so rigid. You let your guard down, and I liked it. I like it now".
"Thanks I guess?"
"No, It's not like you were a bad person. You just had Fort Knox around every part of you unless we were in private. Now, you just don't care. Folks can see the real you and I think that it's good for you".
"Alright. I get it, but it still irks me that she wants to dictate my life even after we get divorced".
"I'm warning you, especially when she finds out we want kids, it's going to get ugly".
"I know".