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Freeborn: Chapter 10-12

The Decks and the Road

book 1- Freeborn


Chapter 10


Natalie- I enjoyed working at the shop on Saturdays.  Being a Shepherd was fun.  For my father, it appeared to be a great burden, but for me, it was a blessing.  I didn’t usually hang out in the back office, but my dad had me sorting out some of his files.  He was like that sometimes.  Sometimes, it seemed he wanted to ensure I wasn’t just getting by.  Anyway, no matter the task, the energy was always good and the other workers were super friendly.  It was a good break from the customers, and I got to see my father in another light.  He was not as laid back as he was at home.  He was full of orders, and actually he was full of knowledge too.  I could always tell the customers that had been around for a while, because they always seemed to want my dad to look over their cars.  It wasn’t that anything was wrong, but they waited for his blessing.  They stood at the entrance of the garage like guardian angels until my dad came out and took a look.  From there, they eventually found their way back around to the front lobby.  Sometimes my dad did hang with them a bit, and whenever he did, it seemed like bodies would just gravitate to him.  My dad never seemed to take notice though.  He just walked around with his famous clipboard making notes and peeping in on all the jobs.  I found it all very interesting; human behavior.  Mostly, I paid attention to how people shuffled around the family name.  I enjoyed it when I was with my dad, but sometimes when he wasn’t around it made me nervous.  I couldn’t help but notice the few ladies who also found their way back.  They stood more nervously guarding their vehicles, but there were a few who weren’t so nervous.  There was one in particular that I did begin to study.  It wasn’t really about her, but it was the change in behavior my father seemed to have that alerted me.  He didn’t move around as fluidly as usual, and there were a lot more glimpses in her direction than normal.  The windows to the back office weren’t so clean, and so I couldn’t gather a lot of details about her, but she stood in a similar way to my mom.  Just as I was trying to collect my thoughts on her, my dad took a sudden look back at me, and I quickly turned my interest back on the stack of receipts I was sorting.  I tried not to look up anymore, until I got a good feeling that she was gone.  I’d never seen my dad in that way.  I thought about my mom, and how quiet they were around each other.  I hadn’t noticed it when Hannah was there, but I could now.  I didn’t know if this had anything to do with it, but I was curious. 

On Saturdays my mom would pick me up around five so that I could get together with my friends, but I’d asked my dad if I could stick around.  There was this pair of jeans I wanted, and I would be able to get them with just a few more hours.   I didn’t consider the time when I did.  We didn’t leave until 10 pm.  My eyes were a blur from all the papers my father had me go through.  I hadn’t eaten since about three, and I couldn’t wait to get home.  I’d worn my ear buds all day long listening to music, and now I could appreciate the quiet my dad seemed to love so much.  I hadn’t planned on speaking with my dad, but then, I heard myself ask…

            “Who’s that lady?”
“Which lady Natalie?”  My dad was completely lost.
“The one with the blue truck?”
“She a customer.  What do you mean?”
“I don’t know.  It just seem like you paid a lot of attention to her.”  My mouth was not my own, and I spoke to my dad freely.
“I never even spoke to her.  When you use the word attention Natalie, you should be clear.”
“It’s just that you hardly look at mom that much.”
“Your mom and I are having a hard time, but I’m not a cheat.”
“Do you love her?”
“Who are we talking about?”  My dad was calm, and never thought to avoid my questions.
“Mom.”
“I do.”  It was a solid yes.  I didn’t know what made me ask, but I was glad I did.  It was food to my soul.  I never asked another question, and my dad never spoke again, but all of a sudden he resisted the quiet, and turned the radio on.



Chapter 11


Dr. Kat Shepherd- It took five days, but he did call.  We spoke for just a few minutes.  It seemed neither of us was hungry, but rather intrigued.  We agreed to meet on a Saturday afternoon for a bite. I didn’t know a whole lot about him, but I had learned a bit about his mother, and it made me feel as though I knew him.   It went well.  We enjoyed the food, and made quiet studies of each other.  His eyes were still dancing, and my heart was still wandering.  I’d already planned on attending a lecture afterwards, so I extended him an invitation.  I was happy to know he didn’t think that too boring.  Maybe he did, but he’d chosen to spend more time with me.  I was also happy to know he’d left time in his schedule.  We decided to walk over to the hall which was only a few blocks away.  Obviously, I’d planned my day.  A few times while the speaker was talking, he’d pulled out his phone and began taking notes.  I found that interesting, and I couldn’t wait to ask him about them.  It was going better than I could have guessed, but I’d had many promising first dates, so I still tried to grab a hold of my heart.  Actually, I was the one who probably needed to start taking notes, because all kinds of random thoughts were taking me captive.  Suddenly I thought about my sister, and the text she’d sent me weeks ago.  I hadn’t remembered before.  She’d never informed me about relationships, but she had been known to inform me right.  She’d also informed me when I was trying to find an office location.  She’d suggested… Well, she had more than suggested.  She’d given me the exact address where I should go to inquire about a space.  It wasn’t a new thing with us.  She’d begun informing me since we were in high school.  I never asked her how she knew these things, and she never asked me if she’d been correct.  I also never felt the need to ask her about my life.  I always felt sure about my way, but because of the time she’d saved my life, I welcomed her sometimes random directives.  When I no longer felt like fighting against the speedway of my thoughts, I just relaxed and entertained them.  I began to think about the message I’d picked up the evening before.  The purple card holder had finally called, and I couldn’t wait to schedule her break-thru.  The question of whether anyone had actually picked up the card had remained on the table until now.  I trusted the nudged, but I’d never waited this long. The purple card was an interesting card.  I’d taken the idea for it off a swift breeze.  That’s how unforeseen and unlikely the idea was.  All these things unfolding in the atmosphere had me bubbling over with joy.    

At the end of the lecture, I had only grabbed on to a few points, but they were big points.  I would usually mingle a bit, and exchange cards, but I was eager to get on with my date.  I was hoping that Tayeton felt like walking fairly slowly back to our cars. 

            “So, what did you think?  How was it?”  I questioned.
            “I enjoyed it.  You seemed distracted though.”  Tayeton was direct.
            “Oh, yeah—some cool things are unfolding at work.”  I admitted.
            “Tell me about them.”
            “Just the anticipation of a new client.  I get excited that way.”  I downplayed my work.  It wasn’t intentional, but I knew early on that it was uncommon.
            “Cool.  So, you do these lectures often?”
            “I do.  I like them.”
            “I do too.  Maybe we can like them together.”  Tayeton was such a strait shot.  It was refreshing.  Yet, I felt as though I needed to find ways to control the pace.
            “So, what do you do?”  I responded to the feeling.
            “I’m a courier.  I’m pretty familiar with this area actually.”
            “Oh, I wouldn’t have guessed it.”
            “What did you pick me for?”  He responded lightly and with a smile.
            “I don’t know…  Maybe a teacher.”
            “Why a teacher?”
            “I guess it’s the way you were making notes back there.”
            “I can see that then.  Yeah, I’ve always been a good note taker.”
            “So, what’s in your notes after four hours with me?”  I certainly could also be direct.
            “You’re good.”  Tayeton managed the pace.
            “Are you opting out?”
            “Let me think about all these things, and I’ll text you my notes later.”  He appeared to be leading again.
            “Fair enough.”  I appreciated the loss.  More importantly, I appreciated him taking the lead.

When we made it back, we were content with the arrangements, and so there were no laments.  Apparently we’d both showed up whole, and we happily left whole.  I could wait to see his notes though.



Chapter 12


Kayla- I was meeting Jennifer at one of her client’s home.  She was drafting her plans for a new redecoration.  It had gotten that way.  We often met on the go.  We were both busy.  I didn’t really think of my life as busy, because there was an ease that had settled on me.  It had first showed up when I met Wood, and it had only increased.  Lately, he’d become somewhat protective of me, but I appreciated feeling protected.  I guess he was always protective, but when I needed it I didn’t see it that way.  Now I felt strong; stronger than ever before, and his protection at times seemed like an overreaction.  Still I appreciated him, and the ease we had. 

When I pulled up, I spotted Jennifer’s new mustang.  It was like an obsession with her.  All I could do was smile and shake my head.  It was good to see the things that had remained familiar in her evolution though.  I got the feeling that she wasn’t finished evolving, and I was sure to keep my front row seat in the matter.  She was waiting for me in the car, and jumped right out once she spotted me.  She’d brought me pizza, and the box was the first to exit the car.  I found myself smiling and shaking my head again.  It was her way of saying, I know, I’m busy, but I remember.  My smile and head shaking was my way of saying, you don’t have to apologize, but thanks.  The slice was still hot, and I didn’t wait a second to bite in.  I sat in the dining area of the large home while she investigated, measured, and kept telling me all the ideas that were jumping out at her.  I didn’t have anything to add, I knew whatever the plan was, it would be on point.  I enjoyed my pizza and checked my emails on my phone.  Eventually, I moved on to Derek.  I always waited for the right opening before raising the issue.  Today appeared to be a good day.

            “How’s Derek?”
            “He’s here.”
            “Here where?”
            “He came.  We’re working on it.”  She was being short.
            “What do you mean working on it?  Is he living with you?”   I was not prepared.
“No.  We’re talking.”
“That’s a leap.”
“Yeah, but we’re just talking.  I haven’t even seen him.”
“Does Hannah know?”
“No, not yet.”
“Hasn’t he asked to see the kids?”
“Of course he has.  I just asked for some time.  It’s complicated.”
“Just tell her he’s visiting.”
“I don’t want to lie to her, and I don’t want her to get her hopes up.  I just think we should wait a while.” 
“Has she spoken to him?” 
“She does every now and then.”
“How’s that going?”               
            “I don’t really ask.”  Jennifer’s spirits was falling.  She wasn’t in her element anymore.
            “So what do you all talk about?” I had become accustomed to Dr. Kat’s promptings to be more direct.
            “He tells me how much he loves me.  I tell him I miss him.  He shares things about how his life is coming along here—you know; getting settled.  He asks about the kids.  I give him an update, and that’s about it.  It’s a slow build.”
            “Okay, I promise not to ask.  I’ll wait until you’re ready to share.”
            “I appreciate that.  I would share more, but it’s complicated.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about the two.  Seeing them together had left an impression on me.  Now that he was down, I knew it was only a matter of time.  So, I willingly left the matter to sort itself out.  I left Jennifer behind to finish her work, and I moved on to my appointment with my publisher.  I couldn’t wait to meet Wood there.  It was unfamiliar territory, and we approached it together.  After all it was his idea that I wrote a book. 



Freeborn, a novel
Freeborn

© Grace Call Communications, LLC

Copyright © 2017 by Natisha Renee Williams

All Rights Reserved

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