Chapter 32
Cody was stunned. He never thought he would hear those words come out of Jenna's mouth. "I'm sorry, Jen, can you repeat that? Did you just say that you changed your mind and that you want me back?" he asked softly, still not believing that she had just said that.
Jenna nodded. "Cody, I am so sorry for everything that happened. I'm sorry for leaving you in the first place, I'm sorry for taking off and not calling for so many years, I'm sorry for asking for a divorce in the first place and for acting like such a bitch towards you, I'm sorry for everything that happened with Randy..." she trailed off, noticing the anger starting to show in his face when she mentioned Randy's name.
"I know you're sorry, Jenna, and I forgive you for everything. But the shit that happened with Randy...I just don't know about that. He was one of my best friends and you slept with him. I don't know how we're going to move past that."
"All I can say is that I'm sorry and hope that you can look past this and give us another chance, Cody," she whispered, covering his hand with hers.
"How do I know you're not going to take off on me again in the middle of the night? I missed you so much when you left and I had no idea what I did wrong to make you leave me like you did. I thought you just decided that you didn't love me anymore. Do you have any idea how long I carried that hurt around, Jen?"
"I didn't want to Cody, we've been over this. And I can apologize until I'm blue in the face, but we can't change the past. We just have to try and move forward. I am really, really sorry for everything. But if you don't think you can get past this, then I guess I'll file the papers when I get home and then we'll be done; but I thought we could at least talk about giving it another chance. I love you." She was holding tears back at this point, willing them to not escape her eyes and roll down her cheeks. If he decided that he couldn't love her anymore, she didn't want him to see her cry anymore.
For the first time in a long time, Cody saw her. He saw the beautiful girl he had fallen in love with in high school. She had haunted his dreams every night that she was away from him. He would be a fool to not take her back."Let's go home, Jenna," Cody said softly. She nodded and stood up, taking his hand in hers as they walked out together. They left her car there are drove back to his house across town, silently reflecting on what had just happened. What did just happen, Jenna wondered to herself. She couldn't believe Cody was being so agreeable right now. She shrugged that nagging feeling off as she noticed that Cody had placed his right hand on her thigh. She smiled, thinking that maybe everything was going to turn out for them.
They made it back to his house, Jenna followed Cody up the steps. He unlocked the door and ushered her inside. She stood awkwardly in his living room, not sure what to do right now. He shut the door behind her and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He started nuzzling her neck, "I love you, Jen."
"I love you too, Cody. I'm sorry that it took me so long to realize it again. I don't want to be away from you anymore," she whispered as his arms gripped her waist tighter and he placed gently kisses on her neck.
Maybe I didn't treat you Quite as good as I should have Maybe I didn't love you Quite as often as I could have Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time You were always on my mind You were always on my mind
Jenna broke away from Cody and walked over to the couch, setting her purse down and taking something out. Cody's eyes widened as he realized that it was the divorce papers. She handed them to over to him. As he held them in his hands, their life together flashed by in his mind. From teasing her in junior high, from going to their first homecoming dance together, the junior prom, dancing in the high school gym, moving in slow circles. From Friday night dates at the local movie theater, sitting in the back row, kissing instead of watching the movie. From parking on a gravel road on a dark night and getting tangled up in each others arms. From their senior prom, finding out they were expecting a baby, getting married in the middle of the night. From moving to Atlanta and living their love story together. From losing their baby, to the nasty arguments, from the hurtful words, From her leaving him to him wondering what he had done so wrong, to finally hearing from her after so long. From him refusing to sign the divorce papers, to her being on the road with him, to sleeping next to each other after so long. From the fights and arguments that started because of Randy and because of the unspoken hurt between them. This was them, he thought as he looked down at the divorce papers.
Tell me, tell me that your sweet love hasn't died Give me, give me one more chance To keep you satisfied, satisfied Maybe I didn't hold you All those lonely, lonely times And I guess I never told you I'm so happy that you're mine If I make you feel second best Girl, I'm sorry I was blind You were always on my mind You were always on my mind
She was sorry, she didn't want to hurt him; that's what he had been waiting to hear, that she still loved him and wanted to give them another chance. He took the papers out of the envelope, as she watched him, her brown eyes wide with anxiety, hoping he did the right thing. Her heart started beating again when he ripped the papers in half and dropped them to the ground. He pulled her close to him and kissed her gently on the mouth, reclaiming her as his wife.
Tell me, tell me that your sweet love hasn't died Give me, give me one more chance To keep you satisfied, satisfied
Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time You were always on my mind You are always on my mind You are always on my mind
Cody let go of her and took something out of his pocket. He reached for her left hand and slipped it on her ring finger. It was her wedding band. "Why do you keep this in your pocket?" she whispered as she looked down at her hand.
"I did what felt right." Jenna smiled as she remembered her mom telling her to do just that when it came to Cody.
"It does feel right, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, baby it does. Let's go to bed..." he trailed off, taking her by the hand and leading her upstairs.
Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. ~Henry Van Dyke
**Epilogue**
Jenna moved back to Atlanta three weeks after Cody ripped up the divorce papers that night. It had been a wild ride so far, and she was looking forward to the journey ahead for the couple. Jim and Alice learned of their reunion at their anniversary party the next night. Jim was surprised; Alice held back a smile as she watched her only daughter hold onto Cody's hand while they enjoyed the party. She knew her daughter would eventually do the right thing—let herself love him again.
Cody continued traveling with the WWE while Jenna started doing some freelance writing for a magazine in Atlanta, watching Cody live his dream. This time she made sure to be there with him every step of the way. As both of their careers flourished, one thing still felt like it was missing. After trying for several months, they learned of a blessing coming their way. For the first time, Jenna was able to let go of the feelings of regret and sorrow she had been holding onto and let herself love this little person growing inside of her. If Cody was in love before, he was absolutely smitten with Jenna now, watching her glow with their unborn child growing inside of her. They named their blessing Amanda Sue; she was a perfect little baby girl with dark hair like her father and dark brown eyes like her mother.
Through trials and tribulations, true love prevailed. Sometimes you just need to do what feels right.
The end
A/N: That's it. That's the end. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. I hope the ending is good for everyone. I knew eventually that they would get back together, it was just how to wrap it all up.