71
The next morning, Candy waited outside the morning show curtain, ready to go on stage with the gossip show host, Lacey Love. Slade was standing next to her, checking to make sure his phone was off.
“What’s wrong, Sprinkles? You look nervous.”
“I just don’t feel good about this interview. The staff has been acting weird.”
“Well, babe, you look stunning. That beaded dress looks great on you. Don’t worry, baby; it’s just nerves. The crowd will love you.”
Colt ran his hands through his perfectly styled dark hair. “She’s right. I feel weird about this too. I hate these stupid gossip shows.”
The producer instructed them to get ready to go on and Candy looked over at Colt, confirming this didn’t feel right.
“And now we welcome on stage, the IWX bad boys of Retribution, Colt Wesson and Slade Logan. Escorted by their colorful sidekick, Candy. Let’s give them a warm welcome!”
The trio walked to the stage, boosting up the crowd and waving. As they settled into their seats, Lacey was smiling ear-to-ear. “I am so glad you’re all here. We love Retribution. Don’t we folks?”
All cheers came from the audience, and the crew smiled graciously.
“Now Candy. How has it been becoming part of this group of handsome men? Colt and Slade are both real eye-candy. No pun intended. It’s rumored that you and Slade are getting very cozy this last week. Can we assume the handcuffs have brought you two together? Should I get myself a pair of those cuffs to find a man?”
Slade shifted next to her, agreeing. “Well, Lacey. Candy and I are close.”
“So, can we confirm right now the couple's buzz is true?”
Candy looked at Slade, and he reached over, taking her hand. “Yes. We are seeing each other, but it’s very new. We’re still getting to know each other. This charity project has brought us close and helped up to learn a lot about each other. Candy is amazing and I am a lucky man to spend this time with her. I’m also honored we can raise some money for a noble cause.”
The crowd cooed at the sentiment. Looking into her eyes, he smiled sweetly.
“That’s wonderful. Candy. I understand that the charity chosen is childhood leukemia in honor of your brother who passed earlier this year.”
“Yes. Tyler was a great kid. He loved wrestling, and I’m honored that the IWX roster all agreed to this charity. It’s a great way to remember him.”
Colt spoke up, patting her knee. “Candy is a wonderful person and all of IWX love her. If we can help even just one child in her brother’s honor, we’re glad to do it.”
Lacey leaned in, placing her fist under her chin as if listening closely. “This past week hasn’t come without its issues though, has it? Is it difficult being tethered together?”
Nudging Slade, Colt said, “It’s been entertaining for the rest of us.”
Slade blushed. “It took some getting used to, but we’ve figured it out.”
“Well, you haven’t tethered together the whole time. Correct?”
Candy could feel the lady was getting at something, and it couldn’t be good. “Well, no. We have an hour in the morning and thirty minutes in the evening for personal time; training, showering, and changing clothes. That sort of thing.”
“Cameras caught you photographed recently on the street with no cuffs. Here’s the photo. Are we to believe that you are wearing them all the time?”
The photo showed behind the interviewer on a monitor as Lacey said, “It shows you here alone, and later Slade joins you. You’re crying.”
Slade realized what was coming. “We’re allowed time in the ring every day for training. That was right before we were heading into the arena. I have a big match coming up. The challenge allowed us that time to be apart. Safety in the ring is crucial.”
“But you weren’t in the arena. In fact, they arrested a man for breaking into an IWX tour bus. That man was James Marco. Candy’s stepfather. The reason you were crying, Candy. What happened?”
“Ex-step-father. I’d rather not discuss that.” Candy crossed her arms in annoyance with a tick.
“We did some digging, and this man has affiliations with the mob and several illegal entities. We believe he involved your mother in some of those things. She’s now in a mental health facility. Isn’t that correct?”
Slade got angry and Colt was feeling it, too. He was ready to pull both his friends off the stage.
Candy rose in her seat. “My mother is terribly ill. James was a monster who destroyed our family, and he deserves to be in prison for the vile things that man has done to her and others.”
Colt spoke up, almost growling at the woman. “This is not why we’re here. If you have nothing to say about the upcoming Summer Mayhem show, then we’re done here.”
Lacey batted her lashes with a fake smile. “We’re getting to the point. I promise. We have her best interest in mind.”
Slade snarled, saying, “Get to the point.”
“Candy, a man who has a very vested interest in your safety contacted us. Someone you thought to be long gone. He’s been searching for you for years and contacted us when he heard the news that they arrested James Marco, who was quickly released from jail. We have someone that you may remember on the video feed. He would very much like to speak to you.”
Candy seemed confused. Who would contact her? “What are you talking about?”
