Soul Mate (The Mating Series) (47 page)

“Girl you need to take your own class
,” Nessie said when I told her how I felt. “What happened to standin’ up and takin’ responsibility fo’ yo’self?” she asked. “If yo’ be actin, like a victim, yo’ be a victim.” She threw my own advice at me. I wanted to get angry at Nessie, but she was right.

“Where do I go from here?” I asked.

“Ya’ keep on fighting.” Nessie said. The large woman squeezed me tight in her arms. I heard my back pop.

“
I’m tired of fighting.” I sighed.

“No ya ain’t o’ ya woulda’ let that man rape you. You fought didn’ ya?” Obviously, Nessie and the others didn’t know that “man” was a supernatural being. “You here ain’t ya?” Leave it to Nessie to force me out of my
self-pity. She overcame much in her life. Barely over thirty, Nessie lived several lifetimes already. I gave Nessie a big kiss on the cheek.

“Where’s the new guy?” I asked.

“He don’t get here ‘til later.” Nessie said. “He meets at court first.”

“Why?” I asked.

“He talks to the judge and hears the new cases.” Nessie said. “He hand picks the women for the program now. He don’t let the court throw jus’ anyone at us.” It was a task Mary and I could never seem to accomplish. If we picked women who were good candidates to succeed, and then our recidivism rate would be higher. As it was, the court ordered the women to go through our program, which caused overcrowding at times and gave us defendants who weren’t ready to change. I gave Mr. Skellan credit; he already made a difference at Mary House.

“Wait til you see ‘em” Nessie said. “Ooh! He’s a looker. If you and Mr. Jimmy break up…”
She hit a nerve and didn’t realize it. I didn’t want to think about breaking up.

I made it clear that I wouldn’t
conduct any classes or counseling sessions until I got back into the swing of things. I sat in on a session that Nessie ran in my absence. She did a wonderful job. Nessie made me proud. She even inspired me for a while. Nessie didn’t hold back in her classes. She flat out told the women what they had in store if they continued on their path of self-destruction. She told them about how she lost her eye. Her story scared the prostitutes straight. 
Little did anyone know that a cop did it to Nessie.
I decided to keep the information to myself. Nessie didn’t need to know.

After Nessie’s class, I went to my little office to
hide. I got a call on the intercom. “Miss Cassie, that cop is here to see ya,” Lynette said. Lynette now ran the front reception area. A lot of things changed in my absence. “I can send him away.”

“Na, send him back
,” I said. I assumed it was Ben, but then thought better of telling Lynette to send a man back without asking.

Ben appeared at my door
. He came in brandishing flowers in a little flower planter. “I wanted to bring you a welcome back present,” he said.

I took the flowers from him
“Thank you.” Ben was a nice man, too bad I didn’t feel a thing for him.

“How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine.” I lied. I felt like crap and wanted to leave.

“I haven’t spoken to you since French Lick
,” Ben said. I hoped he didn’t expect a call like we’re best friends. “Not that I expected it,” he added.

“I should have called
,” I said. “I wanted to thank you. You went above and beyond the call of duty.”

“Don’t mention it
,” Ben said. “How’s Jimmy?”

“He’s fine. He’s in
Chicago visiting his parents,” I said.

“I hope it’s not a long visit.”

“A couple of days.”

“I don’t want to keep you. I wanted to bring these
, and check on you,” Ben said.

I stood to walk him out. “I appreciate the concern
,” I said.

“Do you really? I don’t want to bug you
,” Ben said. “I want us to be friends.”

“I’m not ready for friends
,” I said.             

“I’m not trying to hit on you.”

“I know,” I said. “I have so much going on right now…”

“If you need anything, even a shoulder to cry on
, call me, okay.”

“Thanks,” I
gave him a forced smile. “I appreciate it.” Ben went to hug me. Startled, I jumped back. I didn’t mean to. Nervously, I pushed a stray hair out of my face. “Sorry, I’m still a little off…”

“I shouldn’t have. I know how women in your position are
,” Ben said. “It gets better.”

“I hope.”

Ben no more than left and my phone rang.
I’m not going to get shit done at this rate
. I silently cursed. “Hello.”

“Hey Babe.”
Jimmy said in his soft voice. His spidey senses must have alerted him to Ben’s presence. I smiled. Good to know he’s still jealous.

“Hey.”

“How’s work?” Jimmy asked.

“Better than I expected.”

“That’s great.” I could hear someone in the back ground, it could only be Cho. “Stop.” I heard Jimmy say.

“Put him on
,” I said.

Jimmy handed the receiver to Cho. “Hey, Kiddo, how’s it going?” Cho’s voice
sounded tentative. Jimmy must have told him that I teetered on the edge of insanity.

“I’ve been better
,” I said.

“I heard.
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left,” Cho said.

“Don’t apologize.”

“Really, I feel like shit.”

“Don’t, I’m fine.”

“Remember the promise you made?” Cho didn’t finish the last of the promise. We would stay in touch even after Jimmy ended it. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see the relationship was over. We couldn’t admit it, but Cho knew.

“Yes, I remember. I’
ll stay in touch.”

“We’re friends right?” Cho asked.
Everyone wants to be my friend suddenly.
I couldn’t fault Cho for caring.

“Yes.”

“You sure you’re good?”

“Yes.
I’m trying to get reacquainted with my job. It’s a little stressful.”

“
I’m sure,” Cho said. “Listen, Kiddo, Jimmy’s shooting daggers at me with his looks. I better let him talk to you.” Silence while he gave the phone back.

“Hey,” Jimmy said, then dead air. He didn’t know what to say. He finally said.
“I love you.”

“I love you too
,” I said. More silence.

“I’
ll be back soon,” Jimmy said. “We’ll work through this.”

“Okay
,” I said. It wasn’t true, but I wasn’t getting into it over long distance.

“I really do love you.” Jimmy said
, sincerely.

“I know
,” I said.
That’s why you’ll leave me.
“I love you too.” It killed me to say because it was true, but life wasn’t going to allow us to love each other. I hated it. I wanted to beg Jimmy to come back. I wanted to tell him I couldn’t live without him, but I couldn’t put that kind of pressure on him. It wasn’t fair to either of us. I hung up.

I tried to focus on my paperwork. Ben’s visit had been a pleasant surprise, but the conversation with Jimmy had been unnerving. I needed to work. I needed a distraction. I need
ed something to look forward to. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I looked forward to something in my life.

There was a knock on my office door
. It’s hopeless to work around here.
“Come in,” I called, irritated. I didn’t even acknowledge the person.

“Ms. Williams
,” a man said. I looked up to see the most beautiful man standing in my doorway. He had tussled, golden blond hair and icy blue eyes. He smiled with the whitest teeth I’ve ever seen. The man stood a little taller than me. He had broad shoulders and a nice build.

My breath caught in my throat. This Odin kissed
, Nordic God from Asgard made my stomach flop and my heart skip a beat. This man had to be the one I waited for.

“Hello,
I’m Eric Skellan,” he said.

The End