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Miranda I go join Craig in our bedroom, still a bit worried, but I know she'll be okay.
Julie: I pull my cell out and text Faith. "How mad is he?"
Faith I jump as my Sidekick buzzes at me. I pull it out and look at it. I smile and text you back. "Not sure, he's murdering a punching bag right now."
Julie: I text back "He told me not to call him or come back till I felt unsmothered....think you could try to talk to him...I would like him calm before i try."
Faith "Jules, I'm sure he just said that in anger, I'm sure he'd want to talk to you, but I can try," I reply.
Julie: "Please...I will also text him, but..I love him...I don't want to lose him."
Faith "You're not gonna lose him... If he really wants to marry you, he's not gonna let something like a fight change that... I'll talk to him, though... Anything for you babe... :-)"
Julie: I smile at that and text back. "Thank you..I love you..." I then text Groo "I love you, I just...I'm stressed."
Faith "Love you too, Jules," I reply back, swiveling my phone closed.
Groo I walk away from the punching bag, hearing my phone beep. I wipe my face with a towel and pick it up. I read the text message. "I love you too, I understand that feeling as I am also feeling stressed," I reply.
Julie: I reply back. "Just give me some time with mom ok?"
Groo I sigh and resist throwing my phone across the room. "I told you to take as much time as you need. I will not seek you out."
Julie: "Please don't be mad at me." I type back.
Groo "I am not mad at you. I am merely upset because I do not understand what is happening."
Julie: I text back. "Short and sweet...I am scared."
Groo "Scared of what? Me?" I type, almost afraid of her answer.
Julie: "No...God no....Scared that this won't last, that we will make it this two weeks, you will ask me to marry you, and then we won't last and I am left alone again, scared that I won't be able to have some free time like it has been in the past...scared of cages..."
Groo I stiffen, surely her parents would not have told her about our conversation. "I will never cage you, physically or emotionally. Do not worry, I will not do anything to push you. I will wait here." I cannot help but feel bitter. I feel as if she is pushing me away and does not care what I may be feeling.
Julie: "I will call you tomorrow...we can talk, but please don't be mad...I will always come back to you, just need some time."
Groo "It is your decision, you know my location," I type.
Julie: "I love you, I promise I will call you" I type then close the phone and go to sleep...Not sleeping well at all being as he isn't here.
Groo "I love you as well." I type, then throw my phone against the wall, shattering it.
Julie: I wake up and text Faith "I love you, didn't sleep worth crap, but I am ok." Then I text Groo "I miss you..I will call you later."
Julie: I take a shower and get dressed wondering if I can hide in my room all day.
Miranda I get up and start cooking breakfast as the kids get ready for school and Craig gets ready for work. No sign of Julie. We decide not to tell the kids just yet.
Julie: I decide I can't hide forever so I slowly walk out of the room to the kitchen.
Miranda "No, you are going to eat breakfast before school. It's not my fault you're late, Cole." I tell him, making a plate for him. Then I see Julie. "Well good morning."
Julie: "morning" I whisper
Carly I turn and see Julie. "JULIE! I didn't know you were here!" I get up and go give her a hug.
Cole "Hi Julie."
Dax "Hey, Julie." I give her a smile.
Craig "Good morning, Julie. Glad you could join us."
Miranda "Carly, sweetie, not now, go sit down and eat."
Julie: I hug her back. "Hi guys." I say softly with no smile. "Thank you Cr..Dad." I am almost scared to say it.
Craig I love to hear her say that. I can't help but be happy and keep smiling.
Carly "You going to come to school with us? Can she mommy?"
Faith I roll over and smile as I read the text message. "I love you, I'm sorry you slept like ass. You're welcome to share my bed if it'll help :-)" I type, hoping it'll cheer her up some.
Miranda "Carly, sweetie, not today."
