by Marie Wathen
After growing up in England most of my life, I thought I had a perfect plan laid out for my final destination–return back to the states to attend college, a fabulous career, maybe one day a husband, and oh good lord if I can bear the thought of children. Fortunately for me, I accomplished the first couple early on, but after the current events and a new job offer that I accepted a few hours ago, I adjust my travel plans and purpose, focusing on a course due south.
Willow is where I was born, but I never expected to return for any reasons other than holiday or family gatherings. After graduating high school I accepted an academic scholarship at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. Their criminal justice program is top notch and being able to attend without depending on my parents to fund it urged me to accept.
JSU isn’t a mega-size campus like the University of Alabama or Auburn University, but after a campus tour I fell in love with everything about it and the quaint town it resides. It reminds me a lot of Willow. Everything is close and convenient and it isn’t a stuffy old pretentious university like those in England.
I grew up with two younger brothers, twin brothers actually. Marcus and Morgan are two of my favorite people in this world and we are close. Well, I’m close with them, they are currently suffering through a separation brought on by some skank bitch, which Marcus dated, but Morgan ended up having an affair with.
A floozy like the one they are fighting over is exactly the type of conniving woman that proves my beliefs in only having men as friends. Women are catty bitches and I never wanted that jealousy shit in my life. Until college, I didn’t even have sleepovers with friends from high school. Unfortunately, campus life dictates communal living and the fact that I was attending on an academic scholarship I begrudgingly accepted my fate and a girl roommate.
Sharing space and a few classes together, Kristie Daniels and I got to know each other on a very personal level. It didn’t take long for me to stop generalizing all women into the category of “sister haters” with Kristie’s friendship.
I earned my four year degree in two years because I took summer courses and every mini-course that the school offered. I wasn’t trying to get away; I just wanted to move onto the next phase of my life. Ever since I was a little girl becoming a police officer was my dream. I remember sitting on my Gran’s lap watching her favorite television show and there was a woman police officer on who was a total bad ass. She did this swinging leg, high-kick move disabling a bad guy and saving some people during a bank robbery. I was in complete awe and instantly inspired to help others. Plus, Gran told me that I could do anything that I wanted.
Looking back now, I realize I was at a crossroads and never even thought about the intersection. My family owns a private business which my grandfather Mac Walker has guided to the top of Forbes Fortune Five Hundred. Granddad set up positions for his sons, my father Barret Walker, and my uncle Beck Walker, after he provided them with the means to earn their graduate’s degree from Stanford. He has thoughts of grandeur and hopes of a distinguished legacy which includes his grandchildren following the same path.
Being the natural born rebel, I opted out of Granddad’s offer and chose a career in law enforcement instead. My grandparents offered to pay for my higher education, but I knew better than to allow it. Not that they would ever hold it over my head. Hell, they are the most loving and giving people I have ever known and they always support my dreams. No, if I had accepted Granddad’s offer it would have been my father who would see it as a slap in the face. According to him, I turned my back on the family when I passed on coming aboard.
Honestly, I don’t really believe that my father wanted me following in the family business. After moving our family to England he would spend time with my brothers drilling the ins and outs of Walker Corporation, but he never once asked me to join them. At the tender age of twelve Morgan was working on project ideas that could rival some of dad’s senior staff members. He is a true chip off the old block, in more ways than one. Marcus did not share in Morgan’s enthusiasm and wants to follow me into law enforcement eventually. Oh, I’m jumping ahead now. Let’s back up just a little.
After graduating from JSU with honors and subsequently the police academy, I was offered a coveted position on the Atlanta Police Departments Drug Task Force Unit. Because I look much younger than my chronological age, I was easily immersed into the drug scene and accepted as just another drug addict. At that point, my sweet grandparents insisted on providing a safe place for me to live locked behind the secured walls inside a gated community. Being a newly graduated student and too prideful to ask my parents for access to my trust fund, I certainly couldn’t afford a place on my own until after I started earning a salary. Needless to say my grandparents refused to accept any compensation so I sullenly accepted their generous offer and moved into a lavish four bedroom country home in Canton Georgia, a charming little city north of Atlanta.
Coincidentally, my best friend Kristie was from the area so she moved in with me. Kristie received her nursing degree from JSU and worked for a small family practitioner in town, but all along she had aspirations of landing her dream job at Canton General Children’s Hospital. Her desire to help others inspires me daily. Although we are as different as night and day, Kristie is my soul sister and ours is a friendship that transcends eternity.
Since becoming friends with her, my good opinion of this shitty world greatly increased. She sees everything through rose-colored glasses and finds only the good in everyone. Kris tried to mesh some of her idealist ways into my realist heart. She failed. There isn’t a romantic bone in my body and I do not have time in my life for love. That was until my eyes landed on the deep haunting essence of Blues for the first time. All I know is those amazing sapphire tinted eyes looked like coming home and destiny was proving her worth by making my soul mate the one person I could never have.
My name is Samantha Walker, and this is my serendipitous story.
All This Time will release February 2014