Chapter 2

• Karen jogged for a mile and decided to walk to cool down before heading back to her apartment. It wasn’t the worse neighborhood but it was the night time she didn’t like. Between break ins and car theft she was grateful she bought a scooter to take her to work and school. During the day it wasn’t a busy street except some occasional drama from the neighbors. She mainly kept to herself and minded her own business. On her way back to her apartment she saw Gretchen waiting in her car.
• “Hey you. Are you okay?”
• “Oh yeah. I just went for a jog. Are you okay?”
• “You know what I mean honey. After what happened last night I didn’t know I should have came by or what. So I decided to see if you wanted to go shopping.”
• Karen looked at her watch, “I have to be back here before four. I promised my dad I would call my mother before I left for work.”
• It was only two in the afternoon and she had done everything she expected to do for the day. So going shopping at the thrift store to buy herself some jeans and a couple of polo shirts and two work shirts for welding class.
• “We are not just going to the thrift store either. Girl you need some shoes the ones you are wearing now are screaming to be put to rest.”
• “You know I am on a budget.”
• “Look your aunt told me not to tell you but I am going to so here. She gave me two hundred dollars to take you shopping. This isn’t my money so come on I am taking you to an outlet store and you are going to get some decent clothes and shoes. Plus you need to start dating. I mean look you are always alone and we are worried about you. We meaning your aunt and uncle and yes your parents.”
• Gretchen went with her uncle family to help her move up here and somehow her mother gave Gretchen their number to keep an eye out for Karen.
• “Let me check my mail and shower real quick and I’ll be right out. Hey how did you find out where I lived?”
• “Your mother told me. You shouldn’t be ashamed of where you are living at. At least you have your own place. I live in an older home that was once my grandparent’s place. I cannot fix the old place till I get the money together. Come on.”
• Karen led the way to her apartment which was on the first floor to the rear side. Her apartment though was nearly empty she had manage to get a love seat from the neighbors who were moving out. She had an old television she bought at the thrift store along with the dvd player. Her kitchen though it was small it was however very cleaned. Her bedroom her mattress was on the floor but no one ever went in there to begin with. Her bathroom though it was old it was like the rest of the apartment it was organized and cleaned.
• 4❧
• Karen showered and put on clean top and her jeans before putting on her boots she had gotten months before she had moved here to Woodland Creek. She put her curly mess up into a braid even though it was still wet from her shower. She put her necklace on which from her apartment was the most expensive thing she owned. It was a graduation present that was gifted from her parents and grandmother. She looked once more in the mirror before heading out where Gretchen was waiting on her.
• “I wished my place was this clean. With a toddler it’s hard to keep the house clean. I should hire you to help me out sometimes.”
• “Just ask me and I don’t mind helping out. You give me rides sometimes so it’s the least I can do.”
• “Okay. We will figure out a day and time so you can help me out some.”
• As they left the apartment she stopped by her mailbox and checked the mail and saw that her parents had sent her a letter. She opened the letter and saw a check for a couple of thousand dollars. A small note saying that this was from her truck they had sold. Her mother told her that she took up some sewing and did some odd job while her father had started a new job at the prison. So they wanted to give back to Karen for working as hard as she did. She slipped the check into her wallet and put it into her purse.
• “Can we stop by the bank?”
• “Yes it’s on the way.”
• Fifteen minutes later she deposited the money into her account which would show up in her account Monday morning. They went to the outlet store and with two hundred dollars she bought three pair of pants one of which was a cargo pant. She bought three polo shirts and two work shirts. She saw that she could now wear a size ten so she had lost some more weight which made her happy. She bought two pairs of shoes one workout shoes and one for work. She already had steel toes for the welding class. She had fifty dollars left and handed it to Gretchen, “Here is money for gas and…”
• “No. You are taking me out to eat to say thank you. Let’s go eat Chinese.”
• She carried her bags and followed Gretchen to the restaurant where they got a booth seat. Gretchen though she was a single mother she still caught the guys looking at her. She had strawberry blond hair and light green eyes and ivory tone skin. She was petite and looked more like a young girl then Karen. Karen wondered if people that Gretchen was her daughter even though Gretchen was twenty-six years old she didn’t look older than sixteen. She was only five feet and four inches but she could handle herself in a split second too. The restaurant had a buffet with soup and salad and rice and a few other selection. She ordered off the menu and went to go fix her plate. Gretchen could eat whatever and not even gain a pound. Karen on the other hand portioned her food and came back to the table and there was the guy she had bumped into along with Tasha. She nearly dropped her plate but she quickly regained her function. Gretchen was smiling when she had seen Gregory and Tasha she had flagged them over.
