Jenny pressed a hand to her aching back as she stood up and stretched. They'd moved almost everything out of her house and into the container.
Jeff and Charlie assured her they'd be moving the stove, fridge, washer and dryer. They were old appliances but they worked and she was fond of them. The water heater could stay, the one in her trailer was fantastic.
She wiped her face with an old microfiber cloth, sticking it back in her pocket. Thank God she had her sweatbands. She'd worn one for moving day. Charlie had taken one look at her and asked for one himself. He looked pretty cute, his blonde hair damp with sweat, sticking up everywhere. The headband circled his lightly freckled face, and he wore and old t-shirt and knit cotton shorts.
He had a light spicy fragrance but nothing strong. He must have remembered her migraines; they could be triggered, or aggravated, by a strong fragrance. Some of the guys at work were like to kill her, at least until Mr Jackson had a talk.
She asked Charlie about it, and he blushed lightly as he admitted "It's my deodorant". Jennie grinned. "Thanks for wearing it!" She was feeling a little daring today. She sniffed her own armpit. "Whew! Holding on!" Charlie snorted.
Jennie adjusted her own oversized t-shirt, pulling at the sleeves nervously. She was always so shy about her scars. I think I'd rather take off my bra than show my arms in public she thought. I'd rather go naked than show my back. She shivered. Carl had done a lot of damage to her back, but he'd also liked to use her arms as his ashtray. He'd snicker as she squirmed and cried. Once, he'd broken her arm.
The apathetic ER doctor had taken one look at her X-rays, another at her arms and back, and taken her off "For testing". He'd kept her away from Carl and her aunt until a kindly woman had asked her some questions about "touching." Horrified, the caseworker and doctor had immediately called the police.
"I'm not losing another one." the doctor'd stated grimly. It had taken her a while to understand what he meant. That poor man.
Jenny idly wondered how long Carl might have "had" her if he hadn't broken her arm while raping her. His loss, and now he was burning in hell.
She shook it off and turned to the task at hand. The container was burning up. That was a problem.
"Uh, Charlie?" Charlie turned to her, stretching his own back and sighing happily.
"I'm so glad you don't have a lot of junk."
She smiled at him. "I watch that hoarder show. I'm very careful what I buy when I'm manic. I also try to purge when I'm manic." He grinned approval. She might be messy, but you could get around. He'd watched that show himself.
"I have a problem." she continued. "I have some, ah.. supplies." He watched her intently. "Stuff that needs room temperature." He nodded. "Can you help me figure something out?" This had been bothering her for days. She had a disaster kit because she knew, better than most, how quickly a life could change.
Charlie pointed over the back fence, topped with round spirals of razor wire. "What's that?" She thought a moment. "A storage unit."
Charlie nodded. "Climate control?"
Jenny shrugged. "Let's go take a walk."
Sure enough, they did have climate control units. Jenny walked into a 5x5 and smiled approvingly. The air was nice and mild, perfect for her food storage. At least until she got something else..
The clerk, an older black lady, asked for her information and she gave it. Charlie stood behind her and pulled a credit card out of his wallet, winking at the clerk.
Jenny giggled as she realized the lady had picked her roses, growing through the fence. "I love these roses!" The clerk sighed and took a deep whiff of the beautiful red and white blooms.
"So do I. They grow through the fence. I'd love to meet the woman who lives there!" Jenny began to giggle.
"Why's that?"
"I want to know what this is so I can grow it in my yard."
"It's a Cramoisi Superieur" Jenny answered absently.
"Really? Does it come in a bush?" Jenny nodded and shared some information on the roses, writing down a few websites.
The clerk, wearing a company uniform of slacks and polo, leaned back in her desk chair. "I'm so glad you came by. I'm giving you two month's rent free."
Jenny gaped. "You live back there, right? You must be having some problems with your home. I saw the trailer, all the moving, etc. You were nice enough to plant the roses. You came by and answered all my questions. You're only getting a 5x5. I'm the owner; this is a franchise. I can do what I want." Jenny teared up a little - she hated that she showed emotion so easily.
The older woman, her brown skin gleaming, leaned over and put a kindly hand on Jenny's scarred arm. "You've had a hard life. Do you know Jesus?"
Jenny nodded. "So, you know Him and you have this fine man here."
Charlie spoke up, stepping behind her and putting his left hand on Jenny's shoulder, showing his wedding ring.
"Her husband... I got a little lost but I'm back."
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Chapter 41
Jenny always turned her phone off at work. She'd seen at least a dozen people fired for texting on the job. Mr. Jackson was a very tolerant boss, Jenny felt, but he wanted his people to work. She took it out of her locker, flipping it open and closed, finally turning it on.
She had 3 messages from Mr.Jones. She called him back. "Hey, sweetheart!" he caroled "I found something great for you. It's a nice horse trailer with a water trough. You can put hay on the floor when you need to..." Jenny howled with laughter. "Actually, I found something a little better than that, but I need you to make a promise. You have to take it. I know you hate to accept anything, from anyone. You don't even take a disability check. But I want you to take this, OK?" Jenny wondered just what he'd gotten her, and was silent a moment. "Why are you doing this?"
Jack Jones, JJ to his friends, ran his hand over his bald head. "I'm doing this because you're like a daughter to me." Jenny gulped as her eyes filled with tears. Her own father had walked off years ago. A tear rolled down her cheek as Lavon rose from his chair, alarmed. She waved him down again, turning to face the wall. "I wouldn't leave my daughter out in the cold, so I want you to have this. Just. Please. Take. It!" Jenny agreed, wondering what she'd gotten herself into.
Charlie met Jenny at the bus stop and offered to drive her home. She looked up at the sky, dark with rain, and agreed. As they rounded the corner, Jenny clapped with glee as she saw the pickup truck with a travel trailer, in her driveway. Mr Jones sat proudly in his wheelchair, the scars on his head catching the light as he waved.
Charlie gulped. Who was this guy? And what the heck was that? He braked quickly, out of the way, and leapt out to inspect the travel trailer.
Jenny squealed with glee as she looked around it, then frowned at Mr Jones. "Does it have a bed and a toilet?" He grinned "All that and a tub, even!" Jenny gaped as he gave her a key. "It's a little old but it ought to do the trick for you." He frowned at Charlie "Until you figure something out."
Jenny bounced inside, spotting a nice queen bed on the right. The bathroom sat in front of her, a simple and modest arrangement of sink, shower, toilet. To her her left lay a tiny kitchen, table, and sofa. She began gushing as she stuck her head back out to yell at Mr. Jones.
"Please" he finally told her "I've asked you a million times, call me JJ? Please? That's what I want for this" he said with finality "Call me JJ." Jenny blinked back tears as a large, tattooed man began connecting the trailer to her utilities.
Shortly afterward, the spare container arrived, thanks to Jeff, along with supply of boxes.
She had 3 messages from Mr.Jones. She called him back. "Hey, sweetheart!" he caroled "I found something great for you. It's a nice horse trailer with a water trough. You can put hay on the floor when you need to..." Jenny howled with laughter. "Actually, I found something a little better than that, but I need you to make a promise. You have to take it. I know you hate to accept anything, from anyone. You don't even take a disability check. But I want you to take this, OK?" Jenny wondered just what he'd gotten her, and was silent a moment. "Why are you doing this?"
Jack Jones, JJ to his friends, ran his hand over his bald head. "I'm doing this because you're like a daughter to me." Jenny gulped as her eyes filled with tears. Her own father had walked off years ago. A tear rolled down her cheek as Lavon rose from his chair, alarmed. She waved him down again, turning to face the wall. "I wouldn't leave my daughter out in the cold, so I want you to have this. Just. Please. Take. It!" Jenny agreed, wondering what she'd gotten herself into.
Charlie met Jenny at the bus stop and offered to drive her home. She looked up at the sky, dark with rain, and agreed. As they rounded the corner, Jenny clapped with glee as she saw the pickup truck with a travel trailer, in her driveway. Mr Jones sat proudly in his wheelchair, the scars on his head catching the light as he waved.
Charlie gulped. Who was this guy? And what the heck was that? He braked quickly, out of the way, and leapt out to inspect the travel trailer.
Jenny squealed with glee as she looked around it, then frowned at Mr Jones. "Does it have a bed and a toilet?" He grinned "All that and a tub, even!" Jenny gaped as he gave her a key. "It's a little old but it ought to do the trick for you." He frowned at Charlie "Until you figure something out."
Jenny bounced inside, spotting a nice queen bed on the right. The bathroom sat in front of her, a simple and modest arrangement of sink, shower, toilet. To her her left lay a tiny kitchen, table, and sofa. She began gushing as she stuck her head back out to yell at Mr. Jones.
"Please" he finally told her "I've asked you a million times, call me JJ? Please? That's what I want for this" he said with finality "Call me JJ." Jenny blinked back tears as a large, tattooed man began connecting the trailer to her utilities.
Shortly afterward, the spare container arrived, thanks to Jeff, along with supply of boxes.
Chapter 40
Steve nodded somberly as he heard the bad news. "I don't know what to do with her" Charlie admitted. It was killing him to ask this guy for help, but sadly, he knew Charlie's wife better than Charlie did. "Have you got any ideas?"
Steve shrugged "You could put her up in one of those residential motels. We have one down the street - she might agree to that one." The one where it looked like people did drugs in the parking lot? Charlie choked. "She can't stay with me, clearly. What about you?" Charlie shook his head sadly, full of regret. He cursed himself under his breath, said goodbye, and headed back to the wholesale warehouse, where they'd actually held his merchandise.
Jenny cried for a bit, furious. It wasn't all men who vexed her, she decided, just certain men named Williams! They came into her life, wrecked it, and then wanted to save her! Well, no thanks! She could... she sighed.
She couldn't fix this on her own. She got herself a Diet Dr Pepper and prayed about it for half an hour. Mr Jones kept coming to mind.
As in "Right On!" used car dealer Mr Jones. Maybe he could help her find something. She called him, explaining her situation. "All I need is a bed and a toilet.." she continued. She could always join a gym. She held the phone away from her ear as Mr Jones cackled in her ear "You gonna use the hose, girl?" She smiled and started to explain the gym idea as he hushed her.
"Don't worry. I've got this. You've done a lot for me over the years." He teared up, thinking of the tiny Christmas tree she'd brought for his bedside the first year after his accident. He brought it out every year. The constant stream of delicious, manic-baked goods and frozen dinners, her tender care of his dying yard - transforming it into an oasis of easy-care. Taking him, on paratransit, to the animal shelter, where he'd found Orange, his fat orange tabby. He hung up, and called the lot.
Jenny tried to sleep as best she could, tossing and turning. She considered the by-the-week motel, then rejected it. It looked like people did drugs in the parking lot, and the expense would burn through her savings quickly. Mom would be happy to have her, but she hovered.
God, she prayed, please fix this.
Steve shrugged "You could put her up in one of those residential motels. We have one down the street - she might agree to that one." The one where it looked like people did drugs in the parking lot? Charlie choked. "She can't stay with me, clearly. What about you?" Charlie shook his head sadly, full of regret. He cursed himself under his breath, said goodbye, and headed back to the wholesale warehouse, where they'd actually held his merchandise.
Jenny cried for a bit, furious. It wasn't all men who vexed her, she decided, just certain men named Williams! They came into her life, wrecked it, and then wanted to save her! Well, no thanks! She could... she sighed.
She couldn't fix this on her own. She got herself a Diet Dr Pepper and prayed about it for half an hour. Mr Jones kept coming to mind.
As in "Right On!" used car dealer Mr Jones. Maybe he could help her find something. She called him, explaining her situation. "All I need is a bed and a toilet.." she continued. She could always join a gym. She held the phone away from her ear as Mr Jones cackled in her ear "You gonna use the hose, girl?" She smiled and started to explain the gym idea as he hushed her.
"Don't worry. I've got this. You've done a lot for me over the years." He teared up, thinking of the tiny Christmas tree she'd brought for his bedside the first year after his accident. He brought it out every year. The constant stream of delicious, manic-baked goods and frozen dinners, her tender care of his dying yard - transforming it into an oasis of easy-care. Taking him, on paratransit, to the animal shelter, where he'd found Orange, his fat orange tabby. He hung up, and called the lot.
Jenny tried to sleep as best she could, tossing and turning. She considered the by-the-week motel, then rejected it. It looked like people did drugs in the parking lot, and the expense would burn through her savings quickly. Mom would be happy to have her, but she hovered.
God, she prayed, please fix this.
Chapter 39
Charlie cursed inside as he patted Jenny's back. He'd hoped her house wasn't that bad, a busy work weekend with some guys from the church and...
"You need to be out of this house in a week" Jeff continued, somberly. "I'll have a storage unit delivered for your stuff. I'm sure Charlie can get some guys to help" Charlie nodded absently. Looks like they'd have that work weekend. Jeff looked from Jenny to Charlie, and back.
"How are things with you two? Can you stay with Paul for a bit?" Jenny tensed immediately and sat up, shaking her head. She wouldn't put herself in his power again! Look what he'd done last time! She looked around the tiny, cluttered, living room, assessing her treasures.
Charlie cursed inwardly. Plan B was shot. He'd planned to sleep on his couch, but Jeff had just killed that one.
Paul sighed and ran a hand through his neatly trimmed light brown hair, sticking out at all angles after his work outside. Jenny offered him another drink, which he accepted. He apologized again and left.
Charlie stood up, looming over Jenny. She immediately rose and stared him in the eye. "Don't say it, Charlie! You have no right to tell me how to live my life!"
"But" Charlie felt himself whining "What will you..."
"I will handle it." She snapped. "Go!" She pointed at the door.
Jenny had boundaries, alright, Charlie thought. It had been so easy, years ago, to turn a no into a yes with her, but clearly those days were past.
Charlie left, crossing the street to talk to Steve.
"You need to be out of this house in a week" Jeff continued, somberly. "I'll have a storage unit delivered for your stuff. I'm sure Charlie can get some guys to help" Charlie nodded absently. Looks like they'd have that work weekend. Jeff looked from Jenny to Charlie, and back.
"How are things with you two? Can you stay with Paul for a bit?" Jenny tensed immediately and sat up, shaking her head. She wouldn't put herself in his power again! Look what he'd done last time! She looked around the tiny, cluttered, living room, assessing her treasures.
Charlie cursed inwardly. Plan B was shot. He'd planned to sleep on his couch, but Jeff had just killed that one.
Paul sighed and ran a hand through his neatly trimmed light brown hair, sticking out at all angles after his work outside. Jenny offered him another drink, which he accepted. He apologized again and left.
Charlie stood up, looming over Jenny. She immediately rose and stared him in the eye. "Don't say it, Charlie! You have no right to tell me how to live my life!"
"But" Charlie felt himself whining "What will you..."
"I will handle it." She snapped. "Go!" She pointed at the door.
Jenny had boundaries, alright, Charlie thought. It had been so easy, years ago, to turn a no into a yes with her, but clearly those days were past.
Charlie left, crossing the street to talk to Steve.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Chapter 38
Charlie, wearing his work uniform, was working his way through the wholesale club when his brother called. "You really need to come by" Jeff had said, somberly. "I did the inspection."
Charlie left the flatbed full of merchandise in the middle of the warehouse and sprinted to his SUV, driving quickly to Jenny's house. He jumped out and looked around, finding Jenny on a porch across the street.
He tried not to frown as he noticed the man giving her a bottle of Diet Dr Pepper. Jenny loved that soda. He must know her awfully well.
He felt the old jealousy rising up, and reminded himself if she had a connection, it was his fault. He'd rejected her, neglected her, and ignored her. If he wanted her, he'd have to win her back.
He tried his best to smile as he wandered up to the chain link fence. Caught aback, he admired the roses for a moment and smiled. "These are lovely".
Steve nodded quietly, watching him, as they sized each other up. They introduced themselves. Damn. Why did Jenny have to fall for a doctor? How could he measure up?
Jenny swallowed, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and capped the soda. "Jeff's waiting, Char, let's go." She turned and bade Steve goodbye, her voice warm.
Charlie floundered, offering his elbow like a wedding usher. She smiled gently at him and took it. "Thank you, sir." She told him how she'd come home to find Jeff on her house, thinking he was a hallucination.
"Happily Steve saw him too so I didn't have to call my doctor." Charlie thought, sourly, that Dr Steve would have been happy to fix her up. Bad thoughts. Gotta work on the bad thoughts.
He'd read that in Jenny's blog. She'd been strangely quiet of late, ever since he told her he'd been reading. He felt bad about that.
