Chapter three rating: T
CHAPTER THREE
MEETING A NEW DAY
Jeremy blinked rapidly as he noticed the sun beams dance on the wall that he was facing; that he had been facing all night long. He knew his mother was safe from her dreams now; that the sun was up. He walked down the hallway bent on disappearing from sight before his mom walked out of her room. He knew he would be the last person she wanted to see first thing this morning.
He walked to the stairs that led to the only bedroom upstairs; which was his. He paused at his door as he heard his mother make her way to the kitchen for her morning coffee. Damn he forgot to turn it on for her. He needs to remember to do that one act of kindness for her. He shook his head as he entered his bedroom he shut the door softly behind him. He wanted to crawl back into bed and catch up on the sleep that he had lost while he had been keeping a sharp eye on his mother the previous night. But he knew that he had a full day a head of him with his duties as Major Sherwood son. His father would be seriously pissed if Jeremy backed out his obligations because he didn't get any sleep. There were no excesses in Frank Sherwood's book not live up to your obligations. Expect if you are seriously sick or in a serious accident of course.
Denise had awoken with a dry mouth and very dry eyes. She remembered that she had woken up in a deep heart breaking sob the night before. She just wished she could remember what her nightmare had been about. She knew it had something to do with Jeremy. Her heart had broken from the first moment that she had witnessed Jeremy's deep fear. It wasn't anger that had made Jeremy lash out and hurt her; no it was fear. Deep rooted fear of having to die for his country. She knew that so she could easily forgive Jeremy for hitting her. Even when he pushed her against the wall with his hand on her mouth; she looked deep into her son's eyes and saw his soul; his sweet baby soul which had cried out for his mommy to protect him.
Denise will protect her son with every fiber that she had. She was his mother after all. She knew that was the real reason why she told Michael Holden about Jeremy hitting her. She knew that Michael would find a way to prevent Jeremy going to West Point. She wanted to tell Jeremy that she was working on a way on helping him; but she didn't want to give him false hope; just in case he ended up having to go in September. She had to lie to Frank so Frank wouldn't be pissed off before he had to go to the front lines. She didn't want anything to distract Frank. That was why she had never told Frank that Jeremy had screamed and hit her when he was home from the last time he was deployed. Until Frank retired, Denise wouldn't tell him the truth. She knew that he would be very angry when she finally did tell him the truth, not only with Jeremy for hurting her but with her because she hadn't been completely honest with him.
But Denise was willing to take the risk of Frank never talking or trusting her again in order to protect her son. She wasn't going to allow anything to hurt Jeremy; she was quite relieved that Jeremy had chosen a life out side of the armed forces. She had to worry about her husband and she never looked forward to having to worry about her child. Now that was taken care of.
Jeremy knew that she would tell Claudia Joy about what happened between them when Roxie had broken it up. So she knew that he would personally go to Michael Holden and confess to him. Michael was a fair man; and he truly did care for Jeremy; so Denise knew that Michael would help Jeremy find the help that he needed so he could control his anger issue and conquer his fear. So West Point is officially over where her family was concerned. Denise was relieved.
Denise got out of bed and pulled on her robe and she tied it around her waist as she walked from her bedroom. She stopped as she smelt her son's aftershave. She knew that he had stood by her door all night long again. She knew that he didn't know that she knew that he would sometimes sneak into her bedroom while she was sleeping; and just watched her sleep. Before he had lost his temper and hit her; she found comfort in the knowledge that her sweet little boy wanted to make sure his mommy was safe while his father was deployed. She always felt safer knowing that her son was looking after her. But with her nightmares, the safe feeling had completely disappeared. Until the next morning when she felt that he had been in there over came her.
Denise walked down the hallway and into the main part of the Sherwood home that the post had assigned to them when they had first transferred to the base. It wasn't as big as the Holden home; which Denise privately was happy about. She loved Claudia Joy's home and all; but she wouldn't want to be living in it 24/7. It was way too much up keep for one person; and too always have soldiers show up day or night just to talk with Frank; would be a headache. Denise was happy that Frank was a major. She walked into the kitchen and saw that the coffee pot was turned off. She had forgotten to set the timer the night before; and she knew that Jeremy had been in a rush to get back up to his room before she left her room; so she wasn't surprised that he had forgotten to make sure that the coffee pot was on and brewing. She slowly counted out the proper amount of grains that she and Jeremy would share and turned the pot on.
