73
At the hotel, Candy was waiting for Slade to get changed so they could head to the opening ceremonies and press conferences. Colt was going to be back any second to cuff them up and head to the arena.
With phone in hand, Candy took the time alone to call the nursing facility, needing to hear if her mom was okay.
“Candy, how are you? We’re having a showing party here for your first big pay-per-view. All the residents are excited.”
“That’s great, Dr. Olson. How’s Mom?”
“I’m heading to her room now. She’s been in good spirits the last few days. We had a brief response yesterday, and this morning she ate on her own without help. She had a visitor and after they left, she seemed to be calm and more responsive.”
“A visitor?” Candy asked, worried about who it could be.
“Yes. A bald man with a beard. He was a handsome man and looked like a bodybuilder. He seemed nice and stayed with her for a long time, just holding her hand and talking to her. It’s funny. He brought the same flowers you always do.”
“Pink carnations?”
“Yes. He seemed to know all her favorites. He even brought her favorite snack.”
“Pink Starburst. Her favorite. Mine too.”
“Yes. You both are so much alike.”
“Did he say his name?”
“No. I’m sorry. We thought she knew him because she smiled several times while he was here. I had the nurses check on them often. I didn’t want to risk that he was with your stepfather.”
“Can I talk to her?”
“Sure. Let me put up the video feed.”
The phone’s camera came on and Candy saw her mother sitting by a window, holding a flower to her heart.
“Sophie. Candy wants to talk with you.” The doctor put the cell phone in front of her mother.
Sophie looked over and looked at the phone, giving a slight smile.
“Mommy, did Daddy come to see you?”
Sophie smiled, and even the corner of her eyes perked up.
“He did. Didn’t he? Mommy, I need you to try. Try to talk to me. I need you to tell me what happened to Daddy. Why did he leave?”
Sophie looked away, and a tear fell down her cheek. “Children don’t need to worry about these things, Candy cane.” Just like her father used to tell her.
Candy blinked, thinking she imagined it. Her mother spoke.
“Mom, talk to me. What happened to Daddy? Was he sick?”
Sophie shook her head and shut down again.
“Damn it! Mom. Stop this. Tell me, so I can help you.”
The doctor turned the camera to her. “She’s shutting down again. I’m so sorry, Candy.”
“Why is she doing this?”
Slade walked out of the restroom and had heard everything. He went over and touched Candy’s hand. “Babe. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. It’s never okay.”
Candy threw her phone across the room, making it bounce off the wall. Slade went and took the phone and ended the call with the doctor.
Sitting down on the bed, she held her head in her hands, feeling helpless. “I’m leaving after the show. I can’t stay here anymore. She needs me. I need to find out what is going on.”
Slade sat down and took her hand in his. “I’ll go with you.”
“No. I have to do this alone.”
The words stung as if she stabbed him in the gut. He pulled his hand away, unsure where this would lead.
“Candy? What are we doing here? Is it all just sex? I thought we were in this together, but it seems the only thing we agree on is the sex. I want a real relationship with you, but you keep turning me away. You won’t talk to me about anything. I want to help, but if you keep shutting me out, I can’t. What can I do to help you?”
“Slade, I’m sorry. I am. I care about you, but this is all I can offer right now. I want a relationship too, but it’s not the right time. I can’t bring you into this. You don’t know what James is capable of. I think my dad had something to do with all of this. I need to figure this out on my own. I won’t let James hurt the one good thing in my life.”
Kneeling in front of her, he took her hands in his. “And what’s that?”
“You. You are the only good in my life.”
“You are in mine, too. Please, Candy. Let me help you.”
She leaned over, resting her forehead on his. “If you want to help, just let me do this on my own.”
“I won’t let you put yourself at risk. You mean too much to me.”
She sighed, knowing he wouldn’t let her go. His loyalty would force her to walk away without saying goodbye. It left her with the only option but to leave when Slade was least expecting it. If not, he would follow her, and it would put Slade in danger, too. She knew what she had to do and hated herself for it.
“Okay. Let me think about it. Let’s just enjoy the weekend. Mom is safe, and that’s what matters.”
“That’s my girl.” He sat up, kissing her on the top of the head. “Let’s get this media stuff over, and we’ll invite all our friends for dinner. We used to do it all the time. I think you need some fun time.”
“That sounds great. Let’s do it.”
***
At dinner, all their friends were there. Candy watched the long table of the people who had become her new family, laughing and enjoying each others’ company. It was nice watching her friends who were now engaged; Isis and Gage, Sahara and Drake, now even Nick and Jenna seemed to be getting cozy. She wanted to have that with Slade. A genuine relationship. Maybe even love and a family.
She watched Gage and Isis looking lovingly into each other's eyes. Only a few weeks ago they were fighting like cats and dogs; just like her and Slade. Just a few days before Gage confessed, they were officially engaged to the whole roster. To Candy’s surprise, Isis’s cousins, Wraith and Cyrus, were happy for them.
She wondered if things were different, would her father approve of Slade? The thought made her heart hurt. She shouldn’t care about the man who walked out on their family, but deep down, it mattered.
She had so many unanswered questions. Sophie seemed to respond to her father positively. She even spoke to Candy for the first time in months. It was then she realized she needed to talk to her father to get the answers she sought. They were in her hometown for the big event. Maybe he was here, too, and she could get genuine answers to her past. Come Monday, that was exactly what she planned to do.
Slade reached over to take her hand, and when she looked over, she found him watching Gage and Isis. Glancing back at her, he squeezed her hand. Maybe he was thinking the same thing she was. They wanted the same deep love that her friends had.
“They look happy.” Slade smiled while cuddling up to the pink-haired woman at his side.
“They do. Do you believe it’s possible for that to last?”
“Being happy?”
“Yes. With... each other? Or is divorce and heartache inevitable?”
Slade’s smile wavered. “I believe if you truly love someone, it’s forever. If you want to make it work, it will.”
“And love? Do you think that’s real?”
Slade reached up and tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear. “I do.”
Candy looked into his eyes for what seemed like forever as he ran his finger down her cheek, wiping away a tear she didn’t realize she had shed.
“You can trust me, Candy. I hope you know that.”
“I know.” She laid her head on his shoulder, watching the other couples at the table.
Leaving was going to be harder than she expected.