The three of them sat down in Jenny's living room as Jeff asked Jenny various questions. What was her water bill? Did outlets ever go out for no reason? Did she have leaks? Jenny answered them as best she could, and sat back to wait for Jeff's reply.
"Your house should be condemned" he began, as Jenny gasped. She didn't process a lot of the following statements, but noted Charlie making notes on a sheet of paper. Plumbing leaks. Foundation issues. Termites. Electrical issues. Fire hazard. Roofing issues. Thousands - not just thousands, but dozens of thousands of dollars in repairs.
Jenny began to hyperventilate and put her head between her knees, as Charlie placed a comforting hand on her back.
Charlie left the flatbed full of merchandise in the middle of the warehouse and sprinted to his SUV, driving quickly to Jenny's house. He jumped out and looked around, finding Jenny on a porch across the street.
He tried not to frown as he noticed the man giving her a bottle of Diet Dr Pepper. Jenny loved that soda. He must know her awfully well.
He felt the old jealousy rising up, and reminded himself if she had a connection, it was his fault. He'd rejected her, neglected her, and ignored her. If he wanted her, he'd have to win her back.
He tried his best to smile as he wandered up to the chain link fence. Caught aback, he admired the roses for a moment and smiled. "These are lovely".
Steve nodded quietly, watching him, as they sized each other up. They introduced themselves. Damn. Why did Jenny have to fall for a doctor? How could he measure up?
Jenny swallowed, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and capped the soda. "Jeff's waiting, Char, let's go." She turned and bade Steve goodbye, her voice warm.
Charlie floundered, offering his elbow like a wedding usher. She smiled gently at him and took it. "Thank you, sir." She told him how she'd come home to find Jeff on her house, thinking he was a hallucination.
"Happily Steve saw him too so I didn't have to call my doctor." Charlie thought, sourly, that Dr Steve would have been happy to fix her up. Bad thoughts. Gotta work on the bad thoughts.
He'd read that in Jenny's blog. She'd been strangely quiet of late, ever since he told her he'd been reading. He felt bad about that.
The three of them sat down in Jenny's living room as Jeff asked Jenny various questions. What was her water bill? Did outlets ever go out for no reason? Did she have leaks? Jenny answered them as best she could, and sat back to wait for Jeff's reply.
"Your house should be condemned" he began, as Jenny gasped. She didn't process a lot of the following statements, but noted Charlie making notes on a sheet of paper. Plumbing leaks. Foundation issues. Termites. Electrical issues. Fire hazard. Roofing issues. Thousands - not just thousands, but dozens of thousands of dollars in repairs.
Jenny began to hyperventilate and put her head between her knees, as Charlie placed a comforting hand on her back.
Chapter 37
Jenny stopped and did a double-take in front of her house. Was there a man on the roof?
She looked around for a car. Surely, a man would come with a car. No car. The guy was working his way along the roofline now, and she could see a few spray-painted circles on her shingles. Hey!
Was he real, though? She'd been under a lot of stress, and he couldn't have just flown there... she turned around, looking for help.
"Steve!" She ran across the street, as Steve stood to greet her. She loved how he did that. She pointed over her shoulder, her mouth open to ask the question. "Yes, there's a man on your roof." She closed her mouth and sat down in a plastic chair next to Steve. It was so nice to live with someone who understood her illness without judging, throwing out her medication, or trying to "fix" her like Mom did sometimes.
Live with? She shut that train of thought down for now, and turned back to the immediate problem as Steve continued talking. "He was there when I got in this morning. He's been under the house , around back, looked at your water meter for a while, and then went up on the roof." He anticipated her question "He climbed on the fence." Jenny winced, and stood up to confront him.
Jeff climbed down off the roof, amazed Jenny had never complained of leaks, and walked across the street to her as she sat with her - friend? Charlie had mentioned something about another man.
"Jeff!" Jenny's voice was relieved as she met him at the street. He was wearing cutoff chinos and a paint-stained, baggy t-shirt. "What's up?" Jeff explained he had finally had time to do an inspection on her home. He was a certified home inspector. However, he needed access to her home.
He held up her key. "Paul gave me your key, but I didn't want you to find me in your bedroom." Jenny snerked with laughter. He knew her well. "Territorial as a pitbull" Charlie said. "Permission?" Jenny nodded and went back to Steve's porch, a move noticed by both men.
"I dread your report" she replied. "I think God's the only thing holding my house together."
She looked around for a car. Surely, a man would come with a car. No car. The guy was working his way along the roofline now, and she could see a few spray-painted circles on her shingles. Hey!
Was he real, though? She'd been under a lot of stress, and he couldn't have just flown there... she turned around, looking for help.
"Steve!" She ran across the street, as Steve stood to greet her. She loved how he did that. She pointed over her shoulder, her mouth open to ask the question. "Yes, there's a man on your roof." She closed her mouth and sat down in a plastic chair next to Steve. It was so nice to live with someone who understood her illness without judging, throwing out her medication, or trying to "fix" her like Mom did sometimes.
Live with? She shut that train of thought down for now, and turned back to the immediate problem as Steve continued talking. "He was there when I got in this morning. He's been under the house , around back, looked at your water meter for a while, and then went up on the roof." He anticipated her question "He climbed on the fence." Jenny winced, and stood up to confront him.
Jeff climbed down off the roof, amazed Jenny had never complained of leaks, and walked across the street to her as she sat with her - friend? Charlie had mentioned something about another man.
"Jeff!" Jenny's voice was relieved as she met him at the street. He was wearing cutoff chinos and a paint-stained, baggy t-shirt. "What's up?" Jeff explained he had finally had time to do an inspection on her home. He was a certified home inspector. However, he needed access to her home.
He held up her key. "Paul gave me your key, but I didn't want you to find me in your bedroom." Jenny snerked with laughter. He knew her well. "Territorial as a pitbull" Charlie said. "Permission?" Jenny nodded and went back to Steve's porch, a move noticed by both men.
"I dread your report" she replied. "I think God's the only thing holding my house together."
Chapter 36
Jenny walked home from the bus stop, thinking. She sidestepped a broken beer bottle thrown out by someone the night before, musing at least she didn't have to dodge the broken crack pipes and used condoms like she had at her last place.
She sighed deeply, passing the gas station and coming up on the corner with her favorite oak tree. The weather was oppressively hot, humid, and overcast. She imagined she'd see rain soon, a welcome change.
Her house might be a dump, but the roof was OK. She hoped. She ran her hand over her hair, and pulled on her ponytail, thinking about Steve.
She knew Lavon was right. She was too attached. She remembered the first time she'd met Steve. He'd been the quiet guy across the street, the one she'd wave at as she checked her mail. She'd secretly coveted his lovely rose collection. He had so many healthy bushes lined up along his fence line, blooming almost every month of the year.
He'd gotten her new ATM card, and brought it over in person. He was an average looking guy with a receding hairline, brown hair he kept in a short buzz cut. His face was tanned from his time outside, with a few middle aged lines that didn't seem to matter. He liked to wear cargo shorts, even in the winter. They'd gotten to talking and hit it off. In so many ways, he was the man she'd always hoped Charlie would become; strong, mature, quiet. Level; not prone to Charlie's jealousy. Even better, he was a man of faith. They talked often in one yard or the other, and had gradually moved into kitchens, talking with their shoes kicked off and the windows open.
She'd moved in the winter, so Jenny, manic, her first summer in her new home, had decided to dig up some garden beds. She'd come straight home after work, changed into her grubbies and workboots, and preceeded to dig up a 20 foot stretch of grass, edging it and mixing in some amendments she'd had delivered.
She had woken up on her back, under a tree, looking up at the sky, Steve's brown eyes looking down into hers, a mixture of fury and concern. "What have you had to drink?" he'd demanded.
"Nothing," she'd mumbled. "I don't -"
"WATER? Have you had ANY WATER? Electrolytes?" Steve was fuming. "If your temperature doesn't go down I'll have to call an ambulance."
Oh, no. Jenny'd tried to stand, and Steve had pushed her down. She whimpered, "Please don't send me to the hospital." She was terrified of hospitals. Steve, taking her pulse, had moved to hold her hand and peered down at her.
"Jenny," he murmured "I don't want you on my table." For autopsy. She swallowed. His eyes burned a hole in her soul and she knew he was telling her he loved her. She nodded, and he'd started plying her with drinks, putting ice packs on her chest, and she'd recovered.
She had never gone out into the yard, in the heat, without drinking a quart of hydration drink and setting alarms for more drinks. She didn't want to scare Steve like that again. Not to mention, she'd been queasy for days afterward.
She'd finally thought Charlie might let her go - and he'd come back. What did that mean for Jenny and Steve?
Steve was thinking the same thing as he watched a strange man climb on Jenny's roof. The guy, wearing cutoffs and a t-shirt, appeared to be doing some sort of inspection.
Steve doubted Jenny knew anything about it; she was intensely private and would never consent to someone wandering around her property unsupervised. He debated going over to talk to the man, but decided that wasn't his business now.
He would have, a month ago, but now the husband was back in the picture. When he'd passed the guy, slumped over Jenny's fence as he went to work, he'd wondered if he'd get the guy on his table. However, "just" a migraine, he'd recovered, and was working his way back towards Jenny.
It was clear Paul/Charlie wanted her back. No man spent that kind of money on Bibles because they wanted a divorce. Or, maybe they did... to salve their guilt.
Steve sighed and got a cold bottle of iced tea from the fridge, sitting on the porch and cracking it open. He'd at least watch the place and make sure Jenny wasn't robbed.
She sighed deeply, passing the gas station and coming up on the corner with her favorite oak tree. The weather was oppressively hot, humid, and overcast. She imagined she'd see rain soon, a welcome change.
Her house might be a dump, but the roof was OK. She hoped. She ran her hand over her hair, and pulled on her ponytail, thinking about Steve.
She knew Lavon was right. She was too attached. She remembered the first time she'd met Steve. He'd been the quiet guy across the street, the one she'd wave at as she checked her mail. She'd secretly coveted his lovely rose collection. He had so many healthy bushes lined up along his fence line, blooming almost every month of the year.
He'd gotten her new ATM card, and brought it over in person. He was an average looking guy with a receding hairline, brown hair he kept in a short buzz cut. His face was tanned from his time outside, with a few middle aged lines that didn't seem to matter. He liked to wear cargo shorts, even in the winter. They'd gotten to talking and hit it off. In so many ways, he was the man she'd always hoped Charlie would become; strong, mature, quiet. Level; not prone to Charlie's jealousy. Even better, he was a man of faith. They talked often in one yard or the other, and had gradually moved into kitchens, talking with their shoes kicked off and the windows open.
She'd moved in the winter, so Jenny, manic, her first summer in her new home, had decided to dig up some garden beds. She'd come straight home after work, changed into her grubbies and workboots, and preceeded to dig up a 20 foot stretch of grass, edging it and mixing in some amendments she'd had delivered.
She had woken up on her back, under a tree, looking up at the sky, Steve's brown eyes looking down into hers, a mixture of fury and concern. "What have you had to drink?" he'd demanded.
"Nothing," she'd mumbled. "I don't -"
"WATER? Have you had ANY WATER? Electrolytes?" Steve was fuming. "If your temperature doesn't go down I'll have to call an ambulance."
Oh, no. Jenny'd tried to stand, and Steve had pushed her down. She whimpered, "Please don't send me to the hospital." She was terrified of hospitals. Steve, taking her pulse, had moved to hold her hand and peered down at her.
"Jenny," he murmured "I don't want you on my table." For autopsy. She swallowed. His eyes burned a hole in her soul and she knew he was telling her he loved her. She nodded, and he'd started plying her with drinks, putting ice packs on her chest, and she'd recovered.
She had never gone out into the yard, in the heat, without drinking a quart of hydration drink and setting alarms for more drinks. She didn't want to scare Steve like that again. Not to mention, she'd been queasy for days afterward.
She'd finally thought Charlie might let her go - and he'd come back. What did that mean for Jenny and Steve?
Steve was thinking the same thing as he watched a strange man climb on Jenny's roof. The guy, wearing cutoffs and a t-shirt, appeared to be doing some sort of inspection.
Steve doubted Jenny knew anything about it; she was intensely private and would never consent to someone wandering around her property unsupervised. He debated going over to talk to the man, but decided that wasn't his business now.
He would have, a month ago, but now the husband was back in the picture. When he'd passed the guy, slumped over Jenny's fence as he went to work, he'd wondered if he'd get the guy on his table. However, "just" a migraine, he'd recovered, and was working his way back towards Jenny.
It was clear Paul/Charlie wanted her back. No man spent that kind of money on Bibles because they wanted a divorce. Or, maybe they did... to salve their guilt.
Steve sighed and got a cold bottle of iced tea from the fridge, sitting on the porch and cracking it open. He'd at least watch the place and make sure Jenny wasn't robbed.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Chapter 35
"This is business" Jenny hissed at Charlie, while giving Lavon a sharp glance. "Mr Jackson needs a vendor. You're the only one I know. You're here to make his life better."
Charlie sighed and ran his hand through his hair. It had been a long day with multiple problems. Sales were down. Jenny had put herself behind a wall sometime during the time she'd been sick, and he couldn't get her out. "I'll take care of it, Baby."
Jenny tensed. He had no right to use that name with her again, as if he'd never - she'd never - never had to leave her husband. He made me leave, she reminded herself. She sighed, fisted her hands, and glanced at the clock. Thank God, she could go back to work. Frozen pizzas never looked so good. She left without saying goodbye.
Charlie watched her leave, and turned to the vending machines. First order of business, the coin jam. He opened the lock, popping the crossbar out and rotating it until the machine swung open. Charlie separated the inner door from the outer door, and hissed as he saw the coin jam. What a mess. He got to work.
"Man" Charlie raised his head, almost hitting it on the lockbar, and peered around the door. "It's not my business, but I'll tell you anyway." Lavon took a deep breath. "You've got a lot of work." Charlie stared at him, baffled, and Lavon leaned forward. "I'm a pastor. She'll talk to me, sometimes. I try to encourage her on God's path." Lavon looked around the empty breakroom. "You burned her bad. When you didn't come after her, you left a hole. Some men might be looking to fill it." Charlie bristled and came out around the machine. "NOT me. But she might have a friend... hoping." Lavon swallowed. "You didn't hear it from me." Lavon got out of his chair, punched the time clock, and left the room, and Charlie alone with his thoughts.
Charlie prayed for a while as he cleared the coin jam and cleaned the mechanism. A few minutes of routine maintenence would have saved the employees a lot of aggravation. He put the money in a zip top plastic bag and gave it to Mr Jackson. He came back and reviewed the soda selection.
Too many diet selections for night-shift workers. Not enough caffeine. He added another type of Mountain Dew and removed the Diet Lemon Lime. He moved the Cokes to a double column and test vended every selection. He removed a panel and adjusted a slipping rotor, then closed everything up and cleaned the machine with a basic spray cleanser.
He taped one of his cards onto the vending machine, with "For service or refunds, call..." highlighted. Charlie then moved on to the snack machine and whistled sadly. Fingerprints smudged the front of the machine. Wide products were stocked into narrow coils, ensuring hang-ups and annoyed customers. Three pastry items were out of code.
He had a quick talk with Mr Jackson about demographics and reloaded the machine. Hot peanuts, hot Cheetos, and pork rinds made it into the lineup. Baked chips came out of their too-narrow coils and returned to store inventory. Pretzels were gone, but he added a new flavored pretzel bite. They'd done well at his other location. Charlie scoffed at the stuffed row of graham crackers. What was this, daycare? He pulled his handcart closer and got to work.
Charlie had left by the time Jenny came back for her last break, but the machines looked fantastic. The employees stood around, exclaiming over the selections and buying snacks. They couldn't stop talking about the new vendor. Maria liked his butt.
She hadn't thought of this. Charlie had followed her to work. He'd be spending every break and lunch with her for the future. Worse, she'd invited him.
At least Mr Jackon looked happy, munching on a Moon pie and Mountain Dew. A red one, no less. Who knew?
Charlie sighed and ran his hand through his hair. It had been a long day with multiple problems. Sales were down. Jenny had put herself behind a wall sometime during the time she'd been sick, and he couldn't get her out. "I'll take care of it, Baby."
Jenny tensed. He had no right to use that name with her again, as if he'd never - she'd never - never had to leave her husband. He made me leave, she reminded herself. She sighed, fisted her hands, and glanced at the clock. Thank God, she could go back to work. Frozen pizzas never looked so good. She left without saying goodbye.
