Thank you all so much for all the kind words on this story, its a labor of love. This chapter, like a lot of my writing, has bits and pieces of my life woven into it. Also some of my favorite angsty 90's music too :) Enjoy!
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Paulina avoided the 711 the next day, even after she told him she went there every day. Daryl had gone there hoping to see her, but she drove right by without stopping, knowing he would be looking for her. This was wrong and she was so confused, she planned to leave and now she might have a reason but she couldn't bear to hurt Daryl or herself again if it didn't work out for the second time.
They had ended so badly long ago and the fact that they could talk to each other now was amazing, and she wanted more; Paulina was unsure of how to do it, how to get it. What if it did work out though, what if she was letting go of the best thing that ever happened to her, again.
Second chances didn't come along every day and sometimes love knocked you upside the head. It would be foolish to squander this opportunity.
His truck was there, and she saw him casually standing with the guys that hung out there, waiting for her, and maybe trying not to look like that was what he was doing; Daryl would text her if she didn't show up and she'd deal with that later.
It was all too overwhelming and any time she approached the idea of divorce with Kevin in the past he low key threatened to kill her. She didn't really think he would do it, but she knew he didn't love, or even like her very much.
His words and actions made that perfectly clear, he hadn't touched her in two years and she suspected he was even cheating on her although she had no proof. Kevin was not home very often and when he was he was distant as if he didn't want to be there. Over the years Paulina threw herself into motherhood and work, the only joy she had in life.
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When all was said and done Paulina avoided Daryl for two days, finally, she texted him; she couldn't risk seeing him in person, he made her want things that she was sure she'd never have in life. She was thinking of a new life and they had only seen each other once. If she saw him again she might do something foolish, she didn't want to be that girl.
If she could get free, then they might have a chance, but she would never cheat, that wasn't her and she knew it wasn't Daryl either. Despite her suspicions of her husband, she needed a clear conscious, if there was any chance at all for her and Daryl.
During this time that they didn't see each other but they spoke a few times on the phone. It was nice to catch up on each other's lives and she told him about her life since he had left and what it was like now. Paulina had two daughters aged ten and twelve and Daryl wished they were his.
He told her all about the exotic places he went to in the service and how it never compared to being home. They dreamed of one day going to a few of those places together if luck was on their side.
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~~~~Katie was in a car accident with her friend and her mother coming home from the movies.
~~~~Where are you?
~~~~At the hospital, she needs surgery on her arm.
~~~I'll be right there.
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*******I close my door at night
But they get in all right
And she turns on the light
I held her hands so tight
'Cause words don't come out right
And she sees things at night
Me, I'm closer to the door
I don't get scared no more
But I don't know the score
If I could hold them in my hand
I'd make them understand
I'm not a haunted mind
I'm not a thoughtless kind
If I could put them in a jar
I know they wouldn't scar
I'd do it if I could
I hope you know I would*******
Paulina was outside smoking when Daryl pulled into the parking lot and when he saw her there all alone and scared he was struck by the fact that her husband didn't bother to come with her. It was like the man expected her to handle everything herself, and this was his kid that was hurt. What was the point of being in a relationship if you abandoned your partner during the hard times? He made up his mind right then and there to try for this, really try for it.
Seeing her there leaning up against the wall shaking with fear did something to his heart and he never wanted to see her that way again. They could be happy together, he just knew it.
Daryl was across the parking lot in a second and taking her in his strong arms, where she felt so safe already. He ran his hand over her head and back in an attempt to calm her. He could always calm her when they were teenagers.
"Hey," He said, brushing the hair out of her eyes and looking to see if she was alright, "She's OK, she's gonna be OK; this wasn't your fault."
"But, I...let her go," Paulina sobbed. Kevin had pretty much blamed the whole thing on her already and she was buying into his bullshit again.
"Shhhh," Daryl's eyes were so soft and he wouldn't stop looking at her, soon he was leaning closer and then his lips were on hers.
"Where Jilly?" He said when they pulled apart, from the sweetest most chaste kiss.
"With my friend Selena," Paulina answered.
"And?"
"He's home," She hugged Daryl to her and started to cry, big huge sobs, finally able to release some of the stress she had been feeling, "He said he has to work in the morning."
