Angel

Chapter 1

Six Years Later

"Mama!" Violet shouted as she barrelled into my shins. "Look what MawMaw taught me," she announced, dragging me into the kitchen. The table was covered in flour and mixing bowls, but there in the middle was a small cake with sloppy icing flowers adorning the top. The proud look on her face made tears come to my eyes. "I made it for you, Mama. To sebrate your new job."

I sat down before the small cake and pulled her into my lap. "Thank you, Bebe, it's beautiful!" She giggled as I swiped a bit of icing and tasted it with a grin, then gave her a taste as well.

"So, Cher, how was it?" MawMaw asked as she wiped the countertops.

I let out a breath, "Well, I haven't really done anything yet, just filling out paperwork and getting assigned to a workspace. I haven't even met the partners, but I did meet my department head." I grimaced and rolled my eyes where Violet couldn't see. MawMaw gave me a knowing look.

Trish was the department head for the contracts department and after just one day with the woman I could tell she was a ladder climber. I saw her snap and yell at workers several times, then take credit for their hard work. The outfit she wore today was beautiful but hardly professional. It looked more like a cocktail dress for a charity ball.  I felt like a country mouse next to her in HR. My simple grey skirt and ivory blouse were the best I could do for now. Money was tight in our household. My parents had abandoned me here when I got pregnant with Violet, and for a while, they sent MawMaw money, but that dried up about the time Violet turned two. Now they send a couple hundred dollars at Christmas but never visit. They've only seen their granddaughter once despite both mine and MawMaw's invitations.

In true Creole fashion, we enjoyed our cake first, then set to making dinner. We chuckled as Violet helped by reading the ingredients aloud to us. Not that we needed her to, but it was a good way for her to practice reading. She was starting kindergarten next month and we were both nervous and excited. I knew she would most likely be ahead of the other students. She was an inquisitive and gentle girl with her father's eyes and soft brown hair. She had asked about him a few times, and I told her what I could. I didn't want her to hate me or him. I guess somewhere in my heart, I still hoped there had been a good reason for him leaving me so suddenly, and hell, he never even knew I was pregnant.

Once Violet was tucked into bed, I sat on the porch with MawMaw as we sipped our tea. "Do you think you'll like the job, Cher?" she asked.

I nodded, rocking the chair gently, "I do. It has lots of potential for growth, and just like they advertised, once I reach the year mark, I can apply for the scholarship program to finish law school." It was one of the main reasons I'd chosen the firm. Mr. Henshaw was known as a reputable employer with a track record for helping his paralegals become attorneys whom he often, then employed within the firm. Of course, I'd have to meet him and the other partners eventually. It was part of the scholarship process, but that was a year away, so for now, I just needed to navigate the paralegal pool drama and learn everything I could.

"Are you going to be okay getting Violet on the bus each morning? I can put her in before-school care if you need me to?" I was worried about MawMaw taking on too much. Her health wasn't what it used to be. In the last year, she'd started having some respiratory issues.

Leaning over, she patted my hand, "Don't worry about me, Cher. Your Violet is a good bebe, she practically takes care of herself." I grinned and kissed her cheek as she stood, heading in for bed.

My fingers brushed over my necklace as I watched the lights flicker off the lake. It seemed like a lifetime ago that we were running the streets of San Jose.

Flashback

"Angel, get your ass down from there!" Nova hissed. I stuck my tongue out at him as I walked across the steel beams, then jumped and did a fake gymnast pose as I landed. "You're gonna give me a fucking heart attack at sixteen, little girl," he groaned.

I giggled and playfully kissed him, but before I could pull away, he pulled me against his chest. "Nova," I whined as he began kissing my neck. "St...stop, we can't."

He chuckled darkly, "Oh baby, I know we can't, but that doesn't mean I can't leave my mark on you. I want the world to know you're mine, Angel. I'm tired of those assholes eyefucking my girlfriend."

I blinked and looked at him, "Girlfriend? I'm your girlfriend, Nova?"

He grinned, "Of course, you are, baby, and someday I'll get us out of here and marry you proper." He pressed a kiss to my lips and I felt something slip over my head. "Anytime you feel lonely, just remember you are my universe, Angel, and I will always find you."

I looked at the pendant he'd given me. It was a stone of some sort that looked like it held the galaxies in it, like a nova - my Nova. I threw my arms around his neck, "I love you, Nova."

He crushed me against him, "I love you too, Angel."

End flashback

I sighed, letting go of the stone. I'd waited and hoped he really would find me, but once my parents sent me to Louisiana, I knew he never would. We were just kids ourselves. Kids who thought we could conquer the world. 

Author's Notes:  Hmmm....which one do you think she'll meet first???

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