• “I am sorry I bumped into you last night. Or this morning I mean.”
• “No worries it was the highlight of my day.”
• Tasha annoyed her brother was hitting on a girl who was not the kind of girl she thought her brother should be seen with. He was well over six feet. He was built like one of those guys off the pro wrestling channel. His dark brown hair and like her own eyes were dark blue. She sat there annoyed and Karen saw that and she made sure not to sit too close him so that she and her wouldn’t get into it. He on the other hand ignored his sister and smiled more at Karen.
• “I am Gregory by the way. You are?”
• Karen blushed as she tried to focus on her food instead of looking into those gorgeous eyes of his. “Karen.”
• Gretchen nudge Karen a little, “I am sorry my friend is very shy. She works at the bar you were just hired at. You start bouncing tonight don’t you?”
• “Yes. I enrolled at the Trade school yesterday. I am taken electrical and then hoping to take plumbing after that.”
• “I go to that schooling too. I am in welding actually. Your class is next to mine.”
• “So we can have lunch then?”
• “I go at night actually. Three nights a week.”
• She looked at her watch it was now three and they had to be back in an hour. She ate without looking like a pig probably too late.
• “Military Brat?”
• “Army Brat.” She said once she swallowed her food and covering her mouth.
• “I was in the Army. I did repair work. I worked with military vehicles.”
• “91 Whiskey?”
• “91 Bravo actually.”
• She smiled as she continued to eat and he knew she was setting him up with that question. She had a cute smile and a beautiful face something she wasn’t aware of apparently.
• “So what time does everyone have to be there?”
• Tasha picking at her food, “I have to be there at five just like you brother.” He had been ignoring her the entire time and he was supposed to hang out with her and she was going to introduce him to her friends who was dying to meet him. Instead he saw Gretchen and the Karen who had bumped into him last night. Gretchen frowned at Tasha but smiled again, “I actually have to be there before five so I can practice more with Jimmy. I need all the help I can get.”
• “Yeah I need to get going as well. I have to be there at six tonight and I may show up early since I got there late last night.”
• The waiter came by and Karen paid for hers and Gretchen’s meal and had some take out to go home with her later.
• “Karen I hope to see you later.”
• She blushed when he made that statement, “Yeah. Sounds great I mean yeah. Bye.”
• He watched her leave and then Tasha kicked her brother.
• “She isn’t your type you know.”
• “Your friend Ellen is annoying. You I love so I tolerate but your friends are vain.”
• “They have class.”
• “Why don’t like Karen? She is a very nice person.”
• “I don’t understand how she is poor when her family comes from money.”
• “You don’t know her private life or what goes on. People do have hard times Tasha. Our family has money but our parents made us work for things to before we could even work in their business we have to earn our way.”
• “Dad’s construction company needed you to get those certificates. I don’t want to work in an office you know. Right now I don’t know what I want to do yet. I thought about doing real estate.”
• “You can do whatever you put your mind to. Who knows you and I may buy houses and flip them together. You could get some classes for design. When do you start schooling online?”
• “Next week actually. Once I am done then I think I will get my license or I could do Adjusters for the insurance.”
• “What are you taking now?”
• “Basic classes till I decide what I want to do.”
• “You know dad could use adjusters with his company.”
• “Yeah true. I guess Karen is okay. She just isn’t what I thought you would go after is all.”
• “You mean bleach blond or cheerleader type like back in high school?”
• “Yes.”
• “I grew up. Most men want something that is real and not fake.”
• “You think I am fake?”
• “I think you are young and you have much to learn about the world around you.”
• “You sound like an old man you know.”
• “Being in the Army helped with that.”
• 5❧
• Gretchen dropped Karen off and headed home to get ready for the night herself. When she got to her old house out in the sticks she knew she needed to shower once more and put on her western shirt and jeans along with her cowgirl boots. Her boyfriend was working on the house. They had started dating about two months ago and he hadn’t met her daughter yet. When they get more serious she would allow him to meet her. Her daughter was now three years old and was her mini me. Eric Fox respected that decision because he too had a little girl. Her daughter, Gwen was his daughter’s same age and her name was Sonya. Eric was a deputy with the local sheriff department. They had talked plenty of times of him moving in but it wasn’t acted on yet. Eric was five feet ten and he was stocky. He had a little belly but he mostly built from working out but not as much as he use to before he had gotten married a four years ago. His black hair had some reddish tint and his honey brown eyes lit up when he saw his pixie girl.
