{Chapter 2}
A few days after meeting with Jackson Kennedy awoke to the sound of Cindy scolding someone. With a groan he slid out of bed and padded down the hall to the bathroom and chuckled when he heard Cindy smack her cousin upside the head. They bickered more like siblings at times and it amused him to no end.
He headed down the stairs moments later and was greeted by the sight of Jeff Hardy rubbing his head and his older brother Matt snickering at him. “Morning,” he called going to Cindy and kissing her softly.
“Ew,” Jeff scowled. “Could you not do that in front of me.”
“You want another slap,” Cindy said holding her hand up to him. He cowered away and shook his head no. “Sit down, honey, I’ll get you some breakfast.”
Kennedy took a seat next to Matt, who was still snickering over his cousin slapping Jeff upside the head. “So, what do you guys have in store for today,” Kennedy asked the brothers.
“We were just gonna hang out here,” Jeff said smiling brightly.
“Freeloading again, huh,” Kennedy said thanking Cindy when she set a plate of food and a cup of coffee in front of him.
Matt choked on his orange juice at Kennedy’s words and Jeff’s smile faltered. “That ain’t right, man,” Jeff said now pouting. “We’re practically family.”
“Do you see a ring on this finger,” Cindy demanded slapping Jeff upside the head again.
“OW! Cinder,” he whined. “Stop hitting me!”
“Yeah, he’s brain damaged enough,” Matt said snickering. “Seriously, though guys. It’s just a matter of time before the two of you get hitched. I mean you’ve been together forever.”
“Two years is forever,” Kennedy asked.
Before Matt could answer the phone rang. Cindy went to answer it. “Ken,” she said. “It’s Jackson.” She handed him the cordless and took a seat next to Jeff, who was still rubbing his sore head.
“Hey, Jackson,” Kennedy said taking the phone in the other room.
“What’s he talkin’ to Jackson about,” Matt asked.
“I told you guys Ken’s got a half sister out there somewhere right,” Cindy asked. The brothers nodded. “Jackson’s trying to track her down.”
“Well, he thinks he found her,” Kennedy declared setting the phone back on the base.
“That’s great,” Cindy said smiling. “When are you going to meet her?”
“He has to make sure, honey,” he said with a sigh. “He’s getting on a flight to New Jersey as we speak to investigate it. Janice Burroughs is deceased for three years now. Jackson found a listing for an Isabella Burroughs-Carter.”
“A hyphenated name,” Matt said. “Your little sis is married?”
“It’s a possibility,” Kennedy said. “Maybe I have a niece or nephew or both.” He smiled thinking of the possibilities. He couldn’t wait to meet his sister and her possible family. “I think I’m gonna head to the gym,” he announced. “I need to work off some of this excitement.
~*~
About a week later Jackson Douglas was back from New Jersey with some information on Isabella Burrough-Carter. “So, what did you find,” Kennedy asked.
“Your sister,” Jackson replied smiling. He handed Kennedy a manila envelope full of pictures. The woman in the pictures looked a lot like her mother. Her curls from the baby picture were gone. Her dark brown hair was now straight and just past her shoulders. She was slender and from what Kennedy could tell from the photo had a few tattoos. Perhaps she was a bit of a wild child.
“Great,” Kennedy said smiling looking over the pictures of his sister at her job in a diner, walking the street, food shopping and sitting in the park reading.
“Here’s her address,” Jackson said handing over the home address he had dug up as well as the address of the diner where she worked. “One more thing…she’s a bit feisty.”
Kennedy arched an eyebrow at Jackson. “What do you mean,” he asked, not sure he wanted to know.
“Well, a customer grabbed her ass while she was passing by in the diner and…well, I’d be surprised if she didn’t dislocate his arm,” Jackson replied with a smirk.
“Wow,” Kennedy said smirking. “Sounds like she’s got some of the Kennedy spunk in her.” Jackson nodded. “So, is she married? Does she have kids?”
“No and no,” Jackson replied handing over a copy of a marriage license dated seven years ago and a copy of a divorce decree dated two years later.
“So, she kept her married name,” Kennedy asked.
“Sometimes it’s just easier that way,” Jackson said shrugging. “Well, that’s all I could dig up on your sister. The rest is up to you, Ken.”
“Thanks a lot, Jackson,” Kennedy said shaking his hand.
“You won’t be thanking me when you get my bill,” Jackson chuckled as he left.
Cindy came home from grocery shopping then and saw the pictures on the table. “Is this Isabella,” she asked picking up the pictures and looking at them. Kennedy nodded smiling. “She’s beautiful.”
Kennedy looked at the calendar on the fridge and smiled wide. “I’ll be going back to work in a couple of days and we’ll be in Jersey for a house show,” he said. “This is perfect.”
“Ken,” Cindy said biting her bottom lip. “Don’t get your hopes up. She hasn’t known her father all her life…she may not be quite so receptive to you just barging into her life.”
“Everything will be fine,” he said kissing her temple. “I’m gonna go pack.” Cindy watched him walk away and sighed. She had the feeling he was in for a rude awakening when he went to meet Isabella.
~*~
A few days later Kennedy had checked in at his hotel and set out to find his sister. He found the diner easily and browsed the place spotting Isabella in the back taking an elderly couple’s order. With a smile he sat down at the counter as she headed back to place the order. She caught sight of him and smiled motioning that she’d be with him in a moment. He nodded and waited looking over the menu.
“Thanks for waiting,” she said sounding tired. “What can I get ya?” The tattoos from the photos were now crystal clear. On her left wrist she sported a bracelet of roses. On her right upper arm was a dove holding a banner in its beak that read Janice.
“I’ll have a burger, onion rings and a coke,” he said and looked at her name tag. “Would your last name happen to be Burroughs?”
“How’d you know,” she asked with a smirk as she jotted down the order.
“This is going to sound totally bizarre,” Kennedy began. “You see…up until a couple of weeks ago I had no idea who you were.”
“Dude, you’re starting to creep me out,” she said. “Get to the point or I’ll have Ralphie the chef boot your ass.”
“Right,” Kennedy said trying hard to compose his thoughts. “You’re my sister,” he finally blurted out.
“That’s it. I’m getting Ralphie,” she said heading toward the chef.
Kennedy grabbed her wrist. “Please, I know it sounds crazy. My father had an affair with your mother, Janice Burroughs. You were the result of that affair. You grew up never knowing him because…well…he did the shitty thing and went back to my mother instead of helping to raise you.”
Isabella yanked her hand free from him and glared at him, her hazel eyes darkening to a brown. “You expect me to believe that because your piece of shit father couldn’t keep his dick in his pants I’m your sister,” she demanded.
“Everything all right, Izzy,” Ralphie asked seeing that the blonde gentleman was angering her.
“Fine, Ralphie,” she replied. “This gentleman was just leaving.”
“Good,” Ralphie said casting a scathing look at Kennedy.
Kennedy saw the size of Ralphie and decided it was best if he didn’t provoke the bigger man. “I’m leaving,” he said. “Isabella, I’m sorry I angered you. Just…if we’re not related then how did I get this picture.” He took the picture of her and Janice out of his pocket and slid it across the counter toward her. With that he left.
Isabella picked up the picture and looked at it. It was a wallet sized of a photo that sat framed on her nightstand. She looked after Kennedy, who had disappeared outside. With a sigh she pocketed the picture and went back to waiting tables.
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