Wrecked

TWELVE

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It was perfect.
The cruise was what she had imagined...
That was how Steve was.
When he attempted at something, he did with all sense of reason and passion.
Everything was perfect... From the bedroom to the dining. It shone with bright lights and the rose petals were everything. It was the type of thing you'd see in the movies or novels.
Then the cruise fell to one side but even if Steve was standing right next to her, he made no move to stop her from falling to the wooden floor.
Then the lights went off
The floor beneath her disappeared and she was sinking into the deep sea
She screamed. "Steve!"
"Steve!!!"
Then she realized.
It wasn't just the sea currents pulling her in. There was a hand pulling her.

"NO!"
She jerked awake, panting and sweaty. Feeling dehydrated and scared out of her wits, she clutched the thin bed cover to her shoulders and sat up, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. She looked round the room and suddenly remembered that she was in her parents house now.
Oh no! She hoped she had not woken anyone up.
Just then her mother came rushing in.
"Dear God, Jody. Is everything alright? Why did you scream?"
She switched on the bedside lamp and sighed. "Sorry to wake you up, mother."
Her mother frowned. "You think I came here to scold you, seriously?"
"I'm fine. Just a silly nightmare."
"Yes. I'm guessing it was since it had you screaming loud enough for the neighbors to hear."
The sarcasm in her words was not lost on Jody.
"Please don't worry, mom. It's nothing."
"I'm not stupid, Jody. This nightmare has been going on for years." She came and sat on the bed.
"Yes. But maybe this is my punishment for everyone that I've hurt. My marriage couldn't even last a year and now I'm just a freeloader. I ought to help you and Dad, but what do I do? I ask you to take care of my son because I can barely keep up." Tears slide down her cheeks.
"Fine, you've made mistakes, because God knows I did warn you about those friends of yours. But you have also made so many things right again. Look at Vincent. You are a great mother. And I'm proud of you."
"You are?" She asked in disbelief as another tear slide down.
"Of course. Come here."
She went into her mother's arms. "Thanks."

Jody didn't go back to sleep when her mother left. It made her cranky the next morning with bags under her eyes. Not wanting to be subjected to Vincent's questions, she kissed him as early as six am and left him a note apologizing for not being there when he woke up. Jody left a few dollars for Vincent's necessities and left.
She had to find another job.
Her rent expire in a week and her landlord was a no mercy man. He wouldn't hesitate to throw her things out. He had already given her a heads up about it, only Jody just didn't have that kind of money now.
Since she couldn't sleep at night, she could work.
She didn't know why she hadn't thought about it. She picked up the day's paper from the vendor knowing as she did that she was forfeiting breakfast and lunch. She would do anything for her son.
And if she was going to face Steve in court for custody, she needed money. She folded the paper and put it in her purse. It was a good thing she had a few of her things at her parents. She had been stupid to forget those essentials including her phone.
And it was because she couldn't get over the fact that she had had dinner with Tory and Steve had she had one daydreamed of when she had still hoped he would forgive.
To think that now was madness.
Thankfully, the bus had just arrived when she got to the bus station. She jumped in and found a seat by the window. She took out the newspaper and began to read through the job column.
Ugh
Nothing
Nothing that applied to her.
She tried not to be too disappointed.
Maybe she would just ask Martha if she knew any available night jobs.

She arrived at seven am.
Right on time, she thought as she walked from the bus stop to the diner. She had to get enough money within the week to pay for her apartment since walk from her apartment.
Mr Bean, the owner of the diner was opening the door when she arrived.
"Mr Bean. Good morning." She gave the middle aged man a small smile.
He glanced at her. "Morning, Jody." He said as he opened the door.
"How was your night, Sir?"
"Good." He smiled this time. "And yours?"
"Fine, thanks."
Jody walked up to the counter and dropped her purse on the stool just behind it. She took her waitress uniform from the locker and walked into the bathroom to change.
She was done in ten and pulled up her hair into a ponytail.
Mr Bean was setting the chairs when she came out.
"Oh. Never mind. I'll do it."
"Just help out. It will be faster."
"Okay. Isn't Martha coming today? Is that why you are early?"
"Don't like seeing my face?"
Jody glanced up from the red chair she had just placed on the floor ready to defend herself in a panic, when she realized that he was joking.
He laughed. "Should have seen your face. My God, Jody, live a little, Will you?"
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Sorry. It's just I need this job so badly and I don't want you to fire me."
He frowned. "Financial problems?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't know that. Rose quit on Friday and I hired someone else. If I had known, I'd have added it to your shifts. Sorry. "
"Oh." She said and couldn't help but feel disappointed a little. "So then she's resuming today?"
"It's a he. Yes, he is."
"Okay."
Just then the cooks and the other waitress and Martha arrived.
Jody said hi to Martha as she dusted the counter.
"Hello, how's Tory?"
"She's good." I guess
"Okay. Did you know Mr Bean hired a waiter? I thought he only preferred waitresses."
Jody shrugged. "He probably didn't have much choice, you know how it can get when it's crowded here. Besides he said if he had known I needed some money badly he'd have added Rose's work to mine."
"Okay. It's probably a college student."
"Yeah. Most likely a high school student though."
"Yeah."Martha agreed.
"And Martha?"
"Yes, Jody."
"Please if you hear about a vacancy, you know, a night job. Probably at a diner or something, don't hesitate to call me."
Martha frowned and narrowed her eyes at Jody. "Are you seriously going to work at night too? You are going to kill yourself. If you really need money, ask Tory's father."
She snorted. "As if he would care if I was dying or not. I will earn my keep. Don't worry about me."
The door dinged.
Jody turned.
"Early customer?"
Jody shrugged and turned to face the door.
The dark haired, twenty something year old man that walked in had striking features and Jody had no idea why he looked familiar. He was frowning but his lips were rugged up into what seemed like a smile as his looked around until his gaze landed on her.
His expression became enigmatic.
"Oh Zach, you are here." Mr Bean exclaimed quietly and then walked up to him and turned to Martha and I and said
"Please meet Zachary McCall, he's the new waiter."
"Wow. Older than we thought." Martha muttered behind Jody.
"Hello." He said quietly.
"Hello." Everyone except Mr Bean responded.
"I'm Martha. I will show you the ropes."
"Yeah, sure."
Then he turned to Jody. "I didn't catch your name."
As if
"It's Jody." She gave a small smile.
For some reason, this guy seemed unlikeable to her. And she liked everyone. Her mother said it was one of her faults.
He returned her smile with a smirk and followed Martha.
The door dinged again and Jody turned to welcome the new customer but saw a man with a bunch of roses walking towards her.
"Hello, miss, someone wants you to have this." He held it out to her.
Jody frowned. "It couldn't have been me."
"It is. Jody Howard, right?"
That stunned her. "W...what? How do you know my name? Who sent this?"
"Don't know what he looks like. Ordered for the flowers and paid for a delivery."
"Did he leave a letter?"
"Sure. Check it out yourself. I'm leaving."
He too her hand and placed the flowers there and turned and left.
This is so weird.
Who was it?
Her stalker?
She told a deep breath and took out the small envelope and placed the rose on the counter. She opened the envelope and took out the card and her heart almost stopped.