3 years later

-1-

“What’s his middle name?,” Teagan whispers.

I shrug. I honestly have no clue.

“Is this him ?”

I lean over to her computer screen where she had social networking website open. We’re supposed to be using the  computer lab time to look at jobs, but she had somehow found him.  In the photo he is posed with three other boys at the beach. There’s a party in the background with a big fire flaming in the middle of the sand.

“Your Dear John is a hottie,” she says. “Want me to print this pic ?,”

Yes.

I shake my head no.

“Well, I’ll send  you a link.” Teagan says anyway.

She sends me a link in the Yahoo chat we’re not supposed to have open on the computer. We used it so we could talk without anyone overhearing. Typically opening private chats was an offense that could get you extra chores at the Beginnings House, but we were both so close to being released the counselors stopped paying attention.

I  open the link and I see there are a few  other pictures of him on the website He looks gorgeous-- he looks like he has abs like the models in magazines. Lots of the pictures are with pretty girls, some in tiny bikinis, one is a muscular brunette who has her arm around his waist and her lips on his cheek.

 I delete the link.

I knew a woman who’d been in the system on and off for 40 years who was fond of saying  ‘the system that is supposed to be protecting us is really just fucking us’.

 I felt it now.

I used to think that I had just done something stupid and bad luck along with legal technicalities had landed me in jail. But now I knew I had committed a crime. I  had committed several crimes.

It was my decisions that had taken away the moments I should have had with my family or maybe even with Rhett Clark. Maybe.

But not anymore.

Tomorrow I was going home.

Wherever the hell that was

 

----

-2-

Juliesheart: My counselor actually said to me ‘congrats you are no longer a problem of the state of Florida’

Rclark: Doubt it (;

Juliesheart: sorry I missed ur grad party yesterday, they had admin issue and wouldnt let me check out.

Rclark: Its okay. Next time right ?

Juliesheart: Guess where I am….

Rclark: Drinking champagne on a sunny Tampa beach ?

Juliesheart: Hartford Airport Cybercafe.  Dad isn’t picking me up for another hour. I can come to your room and help u pack ur dorm or something.

Rclark: Shit

Juliesheart: ?

Rclark: I’m back in Louisiana. I got back in last night. I start work tomorrow at a NOLA base.

Juliesheart: Oh. I wish I could have seen you );

Rclark is typing

Rclark is typing

Rclark is typing

Rclark: Why don’t you come back down South ?  I’ll meet you halfway and help you drive.

Juliesheart: No license

Rclark: Plane ? I’ll pay half.

Juliesheart: No money.

Rclark: You didn’t get settlement money ? Even I got a little.

Juliesheart: Mine went to legal fees.

Rclark: That’s a bitch.

Juliesheart: I have to be in CT tomorrow anyway. The social worker is coming.

Rclark: Even more of a bitch

 

----

 

 

“The fries here are delicious, Juliana ! I think that’s why this is your Dad and I’s favorite place.  Do you want to split an order ?,”

“…Did you get a lot of settlement money, Dad ?,”

“Some. Why ?”

“Do you think I could borrow some…to take a bus to Louisiana ?,”

“I told you Juliana, you need to stop talking to that boy. Your therapist said it could be triggering,”

“Dad, he’s not the same person--,”

“Only in your head. You haven’t seen him in years.”

“He wrote me letters. We’re friends. He’s the only one who understands what I’ve been through. That’s it.”

“He fell for Caine’s lies--,”

“So did you--”

“No, your mother and I believed in Caine’s father. He truly had a vision. Your mother fell for his no good son--,”

“Daniel, honey, calm down---,”

“It’s the truth, Tessa. She knows that. Melanie was a good woman, but very foolish--”

“We should really order before the waitress comes back !  Margie’s usually impatient with orders, Juliana that’s why we usually sit in that other section when we come. Should we do family style ? It has big portions!”

“You need to get a job, Juliana.”

“I will….My counselor in Florida said I should ask if you still have any family or friend connections.” 

“No. You know I don’t know anyone here besides Tessa and you.”

“It’s just… you always said you grew up here,”

“I did.”

“Hey! It’s about to be the busy season. Maybe this place is hiring? We’re such loyal customers I’m sure if you tell them your Daniel’s daughter...who knows! ”

“That social worker is going to ask tomorrow, Juliana. I think you should go to the library after this meal and start looking.”

“Fine.”

 

----

 

 

“Maybe you’d like to do something like therapy assistant or paralegal--help people in situations like your own.”

I didn’t  think there were many people in situations like mine. I never wanted to have to talk about ‘my situation’ again.

“Maybe.”

“What do you value ?,”

Being free. Money. Fast money.

 “I don’t know,” I say

 “Well, I’m always here as a resource.”

For who ? Me ? Dad ? Tess ? I’m not sure the state ever made it clear when they sent in a weekly social worker who she was for.

Honesty had never worked for me

Lies did.

 

----

Rclark: I can’t believe your ex-husband lied to help you get a job

Juliesheart: It’s not like that. He didn’t lie. I did work at The Sunset Diner…he just embellished. The Park Inn is much slower than Sunset Cafe…but the plates are heavier.

Rclark: It’s got to be more fun than where I am. I’m behind a desk on a Navy base working on safety engineering bullshit. These Navy douchebags are all pricks to us CG guys and the only ships I go on are docked ones.

I get vacation. Let’s do something in August ? We can start saving up now.

Juliesheart: I don’t have vacation, but I’ll try. Did I tell you my Dad and Tess don’t work ? They are always home. Its odd.

Rclark: That sux

Juliesheart: They want me gone. They gave Hallie my room and I have to sleep on the couch!

Rclark: Tell me it folds out

Juliesheart: It does. It’s still 1000 times better than the halfway house.

Rclark: How so ?

Juliesheart is typing

Juliesheart: I don’t want to talk about it. Tell me something. Anything.

Rclark: My sister is such a teenager now. It’s weird! Her friends are always over giggling and she has a calendar of  half-naked fireman with puppies in her room. I couldn’t even have the SI swimsuit calendar when I was in HS. Ma’s letting her throw a party on Memorial’s day.

Juliesheart is typing

Juliesheart: ….The restaurant is closed that weekend. I’ll have  money saved by then. I could visit you then.

Rclark  is typing

Juliesheart: I mean only if you want me to come.

Rclark: I would love it if you did. I miss the sound of your voice.

 

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A/N

I know you guys loved the original opening so I tried to incorporate some of that style in with the e-mails.