“The Ultimate Catalyst”

•June 17, 2018•
•11:00 PM•
•Habitat Residence Condo Hotel•
•Little Havana (Miami), FL•
•Camera:OFF•



In May of 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, sat in church listening to a Mother's Day sermon. She decided she wanted to designate a day for her dad, William Jackson Smart. Dodd's mother had died in childbirth, and Dodd's father, a Civil War veteran, had taken the responsibility of single-handedly raising the newborn and his other five children.

The following year, Dodd wanted to celebrate Father's Day on June 5th, her father's birthday, and petitioned for the holiday to be recognized in her city. Needing more time to arrange the festivities, Spokane’s mayor pushed the date back by two weeks, and the first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, according to the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau.

At the first Father's Day celebration, young women handed out red roses to their fathers during a church service, and large baskets full of roses were passed around, with attendees encouraged to pin on a rose in honor of their fathers – red for the living and white in memory of the deceased. Dodd then brought her infant son along on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city, bringing roses and gifts to home-bound fathers.

Thus the day commemorating fathers found its place in history. Fast forward 109 years, and we find Dead Eye and Cheyenne Rae in Miami, Florida, having similarly honored her father, Ernesto. The two have made similar trips to Miami since Cheyenne took leave in NGW, due to her mother taking ill.

The two have just finished getting dressed after taking a shower upon returning to their rented condo from said visit. Dead Eye can't help but notice that it seems that Cheyenne has seemingly had something on her mind, as she has been a bit nervous and sheepish a good portion of the evening.

He sits on a couch in the living room of the condo and pats the seat next to him, beckoning Chey to sit next to him. He drapes an arm over her shoulder, inviting her to a snuggle.

CJ: “Is everything okay, love? I couldn't help but notice that you have been a little…distracted…this evening. Is it summin with your moms?”

Chey: “My mom is doing a little better. That's not really what's on my mind right now though.”

Chey sits up. She stares in CJ's eyes and lets out a long sigh.

Chey: “I have something to tell you.”

It's his turn to let out a sigh. He does so and hangs his head slightly.

CJ: “I was wondering how long me being happy was going to last.”

Unfortunately, with all that has happened to him on a personal level, CJ immediately thinks the worst, not even knowing what he is to be told. His heart begins to beat 100 miles per hour as he faintly whispers.

CJ: “What is it?”

His head remains down, afraid to look into her eyes.

Chey lifts her hand and places it on his face, gently raising his head so that he is looking her in the eyes.

Chey: “It's not like that, you know I love you. It's just… This isn't so easy to say..”

While he feels slightly reassured and a little embarrassed that he automatically assumed it was bad news, he can't help but feel nervous — especially considering the effects whatever this is has had on Chey in recent hours.

CJ: “You got me nervous as hell, Chey…”

She lets out a small, though nervous, laugh.

Chey: “Well, since I'm not exactly sure how to say it… here.. Open this.”

Chey grabs a small white box from the drawer of the end table that sits next to the couch. Her hands are visibly shaking as she hands it to him.

Chey: “Just remember, I love you”

Chey smiles as CJ opens the box, revealing a very tiny article of clothing. He holds it up and realizes it's a baby onesie. The front of it reads “A dad is a son's first hero and a daughters first love: Happy Father's Day.”

He feels dumbfounded as he holds the tiny outfit in his hand. Why was she so nervous about showing him a gift that seems clearly for Avery.

CJ: “I'm lost. Is this for Ave?”

She shakes her head “no”.

CJ: “Wait...huh? I'm not…”

A proverbial light bulb turns on over his head.

CJ: “So…this says ‘Happy Father's Day, but I don't ha… WaWait… Are you…?”

Chey shakes her head “yes” and smiles nervously as she hands him a ziploc bag containing three pregnancy tests.

Chey: “After taking the first one, I wanted to be sure, so I took a second one. I was completely in shock, so took a third
test… all positive. So. What do you think?”

CJ takes a moment to take it all in. At first, he was thinking that doom was again on his horizon or that he may have inadvertently done something that upset her. He certainly wasn't expecting that this was what Chey was so nervous about. He finds himself zoning again.

CJ: “I'm sorry I'm being so quiet right now. I'm just honestly flabbergasted and don't know what to say. I'm not upset by any means, so please don't think that. I know you were nervous to tell me. I could see something written all over your face, but I couldn't quite read it. I honestly wasn't expecting this. Wow, I'ma be a father.”

A smile grows onto the face of James as he turns toward Cheyenne. He is at a loss of further words.

Chey: “Yep, so Happy Father's day, my love.”

Chey leans in to hug CJ. With her face resting against his chest, she takes a deep breath and says…

Chey: “So, is this a bad time to mention how completely terrified I am?”

He shakes his head.

CJ: “Absolutely not. I much prefer you be honest with me about stuff like this.”

He hugs her a little tighter.

CJ: “What scares you?”

Chey: "Well, for starters, I don't know the first thing about raising a child. It's easy when you're just watching someone else's, but when it's your own.... I'd imagine it's much more difficult."


Chey disengages from CJs tight hug. She grabs his hands in hers and looks down.

Chey: "And what about my career? I'm already taking time off because my mom got sick.. And now I'll be out much longer. I know this is good news and I am happy about it, even if it doesn't seem like it. I mean.."


Chey takes a long pause and CJ can tell she has so many things running through her mind.

Chey: "What if I can't do this? What if I screw it up?"


Chey looks up at CJ; she sees so much love in his eyes and in that moment she felt just a little bit of relief. He tilts her chin up.

CJ: “I know you're battling all kinds of emotions right now; I perfectly understand that. Let's just take this a day at a time. I'm sure we'll both have some struggles here and there, but I'm confident that we can figure them out together. About your career, I'm sure Devlin will understand. I'll talk to him about it before Dissension if you want. I had to take two years off, so this is definitely understandable. Once you have the baby...wow, those words.”

He stares off for a second day-dreaming.

CJ: “...then, we can work on getting you back in ring shape whenever you feel you are ready. You'll get no pressure from me. We're financially fine. Trust me on that. And, hey, I'm sure we'll both screw up at some point in this journey, but that's what makes us human. You'll be an amazing mother. I'm sure of it.”

Chey: "I know I'll learn things as I go.. I guess I'm just upset because.."


A tear rolls down her cheek, she covers her face as more start to fall.

Chey: "I'm sorry.. It's just.. My mom. She has way more bad days than good. She's the one I'd go to for advice, and the thought of her not being around for this..."

He wipes a tear with his thumb and proceeds to leave his hand on her jawline, leaning in for a soft kiss.

CJ: “Don't think that way. I know it's tough right now, but we have to have faith that she'll be fine. Remember, the darkest of that fear is over. She's back home now. Besides, you said she's a fighter. Man, I feel like I'm failing right now.”

He can't completely form the words as his heart goes out for the pain Chey feels in this moment of happiness. It all too well brings back the memories of his father passing, especially considering this is now his third Father's Day without Charles James, Sr. A silence enters.

Chey: "I know, babe. You're right. Here I am focusing on something that hasn't even happened, when we have good news. It is good news.. I mean.. I feel happy about it.


Chey sits back and thinks for a moment. She smiles and looks over at CJ.

Chey: "I know it's tough without your father, babe. But think about this for a second, if it's a boy.. He can carry on your father's name. Even if it's a girl, it can be as similar to his name as possible.

He smiles at that. He didn't say what was on his mind, but she seemed to know. The thought warms his heart. He wonders if what is now on his mind is too upfront and early.

CJ: “So, I um…been thinking about something for a few weeks, and even more so tonight…but I don't know if I wanna share. ”

It's his turn to be all sheepish and seemingly nervous.

Chey: "Well, babe. If it's on your mind.. You should talk to me about it. Your news surely cannot be as shocking as mine.”


Chey laughs a little, finally feeling relieved about the news she just delivered. CJ laughs, as well, the joke breaking the ice a little. He turns to completely face Chey and looks her in the eyes.

CJ: “I know we haven't known each other a long time. We have been together a few months now. In that time, we've spent a great deal of it together. Now, we're going to be parents, assuming all goes to plan. I know I've been a disaster personally my entire adult life.”

He sighs and has a grimace on his face momentarily feeling like a screw-up.

CJ: “That said, I can just feel what we share deep down in my soul. And, well, I can't believe I'm saying this, but uh… I been thinking about…our future…”

He pauses further thought to give her a chance to say something to get a feel for what she thinks about what he just mumbled and stuttered out.

Chey: "It's crazy to say we are going to be parents. Those words sound so amazing and terrifying all at the same time.”


She grabs his hands and the two interlock fingers.

Chey: "I think about our future too, babe. Like you said, we've only been together for a few months...but I feel such a deep connection with you.."


There is a short pause as Chey wonders what CJ is really wanting to say.

Chey: "So.. Was that all, babe?"

He issued a slight gulp and feels his face turn flush.

CJ: “Well, not quite, I guess. I just…”

He sighs and puts his head down for a moment. She kneels down in front of him and lifts his head. Looking him in the eyes and rubbing his face.

Chey: "I want you to say whatever it is that's on your mind. We may have only been together a few months but.. We are really great at communicating. We have to maintain this open and honest line of communication. You can tell me anything, my love.”


Chey pauses for a moment, unsure of what he's wanting to say.. Also unsure of why it seems difficult for him. She brings her face close to his, and kisses him so sweetly.. Softly biting his bottom lip. She moves away just a bit and smiles…

Chey: "So.. What is it.. That you wanted to say..?"

CJ: “You keep that up, and I won't remember a thing but ravaging you. I mean… Yeah, that's what I mean.”

He smirks.

CJ: “I suppose that's what got us here, huh? Anyway…”

He takes a deep breath.

CJ: “I don't have a fancy box with a shirt or anything, so gimme a second here to formulate what I'm tryna say…

“Okay, Chey… What I'm really trying to say is that I've been thinking...about the ‘m word’. There, I said it.”

He feels anxious and has a knot in his stomach. He doesn't really know how to process the past few days and is mentally at a loss...or maybe it's just jet lag catching up with him.

Chey: "I've thought about the 'm word' before too. I just don't bring it up because, well because I know you've been through a lot in the past.. In that department. So I just.. Don't talk about it I guess.."

CJ: “That's my hangup. I know this is different. I can feel that. But, I feel like I'm a screw-up. Like, is there something wrong with me? If I ask you to take that step with me, am I gonna fail all over again?”

A single tear slides down the face of CJ as he feels completely defeated and haunted by his past — the same past he's spent the entire weekend fighting to get over. Could doing so be the catalyst to overcoming his in-ring performance issues?

Chey pulls on CJ's arm getting him to stand up. She walks him over to a mirror on the wall.

Chey: "Babe, who do you see? I will tell you who I see. I see a man, who knows pain and sorrow. A man who knows love and has had to deal with loss. I see strength and courage. I see my child's father. A loving caring sensitive yet strong and fearless man. I see you CJ. And I love you. You are not a failure, you are simply human.”


In the moment, the two are standing there looking at each other, through the mirror hanging on the wall.

Chey: "You know in your heart, the right move to make. Your heart knows what it wants. The only question is.. Are you willing to follow your heart?”

The scene fades out.



Note: Father's Day history opener contains a section of an article on livescience.com.