• “Hey Pixie, your house is coming along. I had to replace a few things but it’s not nearly as bad as you described it.”
• “I don’t know these things you know.”
• “I noticed. So are you working tomorrow?”
• “No. I am off till Thursday.”
• “So how long have we been dating?”
• “Three months.”
• “I want you to meet my daughter tomorrow. I spoke to my ex-wife and she wants to meet you.”
• “We have only been dating for three months though. I thought we agreed to wait six months.”
• “You know I am thirty-two years old right?”
• “Yes so.”
• “I know what I want and I want you. You are mature and have a lot going for you and I don’t see why waiting to see if this is going to work. You understand the work I do and if I am going to wait I rather see a ring on your pretty little finger.”
• “What kind of marriage proposal is that?”
• “Well I want to ask your father before I ask you. I think our kids should meet as well.”
• “I just don’t want to rush into anything.”
• “We are not getting married tomorrow but I don’t want to waste time either. We can get married next year if you want.”
• “You sir are very convincing you know this right?”
• He was sweaty but his grin told her everything she needed to know.
• “I am coming by the bar tonight. You think we can do some dancing?”
• “I don’t see why not. The band I am sure is gonna be there till one or two in the morning. My shift is over at midnight tonight. Tabitha lives for these night to make extra tips so I told her I would come in earlier for her. Which I need the practice anyways.”
• “Alright baby girl. I will see you tonight.”
• She gave him a kiss before going inside to shower and changed. She was out the door before he knew it. He watched her leave and smiled before returning to working on the house.
• She drove her jeep to the bar and on the way a motorcycle passed her and she looked at her speed. She was going at least ten miles above the speed limit but that person seem to going somewhere. She parked behind the bar like the employees are supposed to and went inside. Alex was getting the place set up for the band that was playing here tonight and he looked like he had gotten into a fight. Martin hand was busted but neither of them spoke.
• “What happened to you two?”
• Tabitha snickered, “I broke up with Alex, earlier. Martin made a crack told Alex served him right especially always picking on Karen. I am sick and tired of his shit. I already gave my two weeks notice and going to move back with my sister.”
• Alex looked hurt as he heard everything that Tabitha had said. He went back to work thinking about the fight he got into with his cousin who whooped him. Then his father had overheard why they were fight so now he had to make things right with Karen or else he would be out of job. Soon enough the bar was officially open and a handful of people came in. Tasha came in and her brother right behind her. He went directly to the owner who had hired him. Richard went over Gregory’s job detail and then he asked if he wanted to learn how to bartend since they would be losing one in two weeks.
• “Yeah. I wouldn’t mind learning.”
• By 5:15 Karen hoped onto her scooter and drove to the bar when someone had passed her which was motorcycle. The guy pulled into the bar as he took off his helmet she saw his medium length brown hair and he was slender build. He looked at her as she drove the back side of the bar. She was kind of creep out by him. In her purse she kept the pepper spray and taser she had bought when she left home. In her purse all she kept was her identification and a twenty dollar bill and that was it beside her self defense tools. She didn’t trust anyone because her father made sure to teach her about predators with two legs. She went inside and put her purse in the locker her uncle had fixed for everyone who worked at the bar. In her locker she put some more deodorant and spritz of her perfume. She didn’t want to smell but at the same time not over power her customers either. She put on the apron and washed her hands before clocking in. Alex was there waiting where she was to clock in and he looked like he got hit by a truck.
• “I am sorry cuz. I have been really mean to you. You didn’t deserve any of it.”
• “Uncle made you”
• “Martin and then my parents. However I know I give you a lot of shit. I guess seeing my dad go easy on you and he chews my ass for everything little thing gets tiring at times.”
• “Our dads are hard on us. Your dad wants you to one day run this place and he wants to make sure you are set up for success. My dad can be hard on me too. I think that is their job.”
• “Look. Since Monday you are not working. How would you like to go to the gym with me. I got a membership and you are more than welcome to try it out and if you like it I can put you on mine. Just as long as you pay your end though.”
• “That would be nice. What time on Monday?”
• “Lunch time.”
• 6❧
• She hugged him and then went out and started waiting on tables. By six the place was getting busier and she was trying to keep up. Her cousin Melissa showed up at six as well and working with Karen they helped each other out. At the bar the guy watched Karen then turned his eyes to the female named Tabitha. He ordered a broiler maker and his eyes liked what they saw. She looked at him and smiled, “Is there anything else I can make for you?”
• “A rum and coke.”
