"Out Of Nowhere"

"It was growing dark, and I had driven for hour's, I glanced over at Nic, and he was fast asleep, I was looking for a hotel to spend the night in, and tommorrow we would finally arrive at the cottage.I pulled in and parked, and went into register, got the key and gently awoke Nic, I led him into the room, nothing special, but at least clean, I took off his shoes and coat and covered him up, he was fast asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. I went out to retrieve some of our belonging's and locked up the car and settled in for the night. I had a nice hot shower, I stood there for along time, letting the water pelter down on my neck and shoulder's, I realized, how tired I was, and left the shower, put on my robe and called the desk for service, I had not eaten in 24 hour's and was raviness, I ordered a pizza and garlic bread, enough in case Nic woke up and wanted to eat.I turned on the old colour TV and found some movie have finished.I let my thought's begin to wonder, and of course they headed back to Seth and the divorce, an amicable divorce, fifteen year's of marriage and now it was gone, and part of me hated him, for tearing apart the family and leaving his beloved son, he had not even bothered to see him before we left, just a quick goodbye on the phone, and he felt his duty was done. "All at once my eye's began to close, as sleep overcame me, I left Seth and all of it behind. I awoke to the TV and Nic, munching on Pizza and watching cartoon's, he seemed to be content for the moment, and I hoped it would last, at least until we reached our new home,I prepared myself for the day and had Nic take a shower and put on clean clothes, I ordered him some substantial breakfast and myself coffee and juice.We ate in silence, then it was time to pack up and load the car and be off, The drive was beautiful, the road long and winding, with rock formation's all along one edge and the ocean on the other.Just a few more hour's and we would be there. I was beat and yet excited at the same time, the cottage was nestled in the redwood's in the state of Oregon, It really was a fully contained home, and the home I settled for in the divorce.We had divided everything right down the middle, All those year's of working and planning and saving, seemed eons ago, and for what? In a few short months, all the dream's were gone.How blind could I have been, not to see the sign's, but I trusted him and that was my mistake. Finally, down the curving hill and we would be there, Nic was now getting excited and was anxcious, to be on solid ground again.We sang our favorite song and then we were there. It looked like something in a picture. So inviting, flower's adorned the entrance and the pathway to the door,it was a rancher style, three large bedroom's a den, and a huge living room with a vaulted ceiling, the kitchen was totally country, I had chosen every colour for every room, and the kitchen I enjoyed doing the most, I found antique's at second hand store's I make curtain's and had bought steel pot's that hung over the island, I had chosen all the furniture to go with the style of the cottage, and it was warm and inviting, a large fireplace took up one whole wall, I loved the old stone fire place and mantel, with the large mirror above. Nic, had run outside to see if his friend still lived down the path a half a mile away. I got busy cleaning away a year's worth of dust, and unpacking and putting away all the thing's I had brought, it took hour's it seemed,before I was done,Nic and his friend Jesse trailed in laughing and catching up on all they had missed.I was so glad Jesse was here for Nic, I knew the friendship would keep him busy and I found some solace in that. I had picked up some groceries and put on our supper and looked around, at the memories that still lingered even here, happy time's, a family filled with love and looking towards the future with eagerness.I let out a sigh, and called the boy's into eat, I lit the fireplace and soon the place was cozy and warm, Jesse's parent's had let him stay the night just like they used to, he stayed here more than at home, any time we were here, They were snug in their sleeping bag's watching TV, and eating popcorn,I went into the den , and removed the sheet from the computer, I turned it on and it hummed and blinked, I had done alot of writing sitting at this computer, placed directly in front of the window."All of a sudden there was a loud knocking at the door,"who could it be at this hour, Jesse's parent's were out and I cautiously went to the door. "I asked who was there, and a man's voice spoke deeply, "I need to use the phone, there has been an accident and I must get help, Something told me not to open the door, but what if my fear, let someone die? I unlocked the door and latch and there stood a man, at least 6 ft 2 inches, Black hair and beard and dressed in jean's and a sweatshirt, Thankyou he said, I was nervous watching him and showing him to the phone, "all at once he grabbed me from behind and put his hand over my mouth, "One scream lady and you are dead" All I could think of was the boy's who were fast asleep, so stayed quiet and my knee's were shaking and weak.He dragged me down the hallway and pushed me into the den, his eye's were siver grey and he seemed to be in his late 30"s , I began to speak quietly, asking him what he wanted,he said "I have been payed to do a job, and that job is to kill you."I fell to my knee's this couldn't be happening,I felt like I was in a nightmare I could not awake from, but why? Please tell me who has sent you, at first he glared and then he said "Your husband, he no longer want's you around and with you out of the way, he will be a wealthy man, to bad kind of a waste, you are a looker that is for sure, so I said.. are you just going to kill me and what about my little boy, what will happen to him? "he replied, I am not being payed to harm your son only you.We can either do this two way's I will lead you outside and shoot you, I have a silencer on the gun, or you can scream and I will kill you right here, and your son shall be awake to see his mother die."Can I please go to the bathroom, I promise I will hurry, he led me to the bathroom and stood outside the door, I made the necessary noice's and in the top of the cabinet, I kept a can of mace, it had been there for age's but I reached for it now with trembling hand's and put it in my pocket, he began to bang on the door, and I opened it and followed him, I had to wait for a chance, I knew what I was up against, but I wasn't going to go to my death without one heck of a fight,we were outside now, and heading for the bushe's, I carefully reached for the mace, I pretended to trip, and caught him off guard, then I sprayed the mace right in his face, he dropped the gun and I picked it up he was screaming at me threatening everything evil he could think of, He was stumbling and falling down holding his eye's, I grabbed the chance to sray him again, I then ran into the house and locked the door I called the police and they assured me they would not be long, "All of a sudden their was a loud crash and the living room window shot piece's of glass everywhere, I had to get the kid's safe in another room, they were petrified, but I told them to be quiet and not make a sound, then I heard him crawling through the window, and I held the gun right at him, and I said don't come one step closer, or I will shoot you I have the gun, and I know how to use it, he was covered in blood from the broken glass, and still could barely see, he ranted and raved, until the police came racing through the door, He was handcuffed and led away, I was still holding the gun and shaking all over.I explained to the police what he was here for and who hired him."How could he have done this, what a monster he was, all for the sake of money, the boy's had ran to my side clinging to me, as the policeman spoke Nic listened intently, and now knew what his father had done. I wish I could have spared him that, but I also knew that he was mature enough to handle it, with my help. "Seth, is now in jail serving a life sentence for attemted murder, and a few other charge's I had no idea of."As I left the court room, I couldn't help but wonder, how I really didn't know this man I had married at all, I hope someday I can put this all behind me, and learn to trust again, for now Nic and I are making the best of everyday, and I thank God we were spared and able to enjoy all the "good" this life has to offer. by jollee

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