Her first

Chapter 16 : Sarah

"what is he talking about Sarah"
"It's complicated Joshua I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner"
"How's a person like you able to afford a place like this, or did you start doing dinner before the actual banging"
"What the hell is he talkin about Sarah"
"Mitch, get out of here I don't do that anymore"
"A hooker never leaves her --"

Joshua stands up and grabs the man by the shirt.

"You better leave if you don't me to break you"
"What's your problem man she's a hooker, why do you care"

Joshua isn't stupid to not have figured it out by now, he lets go of Mitch's shirt and looks a me a tear escaping his eye.

"Joshua wait i--"
"DON'T YOU, don't you touch me you whore, you're a disgusting disgraceful lair"
"I deserve that and more but please listen"
"I don't want to listen to the filth that will escape your mouth, I never should have let myself trust you ever"
"Please listen"

I grab his hand but he pushes me to the ground.

"If you touch me again, I'll forget my morals and values"

I stay quiet and hold my arm where a broken glass pierced my skin. Ouch that really hurts, but not as much as this.

"What's that guy's deal, what can I get for--"

Joshua comes back and punches Mitch then walks out. A worker from the restaurant approaches me.

"Ma'am you'll have to pay for this"
"Call my brother and tell him I'm here he'll come take care of this"

I get to the outside of the restaurant to wait for Elijah after putting a cloth around my wound. After packing his car he rushes to my side.

"Hey, what happened?"
"It's a long story Eli, I wanna go home first"

He helps me to his car, we head to his house.

"Hey Emily, how's the pregnancy going?"
"Just one more month and this beautiful baby will be out"
"Cool, I uhh..."
"I'll give you two time, I'll be in the room of you need me my love"

She kisses Elijah and heads out.

"I started seeing Joshua"
"Jennings, that's good. You're finding a healthy relationship that's good"
"...."

"What is it Sarah,what happened!"
"I don't think I'm building a new healthy relationship with Joshua, or anyone else I just need to leave and go far away where nobody knows me"
"And start what a relationship based on lies"
"Atleast he won't know my past"
"You will Sarah, you will"

She lets out a long exasperated sigh.

"Look, Joshua is my friend. I met him when he entered the shop, asked me to help Gladys because she was having money trouble after her divorce. Joshua is a really good guy, him bieng hurt about this proves he has feelings for you"
"He called me a disgusting disgraceful lair, a whore"
"I'm not taking sides Sarah but the best thing you can do is just talk to him don't let your tainted past have an impact on your future you have to be a new you"
"I always hated it when you're right"
"That's why I always wanted to be right"

I can't believe I'm going to try and talk to him.

"Alright, I talk to him after work tomorrow"
"Good, let me drop you off...My love"

Emily answers from the other room.

"Yes sweetie"
"I'll quickly drop off Sarah and be back alright"
"Alright sweetie, I need to come kick your butt at this game"
"You can come try to"
"We'll see now take Sarah home, bye Sarah"
"By Emi"

The next day at work.

"Gladys hey, I wanted to talk to you about Joshua"
"He's hurt honey your past is your past, of Joshua truly cares about you and you him. He was going to see past your mistakes and want to build a future with you two together"
"I'm regretting every second of me not telling him I truly am sorry about it"
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to Sarah"
"Where is he at least?"
"Out of town ordering a few parts for he's shop he'll be back in about a week"

I look at her and remember what Eli told me yesterday.

"Gladys, you never told me you were divorced"
"Oh yeah I was, the man cheated on me and after signing the divorce papers he decided to fly out to Washington to meet his new chick"
"What happened?"
"Carma caught up to him, the bastard was involved in an unfortunate accident and died on the spot leaving me with nothing"
"Joshua was still staying with a friend until recently was that why you struggled to get back up on your feet"

She looks to the roof then sighs.

"After I divorced him last year I met this guy who I thought would be the one, turns out he was a fraud and after leaving me pregnant I haven't seen him since. Joshua has been there for me you know he focused his efforts on helping me and after making friends with Eli I found a job I thank Eli and Joshua because Eli pays my rent, bills and the rest"
"Who knew my brother had such a big heart"
"Your brother is an amazing person just like Joshua, if you talk to him I'm sure he'd hear you out"
"So when you said your husband"
"Eli checking in on me"
"That says a lot, so the little angel is with?"
"Our youngest sister"
"Josephine, Joshua did mention her once"
"Yeah, so anyways I'm heading home it's time to feed the little angel"
"Goodnight"

I got a strange vibe from the way Gladys talked about Eli, the way she smiled when she says his name. Blushing when I talk about him. Could she have feelings for him.