Charlie watched her leave, and turned to the vending machines. First order of business, the coin jam. He opened the lock, popping the crossbar out and rotating it until the machine swung open. Charlie separated the inner door from the outer door, and hissed as he saw the coin jam. What a mess. He got to work.
"Man" Charlie raised his head, almost hitting it on the lockbar, and peered around the door. "It's not my business, but I'll tell you anyway." Lavon took a deep breath. "You've got a lot of work." Charlie stared at him, baffled, and Lavon leaned forward. "I'm a pastor. She'll talk to me, sometimes. I try to encourage her on God's path." Lavon looked around the empty breakroom. "You burned her bad. When you didn't come after her, you left a hole. Some men might be looking to fill it." Charlie bristled and came out around the machine. "NOT me. But she might have a friend... hoping." Lavon swallowed. "You didn't hear it from me." Lavon got out of his chair, punched the time clock, and left the room, and Charlie alone with his thoughts.
Charlie prayed for a while as he cleared the coin jam and cleaned the mechanism. A few minutes of routine maintenence would have saved the employees a lot of aggravation. He put the money in a zip top plastic bag and gave it to Mr Jackson. He came back and reviewed the soda selection.
Too many diet selections for night-shift workers. Not enough caffeine. He added another type of Mountain Dew and removed the Diet Lemon Lime. He moved the Cokes to a double column and test vended every selection. He removed a panel and adjusted a slipping rotor, then closed everything up and cleaned the machine with a basic spray cleanser.
He taped one of his cards onto the vending machine, with "For service or refunds, call..." highlighted. Charlie then moved on to the snack machine and whistled sadly. Fingerprints smudged the front of the machine. Wide products were stocked into narrow coils, ensuring hang-ups and annoyed customers. Three pastry items were out of code.
He had a quick talk with Mr Jackson about demographics and reloaded the machine. Hot peanuts, hot Cheetos, and pork rinds made it into the lineup. Baked chips came out of their too-narrow coils and returned to store inventory. Pretzels were gone, but he added a new flavored pretzel bite. They'd done well at his other location. Charlie scoffed at the stuffed row of graham crackers. What was this, daycare? He pulled his handcart closer and got to work.
Charlie had left by the time Jenny came back for her last break, but the machines looked fantastic. The employees stood around, exclaiming over the selections and buying snacks. They couldn't stop talking about the new vendor. Maria liked his butt.
She hadn't thought of this. Charlie had followed her to work. He'd be spending every break and lunch with her for the future. Worse, she'd invited him.
At least Mr Jackon looked happy, munching on a Moon pie and Mountain Dew. A red one, no less. Who knew?
Chapter 34
Jenny, better now, leaned back in her chair in the breakroom. The familiar white walls surrounded her, commercial flooring, and a wall of red lockers adjoining the sink and microwave. She frowned at the snack vending machine.
"He didn't come in again?" The store owned the machine, which was contracted to an outside vendor. He hadn't been doing a good job of stocking, and a lot of items hung up. Charlie'd explained to her that meant it was badly stocked. Jenny stared at the half-empty vending machines, empty coils everywhere.
"Yeah," Lavon replied, his bald black head shining under the fluorescent lights. "And the soda machine's stealing coins." Jenny muttered in disgust. A coin jam, left untended, continued to rip of every new customer. "Do you think your husband might want the contract?" Jenny shrugged and tried to look uninterested.
"I don't know" she sighed. She didn't trust Charlie any more than she had a month ago, when she never expected to hear from him again. He wanted to just walk into her life as if he'd never left it, but he had, and she'd moved on. She wasn't the same woman.
Lavon leaned back in his chair, his work polo straining over his broad shoulders, and steepled his hands under his chin. His gold wedding band gleamed in the light as he caught her eyes.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with Doctor Death, now, would it?" Jenny flinched. Her across the street neighbor, Dr Steven Black, worked for the medical examiner's office. They were good friends - too good, according to Lavon, who'd believed she should cut off all contact, and that was before Charlie had made his big return.
"Lavon" she started, as their boss came into the room. He looked around at her, Lavon, Javier, and Maria, chattering on her cell phone. Javier scrolled on his smart phone, snickering now and then. When Mr Jackson got to the vending machines, he paused, and growled.
"Don't get a soda" Jenny warned. "It's got a coin jam." Mr Jackson, his pasty white skin gleaming, frowned and took a key out of his pocket, then looked around. "Does anyone know how to fix this?" His thinning brown hair featured an unfortunate comb-over. His white oxford and chinos looked wilted.
Mr Jackson, bad hair aside, was the best and most understanding boss Jenny had ever had. He took out his phone, dialed, and hung up when he went to voicemail. He frowned at the machine, fingering the key.
"I know a guy" Jenny started as Lavon grinned. "He can give you a fair deal and I know he'll keep them stocked."
"He didn't come in again?" The store owned the machine, which was contracted to an outside vendor. He hadn't been doing a good job of stocking, and a lot of items hung up. Charlie'd explained to her that meant it was badly stocked. Jenny stared at the half-empty vending machines, empty coils everywhere.
"Yeah," Lavon replied, his bald black head shining under the fluorescent lights. "And the soda machine's stealing coins." Jenny muttered in disgust. A coin jam, left untended, continued to rip of every new customer. "Do you think your husband might want the contract?" Jenny shrugged and tried to look uninterested.
"I don't know" she sighed. She didn't trust Charlie any more than she had a month ago, when she never expected to hear from him again. He wanted to just walk into her life as if he'd never left it, but he had, and she'd moved on. She wasn't the same woman.
Lavon leaned back in his chair, his work polo straining over his broad shoulders, and steepled his hands under his chin. His gold wedding band gleamed in the light as he caught her eyes.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with Doctor Death, now, would it?" Jenny flinched. Her across the street neighbor, Dr Steven Black, worked for the medical examiner's office. They were good friends - too good, according to Lavon, who'd believed she should cut off all contact, and that was before Charlie had made his big return.
"Lavon" she started, as their boss came into the room. He looked around at her, Lavon, Javier, and Maria, chattering on her cell phone. Javier scrolled on his smart phone, snickering now and then. When Mr Jackson got to the vending machines, he paused, and growled.
"Don't get a soda" Jenny warned. "It's got a coin jam." Mr Jackson, his pasty white skin gleaming, frowned and took a key out of his pocket, then looked around. "Does anyone know how to fix this?" His thinning brown hair featured an unfortunate comb-over. His white oxford and chinos looked wilted.
Mr Jackson, bad hair aside, was the best and most understanding boss Jenny had ever had. He took out his phone, dialed, and hung up when he went to voicemail. He frowned at the machine, fingering the key.
"I know a guy" Jenny started as Lavon grinned. "He can give you a fair deal and I know he'll keep them stocked."
Friday, November 15, 2013
Chapter 33
Charlie checked his email and put the phone on "Vibrate" as he bounded up the stairs to Jenny's house. He frowned at the sagging trim and peeling paint. He had to get her out of this dump.
He adjusted the collar of his navy polo shirt, checked his chinos, and finger-combed his thick blonde hair into place. The door opened suddenly and he stood face-to-face with - his mother in law.
Her lined face tightened up as she frowned at him. "What are you doing here?"
Charlie took a deep breath and reminded himself to mind his witness. "I'm here to see my wife." He felt like he had the time Karen had caught them in bed, their senior year of high school.
Karen scoffed at him and turned on her heel, leaving the door open. "I never understood what she saw in you." she muttered. Charlie took another deep breath.
Their raised voices woke Jenny, a few minutes later. She staggered down the hall, eyes blurry, coughing into her hand. She glared and them both and pointed at Princess, hiding under the table. Jenny then headed for the fridge, poured herself some juice, and drank it, putting her empty glass in the sink.
The house was so quiet it echoed as Jenny shut the refrigerator door and absently pressed on it to make sure it was closed. "I will" she began, "Throw you both out. I am going to bed, to sleep. If you can't be quiet, get out. I'm sick and the last thing I need is you two bickering." Jenny stomped off to bed as Karen and Charlie gaped at each other.
"She's got boundaries." Charlie murmured in approval.
"Karen, please let me talk. I think you need to hear my testimony."
He shared how he'd been overwhelmed as a young husband, seeking God, and fallen into the cult. They'd loved him so much, showering him with approval. Slowly, though, the approval came with conditions. Karen nodded somberly.
"Jerks remind me of a few men I knew." she muttered. Charlie nodded and continued.
He told her of the slow slide into legalism, the increasing demands for larger "tithes", and a more restrictive dress code for Jenny. "You know Jenny is..." Karen nodded. If anything, her daughter was too conservative. Jenny was very modest and self-concious of her scars.
"Looking back, it was crazy, but I couldn't see it. Jenny just wanted to make me happy and did whatever she could to make that happen. She practically wore a burqua. She covered her hair." Their eyes met, Jenny always had such pretty hair, and she loved to wear her ponytail. Charlie began to choke up. "I was squeezing all the love out of her, but she still stayed."
Charlie paused. "What do you know about why she left?" Karen thought for a moment. "The obvious, I guess, you threw out her medication... let me tell you, when I found out I wanted to...." Charlie held up his hand. "My Dad beat me for it. As he should." Karen relaxed and took a sip of her tea.
Charlie had brought his own drink, a bottle of Dr Pepper. He unscrewed the cap and took a long drink before he resumed speaking. "He tried to molest her." Karen jerked.
"The leader tried to molest her and she said no. She tried to tell me but I wouldn't hear it. The next day, he called me in for a private conference - when I got home I threw out the medication. I have to think he figured if she were 'mental' no one would credit her story. He was abusing several women in the cult."
Karen's body felt like one giant knot as she processed the story. She'd tried to protect her daughter; who'd been abused. Jenny had eloped with Paul, who seemed like a decent man, and she'd been abused again. Karen rolled her head from one side to the other as tears streamed down her face.
"Why do we fail her, Paul? She's made of love, and we..." Charlie held her as she cried, awkwardly patting her back. He did the only thing he could think to do and offered her his other soda, which she drank greedily.
"It has a better ending" Charlie resumed. "After Jenny left, I went to the police. You know I majored in accounting." Karen nodded. Jenny had been so proud when he'd gotten his degree. Charlie smiled, a slow, evil grin. Karen leaned forward. "What?"
"The ah, brother had put me in charge of the books. He had a lot of hidden assets. After I'd read Jenny's letter I was able to determine his other victims. I went to the Police." Karen gasped. "I was a confidential informant for several months, until they went to jail." He smiled sadly. "I wanted to go after Jenny, more than anything, but I had to cut the head off the snake." He sighed. "By then I was a mess, I didn't think I deserved her. I still wanted God in my life but I was paranoid about another cult. I didn't want to get back to Jenny until I was right."
Karen leaned back slowly, fingering the lace edge of her blouse as she appraised her son-in-law. "Are you?" Charlie sighed.
"I don't deserve her, but I love her more than anything. I want her in my life. I finally found a real church and I want her to meet them. How is she with God?" He'd read some of her blog, enough to know Karen was saved, but Jenny was pretty close-mouthed about her own faith.
"She reads the Bible every day. She prays for everyone, even you and the people who hurt her." Karen winced. "Sorry." Charlie waved it off.
"I mentioned going to my church, it's a Calvary Chapel." Charlie bolted up and grinned at her. "You too, huh? You must go to the Northside." He nodded.
"Charlie" Karen sighed. "I think she'd rather die before going back to church. You've burned her."
He adjusted the collar of his navy polo shirt, checked his chinos, and finger-combed his thick blonde hair into place. The door opened suddenly and he stood face-to-face with - his mother in law.
Her lined face tightened up as she frowned at him. "What are you doing here?"
Charlie took a deep breath and reminded himself to mind his witness. "I'm here to see my wife." He felt like he had the time Karen had caught them in bed, their senior year of high school.
Karen scoffed at him and turned on her heel, leaving the door open. "I never understood what she saw in you." she muttered. Charlie took another deep breath.
Their raised voices woke Jenny, a few minutes later. She staggered down the hall, eyes blurry, coughing into her hand. She glared and them both and pointed at Princess, hiding under the table. Jenny then headed for the fridge, poured herself some juice, and drank it, putting her empty glass in the sink.
The house was so quiet it echoed as Jenny shut the refrigerator door and absently pressed on it to make sure it was closed. "I will" she began, "Throw you both out. I am going to bed, to sleep. If you can't be quiet, get out. I'm sick and the last thing I need is you two bickering." Jenny stomped off to bed as Karen and Charlie gaped at each other.
"She's got boundaries." Charlie murmured in approval.
"Karen, please let me talk. I think you need to hear my testimony."
He shared how he'd been overwhelmed as a young husband, seeking God, and fallen into the cult. They'd loved him so much, showering him with approval. Slowly, though, the approval came with conditions. Karen nodded somberly.
"Jerks remind me of a few men I knew." she muttered. Charlie nodded and continued.
He told her of the slow slide into legalism, the increasing demands for larger "tithes", and a more restrictive dress code for Jenny. "You know Jenny is..." Karen nodded. If anything, her daughter was too conservative. Jenny was very modest and self-concious of her scars.
"Looking back, it was crazy, but I couldn't see it. Jenny just wanted to make me happy and did whatever she could to make that happen. She practically wore a burqua. She covered her hair." Their eyes met, Jenny always had such pretty hair, and she loved to wear her ponytail. Charlie began to choke up. "I was squeezing all the love out of her, but she still stayed."
Charlie paused. "What do you know about why she left?" Karen thought for a moment. "The obvious, I guess, you threw out her medication... let me tell you, when I found out I wanted to...." Charlie held up his hand. "My Dad beat me for it. As he should." Karen relaxed and took a sip of her tea.
Charlie had brought his own drink, a bottle of Dr Pepper. He unscrewed the cap and took a long drink before he resumed speaking. "He tried to molest her." Karen jerked.
"The leader tried to molest her and she said no. She tried to tell me but I wouldn't hear it. The next day, he called me in for a private conference - when I got home I threw out the medication. I have to think he figured if she were 'mental' no one would credit her story. He was abusing several women in the cult."
Karen's body felt like one giant knot as she processed the story. She'd tried to protect her daughter; who'd been abused. Jenny had eloped with Paul, who seemed like a decent man, and she'd been abused again. Karen rolled her head from one side to the other as tears streamed down her face.
"Why do we fail her, Paul? She's made of love, and we..." Charlie held her as she cried, awkwardly patting her back. He did the only thing he could think to do and offered her his other soda, which she drank greedily.
"It has a better ending" Charlie resumed. "After Jenny left, I went to the police. You know I majored in accounting." Karen nodded. Jenny had been so proud when he'd gotten his degree. Charlie smiled, a slow, evil grin. Karen leaned forward. "What?"
"The ah, brother had put me in charge of the books. He had a lot of hidden assets. After I'd read Jenny's letter I was able to determine his other victims. I went to the Police." Karen gasped. "I was a confidential informant for several months, until they went to jail." He smiled sadly. "I wanted to go after Jenny, more than anything, but I had to cut the head off the snake." He sighed. "By then I was a mess, I didn't think I deserved her. I still wanted God in my life but I was paranoid about another cult. I didn't want to get back to Jenny until I was right."
Karen leaned back slowly, fingering the lace edge of her blouse as she appraised her son-in-law. "Are you?" Charlie sighed.
"I don't deserve her, but I love her more than anything. I want her in my life. I finally found a real church and I want her to meet them. How is she with God?" He'd read some of her blog, enough to know Karen was saved, but Jenny was pretty close-mouthed about her own faith.
"She reads the Bible every day. She prays for everyone, even you and the people who hurt her." Karen winced. "Sorry." Charlie waved it off.
"I mentioned going to my church, it's a Calvary Chapel." Charlie bolted up and grinned at her. "You too, huh? You must go to the Northside." He nodded.
"Charlie" Karen sighed. "I think she'd rather die before going back to church. You've burned her."
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Chapter 31
Karen held out the freshly made juice drink to Jenny, who dutifully gulped it down. Jenny grinned. "I can't taste it." and began coughing again, drinking some hot tea on her nightstand.
She may have made her mistakes, but Karen was determined to do right by her daughter as much as possible, for the rest of their lives. When she'd gotten the text cancelling their weekly lunch, she'd leapt into action, packing her juicer, visiting the health food store, and making a final stop at the farmer's market on her way over.
Jenny'd protested weakly, but let her in and gone back to bed. Karen had quickly whipped up an immune stimulating tea (she was a certified herbalist, aromatherapist, and massage therapist) and detoxifying juice drink.
