Sweet Beginning

by V. M. Holk

  I punch her in the side, "It was fucking AWESOME, JayJay. Now I know what I was missing."

  She smiles at me, "Oh my god, I might have created a monster!"

  While we are walking to our room, she tells me a little about her night. My mind is not completely in the conversation. It was a great night of sex, but I keep thinking of Wyatt. I really have to get that man out of my mind.

  "Hey woman, are you listening to me? Or you thinking about your stud muffin?"

  We both laugh, "Yeah, sorry. Hey lets have ourselves a spa day and some swimming, before we meet them for dinner."

  She gives me a smirk, meaning she isn't buying my diversion in the subject. But thankfully, she knows me so well and drops it.

  "Sounds great to me, toots."

  ~~~

  As we settle into our seats on the train, I can't believe how fast the weekend went. I am so glad we went and I truely enjoyed myself. I let go, for the first time in a very long time. I feel this weekend has brought me closer to healing.

  We loved the spa and the pool. We went shopping and enjoyed not having any responsibility's for a couple of days. I made sure to buy the girls some souvenirs, Jaylah got them something too. I bought my dad a magnet, he has collected magnets from all over since I was a kid. He has them all lined up in his work space in the garage. I also, picked up a maple leaf dog toy, for Lucy.

  Each evening we met up with Dave and Ted for dinner. We went dancing again and one night we all went swimming. Each night I spent in Ted's arms. He was a great lover and made me feel special. We would all have breakfast together each morning.

  Before we left, Ted and I took a walk. Jaylah and Dave went to his room one last time. We didn't walk far, being so cold out. We stopped at a coffee shop and talked for awhile. Ted really was a sweet guy and I enjoyed my weekend with him. We exchanged numbers and wished each other the best. We kissed one last time, a very hard passionate, "Don't forget me" kiss.

  Jaylah nudges me, "We are almost here, darlin'," she says with a smile.

  I nod back at her. I can't believe I sat here staring out the window, thinking for almost three hours. The train comes to a stop, we collect all of our belongings. We get off the train and head to our car. We have everything loaded and start driving home.

  "Back to reality." I say.

  "Thanks again for my Christmas present, I really enjoyed our weekend."

  "It was nice just letting go and not worrying about anything back home. I can't believe I had a fling with Ted. It almost seems like a dream now."

  She takes her eyes off the road, looks over at me. "Everything will work out at home in the end. You know it will." she says. We both get lost in our thoughts for a bit. I turn up the music, and we enjoy singing together on the ride back home.

  Chapter 13

  I haven't had much time to think about what I did on our little vacation. I was thankful that I didn't have to see Kyle when the girls came home. I am not ready to see him yet, after what happened at the bar. We are slow this afternoon, so I have to much time to think about all this stuff. I felt devastated, wondering why Kyle didn't fight to save our marriage. Tessa explained all that, he obviously had a back up plan for our marriage.

  I remember fighting over his texting and talking to her while at home. He would tell me that she was helping him at work because he was new. But he would walk out of the room and sometimes he would walk outside to talk to her. He would say she lives out of state, like that made it ok. Then he told me she was going through a divorce and needed someone to talk to. Deep down, I think I knew something was going on.

  He went to training in Memphis, because that is Delta's head quarters. I don't want to think about what they did. What might have started off innocent, definately did not end that way.

  As I am cleaning, I think more about my weekend with Ted. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed myself with him. I guess I thought that it would make me feel less cheated on. I'm still technically married and never thought I would have done anything like this. It didn't lessen the sting of betrayal I feel, for what Kyle has done to me. I decide, that before I ponder to much on my worries, I need to get out of the shop for a little while. I find Jaylah in the back doing some inventory.

  "Hey Mama." She looks over at me and smiles. "Do you mind if I take off a little early. Amanda will be here soon, for her shift. I want to go see my dad and give him his gifts." There seems to be something on her mind. "Are you okay, Jay?" She looks over at me sadly.

  "Yeah I'm fine. Talked to my dad today, he isn't feeling well. I am trying to keep my mind busy."

  "Hey if you need to go, I can stay until Amanda gets here."

  She shakes her head, "No, you go. I am going over there for dinner tonight. Tell your dad hello from me, okay."

  I give her a quick hug, "Thanks, if you need anything, let me know?"

  She nods her head and keeps counting. I feel awful for leaving her like this, but I know she needs some time alone.