Julie: I feel my phone vibrate in my hand. I pull out of Carly's grip. "No, not today...Maybe some other time ok?" I say as I open my phone and see Faith's message. It makes me smile. I text back. "Don't think Brandon would like that...but thanks.:-)"
Dax "Who are you texting?" I ask.
Cole "Probably Groo. Probably a bunch of love stuff."
Carly "Awww. Okay. Hey, can I say hi to Mr Groo?"
Miranda "Kids finish your breakfast. That means you Carly, come on now. It's almost time to go."
Faith "LOL I'd totally kick his ass out for you Jules! ;-)"
Craig I look at my watch. "Yeah, it's about that time. A few more minutes."
Julie: "It isn't Groo..." I whisper my smile fading.
Carly "Mom! Okay, okay." I say going back to the table to finish my breakfast.
Julie: I text her back "Liar" I and add a :-D at the end.
Cole "Then who?" I get a look from mom. "Okay, okay."
Dax I finish my breakfast. "Probably Faith, I bet. Am I right?" I bring my dishes over to the sink.
Julie: I give Dax a small smile but don't say yes.
Faith "Well, I'd at least make up one of the spare rooms for us then," I type with a smile.
Craig "Alright, kids time to go. I'm dropping you off today. Let's go." I said.
Dax "Okay, bye Julie. See you after school, if you're still here." I grab my bookbag.
Cole I get my backpack. "Yeah, bye Julie. Later."
Julie: "Bye guys.." I say softly "Have fun" I text back to her "Don't tease...and hey, did you talk to Groo...He hasn't texted me back today."
Carly "Bye Julie! We can play in my room later!" I said, heading out of the door as I waved to her. Mommy handed me my backpack and lunch. We all left.
Miranda I gave Craig a kiss, passed out lunches, and then they were all gone. "You want some breakfast, honey?" I ask Julie. "Please, come sit down." I say as I clear off the table.
Julie: "I'm not that hungry...Maybe some fruit or something."
Faith "Nah, he was pretty upset last night, he smashed his phone, don't know why... I'm sure he'll get a new one though... And I'm not teasing sweetie, I'm here for you, I love you." I reply.
Miranda "Still upset over Groo, hon? Look, believe me, all good relationships have fights. You'll get through this." I told her as I made her a fruit bowl.
Julie: I text back "Thanks...and he was probably mad at me.....glad it wasn't me." I type and add "Thanks Faith...Mom wants me to talk now so talk to you later." I turn to mom. "I know...he just broke his phone last night because of me...I guess I didn't help matters by running away as per usual."
Miranda I give her the fruit bowl, and some toast, and some milk and orange juice. I sit down across from her. "He just has strong feelings for you, sweetie. I'm sure you both just need some time to calm down and think things through. This happens in all good relationships. It's not always perfect."
Faith "He'd never hurt you, Jules, call me if you wanna talk, okay? Tell your mom I said yo." I reply, curling back up in Brandon's arms.
Julie: "Do you know something I don't?"
Miranda "I know that Groo is a good man, that he would give his life for you, that you are his whole life. And maybe that's the problem. Maybe he should get a hobby, you know, something seperate for him to do that doesn't involve you. It might be good for him."
Julie: I smile "Thank you Mom..and Faith says hi..." I say softly.
Miranda "Oh, so you were texting her." I say with a grin. "Tell her I said hi too. And eat your breakfast, sweetie.”
Julie: "yes Mom, and I will." I text Faith back "Mom says hi, and she has ordered me to eat my breakfast and drink my two drinks and so on....talk to you later."
Miranda I got a little bit for me to eat too. "I swear, just when we thought we only had the internet to worry about, along come cellphones with texting plans. There are kids in Dax's class that have cellphones, can you believe that?"
Julie: "Actually I can...I know of some 6 yr old's with phones." I say honestly "I think 12 is a little young, but I understand it."
Miranda "What six year old do you know with a cellphone? That is just nuts." I say with a laugh. "But yeah, none of our kids are getting one until they at least learn to drive."
