Back in Atlanta, Total Body Fitness received a new visitor to the center. Tanya Fulton, the gold-digging witch that wrecked Sean's life several years ago, just waltzed in like she owned the place. Upon entering she spied Jared at the front desk filling in for April as she'd gone to lunch.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jared asked with a sneer giving Tanya the once over. He guessed he couldn't blame his friend for falling for Tanya. She was beautiful at 5'10 in her stocking feet. She always wore four inch heels which put her well over six feet tall. Tanya was bright skinned with honey blond hair that flowed past her shoulders and she always looked like she just stepped off a runway. She was slim with big boobs like the playboy bunny types, only her boobs were not real; Jared guessed some guys liked the slightly over anorexic look but not him.
"Well hello to you too, Jare. Where is Lover Boy, I need to talk to him?" Tanya asked with her usual sickening sweet whiny voice.
"He not here, he's away on business. And before you ask I don't know when he will be back so why don't you go crawl back under the rock you slithered from under like a good little snake," Jared replied.
"Oh Jared I do so miss your sense of humor, darling. Now why don't you tell me where my man is and I'll be sure Sean thanks you when we get back from our honeymoon," Tanya saucily replied.
"Haha," Jared laughed. "Now, I know, you have lost your damn mind, Lady. You need to get out of here before I call the men with the little white coats to come collect you."
"Oh Jared, don't be so droll. Where is Sean? It's urgent, I need to speak to him pronto. It's about Gabrielle she's sick and I need his help," Tanya quickly replied.
"What does that have to do with Sean, she isn't his kid?" Jared replied heatedly.
"Whatever Jared, just tell Sean I need to speak to him. He can contact me here this is where I'll be staying," Tanya responded pulling a card out of her handbag and passing it to Jared. Then she turned on her heels and sashayed out of the center.
Jared shook his head as he watched her leave then looked down at the card that read Children's HealthCare of Atlanta Pediatric Hospital. 'Damn this can't be good, Tanya back in town and now the kid is sick. What the hell does she need with Sean? He has got enough going on right now with Rachel and the baby now this. I better let him know Tanya is back before he gets home.' With that last thought Jared pocketed the card Tanya gave him and headed back to his office as April returned from lunch. The first thing Jared did was call Sean at his Mom's place in South Carolina where he'd been holed up doing some much-needed soul searching for the last four weeks.
"Hey, Jared, how are things going in the ATL?" Sean asked
"Things are hot here in Hotlanta," Jared replied drily
"Uh oh, that doesn't sound good what's up? Is Rachel alright?" Sean asked immediately concerned now at Jared's tone of voice.
"No Man, nothing like that. I haven't seen Rachel since her little fainting spell a few weeks ago, but Dana said her doctor told her the baby is fine. She just needs to take it easy on the workouts for a few days. So, you don't need to worry about her," Jared said.
"Damn, Man you had me worried, I have been trying to get up the nerve to call her but I still have some stuff to work out in my head first. This whole thing has me tied in knots. I miss her, Jar I want to pick up the phone and tell her everything she wants to hear but…." Sean trailed off.
"Look Sean when are you going to stop fooling yourself Man, you are crazy about that woman. Everybody can see it but you and Rachel. Hell, I suspected it the first time I caught you watching her workout. However, I knew it the night I stumbled across you two leaving the Jacuzzi room. Man you almost tore into me for daring to look her way when she was trying to pull her clothes back on. That's the same way I feel about Dana when another man looks her way. Face it, and stop fighting it before you lose her, Sean," Jare stated.
"Besides you need to get your ass back here before Tanya starts making trouble," Jared revealed.
"What?!" Sean exploded.
"Yeah, you heard me Man, Tanya is back and she showed up asking for Lover Boy. Spouting off something about you thanking me after your honeymoon for telling her where you were," Jare responded.
"You didn't tell her where I was did you," Sean asked.
"Hell no, I know you don't want nothing to do with that skank, however, she said something about the kid being sick and needing your help. She gave me a card with the number to reach her. Sean the card is from the Children's HealthCare of Atlanta Pediatric Hospital, she said she is staying there so this could be serious Man," Jared replied.
"Damn what does her sick kid have to do with me, that paternity test proved I was not the father of her child so what is she trying to do, Jare?" Sean asked.
"I don't know but I don't like her hanging around the center. I mean, what if she'd run into Rachel or something? Everyone here knows about you and Rachel being a couple since you've been spending so much time together. It wouldn't take Tanya long to stir up trouble. Maybe you better get home pronto and handle your business with Rachel before Tanya sharpens her claws on her," Jared suggested.
"Yeah, you're right Jare, I'm packing tonight I'll leave tomorrow morning. I should be home by tomorrow afternoon the drive should give me some time to think about how to fix things with Rachel," Sean said.
"Well, if you ask me, your dilemma is easily solved, just tell Rachel you love her and put a ring on her finger before you lose her. Now hurry back and I'll see you tomorrow," Jared said before ringing off.
"Yeah, easier said than done, bye, Jared, see you tomorrow," Sean said and hung up the phone.
"What the hell could Tanya be up to now? Man, I miss Rachel; I hope she and the baby are ok. Tanya better stay away from my woman or she will answer to me. My woman? Who the hell am I kidding? I love Rachel. She's had my heart since I first laid eyes on her. I've known it from the start I just didn't want to admit it. She has had me behaving like a love sick school boy since day one. Now why didn't I just tell her that and ask her to marry me, instead of acting like she was some kind of charity obligation? Instead I act like I am doing her a favor by offering to marry her and give our baby my name. I wonder what her nephew D.J. would say to me now. He'd probably say, "Man, I told you not to hurt my Auntie. I told you to leave her alone if you weren't serious. Now look what you've done, you got my Aunt knocked up and you can't even tell her you love her…real smart. Way to go. Panther my ass, you are more like a pansy." And he would be right. I am my fathers' son and the child Rachel is carrying is a Grayson. This child will not grow up without his father. I'm going to make damn sure Rachel knows I love her and our baby.' With his issues finally resolve Sean packed his bag to be ready for his road trip tomorrow; then went to tell his mother the good news.