R&R! Enjoy!

Chapter 47

Nichole's POV

I'm fixing dinner for the family when Kyle walks in the door. "Hey, you're home early." He kisses me on the cheek.

"I got suspended from work." I inform him angrily.

"Why?"

"Because I told you about Stan's situation." I start chopping up vegetables. Maybe a little too hard…

"Are you kidding me?"

"I wish I were." I look at Kyle. "Kyle, they might fire me!"

He picks up his keys and heads towards the door. "I'm going to give those assholes a piece of my mind!"

I grab his arm. "Don't! Then they really will fire me!"

"You have rights!"

"Let it go Kyle. Maybe I'll be able to keep me job."

"When will you find out?"

"Within a week or two."

"I'll get an appeal prepares just in case."

I roll my eyes and shake my head. I could kill Stan right now! "I can't believe he told the hospital I said something about the DNA test. That was months ago."

"Stan's a douche! I should kick his ass!"

"Don't do that. You don't want to make the situation worse."

"Well that was a douchey thing for him to do!"

"It was, but let it go. We need to focus on me keeping my job."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you keep it. I'm going to do some research." He heads upstairs. I hope he can find something, a loophole or something. The last thing we need is for me to lose my six figure income.

Julia's POV

Kobe and Shannon decided to take me out to dinner. I don't leave the house much these days so this was their way of getting me out. "It finally feels good to get out of the house, doesn't it?" Shannon asks me.

I nod in agreement. "Yeah it does. Mom and Cartman insist being inside is better for me."

"At least you're getting out of school." Kobe adds in.

"Home school..." I correct him.

"But you get to go to school at home."

"It's not as sweet as you think."

"Oh please! You get to finish the school year at home!" Shannon reminds me. "It doesn't get sweeter than that!"

"Mom and Cartman treat me like a baby. It sucks!" I fold my arms.

"You should've moved in with your dad. You would've had more freedom." Kobe tells me.

I groan. "I refuse to move to Utah with his replacement family!"

"Has he left yet?"

I shrug. "I don't know or care."

"You don't regret not seeing him before he moves?"

"I'm sure he could care less about seeing me. He has a new family."

"You're his family too."

"Barely!" I roll my eyes.

"It's true. You know how much your dad loves you."

"Then he should've come to the house before he left."

"Come on Jules, you know he doesn't want to be around dad and Ms. Wendy." Shannon states. "Besides, you didn't even return his call. He probably thinks you hate him."

"If he cares about me he would've put that aside!"

"Uncle Stan didn't want the drama!"

"Because he doesn't care!"

"He does!"

"Well I'm sure he's gone by now so good riddance!" I hold up a peace sign.

"So you're not going to keep in touch with him?" Kobe asks.

"Hell no! I'm sure he'll forget about me anyway!"

"No he won't! Your dad isn't like that." I notice Kobe and Shannon exchange looks. Kobe mouths something to her and Shannon nods.

"I'm going to head out, I have some errands to run!" Shannon announces.

"What errands?"

"Just...stuff." She looks at Kobe and winks. "You'll make sure she gets home safely, right?"

"Of course." He smiles and Shannon leaves.

"What was that all about?" I ask him.

"I wanted some alone time with you."

"Really? What if your parents show up?"

"I'm not worried about that."

I'm a little shocked and nervous. "I am! What about the restraining order?"

"I asked my mom to drop it. She's going to talk to my dad."

"Shit, I'm in trouble!"

"No you're not! Just relax." He takes my hand. "I'll protect you."

"You will?"

"Of course, that's what your boyfriend is supposed to do...I'm still your boyfriend, right?"

I raise my eyebrow. I didn't think we were still a couple. "You still want to be?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

"I mean I am in a wheelchair."

He shrugs. "So?"

"So? I'm damaged, what can you possibly do with me? I'm practically useless."

"One stop feeling sorry for yourself! Two, you're not useless."

"I can't walk! I can't reach things that are high up, I have to have help getting dressed and getting in the shower, I have to be driven around. The only think I can do on my own is eat!"

"That's ok. We can still have plenty of fun together."

I shake my head. "I can't do that to you."

"Do what?"

"I don't want to be a girlfriend you have to take care of."

"You really think that's all I want? Did you ever think maybe I enjoy your company? I got Shannon to leave so we can have some alone time. Obviously I like having you around. Wheelchair or not!"

