Chapter 2 Stacey's p.o.v

Chapter 2

Ring, ring, ring, "Hello. Is this Miss Stacey, the voice asks?" "Yes, this is she. Who is this, I ask?" "Oh, pardon me ma'am it's Charles Stanton about the house that's for rent." "Yes, Mr.Stanton, how are you doing?" "I'm doing just fine. I wanted to call you to let you know that I will hold the house until May first and if you're not here then it goes back on the market." "Okay yes, sir I can do that." "Don't call me sir, it came out in a growl." I don't know what comes over me but I shiver from it. My insides went to jelly by it. What's my problem? I must be coming down with something. "Okay, very well Mr. Stanton." "You can call me Charles, he says." "Well, then you can me Stacey." "If you don't mind me asking but do you have a job lined up to pay the rent every first of the month." "Oh, yes silly me I got a waitressing job at Rusty's Cafe." "Oh, you talked to Susan." It wasn't a question more of a statement. "Yes, I did. I start my job on May fifteenth." So I should expect you when he asks? My kids get out of school at the end of April and I have court for the divorce tomorrow. "How many little ones do you have again?" "I have three. Isaac is eight, Penelope is five and Liam is two." "That bastard left you with three kids under ten to go off with some woman?" "Yep, that's pretty much the jest of it, I say." "He's not a man at all. Well Miss Stacey I'll see you and your little ones in a few weeks." "All right, Charles, and thank you for trusting me." "It's not about trust ma'am it's about you and yours needing a place to stay. I'm gonna help you out okay." "Okay thank you, I say." "Goodbye Miss Stacey." "Goodbye Charles." We hang up and I start supper for the kids while they clean up and get their clothes ready for the next day. Kids are fed and bathed in no time. "Mama... Issac says." "Yes, son." "Can you read us a story?" "Yes but only one tonight mommy has to be somewhere tomorrow." "Okay mama, he says." After reading to the kids I slowly place Pen in her bed and cover them all up. Switching off the light and closing their doors I tiptoe down the hall to my room. I head to my closet to find my best outfit, settling on a pair of black slacks, black pumps, and a soft purple top. That should be good enough for court right? I quickly shower not bothering to wash my hair since I did last night. I put on a nice silky nightie and climb into bed. We all wake to a loud clap of thunder. I guess it's going to be that kind of day. "Mama! Mama!" "I'm here sweetie. Mommy is right here." I had jumped out of bed and raced down the hall to the kid's rooms. I get to the kids and they jump into my arms. "It's okay my babies. Mommy is here, I say." I gather them up and we all head back to my room to cuddle for the next few hours. We wake to my alarm going off. "No dilly-dallying today guys mama's got to be somewhere very important, I say." After getting the kids dressed, fed, and on the bus I had to take Liam across town to my mom and dad's house so they could watch him while I'm in court. I drop him off and head to the courthouse to wait on my lawyer. I see my soon-to-be-ex climb out of his car and head into the courthouse. I start walking that way when I hear my name being called from behind me, "Stacey, Stacey wait a minute, please." It's my so-called best friend Abby. "What do you want Abigail, I ask?" I keep walking up the stairs not slowing my pace. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't want to hurt you by telling you." "So you let this go on for months and let me look like a fool while he's out in town with his girlfriend." "I'm really sorry Stacey, she says." "Well, it's not going to matter in a few weeks anyway." "What do you mean by that, she asks?" "The kids and I are moving to Wyoming." "Stacey, you can't be serious." "I've already got a job and a place to live." "You don't know anyone there, she pleads.""That's the point, I say." I turn away from her just in time to see Dustin standing there. "Oh good there for a minute I thought we were gonna have to be the ones that moved, he said." "No Dustin you are welcome to stay here and be with your girlfriend as long as you want. The sooner this divorce is final the better for me." We head into the courtroom with our lawyers and listen to the judge award me eight hundred dollars in child support and full custody of the kids. That certainly didn't make Dustin happy. As I was leaving the courthouse I was pushed to the ground with a hard shove, "Why won't you just let him go, she yells at me?" I look up to see this slim young woman standing over me. Next thing I know Dustin is picking me up off the ground. "Madison, why would you push her down?" "I just want this fat cow to let you go so we can get married already, she says." I wrap my arms around my waist to cover my stomach. Dustin notices but doesn't say anything about it. "Let's just go Madison, he says." They walk hand in hand away from me. Not once does he look back at me? I shake my lawyer's hand and head to my Toyota Camry. On my way home I stop at the grocery store and do some shopping then head to pick up Liam from my parents. They know what's going and they don't understand how he could do this to his family. I get home just before the kids are let off the bus. They help me to put away the groceries and get supper ready. The days seem to consist of packing, cleaning, laundry, and school. I try to pack only what we need and sell what we don't. Before I knew it the kids were done with school and out for the summer. We all worked together to get everything packed up and ready to go in the U-haul. The judge had decided to have us meet halfway which would be Rock Springs Wyoming since I decided to move. I don't really think I will be seeing much of him anyway. We take one last look and we all load up in the car and head off to our new home. I gas up the car and on the road, we go. Halfway through all three kids were fast asleep in the back seat. We stop to gas up and use the bathroom and back the road it is. Once we get to Dubois, Wyoming I realize this will be the perfect town to raise my kids. We follow Charles' directions and head down a dirt road taking the first road on my left. It takes us down a long path until we get to this beautiful farmhouse. It's then that I understand we have a long driveway. I take out my phone and flip it open and scroll through my contacts until I land on Charles's number. Ring, ring, ring, "Hello Miss Stacey how are you fairing?" "Well, we just pulled up to the house." "All right, I'll be right there." It's not long before we hear the roar of a pickup truck coming down the dirt road. I wasn't expecting the man that stepped out of the blue truck. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what I was expecting but not him. He stood a good six feet four inches wearing a tan short-sleeve shirt and wranglers with cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. As I slowly looked him up I notice his muscled arms and pecks. I get up to his face and he has a pitch-black beard and the most piercing hazel eyes. Now, this is a man I think. Woah Woah Stacey your divorce isn't even final and you're wanting to jump this man's bones. Plus he's not gonna find me attractive with three kids. That's okay I don't need a man. I will take care of my kids and myself. A girl can dream though right? "Hi, Miss Stacey nice to finally put a face to the name, he says shaking my hand." "Hey, Charles, it's good to finally meet you as well, I say." "Well, let me go ahead and help you get in." "My parents will be pulling into the driveway with our stuff any minute now." "Well let me go ahead and open up the house for ya, he says." As he gets to the step here come my parents in the U-haul. I turn back to see Charles walking back my way. My parents step out and head toward us. "Mama, Daddy this is my landlord, Charles. Charles this is my folks, Mary and Alan Keene." "Hello folks, I hope it buries a few of your fears about having your daughter and grandchildren so far away from you by meeting me, says Charles." My father's the first to speak, "well I don't think anything is going to help with that fear son."