Glimmer of Hope

Chapter 16

Lenny continued to follow Mark out to the front door into the parking lot. "Well that did not go as planned." Mark thought to himself. "Why does there always have to be someone around to ruin the plans." Mark stopped and scratched his head.

"Keep moving Mr. Hascom, you are no longer welcome here." Lenny advised him.

"You know what Lenny?"

"What Mr. Hascom?" Lenny said with a sigh.

"I don't like you too much, I don't like the way you think you can order me around, or the way you think you can lay your hands on me."

"Not my problem Mr. Hascom, I am just doing my job." Lenny tried to reason with him. "Look Mr. Hascom, I always liked you, but what you are doing with Ms. Hascom is just not right."

Mark turned to look at him. "You don't say Lenny?" At that moment Mark sucker punch Lenny in the face, and then knocked him to the ground. "Now that felt good! He boasted and then he opened his door and climbed in without a second glance back at Lenny.

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Melanie went rushing into Sarah's office. "Oh honey..." she said as she saw Sarah sitting there on the floor. "It will be ok, are you alright Sarah?" Sarah looked at Melanie there kneeling beside her, and began crying once again. "Did he hurt you Sarah, did he hit you again?"

"No..." Sarah whimpered, "he threatened me Mel, I am so scared." Melanie helped Sarah up, and into her chair.

"What did he say Sarah, what happened?"

"He said I could never get away from him, that he was watching." Sarah began to pull herself together a little more. Melanie handed her a tissue. "He said I better not try to file for divorce..." Sarah explained as she wiped away the tears.

"Sarah, you need to file charges and now! We all heard the commotion Sarah, we will back you up."

"I know you would. And I know I have to do something." Sarah sat there for a little while and reached for the phone.

"Who are you going to call?"

Sarah looked at Melanie and said sadly, "Steve, I have to call and cancel our date for the night."

Melanie grabbed the phone from her hand. "Oh no you don't! You didn't even tell me you had a date tonight, that is wonderful!"

"Yes he called just minutes before Mark showed up. And I can't possibly go out with Steve tonight, not with Mark watching me."

"Sarah, Steve is a big boy, I don't think he will be threatened by Mark, and he will see to it that you are ok."

"Yes Mel, but what about the times that I am alone, like here, or home by myself when you go out? You do not realize what kind of fear I am living in right now Mel!" Sarah raised her voice to Melanie. "You could never understand that!!!"

"I understand more than you realize." Melanie mumbled standing up and preparing to leave.

"What? Mel, what did you say?"

"Nothing Sarah, I will see you at the front doors."

"Melanie sit down!" Melanie looked at Sarah, and slowly sat back down in the chair. "Now would please explain to me what you meant?" Melanie explained a little bit about her 10 year nightmare, and could see the look of horror on Sarah's face. "So you see Sarah, you are not the only woman who has felt this fear, or lived in this type of environment. I endured it for ten long years before I got smart and finally walked away."

"Mel, why did you never tell me." Sara asked with concern on her face.

"Well Sarah like I said, I haven't told you everything. And well it did not seem important to reveal. And it still hurts to think about it. Sometimes it just takes us a little bit before we can air things like that."

"Well do you see him anymore or hear anything?" Sarah asked with concern.

"No I don't, he went to prison for a very long time."

"How did you find so much strength? How did you pull yourself out of it?" Sarah asked in total amazement.

"I had a friend too Sarah, someone who deeply cared for me, opened her home to me, and protected me." Melanie looked at the clock. "I need to get out of here, it is quitting time, and you need to do the same since you have a date to get ready for." Melanie quickly stood up, and headed for the door.

"Mel..."

"Yes..." Melanie said with discontent.

"I am so sorry for jumping all over you. Its just the stress, but thank you!" Sarah walked around the desk and gave her dear friend a hug. She felt Melanie relax in her arms and hugged her back. She realized she was so lucky to have a friend like Melanie to help keep her level headed. She whispered a soft thank you to God for this lady that was her dearest friend.

"No need for thanks, but you are welcome. " Melanie assured her. "Well lets go! I have a date tonight too."

"Oh yeah, where ya goin?"

"Well Nick thought it would be nice if we checked out that new night club on forty third." She squealed excitedly.

"No way Mel, that is where Steve wants to take me too!" They both giggled as they walked out the door.