Soon the smells of the coffee warped through the Sherwood living, kitchen, hallway that led to the bedroom and the hallway that led to the front door. Denise was making pancakes when Jeremy walked into the living room. "Morning." She chocked out.
"Morning." Jeremy said walking into the kitchen. He walked over to where his mother was standing next to the flying pan. "How about I finish up here; and you go sit on the couch."
Denise shook her head and she stepped away from him. She didn't mean too. But her nerves were still shot from when he had pushed her against the wall. She wanted to wrap her arms around her son and hold him to her and tell him that she was doing everything in her power in order to protect her. But she couldn't. Not yet. He hadn't apologized yet. She he would in time. But she also knew that he was still terribly shaken up with what he had done to her. He had gone much father when he put his hand to her mouth and pushed her against the wall. That was actually also the second time that he had drawn blood. A few days after Frank was deployed and the letter to West Point came; Jeremy back handed her and accidentally cut her check with his class ring. He had bloodied her nose when he had back handed her before he quickly covered her mouth and pushed her against the wall. If Roxie hadn't come in; there was no telling how far Jeremy had gone in his anger.
Denise had managed to overcome her own shock and deep fear and look into Jeremy's angry eyes. What she saw sadden her and all she wanted to do was manage to pull Jeremy away from her long enough for her to slip her arms around her son so she could pull him to her and she could comfort him and keep him safe. But than Roxie came and Jeremy was yanked away.
After Jeremy had left the house and Roxie had turned and touched her to make sure she was ok; Denise finally felt her body shake as she felt numb to what had happened with Jeremy. All she felt in that moment was her own fear of her son. Not her fear about her son, no fear on what her son had been cabal of doing to her. Fear that he would come back and finish off what he had started. She couldn't stop shaking and Roxie thankfully gathered her into her arms for a long comforting hug.
Jeremy sighed and nodded his head and walked out of the kitchen. He didn't go into the living room to sit on the couch. No, instead he sat down on the stool of the kitchen island and just silently watched his mother prepare break feast for both of them. She hadn't stopped being his mother; even when he hurt her. He couldn't believe what a blessing he was to have been able to be born to Denise Sherwood. He had the best and most forgiving mother in the world. He knew that she loved him even when he hurt her physically. He knew that she would never stop loving him; no matter how much he hurt her. She understood. He bowed his head as he frowned darkly.
Denise turned from the stove after she had flipped the last pancake onto the plate that was all ready filled. She saw Jeremy with his head bowed. She wanted to walk over to him and wrap him into her arms; but she couldn't. Not yet. Things were still very strained between them. She walked over to the island and placed the platter on the counter. "Pancakes are ready." She softly said so not to startle Jeremy.
Jeremy lifted his head. "Do you want to eat at the counter? Or at the table?" He asked.
"Whatever you prefer is fine with me." Denise said wrapping her arms across her chest.
"I say the table." Jeremy said getting off the chair. He had wanted to say counter, some of the best moments he had with his mother; had been eating at the counter side by side. They had started the tradition when he was six and his father had been deployed. His mother knew he missed his father terribly so she thought of a way to be close to her son while they ate a very special dinner without Frank there for the first time in Jeremy's young life. But he very well knew that his mother would feel very uncomfortable sitting so close to him now.
"Oh ok." Denise said disappointed that he didn't say counter. This was the first time in six months that Jeremy had asked weather to eat at the counter or the table. She missed her counter meals with Jeremy. They only had them when Frank was deployed. It was her own special time with her son. She cherished each and every one of them; because she knew that Jeremy would be old enough to leave the nest very soon. Denise knew how fast time flew by; she knew that she only had Jeremy for a very short time before he was old enough to face the world on his own.
Jeremy picked up the plate of pancakes and walked over to the table and placed it in the center of the table. He watched as his mother took her place at the table. He took his usual place but made sure to pull his chair as far away from his mother without actually leaving the table. He passed the plate over for his mother to take the first two pancakes.
"Thank you." Jeremy nodded tightly over at his mother as she passed the plate back.