  ~~~

  I pull into "Tom's Car Repair" and park my car. I grab my bag of goodies and walk into the shop. I walk into an empty office, I look around and see nobody. I open the door to the garage and walk right into Wyatt. Oh my god, again. I can't believe I keep bumping into him.

  Man he has such a nice body. Why do I feel that same electricity. I realize, I haven't moved my hands from his chest and I quickly lower them.

  I look into his eyes, "You know we really need to stop meeting like this, Anne" he says. He gives me that beautiful smile of his.

  I smile back, "I'm sorry. I was looking for my dad." He looks like he wants to say something, but not sure how to say it. And frankly, I'm still embarassed about Christmas Eve and the Bar. Before either of us can say anything more....

  "Anne, how the hell are you?" says Rick. He walks up to me and I gives me a big bear hug. He actually picks me up of the ground and twirls me, I laugh in his arms. He has always been like family to me.

  "I'm good, thanks. I haven't seen you in awhile, how are you and your family?" Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wyatt walk away. I guess its better that way. Then Dan comes around the corner.

  "Anne girl, come give me a hug." Dan says. As a teenager, I worked a couple days a week here. It was fun, and easy money. But I thought of Rick and Dan, more like Uncle's. The three of us are catching up and dad walks up to me.

  "Hey baby, what a nice surprise." He gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

  "I brought you goodies from Toronto." I hold up my bag for him to see. "Do you want to go have lunch?"

  My dad smiles, "Let me go wash up and we can go."

  ~~~

  Wyatt

  Why do I have that same feeling, everytime I touch Anne. I have never felt that electricity for any woman, ever. I was so shocked when she ran right into me. She had such a horrified look on her face, I tried to make light of it. It worked because I got to see that beautiful smile, again. I like the feel of her in my arms and didn't want to let her go.

  I wanted to talk to her about what happened on Christmas Eve and at the Bar. But I wasn't really sure what to say. I am actually thankful Rick walked out when he did. It saved me from making an ass out of myself. I went and found Tom to let him know Anne was here.

  I come back into the garage to see Tom and Anne leaving together. She is so beautiful, but something was different about her. I hope everything is okay. I try not to ask Tom to much, because I don't want him to get the wrong idea.

  Rick slaps me on my back, "You got it bad, for our Anne."

  I look at him shocked and confused, "What are you talking about. She is a friend and my boss' daughter."

  Rick laughs at me, shakes his head and walks away. I mean really what is that about. I think she is beautiful and really nice, but "Got it bad," whats that supposed to mean.

  ~~~

  Anne

  Dad and I are having a nice lunch. But I keep thinking about Wyatt. Why did I have to go to the shop? I should of called dad and had him meet at the rest
aurant for lunch. If I am being honest with myself, I wanted a glimpse of him. Dad interupts my thoughts to ask me about Toronto. I tell him about our trip, minus Ted and Dave. That is one thing he doesn't need to know about.

  Dad loved his gifts, especially that I remembered to buy something for Lucy. He payed for lunch and we said our goodbye's. We talk several times a week, but I really have to make sure I see him more often. I really enjoyed our lunch, and I worry that he is lonely.

  I drive right home because the girls will be home from school shortly. I grab the mail on my way up the stairs, to my apartment. I flip through the bills and see that one of the envelopes are from the Court House. I open it to see that we have a date to finalize our divorce, in front of the judge.

  I sit down hard on the couch, taking a few deep breaths. Its hard to think that all those years with Kyle, will end like this. I will never say wasted time, because we have two wonderful girls. It saddens me to think of what could of been and what is lost. I hear the girls coming up the stairs and I collect myself. They don't need to see me upset.

