Jake, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

"Well, that depends on you. Are you okay? I saw you fell. I rushed over here to see if you were okay. Your mother would not let me check on you. She said you hated my flowers and want nothing to do with me ."

My eyes widen at his words, feeling my face heat with water in my eyes. I turn a face at the woman that I thought was my mother. Someone that would love me and protect me from evil. When I'm realizing she was evil and I need to protect myself.

"How dare you tell him lies like that? You are evil with hate running through your vanes. I never thought my life would be like this: a mother hating her own daughter the way you do. Jennifer, I want you out of my life and never come back. I am done with you."

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Turning to walk to the door, I try to cool down. I am so hurt by the way she always has been.

"Good morning Sam, you came right on time. I don't know if I can wait any longer to get this done."

"Good morning Scarlett, you okay? Are you crying? What did she do this time?"

"Not now Sam, please let's get this done with and I will fill you in."

He nods his head as we walk back into the kitchen, where she is standing there with Jake.

"good morning Jennifer, it's a nice day today wouldn't you think so?"

"Oh shut up Sam, we know you don't like me. Let's get this thing over with. So you can enjoy this nice day, prick."

"Jake, I hate to ask, but do you mind coming back later? I am so sorry for what she said but I have so Business to take care of. You know, throwing out the trash."

Looking over at my mother, sitting there waiting so nicely for her money to go.

"Yes, that's not a problem. I am glad you are okay from your fall. "

He leans in close so no one can hear him. "The view was really nice to see this morning." With a wink he is leaving out the door. My check is a fire red color for sure.

Turning to face Sam. He has a big smile on his face, making me think Jake was not so quiet as he thinks. Just what I needed to have anyone here what happen this morning. I was in my towel drooling over the guy next door and he saw me. Oh yeah, the kicker is I tripped and feel. He saw the whole thing.

"Shall we get this going? The quicker we get this done, the faster she is out of her."

"Sure, let's start. Okay, I have the papers here. Jennifer, buy signing these you will get the money you asked for. In return, you're to leave this house and property, never to have contact with Scarlett. You can not ask or try to find away to get money from her. She gave you what you want and you are no longer welcome here." Do you understand the terms in agreement with the money you will receive?"

"Yes Sam, I get it. Just give the paper so I can sign. It gets my money and leave. Believe me, I will not look back and sure as hell will not shed one tear over this bitch."

Sam hands her the paper shows her where to sign. Looking over at me with sadness in his eyes, I smile, shaking my head no. He understood and smiles at me.

"Alright Scarlett, sign here, here and here. Once you're done. Jennifer can have the money and needs to leave."

I signed the papers where Sam said, holding my breath like it was all a dream. Then I watch Sam finish his part with the papers. He put them in an envelope, sealed it and placed it in his briefcase, closing it up and locking it.

"Here you go Jennifer, the money you asked for it's all there."

I watched my mother grab the money, if you can even call her that. But before Sam let the money go, he had one more thing to say to her.

"Oh and Jennifer, make sure my father never comes back. He and you can rotten hell. My mother will be just fine and have an amazing life without him. We will not shed a tear for him ever."

I look over at Jennifer as her eyes got so big and her mouth just dropped open. She looks like a codfish.

"What, you did not think we knew the town whore was sleeping with the bastard I called father and my mother call husband? Oh, we knew, we just waiting for the right time to kick his ass out. But we see you made it easier for us."

She grad the cash, ripping it out of Sam's hand. Walking straight to the front door, slamming it shut behind her. I turn at that moment, looking at Sam with disbelief.

"Sam, I am so sorry. I di"

"Stop right there Scar, I never blamed you or felt you had any part in what they did. My mother feels the same way as I do. I know this town has been hard on you after your father past way. You got the raw end of the deal. It's not right. People we went to school with are wrong about you. They think and act. We are friends. Scar and I have your back."

"Thank you Sammy. Let's have a drink. We both got the trash to leave."

With a smile on our face, he cheered and had a drink on letting the pass go, saying goodbye to trash and to new beginnings. Where ever they may lead us.

We said our goodbyes as I watch Sam dive off. There was a calm in my body. Things are now at rest and I am at peace. I did not know I was holding on to so much stress and tension in my body.Turning to walk inside; I heard his voice.