Lacey said in a perky tone, clasping her hands to her heart like she was expecting some grand reunion. “Your birth father, Kevin Smith!”
The man’s face appeared on the screen. A large body build, with a full beard and a bald head. He looked older, but it was clear it was him.
“Daddy?” Candy’s entire body shook from shock as reached out for Slade’s hand.
“Candy. My Pumpkin.”
Candy stood and started crying while watching the monitor. Shocked, Candy almost fell to the floor as she grabbed her mouth to avoid the screams that were threatening to escape her.
Slade had enough of the melodrama and rushed her off the set, trying to protect her.
Colt stood, ripping the wireless microphone from him, and leaned to look Lacey in the eyes. “This interview is over.”
“Please. I need to see her. Please let her know I’ve been searching for her and her mother,” Kevin pleaded.
“Tell it to this hag. If you gave a shit, you wouldn’t have walked out on your family, you piece of shit.” Colt walked offstage, leaving Lacy with her mouth gaped open, surprised that her guest just walked off set.
Kevin dropped his head as Lacey waved her hands dramatically, calling for a commercial break. Backstage, the producers were trying to convince Candy to go back on stage. She was hysterical and crying into Slade’s chest.
He held her to his chest, waving them away. “We’re leaving. Tell your host the interview is over.”
The producer handed Slade a manila envelope with a genuinely apologetic sigh. “Take this. It’s her father’s contact information, in case she changes her mind.”
Slade ripped it from his hand. “Come on, Sprinkles. Let’s get you out of here.”
“Daddy? Slade? What’s going on?”
“We’ll figure this out. You don’t have to go back out there. If you want to talk to him, it’s going to be on your terms. Not for some gossip show ratings.”
Candy agreed as he guided her from the building.
***
Sitting in a coffee shop, Candy just swirled her spoon in her coffee cup until it was cold. Slade and Colt didn’t know what to say to console her, so they sat quietly until she was ready to talk.
After some time, she finally spoke up. “I remember when he left. We were happy until then. Daddy had been gone for a week. He was always gone. My mom had been leaving me alone a lot to go work at the local grocery store. That wasn’t normal for her to leave me, but she couldn’t afford a babysitter. I don’t think Daddy knew she would leave me alone.’
‘The first time I saw James, he was with my mom. He seemed aggressive and my mom looked scared of him. I saw it right off. He said my dad left for good and wasn’t coming back. There was this woman there with them. She said she was my Aunt Claire. She told Mom to get packed and to stop crying. She was pleading with them to leave us alone. The lady told my mom they were going to take her somewhere to make her work off her debt, but I was too young to understand what they meant. They made me believe Daddy didn’t want us anymore.”
“I thought she didn’t marry James until you were a teenager?” Slade asked, rubbing her back in slow, calming circles.
“She didn’t. She wouldn’t divorce my dad, and it took a long time for her to file the paperwork. James finally forced her to. He had been putting her on the streets from day one. They took us to Chicago and said she had to earn her keep. Then, we moved to Florida. That’s when she got pregnant. We were from Colorado originally. I remember my mom was so afraid of him. She cried all the time and James said she was crazy.”
Colt sat up in his seat. “What was your dad like?”
“He loved us but was sick. I think he cheated on my mom and was an alcoholic or something. He left us alone a lot.”
“You said he was sick?”
“Yes. I think Mom said sick because who would want to tell their kid their dad is a drunk.” Candy sighed. “I remember one day he shaved his head. I hated it, but I didn’t tell him because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I cried myself to sleep that night, thinking maybe he was sick.”
Colt looked at Slade, thinking, tapping his thumb on his coffee cup. “Something doesn’t add up. Why would your mom move away if it were normal for your dad to leave regularly? Slade’s dad was in and out for work. Maybe he was doing something you didn’t know about.”
“I don’t know. He wasn’t missing that much before. It only started about a year before James came into the picture.”
Slade realized what Colt was thinking. “Babe, was it the same time he supposedly got sick? You said you never saw him drunk. I’m a recovering addict and hiding drinking is possible, but the signs are still there.”
“Yes. It was at the same time. Are you saying maybe he was sick?”
Colt shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t see a happy family man just walking away out of the blue.”
Slade interjected, “The only way you’re going to get answers, is from him. Your mom isn’t in the mental state to tell you what happened.”
Candy took a deep breath. “Can I think about it?”
Slade kissed her temple, saying, “Take your time. This is for you to decide.”
Colt agreed. “We’re here for ya, Candy girl. Whatever happens, you’re our family now. We’ll support you.”
“I don’t know what I would do without you guys. To think we were enemies at first and now you’re like my rock. Thank you.”
“No need to thank us. We got your back.”