  I decide that I am not cooking tonight and order a pizza. As we wait for our pizza, the girls pick out what movie to watch. The back door bell rings, I go down to meet the delivery guy. Once up stairs, I get the girls there pizza and we watch the movie. I sit in the chair and absently watch. I couldn't tell you what the movie was about. I hear my phone beep, that I have a message. I look at the screen and smile.

  JayJay 6:46pm

  Hey darlin'.....u ok

  Seriously, how does she know that I am upset. Maybe that is not the right word, I feel numb.

  Anne 6:47pm

  Been better...got date for court, 2 finalize divorce

  JayJay 6:48pm

  SHIT!!! u want company?

  Anne 6:48pm

  No, my weekend w/girls...but thx

  JayJay 6:49

  Np...if u need 2 talk, i'm here

  Anne 6:50pm

  thx.... xoxo <3

  JayJay 6:51pm

  LU2

  Well by February the 5th, I will be officially divorced. It leaves a pit in my stomach, which leaves me with no appetite to eat. I get up and set my plate of untouched pizza on the counter. I put the leftovers in a ziplock, then in the fridge. I feel like I am on auto pilot. I need to snap out of it enough for Katie and Shannon's sake. I walk back into the living room and ask them if they want to play some board games. They get excited and run off to grab their favorites.

  Chapter 14

  I haven't been sleeping real well these last couple of weeks. I sit at my kitchen table drinking my coffee, before I go downstairs to bake. I don't know why I am having such a hard time with Feb. fifth getting closer. I want it to be over with, because I am tired of thinking about it. I want this part of my life to be over done. But at the same time, I am scared to close it. There is a lot of history between Kyle and me. But he is not the same man I knew before. I know I was the one who asked for the divorce, but he jumped in full force. I still can't believe he moved on so quickly, which has me thinking, how long was he done with our marriage.

  I know I should have seen the signs and did something about it. So, I can't blame Kyle for our marriage failing. It's easy to point fingers, but not so easy to look at yourself in the wrong. I put all my energy into the shop, the girls and not much into my marriage. When Kyle lost his job, it was one of the hardest things in his life. I knew that I made enough that we didn't have to worry about paying our bills. It was tight, but we managed. I didn't think of how it made him feel. But he didn't talk to me about it either.

  So when Kyle went back to work, he jumped in with both feet. He moved up quickly and ended up loving his job. Instead of being there and acknowledging what he was doing, I just didn't react. So when he wanted attention, I guess he found it from someone else. Doesn't make it right, on either of our parts.