"You free for a chat, Miss. Beautiful smile?"

"I think I have time for a chat."

He walked up the stairs, and we sat on the bench looking out at the field. Not a word was spoken. It was nice, felt peaceful and safe. Being next to him was nice., he is not like the guys are kind here, that's for sure. I don't know what it is, but I like it a lot.

"You doing okay Beautiful? I am sorry I came over like that unannounced. I just wanted to make sure you were okay after you fell."

"You don't have to apologize. Thank you so much for checking on me. I was more embarrassed than anything. I was looking at the land day dreaming and then I saw you. Knowing what I had one or should I say what I was not wearing, I wanted to get out of the window and trip."

"So you were just looking at the land? I am pretty sure I saw you looking at me."

Turning to look at him, he had that mischievous smile. That, I am sure, is what makes all the girls want him. It was the most sexy smile I have seen in my whole life.

"Jake, maybe I saw you, maybe I was looking at you. But I will not tell you."

I giggle.. what the hell I am giggling now at him. This is not like me. This is not how it's ever been. I never had someone look at me the way he does. My mother sure did one in this town. Like Sam said, it's not me. I can't control her. She was the Parent. She sure as hell knew better.

"You have a cute laugh and that smile you have lights up your eyes. It's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. "

We sat there for a while small chatting, laughing, getting lost in time. I did not even realize the moon was out shining down on a pond behind us. It hit me when the wind blew and I felt a chill.

"It's getting cold out and I did not bring a jacket to lend to you. So I won't keep you any longer. I just have one question to ask you before I go."

"What is that question you want to ask, Jake?"

"Breakfast with me tomorrow? We can cook together or I can take you out. I don't care what one we do. Both would be wonderful because I am with you. I just want to see more of you like you are now. So where ever you feel comfortable with us eating breakfast is fine with me."

"Jake, that's so sweet. I don't mind what we do. Making breakfast would be fun with you. I have never done that before. To be honest with you, I have never done either with anyone but my father when he was alive."

Standing up, he turns and looks at me. With a soft smile this time. So caring and kind.

"Then we will make breakfast this time. Next time, I will take you out to breakfast in town. But for now sleep well beautiful smile. I will see you in the morning."

"Good night Jake. I look forward to seeing you. "

He. Walks down the starts heading to his place when I yell at him.

"Jake, what time tomorrow?"

Turning around with a smile 9:15am. Be ready then."

Off he goes without another word.

Sitting there in the quit of the night with Lola. This might be the fresh start I needed. I love my mother. My father taught me that. He said not everyone has a good heart or knows how to live right. So we have to love extra hard the ones that need it the most. When he found out he was dying, he didn't care how she acted. He just turned a blind eye to what she was doing. He was an asking man. Daddy loved her, even when she did not love him. I am ish he was still here. I would love to hug him again.

"Come on, Lola it's getting late, let's go to bed. "

Standing and stretching, looking over to where Jake walked away. See you soon. Morning will be here before I am ready for it. Don't know if this is a good thing or not. I am sure not use to someone seeing me. Everyone here never sees me. Let's hope they know I made this step of getting Jennifer out of my life. Time to live it for me doing what I love, feeling free.

Climbing the starts to my room, slowly opening the door looking across the room to the window. This morning playing in my mind. As I reach the window, ready to close the blinds, I see it. Tiny candles lighting in a heart with him standing there with balloons. As our eyes meet, he winks and gives me that smile, letting the balloons go. Waved at me as he walked away. My heart just skipped a beat. This will not be good, Scarlett. You're going to get hurt nothing good every happens to you.

Closing the blinds, smiling to myself. Changing in to my pajamas, say my prayers to Daddy. Lay down before I know it. Out like lights. Did not know I could fall asleep so fast and peaceful.

Then the dream started again. I hate this dream. It's been the same one every night since he was gone. I am in the field with him. He looks at me," sunshine I am.

Exhausted now."

"Let's go back to the house daddy, I will make dinner and you can rest."

"No sunshine, not this time. I love you so much. You are the most important thing in my life. The one thing I did right. Remember that always, no matter what. You are my shooting star."

Then he closed his eyes and was gone. I did not get to tell him I loved him back. What a stupid girl I was just sat there for hours next to him crying and wishing I said I loved you too.