"You are welcome." Denise said in a strained voice. She watched as Jeremy took the last three pancakes off the plate. He placed the plate in the middle of the table once more. She picked up her coffee cup and took a sip. "So what are your plans for today?" She asked for a lack of anything else to say.
"I'm going to Colonel Holden's and confess that I hit you again." Jeremy said not touching his pancakes.
Denise swallowed. "Oh?" She said softly.
"It's time I be a man and confess my wrong doings on my own." Jeremy looked into his mother's eyes. "I know you have told Mrs. Holden. If you hadn't I know that Mrs. LeBlanc has." He felt his fingers clenched and he fought hard to straighten them out. He didn't want to freak his mother out again.
"I'm going to tell Colonel Holden that I'm not going to West Point." His eye brows creased even more than they had when he had told his mother what he planned on telling Michael Holden that morning. "After he learns about my hitting you once more; than Colonel Holden will call West Point himself and strike me off the roll list."
"If you would like; I could make the call." Denise said raising her right eye brow as she looked into her son's eyes. She was proud that he was finally taking steps in the right direction. She knew that after the meeting with Michael he'll take a few days to get himself together than he would come and apologize to her.
Jeremy shook his head. "No, I'll do it at Colonel Holden's." He turned back to his plate and picked up his fork and took his first bite of his pancakes. He swallowed. "These are as good as they always were, mom." He smiled over at his mother.
Mother and son finished eating in silence. Jeremy offered to do the dishes and Denise let him because she wanted to get ready so she could go and meet up with Claudia Joy for a walk; before Claudia Joy's day became too heretic.
DRIVING TO THE PARK
Denise watched as Jeremy left the house on foot, she knew that he would be too distracted to behind the wheel that afternoon. She was quite proud of him to have the good enough common sense to realize that he was in no condition to drive a vehicle.
She just wished he had had common sense not to allow his temper to get to the point of him striking her. She knew that this would lead to major trouble, not only with Frank; when he finally learns about it. But with Michael Holden.
Denise knew that Jeremy respected Michael Holden as much as he did his own father; she also knew that Jeremy always had a thing for Amanda Holden. There is no way in hell that Michael and Claudia Joy would allow Jeremy and Amanda to be together now; not with Jeremy having an abusing past. She frowned as she watched her son walk down the street with his back straight and his head held high; she desperately wished that he didn't have to go down this rough patch in his life. She wished she had found a way to stop Jeremy from striking her that very first time.
Denise sighed and got into her car and started and backed out of the drive way. She was meeting Claudia Joy at the park for one of their private catch you uppers; that they had since they first meet eight years previous. Actually it all started sooner than that, Denise had first meet Claudia Joy after she married Frank, but than Michael got transferred and Denise and Claudia Joy had to wait till Amanda was ten and Jeremy was nine before they got stationed on the same post once more. Eight years is a long time to be at one post; but Denise so far loved this post the best; and just prayed that Frank wouldn't be transferred to a new post any time soon.
Denise slowed down and waved as a family crossed the street; her heart warmed at the site of the small children walking next to their parents. She thought back to when Jeremy was that size and age; how she missed those times. She shook her head slightly as she continued on her way. She turned left into the parks parking lot and saw that Claudia Joy was all ready there. Denise turned off the engine and got out of her car and walked slowly to join her best friend; whom was sitting at a park bench patiently waiting for her.
"Hello Denise." Claudia Joy said standing to her feet. She wanted to reach out and hug her best friend; but she could see that Denise wasn't in the mood for a hug at the moment. "Shall we?" She nodded her head in a direction for the two friends to begin their walk.
"Of course." Denise said and fell into step along side her best friend.
AT THE HOLDEN HOME
Jeremy took a deep breath as he stopped right at the end of the Holden's front driveway. He saw Colonel Holden's car in the driveway so he knew that Colonel Holden was working from home that day. He took a deep shaky breath as he willed his body to move forward. He had to tell Colonel Holden the truth; because he sure knew his mother would be confiding into Mrs. Holden about the latest attack. He didn't blame his mother; matter of fact he was quite pride of her for having the guts and courage to tell someone the truth on what he had been doing to her.
