*Here is a new story. This one is going to have a lot in it. It is also really special to me. This story is dedicated to my greatest love, and my Soul Mate. So please enjoy, and please review! *
CHAPTER ONE….
Rachel sat on her patio of her small suburban home. Her two year old son, Grayson ran around the small yard, giggling and laughing at the butterflies that flew around his head. He bent over to pick up a small yellow flower, pulling it to his nose he took a deep inhale and giggled loudly. Running over to Rachel he shoved it into her hand.
"Mommy! Fower!" He muttered with delight. His bright brown eyes glistened as the setting sun shone in them.
"Yes, my love! I see the pretty flower you have!" Rachel smiled softly at her son. He looked so much like his father it was scary. Yet, despite everything, she loved him with her whole heart. He was her world. He was what motivated her to do the one thing that could break her- or make her stronger. "Sweetheart, it is almost time for dinner. Why don't you go grab your toys from the play box and bring them here to mommy. I will put them away while you wash your hands for supper." She stood up, giving Grayson a bop on the bottom as he ran away in the direction of the small toy box that was made for him for his second birthday. She bushed the small specks of dirt off of her rose colored dress, and opened the back door for Grayson as he came tumbling up the stairs with his trucks and blocks in hand. "Here, Baby. Let me take those." She gathered the toys up, and placed them in a small red bucket she kept by the back door.
Grayson ran to the sink, stepping up onto the small stepping stool, he dipped his hands under the cool rushing water, washing away the sand and dirt from a good day's play outside.
"All Done!" He shouted as he jumped down. He rushed to the dinner table, just as Rachel placed down the small dinosaur plate filled with chicken nuggets. "Chickey Nugnugs! My favate!" He laughed and started chowing down.
Rachel laid her face in her hands, her elbows bent on the table holding her head up. She watched her little boy eat his dinner at a pace that she is still couldn't understand."Slow down." She laughed, smiling at her toddler as he continued to scarf down the nuggets.
The front door opened and closed with a bang. Heavy boots creaked the hardwood as the footsteps came closer. Rachel's smile fell into a light frown, trying to hide her emotions from the two year old that coughed as he finished his last chicken nugget. The tall figure loomed into the kitchen, His boots covered in dust and dirt, creating brown smudges in the white tile of the kitchen floor. "Why isn't he in the bath yet?" The man grumbled as he grabbed a can of PBR out of the fridge. "And where is my dinner?" He sighed as he cracked open the beer.
"It's in the microwave." Rachel refused to make eye contact with him.
"Well, heat it up for me, will you?" He laughed. "Don't you know by now to have a hot plate down on the table for me for when I get home? I thought I trained you better than that Rae." He hissed between his teeth, using the nickname that made her blood run cold.
"I'm sorry." She said flatly. "I was busy with Grayson all day." She ruffled his copper hair, causing a small laugh to erupt from his chest.
"Come on. He is two years old. He can't be that much work. Besides, you wanted to be the stay-at-home mom. You need to be on top of your game. Who knows, maybe one day you'll come home from the grocery store to find that I replaced you with a better model of woman." He laughed loudly.
"Actually, Finn. I wanted to become a teacher. I was even offered a job, and yet you refused to get me a car so that I can go to work." She slipped out though her lips.
"Yeah, whatever. You are the woman, you stay home and take care of me. The kid comes second, anyway. So sugar tits, get the runt to bed, and come back out here. You need to heat up my dinner, then maybe I'll let you pleasure me. But only if you are good." He patted her on the cheek as he strolled out the room.
"Come on baby." She whispered as she picked up a sleepy, and confused child from his seat. "We have some packing to do." She kept her voice low and soft as she carried him to his room. She opened the door to his room and closed it slowly. Placing him down on his bed, he picked up his Spider-Man action figure and played quietly with it. She grabbed his dinosaur backpack that hung on the doorknob to his closet and opened it up, looking at the small pile of clothes that she started packing away months ago. This was her only chance to get out of here, and to get Grayson out of here as well. She took in a long and shaky breath as she finished filling up his bag. "Okay sweetheart, are you ready to go on our adventure?" She smiled at her sleepy-eyed boy.
