A/N- This one is really short. I am sorry, but I needed to get this one in before I added the next chapter. If I would have combined them, it would have been way too long. I think this way is better.
Jess simply stared at him.
Was he serious?
How did he know?
Who told him?
Was he mad?
Many questions were swimming through her mind all at once. She really didn't know what to say to him. Should she lie? Should she tell him the truth? She didn't know how he would react. Did he already tell Maddie he was her father? She didn't think so, because Maddie didn't mention it.
"I'll take your silence as a no. You were never planning on telling me." Randy broke the silence. His tone was accusing, and Jess knew there was no getting out of this.
"Who said she was yours, Randy? I don't remember ever mentioning it." But she would certainly try getting out of it.
"She's mine, Jess. Drop the act. She's a splitting image of me."
"That....no...she is not!"
"You told me you weren't able to have kids."
"Randy..."
"No. You lied to me Jess. You had a child and never told me! I think I had a right to know!" She was taking a guess, but she'd say yes, he was mad.
"I just wanted a child. You were never supposed to know. I didn't think you'd ever be back to this town." Jess finally admitted.
"That is no excuse."
"My fiance at the time couldn't conceive." She tried to explain.
"So you used me?"
"Yeah, I suppose you could call it that. But I got out of it the one thing I always wanted."
"And what did I get out of it?" Randy asked. He couldn't help but be angry at the woman sitting in front of him.
"A daughter." Jess replied, softly.
"One I didn't even know about."
"Could we not talk about this in front of Maddie?"
"What? You don't want her to know I'm her father? Please don't tell me she calls your husband dad."
"I don't have a husband. I told Corey what I did and he left me. I raise her alone."
"Then why can't she know who I am?"
"She can. I just...I need time to break it to her."
"Jess..."
"Randy, she has went six years thinking she didn't have a father. I can't just say 'Hey Maddie, this is Randy, he's your dad'. I'll tell her though, I promise."
"Does she watch wrestling?" Randy asked, hopeful.
"No. I don't allow her to. For obvious reasons."
"I see."
"Listen, Randy. I need to know if you are actually going to be a part of her life. I'm not going to get her hopes up and watch you crush them."
"I wouldn't do that. I want to get to know her. I want to help you raise her. You shouldn't do it alone." Jess was silent again. She didn't know how she felt about that.
"You won't try and take her from me, right?" That was her biggest fear.
"No, of course not. I just want to see her whenever I can. On days off. After awhile, maybe she can even come and stay in St. Louis with me for a few days. You could come, too." Jess nodded. They'd cross that bridge later.
Maddie returned a few seconds later, so the conversation had stopped. Randy observed her for a few moments. Yeah, there was no doubt she was an Orton. They each ordered desert, and ate in relative silence, with Maddie making most of the talk. Randy paid and walked them out of the restaurant.
"Where are you parked? I'll walk you." Jess pointed and the three walked over. Jess put Maddie in the car, and shut the door.
"Thanks for the meal. Maddie certainly loved you."
"Do you think I could see her tomorrow? It's my last day in town."
"Yeah, sure."
"Maybe we can tell her together who I am." Randy suggested.
"Sounds good."
"Here's my cell number. Call me tomorrow and we'll set something up." Randy wrote his number down and handed it to her. He turned to walk away when she stopped him.
"Randy, there's something you should know." Jess hesitated, but knew she had to tell him.
"What? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, but now that you know you have a daughter, you should know something else, too."
"What?" Randy waited patiently for her to answer.
"Maddie has a twin brother."