Julie: "From tv mom, and thats a good plan...Hey when are their birthdays?" I ask softly..."OH and I have something...wait here." I say and I run to my room.
Miranda "Uh...okay...I'm just smiling and nodding...yep."
Julie: I come back with two boxes. "I..I found this." i say and hand it to her.
Miranda "Found this...where?" I say taking the boxes and putting them on the table. I start to open them.
Julie: "In the house."
Miranda My eyes widened when I saw the contents of the first box. I tried not to cry as I picked up the jewerly. "He...he said he sold it...oh my God...this was my great grandmothers, handed down to her daughter, then to my mother, then to me...I never thought I'd see it again..." The whole set was there, the pearl necklace and earrings. There was also other jewelry pieces.
Julie: I smile "He had them locked up in a false wall....along with some other stuff."
Miranda I opened the other box. More stuff I never thought I would see again, like my papers, my own birth certificate, Julie, baby pictures of Julie, even a little album I had put together that he said he had burned. I started to cry, I couldn't help it.
Julie: "What is it?" I ask softly
Miranda "This...I never...he said he...he burned it. This is...a big part of my life and I have it back now..." I picked up the baby album. "I made this for you, your baby album."
Julie: "W..We can look at it if you want."
Miranda I open it, showing her each page. "Oh look...there's you when you were born...there's your little hand and footprints..." Tears are running down my face.
Julie: I watch as she tells me. I wonder if I should tell her about the money, but I don't, not yet.
Miranda "There's the first of everything you did. And look, hair from your first haircut. I tied that bow on it to make it pretty..."
Julie: I smile "I look so silly"
Miranda I laugh. "No, honey, you look beautiful...so beautiful..." I can't get over the fact that all of this stuff is here, right now, and not a pile of ashes.
Julie: "Im sorry...i didn't mean...."
Miranda "No, sweetie...these are tears of happiness. I'm so happy right now...I can't believe you went back to that house, but I'm very happy..." I get up and hug her. "Thank you, Julie."
Julie: I hug her back "I also burned it to the ground." I say softly
Miranda "Well good. That's what it deserves. Say." I said, pulling back so I could look at her. "Did you find money in the walls? He used to hide it there or so I was told by his friends. He always denied it."I always wondered if that was true."
Julie: "Why?" I ask curious wondering why she would ask that.
Miranda "I was just curious...and if he did it'd be nice revenge for you to find it. You deserve it far more than he does."
Julie: "He had it in the walls, two safety deposit boxes...he even had a money card, but I don't know how much is on it."
Miranda "So you did find it...wow...how much did you find?"
Julie: "500 thousand in cash...give or take...." I say softly "And don't know whats on the card."
Miranda "Holy MOLY. five hundred THOUSAND?" I hugged her. "Julie, you're set for life, sweetheart!"
Julie: "Ok" I say confused. "I am not keeping all of it." I tell her
Miranda "Why not? It's your money, you deserve it, Julie."
Julie: "There are others who need it more than me." I say honestly
Miranda "Like who? You going to give it to a charity or something?"
Julie: "Someone that helped save me."
Miranda "Well that's really sweet of you. Just please, keep some for yourself, okay?"
Julie: "Oh I planned on it, just didnt wnat to keep it all when it could be put to good use...I do need to put some in the bank though."
Miranda "You can join our bank. It's really good. We've been with them for years. You want to do that today? I can take you over to the bank, if you like."
Julie: "T..This is one of the things I want to do alone, not that I don't want to include you, its...just a freedom thing."
Miranda "Okay, I understand that. I'm smothering, aren't I? I'm sorry. I just wanted to help."
Julie: "No you aren't, I know you didn't know...Look, I need to go home and talk to Groo, and I thank you for last night, but I can't keep running from him."
Miranda I was hoping she'd stay longer. "You sure, honey? I mean, if that's what you think is best..."
