Mending the Soul

Alexis Lauren

All Rights Reserved © Alexis Lauren

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Nicholas Tiller carried his daughter Emma up the stairs to her bedroom.  He lay her sleeping body down on the bed before he covered her up.  "Goodnight Princess."  He whispered and kissed her forehead lightly.  He stood by her bed for a few minutes, just watching her sleep.  She looked so much like her mother, even at seven years old.

Nicholas wished that Leslie could see Emma.  She would be so proud of her daughter.  It had only been two years since Leslie's accident, since the night that she was taken from her family.  The memory was fresh in Nicholas' mind as if it happened just yesterday.  He remembered the way the lightning lit up the sky and the pouring rain flooded the streets.  He could still see the way his best friend, and also the sheriff on duty at the time, looked when he told Nicholas the news.  The words were still fresh in his ears. "I'm sorry to be the one to inform you Nick, but Leslie was in an accident.  She was driving too fast for the wet roads and as she went around the bend on Millers Road, her car spun and hit a telephone pole.  The impact was on the driver's side door and she was killed instantly.  I'm so sorry man.  If there's anything I can do, let me know."

Nicholas felt like his world had ended that night.  If it weren't for Emma, he would have given up and died right along with Leslie.  Emma needed him though.  She didn't fully understand why her mommy wasn't with her anymore.  It took a lot of late night talks for Nicholas to get her to understand that she didn't do anything wrong and that she wasn't the reason her mommy left her.

Two years felt like an eternity, but at the same time it felt as though it was only yesterday.  Nicholas spent that time in mourning, constantly sifting through the memories of the times he spent with the only woman he ever loved.  He felt like a part of him was lost, to never return to him again.

He went through the motions of life, never truly happy since the night he lost Leslie.  The only time he was even able to feel was when he was with Emma.  She was the only one that could make him smile, that could make him feel like life was worth living.  Yeah, he had a few friends that he hung around with, and he went to work daily, but Emma was now the center of his life.  He had no interest in dating, or 'finding a new mom for Emma' like his friends suggested.  He was content to remain single for the rest of his life.  Nicholas didn't think he'd ever find another love like he had shared with Leslie, so there was no point in looking.

Nicholas walked out of Emma's room and went to his own.  He passed by the wall where pictures of him and Leslie hung, as he made his way to his empty bed.  'If only I could hold Leslie one more night, tell her one more time just how much I love her.  But that'll never happen.'  Nicholas thought just before falling asleep.  He dreamt of a different time, a time where he was happy.

Emma was a particularly carefree child.  For a time shortly after her mother died, she was sullen and withdrawn, not really understanding why she would never see her mother again.  Death is a rather hard concept for a five year old child to comprehend, but all that really mattered to Emma was the fact that she would never see her mother again, no matter what the reason for it was.

Shortly after the accident, Emma rebounded and went back to being the bubbly five year old that she had been before the accident.  Two years later, her life revolved around cartoons, baby dolls and Barbies.  She loved school and never gave her father a fight about going.  She was one of the smartest kids in her class, something her father was very proud of.

Though Emma liked her dolls, she was also somewhat of a tomboy.  She preferred jeans to dresses and loved to play in the dirt.  Her long, corkscrew blonde curls were usually tied back in a ponytail to keep them from bothering her while she was playing.  She chose to play sports with the boys during recess most days, rather than playing with the girls.  

Looking at Emma, you could tell that she was Leslie's daughter.  She got Leslie's eyes, nose, and hair, but her personality was all Nicholas.  From the time she was born, Emma was a definite Daddy's girl, which helped her get over her mother's death with fewer emotional scars.  She missed her mother, but the memories of her were fading fast.  All she had now was her father, and Emma seemed okay with that.

Jenna Chase sat on her couch waiting for her no good husband to come home from 'work'.  It was 10:30 pm, and she knew he had left the office hours ago.  How did she know?  Jenna had seen Kyle walking down the street holding hands with some bleached blonde bimbo in a very short and very tight skirt.  She was driving down Main Street on her way to pick their son Colby up from t-ball practice when she saw them.  She parked on the side of the road and watched them from her rear view mirror as Kyle pulled the woman into a tight embrace and kissed her.  It wasn't a kiss someone would give their friend either.  It was a long, deep, passionate kiss.  'He doesn't even kiss me like that!'  Jenna thought as she had watched them.  Kyle then dragged the woman into a fancy French restaurant, and Jenna pulled out of the parking spot and drove away.

The door finally opened and Kyle swaggered in.  "Hello Jenna.  What are you doing awake still?  I told you I had to work late and not to wait up."  He leaned down to kiss Jenna on the cheek.