Rather than nag Jenny about her medication, Karen had taken a quick peek at the pill organizer. Good girl. She passed the overflowing sink and placed a moistened hand towel in the microwave. Poor Jen had the worst sinus congestion. She dabbed the appropriate oils, refolded it, and placed it on Jenny's forehead.
Jenny murmured her thanks and thought, ironically, how she'd wished for a mom like this in years past. Who knew her own mother would turn out to be the one she'd wanted? She drifted off to sleep, the soothing aromas of the oils unclenching the tightness in her head.
Karen got to work. She did a load of laundry, cleaned the litterboxes and bathroom as best she could, did the dishes, and cleaned the obvious out of the fridge. She replaced the expired, discarded food with fresh organic options she knew Jenny liked.
When she finished, Karen sat down on the couch, catching her reflection in the front hall mirror. "One day I left the house with my shirt inside out" Jenny had confided. "I need to to a last check". Her somber brown eyes gazed back. Her face showed her age, due to the years of heavy smoking. Karen found it ironic she'd never really had any health problems, besides the drinking and bipolar disorder. Her plump figure reflected a love of her own baked goods, but her husband was fine with that. She was a lot shorter than Jenny, whose 5'8 must have been a gift from her father.
The cat door clicked and Princess wandered in, headed over to Karen. Karen held her breath. She'd always worried her daughter's cat would hate her. Princess adored Jenny, and had avoided Karen for as long as she could remember.
Could she ever atone for her sins? She knew Jesus' sacrifice had covered them, but she had such a terrible time forgiving herself. Karen offered a shaking hand (a side effect of the lithium) to the cat, who butted up against it and demanded petting. She stroked the cat gently.
She may have made her mistakes, but Karen was determined to do right by her daughter as much as possible, for the rest of their lives. When she'd gotten the text cancelling their weekly lunch, she'd leapt into action, packing her juicer, visiting the health food store, and making a final stop at the farmer's market on her way over.
Jenny'd protested weakly, but let her in and gone back to bed. Karen had quickly whipped up an immune stimulating tea (she was a certified herbalist, aromatherapist, and massage therapist) and detoxifying juice drink.
Rather than nag Jenny about her medication, Karen had taken a quick peek at the pill organizer. Good girl. She passed the overflowing sink and placed a moistened hand towel in the microwave. Poor Jen had the worst sinus congestion. She dabbed the appropriate oils, refolded it, and placed it on Jenny's forehead.
Jenny murmured her thanks and thought, ironically, how she'd wished for a mom like this in years past. Who knew her own mother would turn out to be the one she'd wanted? She drifted off to sleep, the soothing aromas of the oils unclenching the tightness in her head.
Karen got to work. She did a load of laundry, cleaned the litterboxes and bathroom as best she could, did the dishes, and cleaned the obvious out of the fridge. She replaced the expired, discarded food with fresh organic options she knew Jenny liked.
When she finished, Karen sat down on the couch, catching her reflection in the front hall mirror. "One day I left the house with my shirt inside out" Jenny had confided. "I need to to a last check". Her somber brown eyes gazed back. Her face showed her age, due to the years of heavy smoking. Karen found it ironic she'd never really had any health problems, besides the drinking and bipolar disorder. Her plump figure reflected a love of her own baked goods, but her husband was fine with that. She was a lot shorter than Jenny, whose 5'8 must have been a gift from her father.
The cat door clicked and Princess wandered in, headed over to Karen. Karen held her breath. She'd always worried her daughter's cat would hate her. Princess adored Jenny, and had avoided Karen for as long as she could remember.
Could she ever atone for her sins? She knew Jesus' sacrifice had covered them, but she had such a terrible time forgiving herself. Karen offered a shaking hand (a side effect of the lithium) to the cat, who butted up against it and demanded petting. She stroked the cat gently.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Chapter 30
A few weeks later, Jenny developed a sore throat, which quickly developed into a nasty cold. Her boss sent her home early, insisting she take the rest of the week off.
Thankfully Jenny had sick leave; she wouldn't lose any money. She called Charlie (they had plans for coffee, whatever Charlie had planned he was taking it very slow) and left a message on his voicemail.
Charlie was horrified when he got the voicemail. Jenny sounded so awful. He thought about it, prayed about it, and called his pastor. Then he went to her house.
"I want to help you" he told her, as she stood there in her orange bathrobe, sneezing into a battered tissue. "What can I do?"
Jenny sat on the couch for a few minutes and thought about it. "Glead the litter bogeses." Charlie nodded. He cleaned Baby Girl's box every day. He got to work and finished the job in no time.
"I want to get you some medicine" he told Jenny, as she lay back on the couch, coughing. She sat up. "The syrup will kill me". Charlie gaped.
"My antidepressant will interact with decongestants. You have to get me the 12 hour mucus pill, and an antihistamine, seperate." Charlie nodded and made a note on his smartphone. "Cough drops. Sugar free. A couple different flavors, please." She blew her nose again. "And more tissues." She rubbed her forehead.
"What do you take for headaches?" Charlie asked, his blue eyes dark with concern. "I can tell you have a headache." Jenny sighed.
"I have about half a bottle. I'm OK, but if you want to get more it's in the medicine cabinet." Charlie looked. Generic brand. Of course.
Jenny looked at Charlie, wondering how much he'd changed. She was tired. Her eyes itched. Her throat hurt, her sinuses throbbed, and she just wanted to crawl into bed... but she had a problem. "My refills came in today" Charlie tensed. "I need to pick them up." Charlie took a breath and waited for her to finish - a big change from the old Charlie.
"Would you like me to take you?" he asked "I could take you in for the refills, take you home, then get your other supplies."
Jenny sent up a quick prayer and thought for a moment. "You can get them." She headed into the bedroom and dug around in a pants pocket, pulling out a wad of money. "Here's the money". Charlie gave her a speaking look as she offered it, then raised his eyebrows.
"How much is it?" he asked. She told him, and he laughed. "I spent more than that filling up my gas tank!" Jenny, left holding the money, looked at it for a moment before sticking it back in her pocket. She could always put it in the emergency fund.
Charlie left the house and got into his new-to-him crossover SUV. It had plenty of room for merchandise and held his Mag-liner folding cart without any problems. He liked the sporty lines and the navy paint. Jenny liked it, too.
He drove to Mega-mart and went to the pharmacy, pushing a shopping cart. He talked to his dad, a pharmacist, as he waited in line and verified the medications Jenny could take without having an interaction. Charlie shuddered at the thought - here, honey, have some cough syrup...
The technician gave him a searching look as she handed over the medication, and Charlie explained Jenny's cold. "She didn't want to get you sick" She smiled and passed on well-wishes.
Charlie hunted up the cough drops, medication, and tissues. He opted for the name brand lotion variety "Soothes sore noses". Jenny's nose had looked pretty sore!
Even though she hadn't asked, he also picked up some cat treats and litter. Jenny had been running low and he'd noted the names.
Every time he went to Jenny's house, she had cottage cheese and plain greek yogurt in her fridge. He'd peeked - she was out. He added them to the basket, along with juice, honey, soup, and lemonade. Mom had always sworn by a hot lemonade when he got sick. He threw some fresh lemons into the cart and went to checkout.
As he waited in line, he noted the low price on the candy bars and mused about food costs. Mega-Mart had cheaper prices, but his machines offered convenience, and people were willing to pay for that.
Charlie headed out into the dark and humid parking lot, loaded his groceries, and took them to Jenny. She smiled beautifully when he gave her the refills.
Maybe he could regain her trust. Charlie knew she still cared, but her walls were up. He wanted to batter them down but he knew more than anyone how she'd react to that approach.
Thankfully Jenny had sick leave; she wouldn't lose any money. She called Charlie (they had plans for coffee, whatever Charlie had planned he was taking it very slow) and left a message on his voicemail.
Charlie was horrified when he got the voicemail. Jenny sounded so awful. He thought about it, prayed about it, and called his pastor. Then he went to her house.
"I want to help you" he told her, as she stood there in her orange bathrobe, sneezing into a battered tissue. "What can I do?"
Jenny sat on the couch for a few minutes and thought about it. "Glead the litter bogeses." Charlie nodded. He cleaned Baby Girl's box every day. He got to work and finished the job in no time.
"I want to get you some medicine" he told Jenny, as she lay back on the couch, coughing. She sat up. "The syrup will kill me". Charlie gaped.
"My antidepressant will interact with decongestants. You have to get me the 12 hour mucus pill, and an antihistamine, seperate." Charlie nodded and made a note on his smartphone. "Cough drops. Sugar free. A couple different flavors, please." She blew her nose again. "And more tissues." She rubbed her forehead.
"What do you take for headaches?" Charlie asked, his blue eyes dark with concern. "I can tell you have a headache." Jenny sighed.
"I have about half a bottle. I'm OK, but if you want to get more it's in the medicine cabinet." Charlie looked. Generic brand. Of course.
Jenny looked at Charlie, wondering how much he'd changed. She was tired. Her eyes itched. Her throat hurt, her sinuses throbbed, and she just wanted to crawl into bed... but she had a problem. "My refills came in today" Charlie tensed. "I need to pick them up." Charlie took a breath and waited for her to finish - a big change from the old Charlie.
"Would you like me to take you?" he asked "I could take you in for the refills, take you home, then get your other supplies."
Jenny sent up a quick prayer and thought for a moment. "You can get them." She headed into the bedroom and dug around in a pants pocket, pulling out a wad of money. "Here's the money". Charlie gave her a speaking look as she offered it, then raised his eyebrows.
"How much is it?" he asked. She told him, and he laughed. "I spent more than that filling up my gas tank!" Jenny, left holding the money, looked at it for a moment before sticking it back in her pocket. She could always put it in the emergency fund.
Charlie left the house and got into his new-to-him crossover SUV. It had plenty of room for merchandise and held his Mag-liner folding cart without any problems. He liked the sporty lines and the navy paint. Jenny liked it, too.
He drove to Mega-mart and went to the pharmacy, pushing a shopping cart. He talked to his dad, a pharmacist, as he waited in line and verified the medications Jenny could take without having an interaction. Charlie shuddered at the thought - here, honey, have some cough syrup...
The technician gave him a searching look as she handed over the medication, and Charlie explained Jenny's cold. "She didn't want to get you sick" She smiled and passed on well-wishes.
Charlie hunted up the cough drops, medication, and tissues. He opted for the name brand lotion variety "Soothes sore noses". Jenny's nose had looked pretty sore!
Even though she hadn't asked, he also picked up some cat treats and litter. Jenny had been running low and he'd noted the names.
Every time he went to Jenny's house, she had cottage cheese and plain greek yogurt in her fridge. He'd peeked - she was out. He added them to the basket, along with juice, honey, soup, and lemonade. Mom had always sworn by a hot lemonade when he got sick. He threw some fresh lemons into the cart and went to checkout.
As he waited in line, he noted the low price on the candy bars and mused about food costs. Mega-Mart had cheaper prices, but his machines offered convenience, and people were willing to pay for that.
Charlie headed out into the dark and humid parking lot, loaded his groceries, and took them to Jenny. She smiled beautifully when he gave her the refills.
Maybe he could regain her trust. Charlie knew she still cared, but her walls were up. He wanted to batter them down but he knew more than anyone how she'd react to that approach.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Chapter 29
Jenny saw Javin coming down the road and waved cheerfully. He picked up his pace and headed towards her yard, dumping his backpack by the door. He opened the front porch and walked in, gaping at the stacks of Bibles.
Jenny couldn't believe it. Every Bible she'd ever wanted, right here in her living room. She'd continue to pray and see when God wanted the next handout.
She grinned at Javin's slack jaw as he surveyed the room. He ran a hand along a case of open, children's Bibles, and she smiled.
He'd loved the Children's Bible she'd given him a few years ago. She planned to give him a NKJV Study Bible for his birthday in a few weeks. Pops had given his permission along with a searching look.
"My husband came back." Javin knew a little of her situation, she'd had to leave a "bad marriage". He'd wanted to know if Charlie hit her and she'd said no.
Javin gaped at her now. She absently noted his molars were almost in. He began pelting her with questions and she explained the events of the last few days.
"He came by to talk, I think. He was really sick, and I took care of him for a few days. Last night I got fired from the gas station. He took me to Mega-mart, and gave me the Bibles. He says he wants to take care of me; and he doesn't want a divorce. I don't know what he wants."
She paused. "He has a really cute black kitten, with one eye." Javin alerted. He'd found a sweet brown tabby kitten in the bushes a few months ago. Jenny and Pops had worked to get her fixed, and she was the queen of the household. She loved to lie in Pop's lap when he had his dialysis treatment. "Jasmine would love her, I bet."
Jenny headed for the kitchen. "Since Charlie was buying, I got the good stuff. Would you like a snack?" She pulled a carton of unsweetened soymilk out of the fridge, and began digging around for sliced meat.
Jenny couldn't believe it. Every Bible she'd ever wanted, right here in her living room. She'd continue to pray and see when God wanted the next handout.
She grinned at Javin's slack jaw as he surveyed the room. He ran a hand along a case of open, children's Bibles, and she smiled.
He'd loved the Children's Bible she'd given him a few years ago. She planned to give him a NKJV Study Bible for his birthday in a few weeks. Pops had given his permission along with a searching look.
"My husband came back." Javin knew a little of her situation, she'd had to leave a "bad marriage". He'd wanted to know if Charlie hit her and she'd said no.
Javin gaped at her now. She absently noted his molars were almost in. He began pelting her with questions and she explained the events of the last few days.
"He came by to talk, I think. He was really sick, and I took care of him for a few days. Last night I got fired from the gas station. He took me to Mega-mart, and gave me the Bibles. He says he wants to take care of me; and he doesn't want a divorce. I don't know what he wants."
She paused. "He has a really cute black kitten, with one eye." Javin alerted. He'd found a sweet brown tabby kitten in the bushes a few months ago. Jenny and Pops had worked to get her fixed, and she was the queen of the household. She loved to lie in Pop's lap when he had his dialysis treatment. "Jasmine would love her, I bet."
Jenny headed for the kitchen. "Since Charlie was buying, I got the good stuff. Would you like a snack?" She pulled a carton of unsweetened soymilk out of the fridge, and began digging around for sliced meat.
Chapter 28
Javin headed home, carrying his backpack over one shoulder, kicking an empty soda can. School wasn't too bad, he supposed, but it hurt to hear the other kids talk about their parents.
He hated, more than anything, watching the fathers at the games. His father was in prison, for murder; a drug deal gone bad, he'd explained in a letter. The other boys had fathers, he had letters.
At least Jenny understood; her own father had gone to prison for a while, attacking the man who'd hurt her. "It was a small town, Dad knew where they'd arraign him. From what I heard there wasn't much left."
Jenny'd lost her Dad; so had he. She had her father back, but Javin would never see his father free again. He'd gotten life. His mother had overdosed a few months later and he'd gone to live with Pop.
Javin had found her body. He'd never forget the sight of her stiff limbs and dead, glazed, eyes. He shuddered. He'd never take drugs; they'd killed his mother and might as well have killed his father.
Javin was a medium skinned young black man, twelve years old, developing a nice set of muscles, he thought. Jenny wouldn't let him use the weights yet but they did callistenics.
"People are going to think I'm a pervert" she'd said bluntly, blowing her hair out of her face. "Your Pops is OK with this?" She'd waved a hand at herself and her house as they stood out back. "I'm not so good with the social rules and all but I wonder what people might think."
Pops had come over in his wheelchair and asked her questions, mainly about Jesus, Javin mused. He must have been happy with the answers because he told them both Javin could come over. "As long as it's OK with you" Pops had clarified. "Don't be a pest."
Pops wasn't afraid of the belt, no matter what people said, and Javin respected his rules. Jenny had told him she had bad times; but he was still welcome. He'd just have to understand she wasn't the same Jenny.
He'd wanted to hug her, but didn't. Miss Jenny was everything he'd wanted in a parent. She said she was different, but Javin figured she was in all the right ways. She didn't judge him by his skin, even after that other black guy had robbed her at the bus stop. His fists clenched.
When she found out he had bipolar disorder too, she'd cried, then begged him to take his medications as directed. Javin had shared his fears of addiction and she'd showed him her medication.
"Do you think I'm a junkie?" she'd asked teasingly.
Heck, no.
He hated, more than anything, watching the fathers at the games. His father was in prison, for murder; a drug deal gone bad, he'd explained in a letter. The other boys had fathers, he had letters.
