Waiting for Superman ~ Part 3 (3rd & Final Book of Hero or Hellian Trilogy)

1 - Rekindling

1

It was bound to happen and it is very clear I do not and will never belong in Lancaster County. This place has cursed me and yet I am stupid enough to stay although at this time I like to think it is because of healing purposes.

I need to come to terms what has happened and accept and forgive myself for all that has happened. It has been a domino effect starting with a man I was never meant to have but because of my foolish pride I destroyed everything.

I should have never chased after him. No doubt I would still be living the nomad life of a gypsy with my father still alive, Dutch would still be with me and I wouldn't have psycho guys chasing after me although that seems to be over. Most of all I wouldn't have this pain of having deceived and hurt Jolin.

At night in my shabby little apartment in town I silently cry myself to sleep as I recall how badly I have messed up my life and hurt and lost the ones I loved most in this world.

But now during the day I am a paralegal working at a law firm which I was absolutely lucky to have fallen into because it has helped me at least begin to get out of the hole I have dug.

I've once again dyed my hair and wear more makeup, more because I feel ashamed of being me but I figure it should at least make it harder for the psycho Amish boys to come after me although I doubt they would be after me now that I have cut all my ties to the Amish world.

I've traded the black SUV Jolin had traded for me when we escaped Lancaster and got a single cab pickup truck which Cadeyrn is grateful for because he can have all the room he wants in the bed of the truck and Cameo is happy sitting in the middle of the bench seat.

Even though I am living in town, I still don't get out much and I have not even gone to see Margo.

The most getting out I do is to work, errands for work, go home from work, and take Cameo and Cadeyrn for walks although I try to avoid people.

I was successful in keeping on the down low for almost four months when one day I was out walking Cameo and Cadeyrn and someone said the name I never thought I'd hear.

"Jewels?" I jerked around and there to my surprise was Tink who I had not seen in years.

"Tink." I say with surprise and we just stare at each other for a few minutes before she runs up to me and gives me a great big hug. It feels so good I want to burst and cry but I just return the embrace for a few moments before stepping back, almost tripping over Cadeyrn who is a brick wall and doesn't budge.

She takes a couple steps back and crosses her arms in a serious way and asks, "So have you been in Lancaster all these years?"

I don't want to hurt her feelings so I just look at the ground and shrug.

"Well you owe me an explanation." She says in a matter of fact tone.

I look around and say, "If you don't mind a shabby little apartment, I would be glad to have you over for dinner tomorrow and can tell you all about it."

She stares hard at me for a few minutes before replying. "I will brings some wine." And with that we exchange numbers and I give her my address and we part ways.

The next night I made fried chicken with the recipe Grand Mama Sonnier gave me along with some of our other favorites that we had in Louisiana with pecan pie for dessert.

Tink arrived and Cameo and Cadeyrn took to her and soon we sat down to dinner where she was blown away by the food and made a big deal about it which made me smile, the first smile in a long time.

After dinner and two helpings of pie we sat down with our wine and I proceeded to tell her about everything.

After my mother kicked me out Levi gave me a job and a place to stay where I learned a lot about sewing, cooking, canning, gardening, along with other yard work and such while taking care of books and money while having a boyfriend in the city on weekends. All of this led up to having a psycho Amish guy hunting me down so he could ruin Levi and take over Lancaster which made me go to my boyfriend's place where I walked in on him with another girl which ended up with him threatening me before I went to the bar where I met the bartender's bad ass girlfriend who got me set up with some guns which led me to Jolin followed by finding my wonderful companions, or rather they found me. I was attacked by wolves who broke into my house, crazy ass holes tried to break into my house and I shot one in the foot, an elk died on top of me, Caleb tried to move in by order of Levi until both Cadyrn and I demonstrated how crazy we were and Jolin and I ended up going to the bar where I was kidnapped for while and drugged and when I returned Jolin saved my life, I returned to work but was basically a slave because Levi thought I owed him for being nursed back to health which eventually led to the fight in which Levi beat the hell out of me followed by Jolin coming and taking me away where we escaped and went south and enjoyed New Orleans before we got lost and ended up in the Bayou with a bunch of Cajun where we had a hell of a time followed by returning to Lancaster and parting ways.

Tink intently listened and when I was finished she said, "So tell me something, were you and Jolin actually a couple? You have gone into detail about everything except what you and Jolin were and did. I may be a simple girl but I know you and know you aren't telling me something.

I nodded my head and said, "You're right. Yes we dated and stuff... I just have a hard time talking about it right now."

"Stuff? Did you make a dishonest Mennonite out of him?" She asked with a wicked grin.

I decided to turn the tables and said, "You tell me all about you and Caleb and I will tell you everything about Jolin and I."

"Deal." She said before she sat up straight and spilled. "Caleb was constantly running into me which led to us dating but he wanted to get physical and I simply wasn't ready but he stayed around for a couple of years. I feel so stupid about it now but he was really sweet to me and did all sorts of old fashioned things for me, particularly bringing me flowers. He made such a big deal about me when we were together but now looking back I realize that it was just childish games because he never told me about his personal life and job and really he didn't care about mine. Our relationship was all about the chase until...Damn it still sucks even thinking about it, let alone speaking the words."

Sadness filled me for my friend and I answered, "The chase was over when he got what he wanted."

She nodded as the tears fell down her rosy cheeks. "Once he took my virginity in the backseat of his pickup he lost all interest. He never called on me, no more flowers, nothing. It wasn't until afterward that I discovered that he had a list of girls he had dated and screwed while we were supposedly going steady. I was such a fool." And she leaned over and covered her face with her hands to try and muffle the sobs.

Tears were falling down my cheeks as I moved closer and embraced her as she cried. "I'm so sorry." Was all I could say until she sat back and said, "I needed you. Damn it I needed my best friend and it hurts now more knowing you have been here the whole time. Jewels I want to scream at you and tell you I hate you and I promise I will if you don't promise me this one thing."

I wiped my tears and nodded my head before she said, "Promise me you will never leave me again. If you are my friend and have any respect or anything for what we had than you will never leave me like this again."

I look dep into her eyes and reply whole heartedly, "I will never turn my back again. Even if I feel like I'm a failure like before and feel like I don't belong or will be wanted, I will never leave you again. On my father's grave I will forever be here for you."

Tink sniffled and said, "Good. Now tell me about you and Jolin. Everything."

I take a deep breath and go on and tell her every juicy and painful detail.