  I finish my coffee and put my mug in the sink. It's my morning without the girls, so I figure I will go get a jump start on the baking. Maybe keeping myself busy, will keep my mind off of Kyle and our failed marriage.

  ~~~

  Kyle's parents took the girls tonight and for the weekend. I had called and asked them, being that tomorrow is our court date. I have hardly talked to his parents since we decided on getting divorced. I will miss having them in my life, I know they will be there if I ever need them. But it will never be like it was before, divorce changes everything. No matter what people want to say, Kyle is their son and I will be the ex-wife.

  My crazy cousin, Lynette called me earlier today. She had run into Jaylah and heard that my divorce will be final tomorrow. She has it all planned with Jaylah, to go out and celebrate. Lynette is always the life of the party, so it should be a good time. I think after the stress of everything I will definately need it.

  I put water in the kettle to make myself some sleepytime tea. When the kettle whistle's at me, I make my tea. I grab my mug and kindle. I decide to try to relax and read until I fall asleep.

  My alarm goes off, I hit it and groan. This is the first time in a long time, that I have slept in. Jaylah refused to let me come in today or the whole weekend. She said I need to focus on myself, just this once. I wish sometimes, that she would take her own advice. But that is easier said than done, for all of us. I roll over and stare at the ceiling. Wondering again, how my life got to this point.

  I don't like how quiet my apartment is. This is one thing that I will never get use to. It was nice at first to have it, but the novelty of it wears off quickly. There were days, I regretted ever opening my mouth about wanting a divorce. But I have to shake myself and remember how things really were. It's not worth being so unhappy, just so I am not alone. It's a hard lesson to learn.

  I have to be at the courthouse by 10am, so I have sometime to get ready. I roll out of bed and hop into the shower. I take a longer than normal shower, to help calm my nerves some. I already had my clothes layed out that I was wearing. I get dressed, blow dry and style my hair. I have never been one to spend a lot of time on my make-up, but I decide today I will.

  I don't have much of an appetite, so I decide to skip breakfast. I have to go warm up my car and grab something from the shop. I gather all my stuff and head outside to start my car. I come back in and walk to the front of the shop. Thankfully we are at a down time, I am not up to talking to anybody.

  "Good morning, sunshine" Jaylah says to me, in way of greeting.

  "Morning, I wouldn't call it good." Jaylah nods in agreement, but doesn't say anything else. "Hey I'm sorry. I'm a little crabby about everything. I came to get a coffee before I leave."

  "Hey no reason to apologize. I will be thinking of you."

  I nod my head as I make my coffee.

  "It will be ok, Anne." She comes around the counter and gives me a hug. "You look beautiful. Way to show Kyle what an asshat he is for giving you up so easily," she chuckles.

  I laugh along with her, "Thanks, Jay. I don't know how I'm going to get through the day. I feel so numb right now."

  "I know its hard and you don't want to hear it again, but you will be ok. Plus, don't forget we are going to have one kick ass time tonight," she says, as she wiggles her ebrows. She always knows how to make me laugh, when I need it most.

  "I am looking forward to it. We haven't gone out with Lynette in so long. I am going to need some fun tonight. What time are you going to pick me up?"

  "Be ready by six, we are taking you out to dinner first. Pack a bag, because I have a feeling, you are staying with me tonight."

  A customer walks in and I put a lid on my coffee. I snatch a cookie, so I have something in my stomach. I wave goodbye to Jaylah and Amanda, they both wish me luck. As I get into my car, my phone starts to ring. I look to see it's dad.

  "Hi dad."

  "Hi, Honey. I wanted to wish you luck today."

  "Thanks. I'm going to need it."

  "If you need anything call me, ok."

  "I will. Thanks again, dad. I love you."


  "I love you to, honey."

  I hear the click of the phone. It's getting late, I better get going or I will be late. I take a deep breath and put the car into gear.

  ~~~

  I park the car and sit for a minute. I try to steady my nerves, by taking a few deep breaths. I look into the mirror, to check my make-up and decide its fine.

  "Ok, quit being a drama queen. People get divorced every day." I say to myself. As I say this out loud, in my head I am yelling at myself, "But it doesn't happen to ME every day." I shake myself, and get out of the car.

  I walk into the courthouse and see my lawyer waving me over to her. We greet each other and she starts to explain what is going to happen. I see Kyle down the hall with his lawyer. He looks over at me and gives me a weak smile. I can't get myself to smile back, I look back to my lawyer.

  It may seem childish and I sound like a broken record. But, I am still very hurt that he moved on so quickly. With Tessa of all people, and for how long? Friends, my ass! He knew how it bothered me and he never broke his relationship with her. Now, there is no mistaking where their realtionship is.

  My lawyer breaks me from my thoughts, to tell me it's time. I hope I didn't miss anything too important, I hardly heard what she was saying. Kyle and his lawyer walk in before us and we all take our seats.

  The judge comes in and we all stand. She tells us, we can sit. I sit there watching the judges mouth move, but not really hearing what she is saying. Our lawyers are doing all the talking with the judge. We aren't fighting over anything and split it up evenly. I make more money than Kyle right now, but he wasn't asking for any child support. We have joint custody, with the girls staying with us equal amounts of time. So my lawyer, did say it would be very easy divorce.

  When the judge announced she approved our entry for final judgement of dissolution. I looked at her confused and sat there for a bit. My lawyer says "Congratulations, Anne. You are officially divorced. I will have my office send you all the final paperwork, with the bill."