His mother will be safe from him from now on; now that people knew. It was very embarrassing on him; but he knew that he needed help to control his anger and his fear. He didn't want lash out at his mother; or anyone else for that matter ever again. He knew that Colonel Holden would be the best man to ask for the help. Jeremy was less afraid of him than he was of his father.
He had known the Holden family since he was nine. Mrs. Holden and his mother had become fast friends from the first moment they met through their husbands. Colonel Holden was just a major back than; and his own father was still a captain. Jeremy had lived at this post since he was nine; and he had made good friends with both of the Holden girls; Amanda whom was a year older than he was; and her younger sister Evelyn who was two years younger than he was. But it seemed ever since Amanda's junior year; he had lost touch with her. It was the way of life he guessed. She was off in her first year at college now; but she should be home any day now; that summer vacation was beginning.
Jeremy released his breath and took his hands out of his pockets and straightened up straight and tall once more and he marched up the driveway towards telling Colonel Holden the truth on what he had done. He was about to meet one of his worst nightmares; because just days previous Colonel Holden had told him that if he ever heard of Jeremy hitting his mother or any other woman ever again; than Colonel Holden would treat him like any other solider and beat the crap out of him. He prepared himself for the beating of a life time; that he totally deserved.
Jeremy stopped in front of the front door and took a deep breath. He knocked twice and stepped back waiting for either Colonel Holden or Evelyn to answer. He knew that Mrs. Holden was in the park with his mother. He was surprised to find that Amanda had opened the door. "Amanda, welcomed home." He said stepping backwards as she stepped out onto the porch.
"Jeremy Sherwood, this is a nice surprise." Amanda said with a slight laugh.
"I thought you wouldn't be home for another week at least." Jeremy said awkwardly as he wrapped his arms across his chest. He moved backwards until his back hit the railing. Lucky for him he didn't fall down the stairs. He didn't want to total embarrass himself in front of Amanda after all.
"I see you don't watch much news these days." Amada said with a shake of her head. She saw his look of confusion. "I was in a peace walk and I got arrested." She shrugged.
"Ouch." Was all Jeremy could think of saying. "I bet your folks were steamed."
"Dad was; but mom was pretty understanding about it." Amanda lend against the railing and smiled. "So I hear you got into West Point."
"I'm not going to go." Jeremy said with a firm nod.
"You really weren't the type for West Point." Amanda nodded. "You aren't gun ho about following in your father's footsteps." She smiled. "That's what I always admired about you Jeremy."
"Really." Jeremy lifted his eye brows. "I was going to go to West Point; I was set on it; until I learned that the only reason why I got into it was because of whom my father was." He frowned as he felt his arms tighten underneath his arm pits. He needed to calm down before he lost his temper and hurt Amanda. He wasn't going to do that; he wasn't going to do that. Jeremy took a deep breath and let his fear out of his system and he felt himself to calm down.
WALK IN THE PARK
"So how is Amanda adjusting to being back on the base?" Denise asked after ten minutes of just silent walking alongside Claudia Joy. "Or should I say how is Amanda adjusting being back under her father's roof?"
Claudia Joy just shook her head. She couldn't keep the smile off her lips. "I can never show my true feelings for what Amanda did." She stopped walking, "I don't approve of her protesting the war; but I do believe that she only went to the picket line as a peaceful walk. All she wants is to bring our soldiers home safely."
"But as a Colonel's daughter; it's not wise." Denise said with a slight shake of her head. They continued to walk in silence for a while longer. She knew that Claudia Joy didn't call her for this walk in the park to discuss Amanda. No the Amanda situation would be dealt with among her family … actually the Amanda situation will be dealt with by the entire base. No what won't be dealt with the entire base is the Jeremy situation.
"How is Jeremy doing today?" Claudia Joy asked tentative. She very well knew that no a days whenever Jeremy's name came up; anything could come out of Denise's mouth. She all ready knew about Jeremy's latest attack on Denise; Denise had told her the other day when she went to pick up Amanda from the jail with Claudia Joy. So Claudia Joy knew that Roxie knew now what Jeremy had been doing to his mother. She just prayed that Denise wouldn't say that Jeremy hit her yet again.
"Jeremy is currently at your house confessing to Michael on what he had done." Denise said as she turned to face Claudia Joy.
"Oh." Claudia Joy couldn't keep the surprise out of her voice.