• “With the rocks?”
• He smiled and watched her make his drink and handed it over to him.
• “What time do you get off?”
• “Depends what time we close tonight. I hope to be off by two. Why?”
• “Thought I could buy you a drink later.”
• “I don’t drink here because I work here.”
• “How about a soda then?”
• “I like that.”
• Her figure was delicious and from the looks she gave him. She wanted him as well. The other side of the room the manager was watching them flirt and he wasn’t exactly happy. He didn’t care. Right now he was into this eye candy and hopefully before the night was over he would have his needs met with her. Gretchen saw them and she knew Alex wasn’t happy. At the same time something about the guy at the bar was off but it wasn’t her business. She knew that Tabitha wasn’t into the guy but she enjoyed making Alex feel like shit. Jimmy didn’t like what was going on but he made sure never to get involved in the drama. He handed the drinks to Karen who was focus on getting her job done. Tasha watched her brother watching Karen and she was thinking about what her brother had told her. She ran the orders to the tables and even though she wasn’t waitressing she helped bus the table and helped wherever she could maybe get on Richard’s good side once more. Melissa walked over to her brother, “Alex go talk to Tabitha and apologize. You two are made for each others. You gotta some nerve letting her leave.”
• “No. I have screwed up one too many times and she deserves to be happy. If it’s meant to be then it will work itself out.”
• “You are nuts you know that right?”
• “Yes and you can say it. I am dumb ass too.”
• “Hey no qualms about that either.”
• “Jerk.”
• “I prefer the title asshole.”
• “That too.”
• She took her orders to the tables and by ten the band was starting to play. The kitchen had shut down except the pizzas that were already prepped and some were already in the display. Karen brought pitchers of beers and pizza slices to the patrons as the band music filled the air. She did good tonight in tips and she looked over to Gretchen and Tabitha talking and the Tabitha walking off with the guy from the bar. Alex didn’t say anything as he took over Tabitha’s spot because Gretchen would be getting off the clock soon enough. Karen got a bottle of water and brought it over to Gregory who was at his post.
• “I thought you would want something to drink.”
• “I rather have a beer but not on the clock.”
• “I am sorry about bumping into you. I am a klutz.”
• “Seriously, you are fine. Are you off tomorrow?”
• “The bar closes on Sunday but I work at another restaurant. From three till nine tomorrow night.”
• “You have any off nights?”
• “I am off but I go to school Monday and Tuesday nights and Thursday night. I work at the restaurant Tues through Friday, from lunch to five at night. And I work the bar Friday and Saturday.”
• “So you are a busy bee.”
• “You can say that. I thought about switching to day time but the second job helps out a whole lot.”
• “So you ever done a breakfast date?”
• “I think I would like that.”
• “How about after work?”
• “I have church in the morning.”
• “What time you get off then?”
• “In an hour.”
• “Damn. I don’t get off work till two. Wait for me then. You need a replacement on your bacon and egg biscuit and coffee.”
• “I can’t stay past three in the morning though. I don’t want to miss church.”
• “What time is church?”
• “Ten.”
• “You will not miss church for anything. I promise.”
• Karen smiled and walked away and helping clean up. She made sure to be off the clock by one and her uncle paid her like he did the others in cash.
• “I saw you talking to the new Karen. He is good one I think your daddy would approve and I think your momma would too.”
• “I think so too. What happened to Tabitha. She got off the clock early didn’t she.”
• “I don’t know. She may have went ahead and quit. She left her post and luckily Alex was able to cover her post. I don’t thik she is coming back. Now speaking of Alex did he make it right with you?”
• “Yes sir. Good. Tell Gregory and Tasha to go ahead and punch out. Alex and your uncle Harold and Martin are going to close up. I know the stations are cleaned up right?”
• “Yes sir. Tell Gretchen to get hell out it’s way past her bedtime too.”
• She laughed and went over to the others and let them know what she was told and they all followed suit. They went outside and saw that Tabitha’s car was still there but she wasn’t. Gretchen didn’t like that but it wasn’t her business. She and Eric was going back to her place. They danced like no one was watching. Tasha got a ride with Melissa who didn’t live too far from the Steele’s family’s home.
• Gregory put Karen’s scooter in the back of his truck and they heard his little sister muttering she was gonna drive herself to work for now on. Melissa laughing as she winked at her cousin. Karen face felt hot which made her cousin laughed.
• “You live with your folks?”
• “No. When I got back from the Army I got a small house not too far. I bought the foreclosure to fix it the way I wanted to. Yes my family helped with material but she is mine.”