"Uh-huh" he rubbed his eyes and let out a large yawn. Rachel leaned over and took his small frame into her arms. Covering him with his blue and purple blanket from his bed, she picked up the backpack and tiptoed to the living room. A loud snore filled the quite space with the soft sound of the TV playing in the background. She sighed deeply with relief as she rushed to the front door, closing it softly behind her. Send up a soft prayer to God that Finn would not wake. She jogged to her small red car that she bought just 2 weeks before, placing Grayson into his Mickey Mouse car seat. She kissed his head after she buckled him in and shut the door quietly. Slipping into the driver's seat she turned the key in the ignition and felt the low rumble of her old car roaring to life. She pulled out of the dirt drive way, and drove off watching her house fade in the rearview mirror.
She drove long and far. She refused to look at the clock, knowing it was getting later and later as the sun light dimmed and night began to control the skies. She was sure that if Finn had awoken, he would be out looking for her by now. She knew she had to get away and find a home that he could never find her at. That's how she ended up at the blue and brown house that gazed at her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she looked at the front door, remembering the last time she ever walked out of it. With one more deep breath she put her car in park, shutting it off with a quick turn of the key. She slipped the key into her brown jacket pocket and slipped out of the car. Walking to the other side of her car, she carefully pulled the sleeping toddler from his seat, his head coming to rest on her shoulder. She slowly walked up the rocky path to the door. She took a shallow breath and knocked loudly on the large door. Her breath caught in her chest as the door opened in one swift movement before her. There he stood, his dark brown hair brushed off to the side. His green eyes opened widely at the sight of the small brunet that stood in his door way.
"Ra-Rachel" he said in a deep sigh. "What are you doing here?" He could feel the tears begin to form in his eyes.
"I need help, Jesse. Grayson and I very much need a place to stay. I know I shouldn't expect you to help me, but I am begging you for help." Her voice shook.
"Of course." He said quickly. "I will always help you." He opened the door wider. "Come in!" He locked the door behind the pair. "I have an extra bedroom that has a king bed. That should fit you both fine. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. My house is your house. It always has been, and always will be. I'm sure I have some toys around here that belong to my cousin. I can look for them in the morning for Grayson." He smiled at Rachel, causing her heart to skip a beat. How he still had such a strong effect on her she didn't know.
"Thank you, Jesse. I am really really thankful." She smiled back at the dark-haired man. His own heart skipping a beat. She was still as beautiful as she was a year ago when he had last seen her. Her long brown hair met the small of her back, curling lightly. She was skinnier than when he had last seen her, she also lost a lot of light that used to reside in her chocolate brown eyes.
"You should know that I would do anything for you Rach. You can stay here for as long as you want. You and Grayson are always welcome here." He leaned his hand out and rubbed her arm, causing goosebumps to emerge on her arm.
"Jesse… I need to tell you what happened. Let me put Grayson down, then can we sit down and talk? Please?" She pleaded with her voice. Jesse nodded quickly.
"Of course. You know where my room is, your room is in that spare room next to it. I finally got around to taking your advice and making it into a guest room." He laughed, watching Rachel as she blushed and turned. Disappearing into the room that was just down the hall. Jesse went into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of Arbor Mist wine and two glasses. He cracked open the bottle, pouring the white liquid into the glasses, placing them on the coasters that rested on his coffee table.
"You still remember my favorite wine." A whisper broke the silence.
"Of course. I always keep a chilled bottle in the kitchen…Just in case you were to show up." Sadness was written all over Jesse's face. Rachel's heart broke. She knew she had caused heartbreak in Jesse, she just hadn't thought it was that bad.
"I'm sorry." She whispered as she sat next to him. "I- I thought I was doing the right thing, I thought"
"Stop." Jesse cut her off. "What happened happened. What is important is that you and Grayson are here now. So, tell me what happened." He offered the glass to her. She took it and smiled. His hand brushed hers, causing a soft pink to envelop her cheeks.
"Okay… This may take a while, but here goes." She took one more breath before erupting into the tragedy that was her broken marriage, and her broken heart.
*There is chapter one. I hope you all enjoyed it. I am really excited for this story. It is extremely special to me, and I hope it becomes special for some of you too. Please favorite, and leave a review! Until next time… XOXO*