Denise turned her face back in front of her and she continued to walk silently. She didn't realize that her pace had picked up and that Claudia Joy was walking silently at the same pace as she had been behind her.
Claudia Joy watched as Denise walked ahead of her. She wanted to pick up her own pace so she could be walking by the side of her best friend once more; but she felt that Denise needed a little space; so she kept her pace. But when Denise stopped and just was staring out in front of her; Claudia Joy had no choice but to catch up to her friend and stand next to her silently.
"Why did you say 'Oh' with such surprise?" Denise asked without turning to face Claudia Joy.
"I didn't mean to." Claudia Joy said with a tilt of her head.
"Yes you did." Denise said with a frown as she turned and glanced at Claudia Joy before she turned her face away.
"What's really brothering you Denise?" Claudia Joy asked as she placed a hand on Denise's shoulder. She was thrown and sadden when Denise shrugged it off. "I'm here for you, you know that don't you Denise?"
TELLING COLONEL HOLDEN THE TRUTH
Jeremy stood to his feet once more. "Is your father home?" He hated to break up his very interesting conversion. He had heard about Amanda being at the peaceful walking peace rally to bring the troops home safely. He also heard that she was arrested and the entire base knowing about it; on account of it being on every news broadcast. He also knew that her parents were pretty pissed off with her; especially her father.
"He's in his study." Amanda said nodding towards the front door. "Go right in." She said as she watched Jeremy head to the front door.
Before Jeremy opened the front door he turned back to Amanda. "It was nice to see you again, Amanda. We need to catch up sometime."
"Anytime would be great for me." Amanda smiled.
Jeremy blushed as he turned back and opened the front door. His good feelings went away once the door closed behind him. He took a deep breath as he started across the front entrance and past the Holden's living room. He paused before the open door to Colonel Holden's open study door. He saw him behind his desk looking over some paper work. Jeremy was actually relieved that Colonel Holden was in civilization clothing. But it still makes Jeremy uneasy; even in civilization clothing Colonel Michael Holden was a force to be face to face too. Which you wouldn't want to be. But sadly in which Jeremy had officially placed himself in; since the first moment he had hit his mother.
Jeremy took a deep breath and lifted his hand and knocked it twice on the door. "Sir, may I speak to you, sir?" He asked respectfully.
Michael lifted his head and saw Jeremy looking uncomfortable at him. He stood to his feet. "Come in Jeremy." He walked around his desk and walked up to Frank Sherwood's only soon and shook hands firmly with the boy. "Take a sit." He nodded to the chair that was closets to his desk. He watched as Jeremy took an uncomfortable seat before he walked back around the desk to his own chair. "Now what can I do for you?" He folded his hands over the closed file that he had been looking at before Jeremy came in.
"I'm not going to West Point, sir." Jeremy said.
Michael raised his eye brows. "Oh." He truly wasn't surprised to hear this. Denise had told him and Claudia Joy; that the only reason why Jeremy had hit her was because he was afraid. He didn't want the army life; no he just wanted to live a civilization life. Off the base. Michael could understand and respect Jeremy's decision; it was his decision after all; but Michael couldn't respect or easily forgive Jeremy's way of not going to West Point; Jeremy had no business what so ever on hitting his mother.
"I hit my mother again, sir." Jeremy said looking Michael straight in the eyes.
Michael stood to his feet, he rushed around the desk and he pulled Jeremy up by his shirt front. He pushed Jeremy against the wall, hard. "I told you what I would do to you if you hit your mother again."
"Sir, yes sir, sir." Jeremy said in a shaky voice. "You said you would wipe the floor with my face."
Michael breathed deeply; and than he stood back and let Jeremy's alone. "Sit down." He ordered as he moved backwards as he got his temper under control again. He watched as Jeremy moved around him and sat back down in his chair.
Michael walked around and sat at the end of his desk in front of Jeremy. "Jeremy the only reason why I didn't beat you until your senses came back to you; is because I admire your father very much. I also love your mother very much; it would crush her if I treated you just as I would if I found out any of my soldiers have hit a woman."
"My mother would have forgiven you sir." Jeremy said. "She knows that I came over here; and I told her what you said to me when she first told you about my hitting her." He felt his hands shake and he wrapped his hands on the end of the couch. "I have told my mother that I was coming here today; and confessing to you."