Julie: "I promise, I will come stay again, but I need to fix things at home."
Miranda "Okay...at least finish your breakfast..." I told her as I ate my own. I was sad to see her go so fast.
Julie: I finish the breakfast and clean up the dishes "I promise mom...I will come back...a lot."
Miranda I help her clean up the dishes. "Okay...I love you sweetie." I gave her a hug. "I just want you to be happy. I really hope things work out."
Julie: "Thank you mom." I say honestly "I love you." And I walk out to go pack my things.
Miranda I watched her go and finished cleaning up the kitchen while she packed.
Julie: I grabbed my bags and walked out. "Mom...I am ready." I say softly
Miranda "Okay. Let me get my purse and keys." I said, retrieving them and then helping her with her stuff to the car.
Julie: "I love you." I say again as she drives me back to the house.
Miranda "I love you too, honey." I told her. I drove her to house. "Okay, this is it. Good luck." I gave her a kiss on the cheek and another hug. I now know where Carly gets it from.
Julie: I cling to her "Thank you mom." I go in the house and store everything not ready to see Groo and I head back out, money in hand...least I can do is buy him a new cell...and put some in the bank. I take some of it and am on my way. After a couple hours I come back to the house. I have a few things, including a bank account now. I also went to speak to Mr Giles who I was told was in charge of the council. He said he would help me get the rest of the money in my account without raising suspicions. I was happy to hear that, and he was actually someone I could trust. Once it was all done I got Groo a new cell. I didn't figure him to want a sidekick, so I got him the pebl, I just hope he likes it. They said all he had to do was put his sim card in it and he could go. Once I was done I headed out and was almost home when I saw a shop...one of those shops. I walked in and looked around, there was some nice stuff, but nothing huge. I did get him a set of leather cuffs he can use with me, if he wanted to, and a certificate for him to come get whatever else he wanted. I was finally done and headed home. I hid the gift from the shop, but kept the cell near.
Groo I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. I have not been able to sleep since she has been gone. I hate this, I hate not having her near me. I do not know what to do. I desire to go to her, but I promised I would not.
Julie: I stand in the door way watching him. "I suck...I...I'm sorry."
Groo I sit up suddenly, thinking for certain I have fallen asleep and I am dreaming. "Julie?"
Julie: "I couldn't stay away...." i say as I walk over to him. "And I heard you needed a new cell." I say as I hand him a box.
Groo "Are you really here?" I ask, putting the box aside and pulling you to me.
Julie: "Yes" I say as I kiss you deeply. "I am so sorry."
Groo I feel my breath catch as you kiss me. "I love you so much, my sweet Julie."
Julie: "I don't feel so sweet..." i say "I made you break your phone."
Groo I shake my head. "You did not. It was only a material possession. I love you, I was so afraid," I admit.
Julie: "I was too..." i admit "Groo...I am so sorry."
Groo "What happened to us?" I ask softly. "I do not understand what happened."
Julie: "I..I just feel trapped sometimes. I don't mean to, and I know I should be glad you want to help, but we are together all the time...."
Groo "We are?" I ask. "I thought you enjoyed being with your family and Faith and taking walks alone."
Julie: "Until last night when was the last time I did anything by myself?"
Groo "You went shopping with Faith, you spent time with her, I assume you made love. I was at neither of those events."
Julie: "Yes, and when did that happen?" I ask softly
Groo I think for a moment. "Approximately two days ago, I believe."
Julie: "And where have I been since?" I ask
Groo I feel myself growing frustrated. "Do not play games with me, Julie. If you have something to say, say it."
Julie: "I am not trying to play games, I am trying to illustrate my point." I say calmly.
Groo "Then get to it," I say flatly.
Julie: "You know what...forget it." I say unmoving, trying not to cry.
Groo "What is going on?" I ask. "I do not understand why you are treating me this way. I am not a child. I thought part of our relationship was to be honest with each other and you close up when I try to get you to be honest."