How to Slay a Beast (Book 1)

Chapter 3 - Violet

"Why did you let him take your kids? They are your kids," Tracy was helping me polish silverware at one of the empty tables of the diner. No customers were in sight. "He can't just kidnap them from you."

"I can work the extra," I sighed, shaking my head. but I didn't want to. I wanted to be home, right now, helping Del with his homework and laughing with Merry about her day.

"Yeah you can but you don't have to," she said, "Why do you just bend to him?"

"Habit," I groaned. I would have been angry with her except she was good for me, "I don't know! It's like---I mean who am I to say no? They'll get to have a perfect, organic meal and to watch TV and do their homework and Merry doesn't have to start dinner or laundry or anything---and they each get their own, real bedrooms---"

"Those aren't their real bedrooms," Tracy said, "Their real home is with you."

"They are---those are their nurseries that I painted for them," I said, "With all of their toys and we can't even paint the apartment and they have to share anyway and all I had for dinner tonight was hamburger and rice that's all I have until the next paycheck comes in."

"That asshole still isn't paying you child support?" she asked.

"No---he's supposed to but, he says if I take him to court over it he'll get more custody of the kids, and I can't have them less than I already do," I said.

"Courts always rule in favor of the mother---"

"Not when the mother makes minimum wage and---even if they did---I'm afraid he'd try to do something weird, like call CPS or something," I said, shaking my head, "I don't know. I just don't trust him---and if he'll leave us alone most of the time if I just give him what he wants occasionally---then fine."

"Okay," Tracy said, shrugging, "Just tryin' to help."

"Yeah, I know, thanks," I said, shaking my head, "I don't know what to do. I miss them."

"Well, it's over now, you'll see them tomorrow afternoon," Tracy said, trying to cheer me up.

"Yeah," I said. I was not to be cheered. I knew my decision was right. But I couldn't stand the thought of not seeing either of my babies for nearly twenty four more hours. Little did I know, I would never hold the two of them in my arms again.

"Come on, do something for yourself tonight," she said, "Watch TV and paint your toenails or something."

"We don't have cable---no money to buy nail polish," I said, smiling her sake. I did have nail polish at the house, but I did that sort of thing with Merry and I didn't want to do it without her.

"Well, kids are gone, you might as well try to relax a little---call that guy you've been seeing," she said, casually.

"What guy? I'm not seeing anyone," I lied, quickly. Nobody knows about him. Nobody.

"What---you cannot tell me you are not getting laid---I've seen you come in some mornings----women only look like that after they've had a good one," she said.

"What---no," I lie, again. badly.

"Fine, you don't have to tell me who he is---not that it matters----anyway, you've been divorced for what---eight years now?" she asked.

"Yeah---that's true---but there isn't anyone," I said, adding the last part quickly.

"Whatever, I'm just glad someone can get you smiling like that, I never liked Matthew," she said.

"Neither did I really, not for a while," I said, shaking my head. It was okay in the beginning. I guess it always is. I was trying to work my way through college. He had just gotten his MBA. He had good money and back then he was charming, and sweet. I dropped out of college, I always thought I'd go back, do something through the mail or something, once we were settled.