Jenna put her hand up to intercept the kiss before his lips touched the skin of her face.  "Don't bother Kyle.  Your bags are packed, we're over.  You promised months ago that you were done with that slut and I saw you with her today.  You know, it's pretty bad that you don't even try to hide the fact that you're having an affair.  What if Colby had been in the car with me today, watching you devour that whore's face?  Nice role model you are to him."

"Jenna, let me explain.  It's not what you-"

Jenna interrupted him.  "I know, I know…it's not what I think.  It's never what I think.  It wasn't what I thought when it involved Diane, Sue, Melissa, or Gina."  Jenna stood up from the couch.  "The only thing I think right now is that you can get the fuck out of here.  I already called my lawyer to start the divorce proceedings.  I will have sole custody of Colby since it's pretty obvious that you care more about the pussy you get on the side than your family.  You can have the house as soon as we find somewhere else to live.  Now get out."

"Jenna, don't do this.  Think it over before you do something you'll regret."  Kyle pleaded.

"You know what Kyle?  I have been very calm about all of this.  I haven't lost my temper or raised my voice once.  Don't make me start now.  Get your shit and get out.  I've had it with you.  I deserve better and so does Colby.  Like I said, you'll be hearing from my lawyer.  Now, if you aren't going to leave, I'll call the cops.  You can go quietly, or cause a big scene.  It's your choice, but either way, you're leaving."  Jenna told him.

Kyle picked up his suitcases and turned to the door.  He opened the door and turned around.  "You'll be begging for me to come back.  I might be nice and even consider it at some point, if you're lucky."

"Don't hold your breath.  It'll never happen."  Jenna said and slammed the door in his face.  A single stray tear slipped down her face and she wiped it away furiously.  'I refuse to shed anymore tears over that man.  It's all I've done for the past 11 years, it's time to move on.'  Jenna thought as she made her way upstairs to the bedrooms.

She peaked in on Colby, sleeping soundly in his bed.  He was such an innocent little boy.  Almost eight years old, and not a care in the world.  Jenna tried to shelter him as much as she could from her fights with Kyle.  She didn't want Colby to feel any negative effects from his parents' marriage, like she did when her parents fought.

Colby was never very close with his father.  Kyle 'worked' late most of the time, and often got home long after Colby was asleep.  Jenna was the one to teach him sports, take him to practice and go to his games.  On the weekends, Kyle always made excuses to get out of the house and not spend time with his family.  Jenna ended up becoming both parents to Colby because of Kyle's lack of participation.  Though Jenna knew the divorce and the move would affect Colby, she knew that living with the lack of love from his father would be worse for him in the long run.

Jenna continued on to her room and collapsed into bed.  She let her exhaustion take over and was soon asleep, sleeping better than she had in years.  As rough as the divorce was going to be, things in her life were finally looking up.

The next morning, Jenna and Colby went out on the road in search of a new house.  Jenna tried to explain to Colby what was happening, but he wasn't listening.  He was too busy playing with his Gameboy to really listen to his mother.  Jenna took the Gameboy away and finally got his full attention.

"Colby, do you remember your friend Billy, how he lives with his mom and visits his dad on the weekends?"  Jenna asked.

"Yeah, his parents got a divorce, right?"  Colby answered.

"Yes, they got a divorce.  Sometimes moms and dads don't get along, and it's better for them to live apart."  Jenna explained.

"Billy said it's really cool.  He gets twice the presents for his birthday and at Christmas."  Colby told her happily.

"Well, honey, your dad and I have decided to get a divorce.  We both love you but mommy and daddy can't live with each other anymore.  You and I are going to move into a new house, in a new town and start over.  How does that sound?"  Jenna asked.

"Cool.  Will I have to go to a new school?"

"Most likely, but just think of how fun it will be to make new friends.  After we get settled, you can still have some of your old friends come and spend the night whenever you want."  Jenna said.

"Cool.  Can I have my game back now?"  Colby asked.

"So you don't have any more questions?"  Jenna wondered and Colby shook his head no.  "You don't want to yell at me and tell me you hate me?"

"No, I don't care."  Colby said indifferently.

"Ok, here's your game.  I love you honey."  Jenna said and handed back the Gameboy to Colby, then ruffled his hair.

"Aw, mom!  Don't touch the 'do!"  Colby whined.

Jenna laughed and drove towards the first house they were going to look at.  'He certainly took that better than I thought he would.  Let's just hope it's not an act.'  Jenna thought and pulled into a driveway.  "Here we go sport.  Let's go see if we like this house."