"What a fuckin dick," Daryl sighed and pulled back to gaze at her again, he was glad her husband wasn't there and he knew she wouldn't have texted him if he had been there, "I won't leave you, I won't leave you; I'll stay as long as you need me to."
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When she finally got Katie home the next night Paulina crashed and slept for twelve hours. Daryl never texted her first because he didn't want to cause her trouble and he didn't hear from her for a week. At first, he told himself it was because she was busy, but he knew better by the second and third day.
At least this time he wasn't nineteen years old and convinced he couldn't live without her, he would live. It might be an empty existence but he would live without her. It sure did hurt though, like pulling a scab off an old wound.
Paulina had dumped him for the second time, it was unfortunate because he really loved her, having her in his arms and kissing her had made him want her all the time. Daryl took it hard, after holding her in his arms again, he knew he loved her still. He knew that she was the reason it never worked with anyone else, she was the one.
And he couldn't have her so he had to forget her, just as he always he'd he took to the woods to hunt. He liked to be alone and he feared he was always going to be alone. He couldn't make it work with any other women and he had tried.
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The woods were silent, but a smooth breeze blew through their hair as Daryl stood behind her quiet and helped her aim the crossbow. It was five am and they were out in the woods behind his house. This memory was so real for him, he opened his eyes once and looked up at the ceiling in his room; it was like he was seventeen all over again.
"I can't Daryl, I can't," Paulina felt as if she was going to cry, it wasn't because she had an aversion to hunting or anything like that, not really, although she didn't really eat venison much, even when her own father brought it.
"Relax, we're hunting for our table, remember that, it's ok Lina," He whispered and moved her hand slowly to the trigger and helped her press it. She watched as the arrow flew through the air right into the buck they had been tracking, "You did it baby," He kissed her, once and then again, "I'm so proud of you" he kissed her again, "Once you master this I'm gonna teach you to fight."
His smile was contagious and so exciting, she had never loved a boy the way she loved him, and she was sure she never would again.
"I don't need to know how to fight Daryl," She replied as they walked towards the felled deer.
"Yes you do, someday maybe I won't be around to protect you..."
"Shhhh, of course..."
"We ain't together 24/7 and I wanna make sure you can throw a punch if ya need to," Daryl explained further.
"Anyone tries to get me I'll kick him in the balls." She grabbed his hand, "Don't you worry about me."
"Come on let's go get that deer home and I'll show you what to do next." He took her by the hand.
"Alright, but I'm not drinking the blood like in Red Dawn," Paulina answered.
"Relax," He took her by the hand, "This isn't some apocalypse movie."
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"Fuckin try it Paulina and see what happens." He raged at her a few weeks after Katie's surgery in the kitchen as he threw dish after dish at her. This wasn't the first time, but she swore it would be the last. Paulina saw the kids from the corner of her eye and knew that they couldn't be exposed to this anymore, what kind of example was she setting for them? She had to stop dreaming that her life would be anything except what it was; a fucking mess. It was time to get them all away from this volatile situation or one day they would grow up to think this was normal.
Or maybe he would kill her and take her away from them forever.
The money she had hidden over the years was just ten thousand dollars and she knew it wouldn't last forever, but it had to be now, soon. The fear she saw in those children's eyes haunted her now. She had things in a storage unit too, things they would need to start a new life
The next day she called her friend Selena who told her it was about time and put her in touch with a good lawyer named Sylvia. For the first time in a long time, she felt hopeful, like something was going her way.
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Sylvia leaned forward as she met the eyes of her new client, "Are you involved with anyone?"
"No," Paulina answered, she and Daryl weren't seeing each other anymore. It wasn't a lie and she had deleted all their texts and his phone number.
The lawyer didn't really believe this, but it wasn't her job to believe her client, it was her job to get this divorce over painlessly, if at all possible and to get a fair settlement and child support for Paulina.
"It wouldn't look good if you were, and you need to stay in the house as long as you can, your ex sounds like he would charge you with abandonment. Also, he could charge anyone you are involved with something called alienation of affection and attempt although unlikely to win a settlement from that person."
Kevin was just the kind of jerk off that would try and sue Daryl, she just couldn't put him through it. It could end his career on such a bad note, she had to do this alone. Maybe one day when the divorce was over; but for now she had to set him free.
Thank you for reading.