At least Jenny understood; her own father had gone to prison for a while, attacking the man who'd hurt her. "It was a small town, Dad knew where they'd arraign him. From what I heard there wasn't much left."
Jenny'd lost her Dad; so had he. She had her father back, but Javin would never see his father free again. He'd gotten life. His mother had overdosed a few months later and he'd gone to live with Pop.
Javin had found her body. He'd never forget the sight of her stiff limbs and dead, glazed, eyes. He shuddered. He'd never take drugs; they'd killed his mother and might as well have killed his father.
Javin was a medium skinned young black man, twelve years old, developing a nice set of muscles, he thought. Jenny wouldn't let him use the weights yet but they did callistenics.
"People are going to think I'm a pervert" she'd said bluntly, blowing her hair out of her face. "Your Pops is OK with this?" She'd waved a hand at herself and her house as they stood out back. "I'm not so good with the social rules and all but I wonder what people might think."
Pops had come over in his wheelchair and asked her questions, mainly about Jesus, Javin mused. He must have been happy with the answers because he told them both Javin could come over. "As long as it's OK with you" Pops had clarified. "Don't be a pest."
Pops wasn't afraid of the belt, no matter what people said, and Javin respected his rules. Jenny had told him she had bad times; but he was still welcome. He'd just have to understand she wasn't the same Jenny.
He'd wanted to hug her, but didn't. Miss Jenny was everything he'd wanted in a parent. She said she was different, but Javin figured she was in all the right ways. She didn't judge him by his skin, even after that other black guy had robbed her at the bus stop. His fists clenched.
When she found out he had bipolar disorder too, she'd cried, then begged him to take his medications as directed. Javin had shared his fears of addiction and she'd showed him her medication.
"Do you think I'm a junkie?" she'd asked teasingly.
Heck, no.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Chapter 27
Charlie dropped Jenny off at home and helped her unload the Bibles, noting the attention from next door. He'd have to ask Jenny if she ever had any problems. Then again, he reminded himself, Jenny could certainly handle herself. He loaded Baby Girl into her carrier as she howled in protest, the older black cat watching carefully.
He closed the door to his apartment and sat down on the plain couch. Jenny had always thrown an afghan on the couch, and she'd left him the blue-toned one she'd made when she learned to knit. He'd put it away, the memories too painful, but maybe it was time to get it out. He dug it out of the closet, gave it a sniff for freshness, and draped it over the couch.
Baby Girl immediately climbed up on the couch and began kneading the blanket as she purred. He got himself a drink of water and fired up the laptop.
Charlie closed it, hours later, with a notepad full of notes. He'd learned a lot. He checked the time and whistled. He had about 3 hours of sleep before he had to go back to work.
He headed off to bed.
Jeff opened his email after doing his morning God time, musing over what his brother had written. He'd always liked Jenny. Charlie was the one one who'd ever really mattereed to her; and they had been soulmates from the moment they met.
Charlie clearly wanted to patch things up; and Jenny certainly didn't hate him. But Charlie's control issues had nearly wrecked them.
Jenny's pride hadn't helped. Having been told 'You can't" her entire life, she was bound and determined to do everything for herself. It must have taken an amazing amount of restraint for them to come to this point: asking him for help in fixing Jenny's housing problem.
He had some ideas, but now he had to get to work. He picked up his paramedic bag and left the house.
He closed the door to his apartment and sat down on the plain couch. Jenny had always thrown an afghan on the couch, and she'd left him the blue-toned one she'd made when she learned to knit. He'd put it away, the memories too painful, but maybe it was time to get it out. He dug it out of the closet, gave it a sniff for freshness, and draped it over the couch.
Baby Girl immediately climbed up on the couch and began kneading the blanket as she purred. He got himself a drink of water and fired up the laptop.
Charlie closed it, hours later, with a notepad full of notes. He'd learned a lot. He checked the time and whistled. He had about 3 hours of sleep before he had to go back to work.
He headed off to bed.
Jeff opened his email after doing his morning God time, musing over what his brother had written. He'd always liked Jenny. Charlie was the one one who'd ever really mattereed to her; and they had been soulmates from the moment they met.
Charlie clearly wanted to patch things up; and Jenny certainly didn't hate him. But Charlie's control issues had nearly wrecked them.
Jenny's pride hadn't helped. Having been told 'You can't" her entire life, she was bound and determined to do everything for herself. It must have taken an amazing amount of restraint for them to come to this point: asking him for help in fixing Jenny's housing problem.
He had some ideas, but now he had to get to work. He picked up his paramedic bag and left the house.
Chapter 26
Charlie felt a prickle in the back of his neck and looked up from his spreadsheet. Jenny was frowning at the manuals as though they'd insulted her, her eyes bright with tears.
God, please don't let me screw this up. Please.
He tried to still himself for a moment and receive guidance from God. Upon a gentle inner prompting, he walked over to Jenny and knelt by her chair, taking her hand in his own.
Tears slid down her face quietly as she looked up at him. "Remember when I had that evaluation? They told me I had brain damage, and bipolar disorder. They said I'd end up in some kind of dependent living situation - a group home, or living with Mom for the rest of my life?" She choked back a sob as Charlie nodded, his blue eyes brightly focused on hers.
Jenny gave into temptation and ran her hand through his hair, resting it on the back of his neck. Charlie had changed. Instead of rushing to help her, he was actually listening. "I remember" he murmured. "That's the first time I proposed to you. I told you if you needed someone to take care of you I wanted to do it."
Jenny blinked in shock as the memory came back. Charlie, indignant and furious, telling her he'd love her forever if she'd let him. Her acceptance. The makeout session in the bathroom until they'd been caught.
"Jenny" he continued "That's never mattered to me, any of it. I don't care about the 'disabilities'. I wish I had hurt Carl Smith, and I think I always will; but what he did to you never mattered. You matter - not the things you think are problems." Charlie took a deep, shaking breath as he watched Jenny leaning back in her chair.
"We need to figure something out." she began. "My house is a dump. I found one used mobile home in my budget; and it was worse than the house. I have a $600 mortgage, one job, and an absent husband. I'm going to end up living in a tent if I don't figure something out." It was Jenny's turn to take a deep breath. "I don't want you to 'fix' it, even if you could, even with that." She gestured to his backpack. "I want to go out and fix this on my own, but I can't. " She looked him in the eyes.
"I need help, but I don't want you to take over." She took a deep breath. "Can you do that, Charlie?"
Charlie nodded.
God, please don't let me screw this up. Please.
He tried to still himself for a moment and receive guidance from God. Upon a gentle inner prompting, he walked over to Jenny and knelt by her chair, taking her hand in his own.
Tears slid down her face quietly as she looked up at him. "Remember when I had that evaluation? They told me I had brain damage, and bipolar disorder. They said I'd end up in some kind of dependent living situation - a group home, or living with Mom for the rest of my life?" She choked back a sob as Charlie nodded, his blue eyes brightly focused on hers.
Jenny gave into temptation and ran her hand through his hair, resting it on the back of his neck. Charlie had changed. Instead of rushing to help her, he was actually listening. "I remember" he murmured. "That's the first time I proposed to you. I told you if you needed someone to take care of you I wanted to do it."
Jenny blinked in shock as the memory came back. Charlie, indignant and furious, telling her he'd love her forever if she'd let him. Her acceptance. The makeout session in the bathroom until they'd been caught.
"Jenny" he continued "That's never mattered to me, any of it. I don't care about the 'disabilities'. I wish I had hurt Carl Smith, and I think I always will; but what he did to you never mattered. You matter - not the things you think are problems." Charlie took a deep, shaking breath as he watched Jenny leaning back in her chair.
"We need to figure something out." she began. "My house is a dump. I found one used mobile home in my budget; and it was worse than the house. I have a $600 mortgage, one job, and an absent husband. I'm going to end up living in a tent if I don't figure something out." It was Jenny's turn to take a deep breath. "I don't want you to 'fix' it, even if you could, even with that." She gestured to his backpack. "I want to go out and fix this on my own, but I can't. " She looked him in the eyes.
"I need help, but I don't want you to take over." She took a deep breath. "Can you do that, Charlie?"
Charlie nodded.
Chapter 25
After Jenny's question, Charlie had handed her a package of five dollar bills. Jenny had protested, but he'd insisted, so she stuck it in her backpack.
What would she do with the money? She didn't need any Bibles. Jenny guessed she could make Princess another chicken breast. Princess loved cooked chicken and Jenny loved to cook for her. Princess had been old when Jenny got her - the former home owner had rescued her several years ago.
"She was fixed" Mrs. Jones had said, moving her tobacco chaw to the other cheek. "So she had a home." She spat. "Some shithead left her in my yard. I won't be dumping her just 'cause I'm going to hospice. If you buy my house you're buying the cat for life." Jenny had looked at Princess, purring in the old lady's lap.
"Of course I'll take her." She'd had to reassure the old lady she wasn't an "idiot" about black cats, she had experience with same, and would feed the cat before she'd feed herself.
Mrs Jones had consented to the sale - owner finance, and everyone had been happy. Jenny had taken great pains to mail photos of a happy Princess to Mrs. Jones until her death, and had attended the funeral. She made her payments to the estate now.
Jenny knew her home had some serious problems. She'd seen the way Charlie had looked at her bathroom. She was scared to scrub the tub enclosure due to the falling tiles - everytime she cleaned she lost more tiles! She'd felt some wierd spots in the floor, and dropped items always rolled off to one side. She also had alarmingly high water bills.
She had problems - serious problems. She'd known she was buying an old house. "Used". "As-is". "Handyman Special". She'd secretly hoped Charlie would come back and fix them, naively dreaming he'd show up anyday now.
He hadn't. She couldn't afford the kind of work she needed. She couldn't even afford the demolition; much less the purchase of a new (to her) mobile home and placement on the property.
She'd wanted Charlie to save her. He hadn't.
She had to save herself; and she couldn't.
What would she do with the money? She didn't need any Bibles. Jenny guessed she could make Princess another chicken breast. Princess loved cooked chicken and Jenny loved to cook for her. Princess had been old when Jenny got her - the former home owner had rescued her several years ago.
"She was fixed" Mrs. Jones had said, moving her tobacco chaw to the other cheek. "So she had a home." She spat. "Some shithead left her in my yard. I won't be dumping her just 'cause I'm going to hospice. If you buy my house you're buying the cat for life." Jenny had looked at Princess, purring in the old lady's lap.
"Of course I'll take her." She'd had to reassure the old lady she wasn't an "idiot" about black cats, she had experience with same, and would feed the cat before she'd feed herself.
Mrs Jones had consented to the sale - owner finance, and everyone had been happy. Jenny had taken great pains to mail photos of a happy Princess to Mrs. Jones until her death, and had attended the funeral. She made her payments to the estate now.
Jenny knew her home had some serious problems. She'd seen the way Charlie had looked at her bathroom. She was scared to scrub the tub enclosure due to the falling tiles - everytime she cleaned she lost more tiles! She'd felt some wierd spots in the floor, and dropped items always rolled off to one side. She also had alarmingly high water bills.
She had problems - serious problems. She'd known she was buying an old house. "Used". "As-is". "Handyman Special". She'd secretly hoped Charlie would come back and fix them, naively dreaming he'd show up anyday now.
He hadn't. She couldn't afford the kind of work she needed. She couldn't even afford the demolition; much less the purchase of a new (to her) mobile home and placement on the property.
She'd wanted Charlie to save her. He hadn't.
She had to save herself; and she couldn't.
Chapter 24
Charlie snickered to himself as Jenny sat engrossed, reading a snack machine manual in a folding office chair. He'd set her up with a cold soda. She'd declined chips or candy, accepting a bag of pork rinds. He smiled at her as she tucked the strand of hair behind her ear as she turned a page in the manual.
Jenny, like him, had always loved to figure out how things worked. Charlie had figured she'd want to know about the equipment or the safe, but she'd gone straight for the shelf of manuals. She took a sip of soda, licking her lips.
Charlie gave himself a mental shake and turned to the "pull" - the money he'd taken out of the machines the morning he'd gotten sick. It seemed ages ago, now. He pulled out the stacks of bills, rubberbanded.
He removed the rubber bands and began to count the bills by hand. It was a lot more affordable to count the bills yourself, than to use a bill sorter machine. Besides, the one he'd tried had beeped incessantly, refusing to process the typically used bills he found in his validators. Occasionally, he'd separate a five dollar bill into a separate stack, the rest found their way into hundred-packs of singles. He put the hundred-packs back into his backpack after noting them on a tally sheet.
Jenny leaned back in her chair, watching Charlie count. He looked so cute and serious, counting his money. He sat at an old metal desk, facing a corner. Behind him Jenny spotted a metal rack full of vending machine parts. They had labels like "Rowe Snack Validator" and "Food compressor". "Snack Parts" appeared to be comprised of metal coils leaping out of the milk crate like demented springs. She never knew vending required so many parts.
She turned to her left and pulled out the "Manual" box, replacing "Rowe 648 Snack Merchandiser" and removing "Rowe Bill Changer". Charlie sure seemed to like his Rowes. She settled back in her chair.
Charlie finished counting. It had been a good week. "Hey, Jenny, I'd like to show you something." He began stacking bills into piles. Jenny got up, stretched, and came over. He could smell her soap, something light and sweet.
He pointed at the first, and biggest, stack of money. "This is inventory". He pointed at another: "Taxes." Jenny made a sour face. "This one, God forbid, repairs. I like to put a percentage aside so they don't bite me in the butt." Jenny nodded. He pointed at a good-sized stack of hundred packs. "Profit". Jenny nodded.
"Question" she began. Charlie nodded. "What's the duration on this - a month?" Charlie gave her a wicked grin.
"A week." Jenny gulped.
Jenny, like him, had always loved to figure out how things worked. Charlie had figured she'd want to know about the equipment or the safe, but she'd gone straight for the shelf of manuals. She took a sip of soda, licking her lips.
Charlie gave himself a mental shake and turned to the "pull" - the money he'd taken out of the machines the morning he'd gotten sick. It seemed ages ago, now. He pulled out the stacks of bills, rubberbanded.
He removed the rubber bands and began to count the bills by hand. It was a lot more affordable to count the bills yourself, than to use a bill sorter machine. Besides, the one he'd tried had beeped incessantly, refusing to process the typically used bills he found in his validators. Occasionally, he'd separate a five dollar bill into a separate stack, the rest found their way into hundred-packs of singles. He put the hundred-packs back into his backpack after noting them on a tally sheet.
Jenny leaned back in her chair, watching Charlie count. He looked so cute and serious, counting his money. He sat at an old metal desk, facing a corner. Behind him Jenny spotted a metal rack full of vending machine parts. They had labels like "Rowe Snack Validator" and "Food compressor". "Snack Parts" appeared to be comprised of metal coils leaping out of the milk crate like demented springs. She never knew vending required so many parts.
She turned to her left and pulled out the "Manual" box, replacing "Rowe 648 Snack Merchandiser" and removing "Rowe Bill Changer". Charlie sure seemed to like his Rowes. She settled back in her chair.
Charlie finished counting. It had been a good week. "Hey, Jenny, I'd like to show you something." He began stacking bills into piles. Jenny got up, stretched, and came over. He could smell her soap, something light and sweet.
He pointed at the first, and biggest, stack of money. "This is inventory". He pointed at another: "Taxes." Jenny made a sour face. "This one, God forbid, repairs. I like to put a percentage aside so they don't bite me in the butt." Jenny nodded. He pointed at a good-sized stack of hundred packs. "Profit". Jenny nodded.
"Question" she began. Charlie nodded. "What's the duration on this - a month?" Charlie gave her a wicked grin.
"A week." Jenny gulped.
Chapter 23
Charlie pulled over in an office/warehouse complex and turned to look at Jenny. "I hope you don't mind" he murmured "If I run by the office for a minute. I'd like to show it to you, anyway." Jenny nodded. "It's not the best area..." Jenny began to snicker as she surveyed the area. Streetlights lit a semi-industrial area that reminded her of home. A used car dealership squatted next to an oil changer. One of Houston's ubiquitous taco stands shared a corner with the oil change facility. It was a lot better than her Bible handout location and a hell of a lot better than their first apartment. She rolled her eyes at him.
"Charlie" she began somberly. "I think your misunderstanding has been a huge source of problems in our marriage. I'm not fancy. In fact fancy places have brought me a lot of pain. I was happiest with you in our first apartment. Remember that? I told the landlady about the drug dealer and she asked which one I'd seen?"
"'Which one," Charlie murmured. "And then she gave you the lecture about 'snitchin'."
"Yeah" Jenny nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was happiest with my mom in a 2 bedroom trailer. I was happy with you in a crime-ridden dump. I don't need a fancy place to be happy; they make me nervous. Like I said, bad things happen in fancy places." She fought back the memories of her aunt's apartment. The hardwood floors, gloriously decorated bedrooms, and stone countertops had concealed a lot of evil. The nicely furnished home Charlie had rented had hidden his devotion to the cult and criminal misunderstanding of her needs.
Charlie nodded sadly, reading between the lines as he often did. "I didn't help." Jenny gave him a one shoulder shrug.
"I know my home isn't much, Charlie, but it's mine. It's a safe place I've made for myself and my cat. It meets my needs; access to a bus line, very quiet evenings, and a garden. If things get better," When they got better, Charlie vowed. "I can expand a little. I know my house has some issues; so I've been looking at used mobile homes."
Charlie started. He hadn't known that. At least he wouldn't have to tell her - what - she couldn't live there? Oh, yeah, that would go over great.
But her house was a dump.
"So," Jenny brightened her tone of voice. "Show me your office. Or do you call it 'The shop'?"
Monday, July 22, 2013
Chapter 22
Charlie wasn't done. "Look in the backseat, Jen." She turned her head, to the center row of seats, filled up with cardboard boxes.
Jenny only got one thing in cardboad boxes. She squealed as Charlie turned on the light and got out of the car, opening the back passenger door.
"Bibles!" she squealed. Charlie'd gotten the classic New Testaments she used as the backbone of every handout, the Spanish-language Biblias she got off the internet, and the coveted Children's Bibles her recipients adored. "I got Kid Bibles!" She danced around happily. "Yo tengo Espanol!" She bounced up and down, as excited as a child at Christmas.
Charlie smiled at his wife; he'd missed her enthusiasm. Jenny invested herself into everything she did, caring more than the average person. It was clear he'd gotten her the perfect gift. "I can take them back and get you some jewelry, if you'd like?" Jenny playfully slapped him and went back to counting cases.
Charlie cleared his throat and she looked at him, concerned. "This isn't it." She gaped. "I'm going to keep you in Bibles. God's blessed me; I need to share that with others - through you." Jenny nodded soberly.
"I hope you know what you're in for." They grinned at each other in the parking lot, June bugs flying around the streetlight and hitting the ground around them. The air was moist and humid, the stars hidden behind a blanket of thick and puffy clouds. Charlie offered her his arm and she shut the doors, taking his arm.
"Let's go gas up my pimp-mobile."
Jenny only got one thing in cardboad boxes. She squealed as Charlie turned on the light and got out of the car, opening the back passenger door.
"Bibles!" she squealed. Charlie'd gotten the classic New Testaments she used as the backbone of every handout, the Spanish-language Biblias she got off the internet, and the coveted Children's Bibles her recipients adored. "I got Kid Bibles!" She danced around happily. "Yo tengo Espanol!" She bounced up and down, as excited as a child at Christmas.
Charlie smiled at his wife; he'd missed her enthusiasm. Jenny invested herself into everything she did, caring more than the average person. It was clear he'd gotten her the perfect gift. "I can take them back and get you some jewelry, if you'd like?" Jenny playfully slapped him and went back to counting cases.
Charlie cleared his throat and she looked at him, concerned. "This isn't it." She gaped. "I'm going to keep you in Bibles. God's blessed me; I need to share that with others - through you." Jenny nodded soberly.
"I hope you know what you're in for." They grinned at each other in the parking lot, June bugs flying around the streetlight and hitting the ground around them. The air was moist and humid, the stars hidden behind a blanket of thick and puffy clouds. Charlie offered her his arm and she shut the doors, taking his arm.
"Let's go gas up my pimp-mobile."
Chapter 21
Charlie drove down the Beltway, dodging a manic in a sports car and an older lady texting on a cell phone. Houston driving.
He looked over at Jenny, staring out the windshield in the dim light. Jenny had impressed the hell out of him, talking to Flaco's Mom and giving her the Bibles. She'd consoled the older lady in Spanish, praying with her and handing over two very nice bilingual Biblbes. He wondered what Jenny was thinking. Jenny glanced over at him.
"Would you like some music?" Charlie asked. "I have an input jack if you have your MP3 player, or I have the satellite music channels."
Jenny shifted in her seat, paused, and bit her lip. "Charlie" Her serious eyes burned a hole in him. "How can you afford this pimp-mobile?"
Charlie choked with laughter and nearly swerved into another lane, corrected. "Pimp-mobile?" He looked around at the plush seats and the elaborate console. Maybe she had a point.
"This is a loaner." Jenny sat up a little straighter. "My car was t-boned" And I almost died, he thought. He'd had far too much time to think as the car had slid into oncoming traffic. Jenny's eyes widened. "No wonder you're getting migraines."
Charlie pulled into a gas station, unfastened his seatbelt, and faced his wife. "I had a lot of time to think about what's important. Like you." He swallowed. "I have to make things right."
Jenny's face was still in the darkness. She'd learned the trick, she said, living with Carl. He fed on fear and she'd learned to hide her emotions.
"What does that entail, Charlie?" Her voice was husky, and she cleared her throat. "You don't want a divorce - are we permanently separated or what? I've been living in limbo." Her voice cracked with annoyance as her face relaxed into anger. "I've been busting my butt to live on my own and follow the Bible. And you've done, what, exactly? Bought yourself some kind of pimp mobile and sent me a thousand a month in guilt offerings? Thanks for the money, by the way, you pay a lot of bills, but I'd rather have a husband!"
Charlie coughed. "I know. I read 'Or Get Off the Pot' after the accident. It made me realize I had a lot to do." She nodded tersely. She'd vented all her anger into the post, calling Charlie a coward and worse, demanding he give her a divorce and get of her life forever - or stand up and be the man she thought she'd married.
Charlie leaned towards her and took her clenched hand in his "I want to be your husband. I want to live with you and watch you grow old. I want to take you to Mega Mart and help you hand out Bibles on the corner. If you'll let me."
Jenny gaped at him, her jaw slack. This was the last thing she'd expected.
He looked over at Jenny, staring out the windshield in the dim light. Jenny had impressed the hell out of him, talking to Flaco's Mom and giving her the Bibles. She'd consoled the older lady in Spanish, praying with her and handing over two very nice bilingual Biblbes. He wondered what Jenny was thinking. Jenny glanced over at him.
"Would you like some music?" Charlie asked. "I have an input jack if you have your MP3 player, or I have the satellite music channels."
Jenny shifted in her seat, paused, and bit her lip. "Charlie" Her serious eyes burned a hole in him. "How can you afford this pimp-mobile?"
Charlie choked with laughter and nearly swerved into another lane, corrected. "Pimp-mobile?" He looked around at the plush seats and the elaborate console. Maybe she had a point.
"This is a loaner." Jenny sat up a little straighter. "My car was t-boned" And I almost died, he thought. He'd had far too much time to think as the car had slid into oncoming traffic. Jenny's eyes widened. "No wonder you're getting migraines."
Charlie pulled into a gas station, unfastened his seatbelt, and faced his wife. "I had a lot of time to think about what's important. Like you." He swallowed. "I have to make things right."
Jenny's face was still in the darkness. She'd learned the trick, she said, living with Carl. He fed on fear and she'd learned to hide her emotions.
"What does that entail, Charlie?" Her voice was husky, and she cleared her throat. "You don't want a divorce - are we permanently separated or what? I've been living in limbo." Her voice cracked with annoyance as her face relaxed into anger. "I've been busting my butt to live on my own and follow the Bible. And you've done, what, exactly? Bought yourself some kind of pimp mobile and sent me a thousand a month in guilt offerings? Thanks for the money, by the way, you pay a lot of bills, but I'd rather have a husband!"
Charlie coughed. "I know. I read 'Or Get Off the Pot' after the accident. It made me realize I had a lot to do." She nodded tersely. She'd vented all her anger into the post, calling Charlie a coward and worse, demanding he give her a divorce and get of her life forever - or stand up and be the man she thought she'd married.
Charlie leaned towards her and took her clenched hand in his "I want to be your husband. I want to live with you and watch you grow old. I want to take you to Mega Mart and help you hand out Bibles on the corner. If you'll let me."
Jenny gaped at him, her jaw slack. This was the last thing she'd expected.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Chapter 20
Jenny jumped as the phone rang, and Charlie cursed. He glared at his phone furiously, and she watched his fingers tighten.
Charlie furiously resisted the urge to throw the phone. He flipped it open "What?" , storming off to a private area, listening to the stream of dialogue and excuses. He felt the back of his neck getting tighter and tighter as the call continued, and began pacing.
Jenny gaped at Paul, clearly not her Charlie anymore, as he paced like a caged tiger, gesturing with his free hand, spitting words into the phone. He glanced up at her and she waved, making a silly face.
"Inappropriate", she was always being told, her whole life. "You're being inappropriate" Charlie's face tightened for a moment and he laughed silently, waving her off.
"I'm at the Mega-Mart on 1960" he barked. "Hurry up" He hung up and reholstered the cell phone. He glanced at Jenny, her face full of curiosity and a little fear at his anger. He put a hand on her arm.
"I'm not mad at you, Jen" She relaxed "I have a vending business. My guy just got arrested for drugs and worse." He glanced at her face, open and accepting. "His mom is bringing the keys to me, here." He sighed. "I have to go to work after this and do an accounting. He could have ripped me off, too. I have pretty tight cash control but he could have just walked off..." Jenny smiled.
"I'd like to see where you work, Char." He relaxed.
"Is he English?" Charlie cocked his head, baffled. "Your guy, does he speak English fluently?" Charlie nodded. "His mom?" He nodded again.
"Let's go get them some Bibles".
Charlie furiously resisted the urge to throw the phone. He flipped it open "What?" , storming off to a private area, listening to the stream of dialogue and excuses. He felt the back of his neck getting tighter and tighter as the call continued, and began pacing.
Jenny gaped at Paul, clearly not her Charlie anymore, as he paced like a caged tiger, gesturing with his free hand, spitting words into the phone. He glanced up at her and she waved, making a silly face.
"Inappropriate", she was always being told, her whole life. "You're being inappropriate" Charlie's face tightened for a moment and he laughed silently, waving her off.
"I'm at the Mega-Mart on 1960" he barked. "Hurry up" He hung up and reholstered the cell phone. He glanced at Jenny, her face full of curiosity and a little fear at his anger. He put a hand on her arm.
"I'm not mad at you, Jen" She relaxed "I have a vending business. My guy just got arrested for drugs and worse." He glanced at her face, open and accepting. "His mom is bringing the keys to me, here." He sighed. "I have to go to work after this and do an accounting. He could have ripped me off, too. I have pretty tight cash control but he could have just walked off..." Jenny smiled.
"I'd like to see where you work, Char." He relaxed.
"Is he English?" Charlie cocked his head, baffled. "Your guy, does he speak English fluently?" Charlie nodded. "His mom?" He nodded again.
"Let's go get them some Bibles".
Chapter 19
Jenny loved Mega-Mart at midnight. It was so quiet. She didn't have to go around other people, or back up because they parked their carts in the middle of the aisle, blocking it.
She looked into the cart. Bedsheets, fabric softener, yarn, cat food, and laundry detergent. She'd never bought the name-brand laundry tablets but Charlie swore they were great. "After all the laundry you've done, I want to buy you some detergent." She'd let him.
She gazed at her husband, his blonde hair flipping forward into his eyes, wearing the navy polo and slacks she'd found him in. Navy was a good color for Charlie, she thought, bringing out the blue in his eyes. He paused at bread aisle, pushing the shopping cart, and cocked his head.
Jenny tried to avoid bread these days. She shook her head and they moved on.
What was she doing. What were they doing? She'd left an uptight, rigid, legalistic jerk. This guy was the man she married, a little seasoned with a nice dash of maturity. He didn't want a divorce? What did he want?
Charlie held up a six-pack of bottled diet Dr Pepper. She grinned as he loaded it and a few companions into the cart. He bent over the Cokes, perked up, and began loading cases of canned Coke as well. Huh.
"Honey" he said absently. "Could you get us another cart? I need some more soda." Good gracious. With all that soda, no wonder he got migraines!
She went off to get the cart. Honey. Something was up. In the meantime, Jenny resolved to enjoy the good times.
Charlie straightened up as he finished loading the soda into the shopping cart. Mega-mart had offered a fantastic deal, better than the wholesale club, on soda. He'd gotten a good supply and saved at least $20.
He grinned at Jenny, fingering through the sugarfree drink mixes and tossing flavors into "her" cart. Money he could spend on her.
He'd taken a love language test, at the urging of Pastor Jim. Giving gifts, and quality time. He was getting both, at once.
He asked Jenny, she paused for a moment, and said "Quality time". That's what he'd figured. How had she taken a love language test, though? Facebook. Of course.
Any others? They were pretty even, she replied. Charlie indicated the dairy section, and she shook her head. "I try not to cheat on work, if I can".
Well, that was honest. Charlie had to admire her morals. Before he'd found Jenny's blog, he'd worried she had relapsed, gone off her meds for good, sleeping with every man in town. He'd confided in his Dad, who's showed him her blog, along with a cheerful post about hairball treats and a vomiting Princess.
He'd subscribed anonymously and read every update voraciously; wondering if it was legal to "stalk" his own wife. He'd raged when he read her post about the mugging and posted photos of her bruises. He'd wanted to crush the little slime who'd dared lay hands on his wife, and been humbled by her forgiveness, and prayer, for the attacker. Reluctantly Charlie prayed for the kid, everyday, too.
Pastor Jim had been thrilled. "I think you really have a chance" he exclaimed "To make this work. You've got your eyes on Jesus, both of you. I'd love to meet her." Charlie had to remind him of the cult. "I doubt she'll want to see a church again, for a very long time."
Jenny had headed over to the health and beauty section, and he followed her, pushing the heavy cart of soda. He gritted his teeth and tried to appear manly.
Charlie looked so cute, pushing the cart, Jenny thought. She hoped he didn't pop a disk. She blew him a teasing kiss and went down the female products aisle. Charlie parked at the end of the aisle and waited.
She threw a few items in the cart, unembarrassed. They had lived together as man and wife for 8 years before he'd joined the cult. He'd seen it all before.
Charlie chuckled to himself as he noted the generic brands headed into Jenny's cart. He wondered if she even thought about it anymore. They'd been so poor while he'd been in college, she'd had to pinch every penny. She had always bought generic brands if they "rated" and the name brands only as a last resort. He smiled to see at least one name brand headed into her cart, and they moved on.
"Soap"? She shook her head. "My Mom makes it now, I get all I want for free." Charlie raised an eyebrow. "I have a milk goat, she gets milk and I get free soap in return. I put a bar of unscented in the shower for you."
Charlie recalled the luxurious lather and sighed happily. "I want to buy a few" They discussed Mom's fragrance selections and moved on to the deodorant. Charlie snatched up a stick of Old Spice. "I know it's old fashioned, but you always liked it". She smiled at him.
"I always heard horror stories of men smothered in cologne, but you always had the perfect touch." They grinned at each other, then Jenny blushed at the double meaning and looked away. Charlie's hands tightened on the handle of the shopping cart. It had been a long time.
His phone rang, a nuclear alarm siren. Charlie cursed.
She looked into the cart. Bedsheets, fabric softener, yarn, cat food, and laundry detergent. She'd never bought the name-brand laundry tablets but Charlie swore they were great. "After all the laundry you've done, I want to buy you some detergent." She'd let him.
She gazed at her husband, his blonde hair flipping forward into his eyes, wearing the navy polo and slacks she'd found him in. Navy was a good color for Charlie, she thought, bringing out the blue in his eyes. He paused at bread aisle, pushing the shopping cart, and cocked his head.
Jenny tried to avoid bread these days. She shook her head and they moved on.
What was she doing. What were they doing? She'd left an uptight, rigid, legalistic jerk. This guy was the man she married, a little seasoned with a nice dash of maturity. He didn't want a divorce? What did he want?
Charlie held up a six-pack of bottled diet Dr Pepper. She grinned as he loaded it and a few companions into the cart. He bent over the Cokes, perked up, and began loading cases of canned Coke as well. Huh.
"Honey" he said absently. "Could you get us another cart? I need some more soda." Good gracious. With all that soda, no wonder he got migraines!
She went off to get the cart. Honey. Something was up. In the meantime, Jenny resolved to enjoy the good times.
Charlie straightened up as he finished loading the soda into the shopping cart. Mega-mart had offered a fantastic deal, better than the wholesale club, on soda. He'd gotten a good supply and saved at least $20.
He grinned at Jenny, fingering through the sugarfree drink mixes and tossing flavors into "her" cart. Money he could spend on her.
He'd taken a love language test, at the urging of Pastor Jim. Giving gifts, and quality time. He was getting both, at once.
He asked Jenny, she paused for a moment, and said "Quality time". That's what he'd figured. How had she taken a love language test, though? Facebook. Of course.
Any others? They were pretty even, she replied. Charlie indicated the dairy section, and she shook her head. "I try not to cheat on work, if I can".
Well, that was honest. Charlie had to admire her morals. Before he'd found Jenny's blog, he'd worried she had relapsed, gone off her meds for good, sleeping with every man in town. He'd confided in his Dad, who's showed him her blog, along with a cheerful post about hairball treats and a vomiting Princess.
He'd subscribed anonymously and read every update voraciously; wondering if it was legal to "stalk" his own wife. He'd raged when he read her post about the mugging and posted photos of her bruises. He'd wanted to crush the little slime who'd dared lay hands on his wife, and been humbled by her forgiveness, and prayer, for the attacker. Reluctantly Charlie prayed for the kid, everyday, too.
Pastor Jim had been thrilled. "I think you really have a chance" he exclaimed "To make this work. You've got your eyes on Jesus, both of you. I'd love to meet her." Charlie had to remind him of the cult. "I doubt she'll want to see a church again, for a very long time."
Jenny had headed over to the health and beauty section, and he followed her, pushing the heavy cart of soda. He gritted his teeth and tried to appear manly.
Charlie looked so cute, pushing the cart, Jenny thought. She hoped he didn't pop a disk. She blew him a teasing kiss and went down the female products aisle. Charlie parked at the end of the aisle and waited.
She threw a few items in the cart, unembarrassed. They had lived together as man and wife for 8 years before he'd joined the cult. He'd seen it all before.
Charlie chuckled to himself as he noted the generic brands headed into Jenny's cart. He wondered if she even thought about it anymore. They'd been so poor while he'd been in college, she'd had to pinch every penny. She had always bought generic brands if they "rated" and the name brands only as a last resort. He smiled to see at least one name brand headed into her cart, and they moved on.
"Soap"? She shook her head. "My Mom makes it now, I get all I want for free." Charlie raised an eyebrow. "I have a milk goat, she gets milk and I get free soap in return. I put a bar of unscented in the shower for you."
Charlie recalled the luxurious lather and sighed happily. "I want to buy a few" They discussed Mom's fragrance selections and moved on to the deodorant. Charlie snatched up a stick of Old Spice. "I know it's old fashioned, but you always liked it". She smiled at him.
"I always heard horror stories of men smothered in cologne, but you always had the perfect touch." They grinned at each other, then Jenny blushed at the double meaning and looked away. Charlie's hands tightened on the handle of the shopping cart. It had been a long time.
His phone rang, a nuclear alarm siren. Charlie cursed.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Chapter 18
"I don't know a lot" Charlie had said "But it seems like a good time for ice cream." He had taken her to Mega-mart.
Jenny wasn't sure how it happened, but she found herself staring in shock as Charlie threw high-end toilet paper, lavender bedsheets, and fabric softener in the cart. "It's purple" he'd said "I bet you like it".
Jenny had found herself grinning as she sniffed the open bottle. She did like it. She told Charlie about the unpleasantness at work. Mr. Srinivasian owned a gas station. She worked nights, a few days a week. Sometimes she worked alone, sometimes Mr Sri worked alongside her, or in the back, working on the books. They'd had a lot of fun together, he was a very kind old man. Sadly, he'd had to sell the store.
"One time he taught me to sing a song in Hindi about a woman rejected by her lover." She began singing it aloud as people gaped and steered their carts around her. Charlie grinned. God he had missed her. "I think I'm getting manic" she mused.
He put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Let's go look at the cat food" he murmured. "I owe you a bag of treats."
Charlie grinned as he watched his wife brighten. She was so value-concious, sometimes she forgot to take care of herself. He watched her head straight for the generic brands. "Do you ever feed her a name brand can?" No, Jenny replied, not often, but when she did Princess loved Poultry Platter. Charlie threw a few cans in the cart, and added some "fishy" stuff for Baby Girl. Charlie watched Jenny frown over the cat treats. "I'm not giving her this stuff. It's got corn syrup!"
Charlie pretended to push the cart toward electronics as Jenny protested, her voice rising as he pretended to select a flat-screen. "Kidding!" They moved on to crafts.
Jenny immediately moved down the aisle, fingering the yarns and grimacing at some colorways. "Really? Peach and green?" She made a sour face and moved onto a deep navy, setting it next to a turquoise. "That would be perfect for you."
She turned to him, serious. "Charlie, do you want a divorce?" Charlie, taking a drink of his soda, began choking and shaking his head. "NO!"
Jenny smiled sweetly.
"I'll make you an afghan."
Jenny wasn't sure how it happened, but she found herself staring in shock as Charlie threw high-end toilet paper, lavender bedsheets, and fabric softener in the cart. "It's purple" he'd said "I bet you like it".
Jenny had found herself grinning as she sniffed the open bottle. She did like it. She told Charlie about the unpleasantness at work. Mr. Srinivasian owned a gas station. She worked nights, a few days a week. Sometimes she worked alone, sometimes Mr Sri worked alongside her, or in the back, working on the books. They'd had a lot of fun together, he was a very kind old man. Sadly, he'd had to sell the store.
"One time he taught me to sing a song in Hindi about a woman rejected by her lover." She began singing it aloud as people gaped and steered their carts around her. Charlie grinned. God he had missed her. "I think I'm getting manic" she mused.
He put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Let's go look at the cat food" he murmured. "I owe you a bag of treats."
Charlie grinned as he watched his wife brighten. She was so value-concious, sometimes she forgot to take care of herself. He watched her head straight for the generic brands. "Do you ever feed her a name brand can?" No, Jenny replied, not often, but when she did Princess loved Poultry Platter. Charlie threw a few cans in the cart, and added some "fishy" stuff for Baby Girl. Charlie watched Jenny frown over the cat treats. "I'm not giving her this stuff. It's got corn syrup!"
Charlie pretended to push the cart toward electronics as Jenny protested, her voice rising as he pretended to select a flat-screen. "Kidding!" They moved on to crafts.
Jenny immediately moved down the aisle, fingering the yarns and grimacing at some colorways. "Really? Peach and green?" She made a sour face and moved onto a deep navy, setting it next to a turquoise. "That would be perfect for you."
She turned to him, serious. "Charlie, do you want a divorce?" Charlie, taking a drink of his soda, began choking and shaking his head. "NO!"
Jenny smiled sweetly.
"I'll make you an afghan."
Chapter 17
Charlie sat on the couch, thinking and praying. Jenny was doing so well without him.
While living with him, she'd been exposed to a horrible cult, nearly raped again, deprived of her medication, and nearly killed as a result. Charlie's dad had been very clear: terrible things ensued when a bipolar person was taken off their medication.
He wanted her back, but was it fair to even ask? He'd given her a lot of pain and drama. He'd ignored her, working to excess.
"I'm your other woman" she told him bitterly one night. "Your job is your wife." He sighed. He'd even taken away her cat.
Baby Girl meowed and clawed her way up the side of the couch, purring loudly. Charlie smiled as her bright green eye locked onto him. He slid over to make room for her, hearing a crinkle behind a pillow. He investigated, pulling out a bag of cat treats.
He recognized them. The good stuff, grain free, with probiotics. He fed Baby Girl a few, mentally vowing to buy Jenny another bag. They played their favorite game "Hide and go Treat" - he moved the treat around until she "caught" and ate it.
Jenny was a good mom. The litter boxes were clean, food abundant, fresh clean water, and she stocked high-end cat treats. Princess was a sweetheart, loving and pampered. He recalled her laying a soft paw on his face at a bad point in his migraine.
If only she could have had kids, he thought. It had really mattered to them both. She'd even had that operation, the one that had gone so wrong.
"Problems with the autoclave" they'd said. "You'll have to come in for blood tests" In addition to agonizing pain, and losing all hope, she'd had to worry about disease. It just wasn't fair. He sighed again.
He'd lost a good friend not long ago, and Charlie had decided that life was something to be lived. He loved his wife, he wanted to live with her. Kids, in the end, were irrelevant as long as he could wake up to Jenny.
Speaking of, the door banged. Charlie checked his watch. 10:20.
Jenny walked into the room, her face somber. "I just got fired."
While living with him, she'd been exposed to a horrible cult, nearly raped again, deprived of her medication, and nearly killed as a result. Charlie's dad had been very clear: terrible things ensued when a bipolar person was taken off their medication.
He wanted her back, but was it fair to even ask? He'd given her a lot of pain and drama. He'd ignored her, working to excess.
"I'm your other woman" she told him bitterly one night. "Your job is your wife." He sighed. He'd even taken away her cat.
Baby Girl meowed and clawed her way up the side of the couch, purring loudly. Charlie smiled as her bright green eye locked onto him. He slid over to make room for her, hearing a crinkle behind a pillow. He investigated, pulling out a bag of cat treats.
He recognized them. The good stuff, grain free, with probiotics. He fed Baby Girl a few, mentally vowing to buy Jenny another bag. They played their favorite game "Hide and go Treat" - he moved the treat around until she "caught" and ate it.
Jenny was a good mom. The litter boxes were clean, food abundant, fresh clean water, and she stocked high-end cat treats. Princess was a sweetheart, loving and pampered. He recalled her laying a soft paw on his face at a bad point in his migraine.
If only she could have had kids, he thought. It had really mattered to them both. She'd even had that operation, the one that had gone so wrong.
"Problems with the autoclave" they'd said. "You'll have to come in for blood tests" In addition to agonizing pain, and losing all hope, she'd had to worry about disease. It just wasn't fair. He sighed again.
He'd lost a good friend not long ago, and Charlie had decided that life was something to be lived. He loved his wife, he wanted to live with her. Kids, in the end, were irrelevant as long as he could wake up to Jenny.
Speaking of, the door banged. Charlie checked his watch. 10:20.
Jenny walked into the room, her face somber. "I just got fired."
Chapter 16
Charlie sat on the couch, feeling like he'd been run over. Jenny was a lot hotter than she'd been, and it had been a long time. On the other hand, she was clearly angry at him. He silently begged God for guidance.
Jenny went in the bedroom, dressed, and did her God Time, appreciating the peace and quiet. She'd missed her God Time yesterday.
Her mouth quirked as she read various verses on forgiveness in her Daily Bible. God always had a way of using His word to get her attention, when she needed it. She sighed and fidgeted restlessly, closing the Bible. She'd already done her prayer time, including praying for Charlie and others who'd hurt her.
"What do you eat for breakfast?" Charlie asked, looking into her cabinets. Jenny was starting to feel a little violated - the man had ignored her for over 5 years, now he was in every aspect of her life, all in how many hours?
"I'm OK" she replied tersely. Charlie kept looking.
"No cereal?" He closed the cabinet and opened the fridge, looking at her with a pleading expression. "I'd like to fix you breakfast. I found out I love to cook, and I'd like to make you something wonderful for you." He paused and swallowed loudly. "Just please no bacon or sausage." He was clearly still nauseous.
"I have some whole fruit. I meant to make a fruit salad and eat it with some hard cheese, but then I got depressed...." Charlie brightened, digging into the crisper.
Jenny ate the entire "presentation", convinced Charlie had taken some cooking classes. He'd turned her simple fruit plate into an artful arrangement. She reached for the pill organizer, watching Charlie's reaction.
He leaned forward, curious. "What are you taking?" Jenny opened the compartment and explained her medication cocktail. "Old School. Awesome. Do you get a lot of side effects?"
Jenny mentally bit her tongue, wanting to remind Charlie she'd taken most of these drugs for the last 20 years. WWJD? OK, let it go. She listed the side effects in a monotone.
Charlie gaped. "That bad, huh?"
"No, not really. The antipsychotic" she made a crazy face at him "keeps away the nausea I get from the other two. I just sweat a lot, tired, and brain fog. It's a lot better than being crazy." Jenny turned her left arm over, staring at the jagged scar on her forearm. "This is me off my pills."
Charlie gasped. "I never told you this, but my mom decided to go the 'natural' route after my diagnosis. She took me off my meds and gave me a lot of vitamins, green drinks, sauna, stuff like that. Within a week I just lost it - put my hand through her car window and almost bled to death."
Charlie stared at her, his face somber, as tears trickled down his cheeks. He wiped them away, but they kept coming. "I thought you tripped and fell through a window?"
Jenny sighed. "We told my doctor the truth. He told Mom if she did that again he'd make sure she lost custody, and after what happened with Carl - well."
When Jenny was a toddler, her mother had lost custody due to the drinking, depression, and neglect. Jenny's aunt Sara had gotten custody, and done a fine job for a few years until she met Carl Smith and Heroin. After learning of the abuse, Sara had committed suicide by overdose. Carl had gone to prison, where he was "shanked", and Jenny had ended up in foster care for a few more years until her mother regained custody.
Charlie stared at her, his throat working. "Is that what you tried to tell me, the morning you left?"
She stared at him, her green eyes sad. "Yes, Charlie, I did."
He bolted down the hall. Jenny could hear him vomiting again. She checked her watch. Time to go to work. She picked up her backpack and left.
Jenny went in the bedroom, dressed, and did her God Time, appreciating the peace and quiet. She'd missed her God Time yesterday.
Her mouth quirked as she read various verses on forgiveness in her Daily Bible. God always had a way of using His word to get her attention, when she needed it. She sighed and fidgeted restlessly, closing the Bible. She'd already done her prayer time, including praying for Charlie and others who'd hurt her.
"What do you eat for breakfast?" Charlie asked, looking into her cabinets. Jenny was starting to feel a little violated - the man had ignored her for over 5 years, now he was in every aspect of her life, all in how many hours?
"I'm OK" she replied tersely. Charlie kept looking.
"No cereal?" He closed the cabinet and opened the fridge, looking at her with a pleading expression. "I'd like to fix you breakfast. I found out I love to cook, and I'd like to make you something wonderful for you." He paused and swallowed loudly. "Just please no bacon or sausage." He was clearly still nauseous.
"I have some whole fruit. I meant to make a fruit salad and eat it with some hard cheese, but then I got depressed...." Charlie brightened, digging into the crisper.
Jenny ate the entire "presentation", convinced Charlie had taken some cooking classes. He'd turned her simple fruit plate into an artful arrangement. She reached for the pill organizer, watching Charlie's reaction.
He leaned forward, curious. "What are you taking?" Jenny opened the compartment and explained her medication cocktail. "Old School. Awesome. Do you get a lot of side effects?"
Jenny mentally bit her tongue, wanting to remind Charlie she'd taken most of these drugs for the last 20 years. WWJD? OK, let it go. She listed the side effects in a monotone.
Charlie gaped. "That bad, huh?"
"No, not really. The antipsychotic" she made a crazy face at him "keeps away the nausea I get from the other two. I just sweat a lot, tired, and brain fog. It's a lot better than being crazy." Jenny turned her left arm over, staring at the jagged scar on her forearm. "This is me off my pills."
Charlie gasped. "I never told you this, but my mom decided to go the 'natural' route after my diagnosis. She took me off my meds and gave me a lot of vitamins, green drinks, sauna, stuff like that. Within a week I just lost it - put my hand through her car window and almost bled to death."
Charlie stared at her, his face somber, as tears trickled down his cheeks. He wiped them away, but they kept coming. "I thought you tripped and fell through a window?"
Jenny sighed. "We told my doctor the truth. He told Mom if she did that again he'd make sure she lost custody, and after what happened with Carl - well."
When Jenny was a toddler, her mother had lost custody due to the drinking, depression, and neglect. Jenny's aunt Sara had gotten custody, and done a fine job for a few years until she met Carl Smith and Heroin. After learning of the abuse, Sara had committed suicide by overdose. Carl had gone to prison, where he was "shanked", and Jenny had ended up in foster care for a few more years until her mother regained custody.
Charlie stared at her, his throat working. "Is that what you tried to tell me, the morning you left?"
She stared at him, her green eyes sad. "Yes, Charlie, I did."