"We can still do that and remain friends. You deserve an able body girl…one your parents will approve of."

Kobe looks heartbroken. "Come on Jules, don't be like that!"

"I mean it. I want you to be happy! You can never be happy with me. You're going to go off to college and make something of yourself, become a doctor, while I'm stuck in this damn chair!"

"You can still make something of yourself."

"But I'm very limited due to mobility!" I sigh. "Please take me home Kobe." This argument isn't doing anything, but making me depressed.

"I think we have more to talk about."

I shake my head. "I don't have anything else to say on the subject. Your dad was right, you deserve better than me so we're done!"

I can see a look of disappointment in his eyes, but he slowly nods. "Ok Julia, if that's what you want, I have to respect that. I'll take you home." That was a hard thing to do, but it's definitely for the best. He's a great guy and he deserves someone equally as great. I would only get in his way and that's the last thing I want. Like I said, ending the relationship is for the best.

Stan's POV

Susan, Eli, and I have finally arrived in Salt Lake City. Susan hired professional movers so they got all our things in the house. We're too tired to unpack, so we're relaxing in the living room watching a movie while we wait for the pizza I ordered for dinner. I didn't get a chance to talk to or see Julia before I left so I'm still feeling a little down about that. Susan puts her hand on mine and squeezes it. "What's wrong baby?"

I shake my head. "Nothing…"

She looks at me. "Come on Stan, I know you well enough to know when something's wrong. So spill it!"

"I'm upset about Julia. I really wanted to see her before we left."

"At least you tried. How about giving her a call now?" She suggests.

"She probably won't answer."

"You won't know if you don't try."

I nod. "You're right. I'll go in the bedroom. Can you listen out for the pizza man?"

"Of course!"

I head into the room and I call Julia. It rings several times. At this point I'm ready for it go to voicemail. I knew this was a waste, but I'll go ahead and leave her a message. "Yes?" To my surprise, she actually answers the phone.

"Oh my God, Juju?"

"Stan please, call me Julia."

"Stan?"

"Yeah, what do you want?"

"Did you get my message?" I ask her.

"Yes I go it. I'm assuming you're in Utah now?"

"Yeah. I really wanted to see you."

"You know where I live. But I guess you were too busy. You have your family so I know there's no time for me in your life." She starts to cry.

I'm feeling slightly guilty even though most of this is her own doing. "How can you say that? I've tried to include you in everything in my life. You pushed me away. I don't understand why."

"Because…"

"Because what? I'm trying to understand you Julia! I really am!"

"I-I guess I'm jealous of Susan and Eli!"

I'm shocked to hear her say that. "But why?"

"They came along and made you really happy. I've never seen you this happy before. You weren't this happy when you were with mom!"

"I was happy with Wendy, but she didn't return the feelings. It's nice to be with someone who loves me as much as I love them." I explain.

"You moved out of state!"

"I needed a new start. I had so many painful memories in South Park."

"But the rest of your family is here."

"I'll visit, I promise. I would love for you to visit me out here."

"I'd rather you come visit me…alone."

"So you still don't want to give Susan and Eli a chance?"

"Maybe after we have some alone time, I'll be open to it."

"Fair enough."

"I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you. You didn't deserve it. I was just finding any stupid excuse to cut you out of my life." I'm shocked she apologized, she really didn't owe me one.

"I appreciate that. I'm sorry if I made you feel like you weren't important. You're a very important person in my life. No one can replace you."

"Not even Eli?"

I can't believe she still has an issue with Eli. He's just a baby. "Not even Eli. You two are very important to me."

"Ok, fine. Well you enjoy your new life and I'll see you when you visit!" She says cheerfully.

"Wait! You're not going to keep in touch?"

"Yeah, yeah I will. Bye!" She abruptly ends the call. I head back downstairs.

"How did it go?" Susan asks.

I sit down. "I'm really not sure…"

"Oh?"

"She apologized to me we seemed to talk things out, then she told me to enjoy my new life and she'll see me when I visit."

Susan hugs me. "At least she answered the phone. Maybe you two will now slowly patch things up." She smiles. "Everything's working out for you!"

"You mean, for us!" I kiss her. She's right. I lost my wife, a child, my home, my friends, and my dignity. Over time, I met the love of my life, found out I have a son, started my own business, got married, and move to another state. I must say things, have definitely worked out in my favor and I couldn't be happier. This is my happily ever after!

Epilogue coming soon!