"And why did you feel the urge to confess?" Michael wrapped his arms across his chest.
"I know that my mother told Mrs. Holden the other day, sir." Jeremy said truthfully.
"Would you have come to me if Denise hadn't confided in Claudia Joy?" Michael frowned deeply.
"Yes sir." Jeremy looked straight into Michael's eyes.
Michael read the truth in them. "Why?"
"Because I don't want to hurt my mother ever again, sir. It just kills me that I have hurt her in the past. Not just her heart breaking over my stupid mistakes in life, but actually physically hurting her." Jeremy took a deep breath. "She has nightmares about me."
Michael kept his mouth shut and allowed Jeremy to get everything off his chest.
Jeremy continued when he saw that Colonel Holden wasn't going to interrupt. "I need help sir; I need help dealing with my anger issues, and my deep fear. So I don't hurt my mother ever again. Please help me sir." He looked up with tears in his eyes.
"I will help you, Jeremy; I know that you have a good soul inside you. I have seen it while you were growing up. But I also know that you have a temper in you; I have seen it come out a few times as you were growing up." Michael shook his head. "But I would have never dreamt that you would hit your mother; or anyone else for that matter. Besides the basic school boy fights of course. But your father handed those himself."
Jeremy thought back to the lectures that his father always handed out whenever he had gotten into a fight. The memories were bitter for him because; his father couldn't just be a father to him in these times; no Frank had to be the Captain or the Major and order Jeremy around as if Jeremy was one of Frank's soldiers.
"I would never have dreamed that I would ever hit my mother, either sir." Jeremy said.
"I will help you son, but it's going to be a long and hard road ahead of you." Michael said. He stood to his feet and walked back around his desk and sat back in his chair. "The first step is yours; you must tell your father what you did."
Jeremy lifted his left hand where his class ring was on his finger and he brought his mouth to it so he could bite his hand. He knew what Michael said was the truth. He had to tell his father what he had done; he all ready knew that his mother never would. He knew that if he didn't at a timely rate, than Michael would be force to tell his father.
Michael silently watched as the emotions played out on Jeremy's face. He knew that Jeremy would be a man and confess to his father at the earliest time on what he did. But he also knew that Jeremy would wait until his father returned home from his deployment.
TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH
Denise didn't answer. She looked passed Claudia Joy to where the pond was. She couldn't get the dream out of her head.
Oddly Claudia Joy didn't notice the pictures, she didn't notice anything expect for Denise. Claudia Joy suddenly stopped and turned to Denise and roughly took Denise's hand which had the latest bruise on it. "Who gave you this bruise, Denise? Frank?" Her voice hardens and her face turned dark.
"What? No! Of course not." Denise said shocked that Claudia Joy would even think that Frank would hurt her.
"Than whom fucking hurt you, Denise?" Claudia Joy demanded.
"No one." Denise said with a shake of her head. "Like I said earlier; I lifted someone the wrong way is all."
"And like I said in reply, Denise, you haven't been a nurse for twelve years." Claudia Joy's hand tightens into Denise's hand.
"You don't know everything I do, Claudia Joy." Denise said trying to yank back her hand. She blinked as the pain hit her. "You are hurting me, Claudia Joy." She whispered.
Before Claudia Joy could move Roxie was suddenly there pulling Claudia Joy away from her and slugging her in the stomach. "Leave Denise alone, damn you." Roxie turned around to face Denise. "Why didn't lay her flat? I thought you how to defend yourself for crying out loud. So do it damn it."
"I'm sorry." Denise murmured as she fell to the floor weeping.
Denise felt arms around her and she freaked out. She started to struggle hopelessly. She tried to swing her arms so she could do the moves that Roxie had taught her; but the arms just tighten around her. "Let me go, please. Just let me go." She whispered.
"It's only me, Claudia Joy, Denise." Claudia Joy said in a clam voice; although she was deeply shaken by Denise trying to get out of her arms; and how scared her voice was as she begged to let go.
Denise stopped struggling as her eyes forced once more and she realized that she was still in the park with Claudia Joy. Whose arms were currently around her. "What?"
"You were shaking pretty badly; I should have said something before I wrapped my arms around you." Claudia Joy said. She took her arms from her best friend and stepped back. She didn't want to; but she felt Denise's fear so she had to give Denise her personal space once more.
