Beyond Revenge

Chapter 1

  

CHAPTER 1 

  

   “Mommy! Mommy! Look I scored a goal!” shouted little Jason across the field as he came running to Cathy expecting to be rewarded with a hug---as it always was. 

“I’m so proud of you my sweetheart” Catherine said “ and guess what?” 

“Ice cream for me! Yeah! I love you mommy!” he said jumping up to try and reach Cathy for a hug and a kiss. 

  

How much had he grown since that day when he was born. So young and carefree. Handsome and smart. 

Catherine thought of John and his passion for soccer—even though he was a cowboy. She had loved him and he had left her, like a coward. 

Oh what wonderful days they’d shared together. 

She fought back a tear, she couldn’t seem weak to her precious boy. Another one welled up and she couldn’t hold them back any longer and they just poured out running down her cheeks. How many nights had she cried like a lost puppy? Many. And sometimes she thought it was not worth it—but then again she’d never known what had happened to John. 

“What if----? Better not go there” she thought. 

  

“ Mom why are you crying” little Jason asked interrupting her thoughts “ is it because of Daddy? You know my friend in school said I don’t have a Daddy and that—well he said I had but he had left me because he didn’t like me. Is that true Mommy?” 

“No honey. Daddy left but he did love you” she didn’t know how to explain to a 5 year old what she didn’t know, so she just continued “I’ll tell you more when you are a big man like he was, ok? Now get back to your game” she’d be honest when he was older, she thought as he ran back to the field. 

He was so innocent it almost seemed like he didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘Daddy’. 

  

Jason was five years old and had begun school that year. She had worked at the same hair salon all these years but they were closing soon and moving back to the city. 

She had been considering moving there too---but Jason had a life here already and that was a reason for her to stay. On the other hand she wouldn’t have a job and being honest with herself she had grown tired of playing with hair and nails. Her nostrils were probably half eaten by chemicals and she could blow dry hair with her eyes closed. 

So many years she thought and no one has ever touched me again. It is about time I stop looking out my door wondering when he’s coming back. It’s about time I move forward and give my son a better education. 

Determined, she walked to her boss’s house to inform her that she was coming to the city too. That she wanted to keep her job---was willing to move from town. 

  

“ Sorry Cathy, I gave the job to someone else. New girl is trained and has taken various cosmetology courses that specialize her in nail art, eyebrows and she’s also great with the scissors” she said waving a pair of scissors. 

“ Maybe I can still do-----” 

“ Please Catherine, don’t insist. We are required to have specialized people there to meet the clients needs. We are talking bigger stakes there Cathy. Bitchy rich women who pay higher prices and expect quality service. You are not trained for the job, I’m sorry for any inconvenience caused ” she said dismissively.