Going Through Changes

Chapter 56: Missing Her (Eric's POV)

This will be in Eric's POV.  It's going to be about his heartache since Jeanna and his divorce.  She rejected him, but that could only be temporary.

--Eric's POV--

"Carly Diane Martinez."  the hospital bracelet on her ankle read.  She was so beautiful, just like her mother.

A year later, I was giving Aleigh and Jerica a piggy back ride.  They were two years old.  Jeanna was holding Carly.  It was her first birthday.  Jeanna started hanging around with some guy from class.  They weren't together, but I didn't exactly like it.  "Daddy, swing!"  I set them in the swings.  I tickled them and they laughed.  I saw Jeanna looking at me.

"Why don't you go see daddy?"  she put Carly down on the grass and she waddled over.  I held me arms out and she hugged me.  I pressed a kiss to her cheek.

A few months later, I was dropping Aleigh, Jerica, and Carly off.  I knocked.  The door opened.  Jeanna stood there in her pajamas.  "Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, just work.  Kinda tired."  I saw a bruise on her hip.

"You sure?"

"Yeah.  I have class in the morning, if you want to babysit."

"Okay.  Sounds good."  I kissed my little angels and they went inside.

"DId you have fun with daddy?"

"Yeah!"  they all said running into the living room.

"Well, I better go.  Goodnight."

"Night."

I drove home and did something I probably shouldn't have.  I called her parents house.  "Hello?"  her dad answered.

"Hello sir.  This is Eric."

"Eric?  How are you doing son?"

"I'm okay.  I'm worried about Jeanna.  Can you meet me somewhere?"

"Why not just at my place?"

"I don't want to worry anyone until I know for sure."

"All right.  Meet me at the diner."

I pulled up at the diner and spotted her dad sitting inside.  I went inside and offered to shake his hand.  He took it.  "Thank you sir."

"I'm still your dad.  You just aren't married to Jeanna."  I sat across from him.  "What's on your mind?"

"Look, I know I did it once, but I just... I have a bad feeling about this guy she's been talking to."

"What do you mean?  And who?"

"I don't know him.  He goes to class with her.  I dropped of the girls and I saw a bruise and she was kind of hiding behind the door.  I want to be wrong.  But I'm just worried about her."  I ordered a burger and some fries.  He got us two milkshakes.  "I know what I did was wrong and I feel terrible.  I always have.  I'm just trying to watch out for her and my daughters."

"I understand.  I'll look into it and call you."

"I don't want to cause a problem that will make the girls be removed from her home."

"Okay.  I understand."

"Thanks."

A week later, I was picking up the girls.  Jeanna was talking to that guy and he kissed her cheek.  He left glaring at me.  "Daddy's here."  They came running out.

"DADDY!"  I picked them up and hugged them.  It hurt knowing that Jeanna was accepting that guy.  

A month later, I was walking passed Jeanna's.  I had a stuffed bear for Jerica.  She wasn't feeling good.  I knocked on the door.  No answer.  "Jeanna?  It's Eric."  I knocked again.  Something was wrong.  "Jeanna?"  I called her dad and he showed up.  He unlocked the door with his key.  I found Jeanna on the floor in the bedroom  Her face bloody and a pill bottle beside her hand.