"I was fine, just fine." Denise wrapped her arms tightly around her chest as she frowned at her friend.
"You didn't seem fine." Claudia Joy said.
"Well I was." Denise said. She shook her head to clear it form her nightmare. She took a deep breath. "I'm fine. Truly Claudia Joy, I'm fine. Better than I was since Jeremy first hit me."
Claudia Joy tilted her head.
"Jeremy went to your house to confess to Michael that he attacked me once again." Denise said. "He's taking the first step on getting help for his anger problems on his own." She said unwrapping her arms from her chest. She faced forward again and began to walk once more. She was glad that this section of the park was empty; because she didn't want the base gossips to know that she freaked out on Claudia Joy.
Claudia Joy fell into step next to Denise. "You know that Michael is going to tell Jeremy that he has to tell his father."
"Of course. Jeremy isn't under any disillusion that Frank would still be kept in the dark. Not with Michael knowing. That is one of the reasons why Jeremy went to confess to Michael. He knows that once he has faced up to Michael Holden over hitting me; than he can face his father with the truth." Denise said.
But before either of the women could say anything else; Denise was blindsided by a small hands around her waist. She back peddled a few paces before she managed to catch herself before falling backwards. She looked down to find young Fin LeBlanc hugging her waist and smiling happily up at her. "Why hey there Fin." She laughed gently as she wrapped her arms around his small body to return the hug that the six year old boy was giving her.
"Fin LeBlanc!" Roxie said rushing up to the two women and her young son. "You know better than this." She looked up into Denise's eyes. "I'm so sorry Denise; Fin just loves to hug people he's most comfortable with. Even if the person isn't expecting it."
"Hello Mrs. Sherwood and Mrs. Holden." T.J. said stopping next to his mother. He rolled his eyes at his younger brother. But he could also see that Mrs. Sherwood didn't mind Fin being all over her. He always knew that Mrs. Sherwood would be most open to this form of greeting than Mrs. Holden. Only because T.J. knew that Mrs. Sherwood had a son herself; so he was pretty sure that her son had behaved just like Fin did when he was younger.
"Hello T.J." Claudia Joy said with a smile.
"How are you doing T.J.?" Denise asked as Fin untangled himself from her. But she felt the little boy take her hand into his. She wrapped her hand around his little one just enjoying having a small boy's hand in her own. It reminded her of when Jeremy was six. He always used to love holding her hand, and he also loved to rush up and hug her for no reason expect just seeing her.
Pamela walked up with her two children at her side and shook her head. "I see that you got the famous Fin hug, Denise."
Denise laughed gently. "I see you are a well hand of it yourself."
"So am I." Katie said as she smiled openly.
"If Fin tires it with me than I just deck him." Lucas said.
"You don't hit my brother." T.J. rushed at Lucas; but before he could lay one single finger on the boy; his mother lifted him away.
"Thomas Jack LeBlanc how dare you try to hit another person." Roxie knelt down to be eye level with her oldest boy. "You know better young man."
T.J. looked into his mother eyes and read the fear and concern in them. "He threaten to hurt my brother, mom. I had to defend Fin; he's just a baby after all."
"I am not." Fin shouted out; but he didn't let go of Denise's hand. He just felt that Mrs. Sherwood needed to hold a hand of a six year old boy. He was pleased as punch to be that little boy.
"You do not have to beat anyone up to defend your bother, T.J." Roxie said. "Use your words."
"So I can use colorful words." T.J. said gleefully.
"If you do than you are grounded till the cows come home. Matter of fact your great grandchildren will be grounded." Roxie shook her head.
"I was just kidding mommy. I promise I won't use my fists to teach people not to pick on Fin. I'll use my word. The proper words." T.J. promised his mother. He crossed his heart and hoped to die.
Roxie sighed and stood to her feet.
Claudia Joy had kept her eyes on Denise's face as she watched and listened closely to how Roxie handed the situation with her son. She knew that Denise wished she could turn back time so she could make sure that Jeremy understood the he could not use his fists. That calm words had more power than fists. But sadly life didn't work out that way. You deal with what life hands you.
And life currently has handed Denise a raw deal.
END CHAPTER THREE