He bolted down the hall. Jenny could hear him vomiting again. She checked her watch. Time to go to work. She picked up her backpack and left.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Chapter 15
Jenny coaxed the hot water heater, murmuring as she held her hand under the water. It slowly changed from tepid to warm, to hot, and she flipped the toggle. She shrieked as the first drops came out cold, but then relaxed as the hot water flowed over her exhausted body.
First: her hair! She'd brushed her thick brown hair after the workout, but it was sweaty and disgusting. She ran the water through her hair and carefully selected a shampoo.
Charlie sat in the floral recliner, wondering how to approach Jenny. She was living her life at 100 miles an hour. He checked his watch, still plenty of time to talk before she left for work. Oh no.
Charlie moaned as his gut clenched, and he remembered the awful fact: one bathroom. No, God, he couldn't do that with his wife 2 feet away, in the shower. More cramping. No! He moaned and pleaded with God all the way down the hall. "Not here!"
Jenny, singing in the shower, didn't hear the knock, but she did hear the door hit the wall as Charlie rushed inside. "Have you come to see me naked?"
Then the stench hit. Oh.
"Look to your left, on the floor". The room filled with the pungent scent of roses as Charlie moaned in shame.
"Charlie"
"Yes? I'm so sorry, Jenny, so, so, sorry, I just couldn't.. .not in your living room...."
"CHARLIE!" He stopped apologizing. "In sickness, right? In sickness?"
Charlie sat on the toilet, tears spilling down his stubbled cheeks. "Yes. Jenny, I'm so..."
"Charlie, did you plan this?" He shook his head. "I can't see you. But I know the answer is no."
Jenny worked the shampoo out to her ends, humming quietly. She began to rinse.
"I hate your shower" Charlie blurted. "I feel awful."
"Don't worry, C., I'm saving up. I'm going to get those plastic wall things and get them mounted. I won't have any more falling tiles. Huh. Sounds like a poem." She turned around, facing the back wall. "I may even do my own demo."
Charlie thought about his wife surrounded by plastic walls, and put his head in his hands. He had to tell her.
Jenny, exfoliated her face with a dollar store sponge and acne soap. She enjoyed the challenge of making her paychecks meet her needs, and when manic, really appreciated how much went to bills! It was hard for her to keep her wallet closed when she was manic.
She usually took $20 and went to the Dollar Store. She got to spend "a lot" without spending a lot. She had found some wonderful items.
Charlie flushed and pulled up his shorts. "Can I stay?"
Jenny clipped her hair up and thought about it. "I don't mind, if you hand me my towel and bathrobe."
"Done".
Jenny finished her shower. She guessed Charlie was speechless, or had run out of things to say. She didn't want to ask him why he'd come when she was standing there, naked, 2 feet away.
Jenny checked herself over one more time. She'd washed everything. One horrible day she'd forgotten to wash her hair, and had gone to work with greasy hair. She was thankful she still had a job. Other days, she'd forgotten to wash her face. Good to go. OK. She rinsed, shut off the water, and asked Charlie for the towel.
As she dried, careful not to bump the walls, she wondered at her exit strategy for work. Just leave? Confront him and then go to work? She paused. Running ahead. Don't do that.
Jenny pulled back the shower curtain and Charlie admired his radiant wife, glowing from her shower, clean wet hair running down her back, her complexion oddly enhanced by the vivid orange hue of the bathrobe. Staring. He was staring. Was he staring?
Charlie was staring. Jenny's temper flared, not from the admiration, which she'd missed, but from the two-thousand some nights she'd spent alone. She'd committed to loving one man, who hadn't wanted her, and now he was leering at her like a high-school kid with a nudie magazine.
Jenny stopped in front of Charlie, leaning forward to look him in the eyes as he sat on top of the closed toilet seat. "See something you like?" She knew, she just knew, she was showing a lot of cleavage. She also knew she had a lot more since she'd changed prescriptions.
Charlie stared, riveted, as his wife's scent floated over him, rich with the smell of cinnamon and bath soap. He gulped.
She undid the sash just a bit, putting a hand on each of his shoulders as she leaned in again. "Charlie, did you miss me?"
Charlie gulped again, trying to control his desire to crush her into his arms and drag her off to bed. "Every day, Jenny, I missed you. I missed you every single night. I never, didn't, miss you."
"Good" she stood up and retied her bathroom, silently repenting for manipulating her husband. "I hoped so." She glanced back at him as she left. "Leave the lid up".
First: her hair! She'd brushed her thick brown hair after the workout, but it was sweaty and disgusting. She ran the water through her hair and carefully selected a shampoo.
Charlie sat in the floral recliner, wondering how to approach Jenny. She was living her life at 100 miles an hour. He checked his watch, still plenty of time to talk before she left for work. Oh no.
Charlie moaned as his gut clenched, and he remembered the awful fact: one bathroom. No, God, he couldn't do that with his wife 2 feet away, in the shower. More cramping. No! He moaned and pleaded with God all the way down the hall. "Not here!"
Jenny, singing in the shower, didn't hear the knock, but she did hear the door hit the wall as Charlie rushed inside. "Have you come to see me naked?"
Then the stench hit. Oh.
"Look to your left, on the floor". The room filled with the pungent scent of roses as Charlie moaned in shame.
"Charlie"
"Yes? I'm so sorry, Jenny, so, so, sorry, I just couldn't.. .not in your living room...."
"CHARLIE!" He stopped apologizing. "In sickness, right? In sickness?"
Charlie sat on the toilet, tears spilling down his stubbled cheeks. "Yes. Jenny, I'm so..."
"Charlie, did you plan this?" He shook his head. "I can't see you. But I know the answer is no."
Jenny worked the shampoo out to her ends, humming quietly. She began to rinse.
"I hate your shower" Charlie blurted. "I feel awful."
"Don't worry, C., I'm saving up. I'm going to get those plastic wall things and get them mounted. I won't have any more falling tiles. Huh. Sounds like a poem." She turned around, facing the back wall. "I may even do my own demo."
Charlie thought about his wife surrounded by plastic walls, and put his head in his hands. He had to tell her.
Jenny, exfoliated her face with a dollar store sponge and acne soap. She enjoyed the challenge of making her paychecks meet her needs, and when manic, really appreciated how much went to bills! It was hard for her to keep her wallet closed when she was manic.
She usually took $20 and went to the Dollar Store. She got to spend "a lot" without spending a lot. She had found some wonderful items.
Charlie flushed and pulled up his shorts. "Can I stay?"
Jenny clipped her hair up and thought about it. "I don't mind, if you hand me my towel and bathrobe."
"Done".
Jenny finished her shower. She guessed Charlie was speechless, or had run out of things to say. She didn't want to ask him why he'd come when she was standing there, naked, 2 feet away.
Jenny checked herself over one more time. She'd washed everything. One horrible day she'd forgotten to wash her hair, and had gone to work with greasy hair. She was thankful she still had a job. Other days, she'd forgotten to wash her face. Good to go. OK. She rinsed, shut off the water, and asked Charlie for the towel.
As she dried, careful not to bump the walls, she wondered at her exit strategy for work. Just leave? Confront him and then go to work? She paused. Running ahead. Don't do that.
Jenny pulled back the shower curtain and Charlie admired his radiant wife, glowing from her shower, clean wet hair running down her back, her complexion oddly enhanced by the vivid orange hue of the bathrobe. Staring. He was staring. Was he staring?
Charlie was staring. Jenny's temper flared, not from the admiration, which she'd missed, but from the two-thousand some nights she'd spent alone. She'd committed to loving one man, who hadn't wanted her, and now he was leering at her like a high-school kid with a nudie magazine.
Jenny stopped in front of Charlie, leaning forward to look him in the eyes as he sat on top of the closed toilet seat. "See something you like?" She knew, she just knew, she was showing a lot of cleavage. She also knew she had a lot more since she'd changed prescriptions.
Charlie stared, riveted, as his wife's scent floated over him, rich with the smell of cinnamon and bath soap. He gulped.
She undid the sash just a bit, putting a hand on each of his shoulders as she leaned in again. "Charlie, did you miss me?"
Charlie gulped again, trying to control his desire to crush her into his arms and drag her off to bed. "Every day, Jenny, I missed you. I missed you every single night. I never, didn't, miss you."
"Good" she stood up and retied her bathroom, silently repenting for manipulating her husband. "I hoped so." She glanced back at him as she left. "Leave the lid up".
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Chapter 14
Jenny woke up slowly, surprisingly comfortable. Her tongue felt like a piece of dried leather in her mouth, and she reached out for her water bottle. She flipped up the straw and took a long drink.
"Dry mouth" didn't cover it, she thought slowly. At least she hadn't woken up with a migraine, like...
Charlie.
She could hear him snoring behind her in bed, and recalled her dream. She hadn't had The Dream in years. Jenny sighed as she concluded the stress of Charlie had flipped the switch again.
Please God she thought quietly not for another couple years, huh? She slowly crawled out of bed. The sofabed was pretty comfortable, but the "mattress" rested on the floor. She had a cheap foam topper, which kept her pretty comfortable, but it was always hard, literally, "getting up" off the floor!
Charlie lay on his back, snoring, dressed in cotton boxers. He looked good, she admitted, he must have been working out. Jenny remembered how shocked a much-younger Charlie had been, to find her deadlifting in the high school gym.
"You'll hurt your... parts!" he'd stammered. She had carefully placed the barbell on the floor before replying.
"Charlie, I can't have kids anyway. How is lifting something going to hurt me? What about the woman in other countries? They carry huge weights all the time and do tons of manual labor - and they have tons of kids." He'd blushed, but gone off and done his chest presses as she finished her deadlifts.
Jenny had actually saved up and bought herself a basic set of free weights, after leaving Charlie and buying the house. She loved to get out there and crank out some reps, the Gospel Metal blasting. Jenny began humming a tune as she changed out of her cotton knit shorts and t-shirt, into a sport bra, baggy t-shirt, and knit shorts.
She sighed quietly as she opened the back door to the house, the porch light illuminating the metal storage container. It had come cheap, she thought. She'd actually bartered some yard work and caregiving and paid the rest in cash.
A lot of caregiving, she thought. And Mr Jones had been rather difficult. A head injury patient, he'd hurt himself driving drunk, paralyzing himself from the chest down. He needed help with bathing and housework, screaming at her if things weren't done to his satisfaction. She'd actually found an online support group, learning quite a bit. He hadn't trusted the Medicaid care providers, instead claiming a "Bible thumping good girl like you won't rob me". No, she hadn't, but she'd sure earned the storage container.
Jenny also, quietly, suspected her race had played a factor. They were both white.
At the time, she'd just wanted to get out the house, but in the long run she was glad she'd done it. She walked up to the door and unlocked the padlock, swinging open the door. A lone light bulb hung from an exension cord. Jenny reached for her MP3 player.
Half an hour later, exhausted and dripping with sweat, she locked the door. Mr Jones had taught her to appreciate the use of her body, like nothing else. She wanted to keep it healthy and working for a long time.
Would Charlie change my diapers? Would he check my blood sugar? Charlie had always hated needles. Would he at least make sure I had a decent caregiver? She wiped a tear away at the thought, opening the back door, to ...
Charlie, in the kitchen, making a pot of coffee. "Hi"
Charlie looked at his wife, sweaty and dishevelled. "You look hot" he replied. She raised an eyebrow, and he leered at her with a grin. "Very hot".
"Get out of here" she muttered, slapping him on the shoulder. "All that medication has gone to your head."
Jenny headed off to take her shower, as Charlie gritted his teeth, at the thought of his wife in that awful shower enclosure.
He had to do something to help.
"Dry mouth" didn't cover it, she thought slowly. At least she hadn't woken up with a migraine, like...
Charlie.
She could hear him snoring behind her in bed, and recalled her dream. She hadn't had The Dream in years. Jenny sighed as she concluded the stress of Charlie had flipped the switch again.
Please God she thought quietly not for another couple years, huh? She slowly crawled out of bed. The sofabed was pretty comfortable, but the "mattress" rested on the floor. She had a cheap foam topper, which kept her pretty comfortable, but it was always hard, literally, "getting up" off the floor!
Charlie lay on his back, snoring, dressed in cotton boxers. He looked good, she admitted, he must have been working out. Jenny remembered how shocked a much-younger Charlie had been, to find her deadlifting in the high school gym.
"You'll hurt your... parts!" he'd stammered. She had carefully placed the barbell on the floor before replying.
"Charlie, I can't have kids anyway. How is lifting something going to hurt me? What about the woman in other countries? They carry huge weights all the time and do tons of manual labor - and they have tons of kids." He'd blushed, but gone off and done his chest presses as she finished her deadlifts.
Jenny had actually saved up and bought herself a basic set of free weights, after leaving Charlie and buying the house. She loved to get out there and crank out some reps, the Gospel Metal blasting. Jenny began humming a tune as she changed out of her cotton knit shorts and t-shirt, into a sport bra, baggy t-shirt, and knit shorts.
She sighed quietly as she opened the back door to the house, the porch light illuminating the metal storage container. It had come cheap, she thought. She'd actually bartered some yard work and caregiving and paid the rest in cash.
A lot of caregiving, she thought. And Mr Jones had been rather difficult. A head injury patient, he'd hurt himself driving drunk, paralyzing himself from the chest down. He needed help with bathing and housework, screaming at her if things weren't done to his satisfaction. She'd actually found an online support group, learning quite a bit. He hadn't trusted the Medicaid care providers, instead claiming a "Bible thumping good girl like you won't rob me". No, she hadn't, but she'd sure earned the storage container.
Jenny also, quietly, suspected her race had played a factor. They were both white.
At the time, she'd just wanted to get out the house, but in the long run she was glad she'd done it. She walked up to the door and unlocked the padlock, swinging open the door. A lone light bulb hung from an exension cord. Jenny reached for her MP3 player.
Half an hour later, exhausted and dripping with sweat, she locked the door. Mr Jones had taught her to appreciate the use of her body, like nothing else. She wanted to keep it healthy and working for a long time.
Would Charlie change my diapers? Would he check my blood sugar? Charlie had always hated needles. Would he at least make sure I had a decent caregiver? She wiped a tear away at the thought, opening the back door, to ...
Charlie, in the kitchen, making a pot of coffee. "Hi"
Charlie looked at his wife, sweaty and dishevelled. "You look hot" he replied. She raised an eyebrow, and he leered at her with a grin. "Very hot".
"Get out of here" she muttered, slapping him on the shoulder. "All that medication has gone to your head."
Jenny headed off to take her shower, as Charlie gritted his teeth, at the thought of his wife in that awful shower enclosure.
He had to do something to help.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Chapter 13
Jenny curled in bed, under her covers, mindless of the sweltering temperatures outside. She always felt safe under at least a sheet and bedspread... and she could sleep however she wanted. She turned over and drifted deeper.
She was in the pink room. Jenny gasped in horror. She stood by the bed in her princess dress, hearing him come down the hall. She looked around frantically, trying to hide. The drawers under the bed kept her from crawling underneath, and the closet was too small to hide. She got the closet when she was bad.
Jenny had no idea how loudly she cried during the dream - she only knew she wanted it to end. The door opened and Carl walked in, grinning widely. She whimpered as he reached for his zipper, and she closed her eyes. She heard his pants hit the floor, and then she was thrown on the bed.
"We're gonna make a mess, little one!"
"No!" she cried
Suddenly, familar arms enveloped her and Charlie spoke soothingly in her ear.
"It's OK, Jen" he coaxed her, tears in his eyes. "It's OK Baby Girl. It's alright, I'm here. Remember? Carl's dead. He can't hurt you anymore". He pulled her close. Jenny was curled into a ball and sweating profusely.
"It's OK". He pulled her as close as he could.
"Go to sleep".
She was in the pink room. Jenny gasped in horror. She stood by the bed in her princess dress, hearing him come down the hall. She looked around frantically, trying to hide. The drawers under the bed kept her from crawling underneath, and the closet was too small to hide. She got the closet when she was bad.
Jenny had no idea how loudly she cried during the dream - she only knew she wanted it to end. The door opened and Carl walked in, grinning widely. She whimpered as he reached for his zipper, and she closed her eyes. She heard his pants hit the floor, and then she was thrown on the bed.
"We're gonna make a mess, little one!"
"No!" she cried
Suddenly, familar arms enveloped her and Charlie spoke soothingly in her ear.
"It's OK, Jen" he coaxed her, tears in his eyes. "It's OK Baby Girl. It's alright, I'm here. Remember? Carl's dead. He can't hurt you anymore". He pulled her close. Jenny was curled into a ball and sweating profusely.
"It's OK". He pulled her as close as he could.
"Go to sleep".
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