Chapter 3: TWO
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 she had dreamed of. It was the type of romantic setting you'd see in the movies or read in novels.
Then the cruise fell to one side but even though Steve stood 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!"
Fear was choking her, the loss of everything was overwhelming.
She was wrecked!
And she could do nothing
She jerked up clutching the sheets to her chest and pressed her lips tightly to keep from screaming out loud again.
It was the same old dream
It was a good thing that Vincent was with his grandparents or he'd be in her room now, petrified and worried about her.
She took deep breaths, determined not to breakdown because of history that should never had taken place, not that she despised those memories but they had done nothing but complicate her life. Five years had passed and she was still paying for those few moments of peace and love that she had experienced.
No matter how fulfilled she had been, it couldn't be God's plan, He wouldn't give her something just to take it again.
She knew Him enough to know that. After all His blessings was there to make rich and to add no sorrows to it.
She just didn't understand how a mistake could have felt so right. She sighed and leaned her head on the headboard.
It would be fine.
She and Vincent would be fine. She smiled. Her knight in shining armour. She needed to call him but he wouldn't be awake now. She'd save it for later when she got to the diner.
Just then her alarm rang.
Another day of work.
She rushed to the bathroom to wash her face and mouth and went back to her room, knelt by her bed and said a word of thanksgiving for a new day and for her family and co-workers
She could only hope that today would be a good day.
* * *
"Hello Jody!"
"Hello Martha!"
"You will be serving tables 1,3,5,8."
"Thanks. Looks like its a good Tuesday." This early in the morning and being a small diner with three waitresses, two cooks and one manager, things seemed to be going fast as five tables were already occupied. Although, no one had occupied the tables that was assigned to her. She hoped someone would though, she really needed the money. The rent was due and the bills were accumulating. That was the reason she had agreed for Vincent to stay with his grandparents for now. She could barely feed herself now but it wasn't fair to move back to her parents, she ought to be taking care of them and not the other way round.
"Earth to Jody."
She pulled out of her reverie as fingers snapped in her face. "Oh, sorry. I am so sorry."’
"Its okay. Are you okay, though?"
"Yeah. Sure. It’s just money issues."
"Doesn't everyone? Anyway, Rose said she isn't coming in today. She has somewhere to be after school. You can take her shift if you want."
"Oh, Martha, that's too serious a joke."
Martha met her eyes. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
Rose' shift....that meant extra dollars, more tips. "Really?" She grinned with joy. "Thanks a lot."
Martha smiled. "Anytime Jody, anytime. Seems like you have customers to attend to. Get to work. And get a sandwich to eat during brunch, you've lost a lot of weight in the past months."
"Thanks, I will."
She picked up the menu pad from the counter and hurried over to the bunch of college students. "Hello, how may I help you?"
Jody refused to wish she had had the privilege these ones have now.
* * *
Jody tried to shake off the feeling that someone was staring at her. Tried to pretend it was nothing as she had told herself almost everyday for the past couple of months. She looked around subtly, the last thing she wanted was for the person to feel threatened by her presence. She had to keep pretending she was oblivious to her stalker's presence. What she didn't get was why. It was not like she had money or any possession worth anything.
She sighed, tired and worried. She glanced at the clock. Oh thank God!
8:55pm
Five minutes left to closing time.
She gathered her purse and tucked in the all of her money carefully inside her purpose.
God bless Martha
She had made more than a hundred dollars from tips alone.
Now she could pay some bills and buy groceries. She could probably get Vincent a pair of shoes by next week.
At least something good was happening in her life.
"Have a great night, you all." She heard Sophie, her colleague call after the last of the customers and flipped the closed sign.
"Your pay." Martha gave her an envelope
"Thanks, Martha."
"You earned it. Good night."
Trying not to look suspiciously around her, she walked hurriedly back home. It was a good thing that she didn't need to take a bus to get home or she'd never be able to survive.
She took out her cell phone and called her mother.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone