Chapter 8

A week had passed since she had the falling out with Andrew and she was miserable.  She missed him and wished that she could take back the hurt she inflicted on him, but she knew she couldn't until she came to terms with her past.  She did go to work but the work environment was a tense one and they didn't talk unless they had too.  She knew he at least wanted to talk to her but he remained in his office, and when he needed her he would buzz her and she bring things to the door and drop them off.  She would then walk back to her desk and continue working.  


She knew that this could not go on like this forever so she decided that next week she would take some time off and do some thinking even though she couldn't afford too.  She could do it though if she was careful on how she spent her money and not buy anything that she didn't need.  She even was thinking about returning home and telling her friends and family everything and hoped that they would be understanding.  She picked up her phone and called Sam.  She knew Sam would give her advice on what to do. 


Andrew was sitting in his apartment and trying to concentrate on the game that was on but he was finding it difficult.  He could not stop thinking about his dark haired brown eyed beauty.  He knew he should but he couldn't because he was in love with her.  He knew that he shouldn't be but he was and he would not stop loving her.  He knew that deep down inside she loved him too but she was hiding something.  He snapped out of his thoughts when the doorbell rang and got up to answer the door.


Virginia could not get a hold of Sam so she left her a message telling her to call her.  She then turned on the television to watch some news and wait on Sam to call her back.  However she could not concentrate on the news so she shut the television off and got up.  She needed to do something though because just sitting around and doing nothing and waiting for Sam to call was only going to make her crazy.  So she picked up her keys, cell phone, wallet, and a good book and left.  She decided that since it was a nice day she was going to head to the park.


However when she got there and tried to read she couldn't focus on her book so she closed it and set it aside.  She then tried to call Sam again.  " Hello." Sam said when she answered the phone.  " Hey I tried calling you earlier. Did you get my message?" Virginia asked her as she re positioned herself on the bench.  " Yeah sorry I was going to call you right back but I got busy so I couldn't. What's up?' she asked her.  She loved talking to Sam and knew that she would give her advice.  " Well I think I need to go home for a little while and think about things." she told her.  Sam was silent for a moment and she could hear her talking to someone in the background.  " What's going on Ginger?" she asked her. Sam could hear the sadness in her voice.


Virginia than took a deep breath and started telling Sam about what happened this past week.  " It sounds like to me that this guy cares about you but because of what you are hiding you are not allowing yourself to get close to him.  You are afraid that when he finds out that there will be nothing between you two." she told her.  Virginia then started crying because her best friend was right. " You're right Sam.  How can I allow him to get close if I will wind up hurting him." she said to her and was trying to hold back the tears.  She was trying not to cry but she couldn't hold back.  " You need to come clean and tell him and every one else of what really happened that night of the terrible accident." Sam told her.  


She knew that she was right and knew that it was better to face her problems than run from them and she knew that she was tired of shutting people out.  " You're right Sam I do and I think that I should make a trip home and finally face everyone and tell them what really happened and maybe I can finally confess to Andrew and be with him." she said to her.  She would have to tell her friends and family first and then tell Andrew.  " I want to tell Andrew but I think that I need to tell everyone else first." she said to her.


Virginia than got up.  " Thanks Sam.  I need to call home and let everyone know that I will be coming home for a visit.  Then I need to call Andrew and tell him I am going home for a few days and also tell him that we need to talk when I get back." she told her as she picked up her things and headed to her car.  " Ok girl we will talk soon." she said and the two hung up.  She then got into her car and started it.  She then picked up her cell phone and called Andrew.


Andrew had just finished his pizza and came back into the room when his phone rang.  He recognized the number and thought about not answering but he answered anyway.  " Hello." he said.  " Hey I was just calling to let you know that I am going to go home for a few days and then when I come back you and I meed to talk." she told him.  He was silent at first and she thought that he was going to hang up on her.  " Sounds good." he told her and she breathed a sigh of relief. " I need to tell you about what happened and why I left like I did, but I warn you it is horrible." she told him.  


He didn't care how horrible it was he just wanted to be with her.  " Ginny I don't care how horrible it is I just know I love you." he said.  So the two talked for a little bit and then hung up because she had to hurry home and call her parents and then pack.  She was nervous about going home and telling everyone the truth but she was relieved to know that she would finally be able to move forward.

Chapter 7

Two months had passed since Virginia left Evendre and since she had met Andrew.  She was growing closer and closer to Andrew each day but was hoping it was just a friendship that was blossoming between them and nothing more because she could not get involved with him.  She couldn't get involved with anyone ever again because she knew that her past would haunt her and make any relationship that she had non existent.  She knew that she would have to tell Andrew the truth eventually but knew that once she did the outcome would not be good.  She then snapped out of her thoughts and back to getting ready.


Andrew invited her to a family get together and once again she said yes before she thought about it.  She really had to stop saying yes to every invite she was invited too from Andrew because her saying yes meant that she wanted to be closer to Andrew and she was not wanting that.  She knew his family was starting to wonder if there wasn't more to their relationship then just a friendship.  She quickly finished getting ready and headed downstairs just in time to answer the door to a waiting Andrew.  " You ready?" he asked her as she opened the door.  She then smiled and stepped back.  " Yes I guess so." she said as she picked up her bag and put things into it. He could sense something was wrong but he didn't ask.


The two of them then left the apartment and he put the car into reverse.  " Thanks for coming with me today.  My family really likes you." he told her as he backed out.  She then looked out the window and exhaled.  " It is no problem." she said to him and not wanting to even acknowledge that his family liked her. " I told them that our being around each other means nothing but they just don't believe it." he told her as he drove straight.  She then turned on the radio and turned up the volume.  " Do you really believe it yourself?" she asked him as she shifted in her seat.  He was silent for a moment and then looked at her. " I believe that something is going on between us but because you have secrets and you are hiding something then I believe that we will always remain friends." he told her.


She then looked out the window again and squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears from coming.  " You are right I do have secrets and have reasons to why I came here that unless I tell you than we will remain friends and it is better this way," she told him.  She continued to look out the window. " You have to trust me enough to tell me what is really up but right now you don't and I understand that." he told her.  She didn't really feel like being around him or his family at this point.  " Can you just take me back home? " she asked him.  He then pulled over to the side of the road and put the car in park.  " Look at me Ginny." he said and called her his pet nickname for her.  She looked at him and her eyes filled up with tears.  " I can't continue to lead you on like this.  I will be looking for a different job on Monday because if I continue to work for you then I will  have a hard time tying to forget you." she told him through her tears.


He felt like he had been slapped in the face but he did what she asked and took her home.  He then parked and she opened the door.  " Ginny I hope we can continue being friends." he said to her as she stepped out of the car.  " We can but in time because right now the best thing for us is to stay away from each other, because if we continue to be around each other it would only get ugly." she said as she stepped out of the truck.  She then turned around to grab her bag. " Bye for now Ginny." he said as she picked up her bag and threw it over her shoulder. " Bye Andrew." she said as she shut the door and walk away.  He wasn't up to going to his family get together either so he then sent his sister a text and gave her some kind of excuse.  Ge then put the truck into reverse and left the apartment complex with a very heavy heart and tears forming in the back of his eyes.


Virginia made it into her apartment and shut the door.  She wasn't trying to hurt Andrew like that but she had too because she needed to protect him from her.  She cared too much about him to hurt him so she had to do what she did to avoid hurting him worse than what she did today.  She thought about calling Sam but she wasn't up for a phone call so she went up to her room and over to her bed.  She then laid across it and cried and cried until she fell asleep.    

Chapter 6

Two months had passed since Virginia left Evendre.  She and Andrew had decided to be friends shortly after they went furniture shopping.  They both agreed that they did have feelings for each other, but they had to keep the feelings in because they both had secrets.  She was getting ready to go with Andrew to a hiking trip and bar be Que and much to her surprise she was looking forward to it.  She hadn't really been out much since she settled here two months ago.  She was hesitant at first when Andre invited her but with his persuasion she agreed.  


She settled on a light pink t-shirt and a pair of stone washed jeans with her boots.  She opted to just put her hair in a loose ponytail.  She chose a light hoody just in case it got chilly.  She then went downstairs to wait on Andrew to show up even though she still had another hour before he picked her up.  She was suddenly having second thoughts about calling and canceling but for some reason she just did not have the heart to do it.  She needed this hike today even if it was with Andrew's family.  She just hoped that he did not tell his family too much about her because the last thing that she wanted was his family thinking that they were together.


She was quickly snapped back to reality by the ringing of the doorbell, so she got up and answered the door.  " Hey I am ready just let me get my things." she told him as she shut the door behind him.  " I promise you will have fun today.  My family is harmless." he told her.  He was wanting to make her feel comfortable around them.  " That's good I think.  You told your family about me then." she said as she picked up her bag and shoved her keys, camera, and cell phone in.  " Yes but I can assure you that I made it clear that we were just friends." he told her as he followed her to the front door.  She believed him and hoped his family didn't get the idea that they were a couple.


The two of them walked to his truck and got in.  " Trust me it will be fine." he said as he started the truck and put it in reverse.  " I do trust you and I am glad that we are friends." she said.  He then put the truck in drive.  His heart sank when she said the dreaded friends word but he knew he had to live with that for now at least.  " Hey I am glad we became friends as well." he said to her.  She then looked out the window to keep him from seeing the tears.  " Andrew trust me if you knew the real reasons as to why I left like I did you won't even want to be friends." she told him and knew she had almost said too much.


He then turned on the radio and they drove in silence the rest of the way because after she told him that he couldn't say a word, not that he didn't want too but he couldn't because he too had secrets and a horrid past that no one knew about and he was hoping no one found out about it either.  He reached the place that they were supposed to meet his family at and turned in.  " Wow what a lovely place." she said as she grabbed her bag and opened the door.   Suddenly he didn't want to be here but it was too late to turn back now.  


For the next two hours the two of them forgot the tense moment in the truck and enjoyed the hike and the bar be Que.  She even shared some laughs with his sister.  " Son she is a keeper." his father said to him.  Andrew just laughed at him.  He and his father could pass as twins.  " Dad don't go getting any ideas.  I told you we're just friends." he told him as he took a sip of his coffee.  " Sure son whatever you say." he said to him.  He then spotted her sitting at a far table by herself and walked over. " You ok?" he asked as he set down next to her.  She looked up at him.  " Yeah I'm fine I guess.  It's just that your family thinks I am the one for you." she told him.  He knew there was something else bothering her but he was not going to pry.  " We can leave if you want." he said.


She looked at him.  " You wouldn't mind if we did." she said to him as she got up.  He then smiled at her.  " No I wouldn't. Let me just go tell my family we are leaving." he said to her.  She then followed him because she couldn't be rude and leave without saying thank-you and bye to them.  After the byes were said and hugs given the two of them started towards the truck.  " I had fun." she said to him as they got in.  He then started the truck and looked at her. " I am glad you did." he said as he started the truck and backed out.


The couple drove in silence for awhile not because they had nothing to say but because they both had a lot to say and neither wanted to tell each other about the secrets they were keeping.  They also had a new found understanding and respect for each other as well.  He reached her apartment and turned in.  " Thanks for coming." he said as she opened the door.  She stepped out and smiled. " No thank you for inviting me. I needed this." she said.  That time was not a lie.  " Good have a good night." he said to her as she turned to shut the truck door.  " You too." she said as she shut the door and headed into her apartment.  He wanted to kiss her but it just wasn't right at the moment.  


He knew that she was the one for him but the timing wasn't right.  She was still trying to get her life back after she left like she did.  Even though he still had no idea what he knew that he loved her no matter what and that in due time he would reveal his past and she would reveal hers.  He put the truck in drive and drove away and this time he had a smile on his face.

Chapter 5

Two days later and Virginia found her an apartment.  It wasn't as nice as the one she checked out first but it was nice and was affordable too.  She took the day off so she could get the utilities turned on and she needed to go get furniture and things as well.  Andrew told her that he would help her move as soon as he got done with the day.  She was getting hungry so she went to the Country Cow and ordered lunch for the both of them.  She knew that he wasn't going to eat because he was so busy but she knew he would eat if it was brought to him.  She didn't know why she was doing it though because they weren't together, but she was doing it anyway.


She drove to his office building and parked.  She then got out and went inside.  " Hello Virginia."   the older lady said as she walked past.  " Hey Margret." she said to her.  She made her way to Andrew's office and knocked. " Come in." he said.  So she opened the door and went inside.  She held up the bags. " I figured you would want some lunch." she said as she shut the door behind her.  " You didn't have too." he said as he cleared off his desk to make room for the both of them to eat. " I know but I did because I wanted to thank you for helping me the past month." she told him as she took everything out of the bags.  " It was my pleasure." he said to her as he took a couple bottles of water out of the fridge and handed her one.  " I got the utilities turned on and so tomorrow morning sometime they will be turned on at the apartment." she told him as she took a bite.  " Good.  Have you got furniture yet?" he asked her. 


She took a sip of her water.  " Not yet but have been looking." she told him.  He looked at her and smiled.  " I know of a great furniture store you can go to.  The prices are cheap and the furniture is nice." he told her.  She was needing cheap and so far all the cheap furniture she seen was not that great. " I need cheap and decent furniture." she told him.  He then smiled at her and she melted.  " I have a few more clients to meet with so your welcome to hang out here if you want." he told her.  As much as she would have liked to stay there and work for a couple hours she couldn't.  " I would love too but I better get home so I can pack. I want to get moved in by tomorrow evening." she told him.


She then got up and threw the trash away.  " Ok we will just meet back here at around 4:00 then." he told her.  She threw the trash into the trash can and turned around to face him once more. " Sounds like a plan." she said as she opened the door and left.  He watched her disappear before going back to work.  He couldn't get her out of his mind no matter how hard he tried.  He picked up a folder and tried to concentrate.  Virginia went back to where she was staying at and started packing.  She didn't have a whole lot of stuff so she knew it wouldn't take her that long. but the thought of being close to Andrew for a few hours scared her.  


She cranked on her radio and turned up the volume and began packing the little bit of stuff she had brought with her and what she had bought since she had lived there.  She knew that she would be without utilities until tomorrow sometime but she did not care she would deal with that for one night. She just wanted to get everything moved into her new place tonight and would worry about unpacking and getting settled in tomorrow.   She got everything packed up and in boxes by two thirty so she took a walk through of the place to make sure she had gotten everything that was hers.  She then started taking the small boxes out to her car and loaded it up.  The big stuff would be put into Andrew's truck as well as the furniture she intended on getting that night and the furniture that wouldn't fit she would have to have it delivered.   She then locked the door and headed back towards the insurance office to meet Andrew.  She knew that she would be arriving a little early so she would visit with Margret for a bit while he finished up.  She liked Margret and the two women became fast friends.


She reached the office building and pulled in and found a place next to Andrew.  She got out and walked back inside.  " Hello again Margret." she said as she entered.  The older woman looked at her and smiled.  " Well hello again to you too." she said and went back to what she was doing.  " I am a bit early but I decided to come and visit with you while I waited." she said as she set down in a chair.  " Yes he is in a meeting but he should be out shortly.  He told me that he is taking you to Consar's Furniture." she said to her.  Virginia than looked up st her and smiled.  " Yes he is because I found me an apartment that I can afford and it is really nice." she said to her as Andrew was coming out.  He walked up to Margret and handed her a file.  " You two ladies out here gossiping about me." he said as he smiled.  


This made the two women laugh at him.  " No." they both said.  Andrew walked back to his office to grab his things.  " Lock up when you leave Margret." he said to the woman as he headed out.  " Yes I will and you two kids behave." she said as the two of them walked out.  She started to get into her car.  " Do you just want to go with me and then I will bring you back when we are finished?" he asked her.  She really didn't want to but knew that it made no sense to take two vehicles." I guess I can handle that." she said as she locked up her car and got in the passenger side of his truck.   He then got in and started it.  " I know your afraid of being around me.  Trust me you have nothing to worry about." he said as he backed out.


This made her turn two shades of red and she looked out the window.  " You're right and I am sorry I am acting this way." she said to him.  The two of them headed to the furniture store and she was able to purchase everything that she needed for under a thousand dollars with a few extra items thrown in.  After that they headed back to the office so that she could retrieve her car.  Then they headed to her place to get the rest of her things and took it to her new place.  " You want to go grab a bite to eat?" he asked her as they were bringing the last of the boxes in.  " Sure I am getting hungry." she said. So the two of them then headed to a fast food joint and had dinner. They set and talked and even shared a few laughs for a couple of hours before they called it a night and he took her home.  " I enjoyed being with you tonight." he told her.  She then smiled at him and opened the truck door and stepped out.  " I did as well." she said as she shut the truck door.


He wanted to kiss her that night but couldn't.  He knew that this night would be the start of something but didn't think it would be nothing more than a friendship because she had secrets and reasons why she left but she wasn't willing to say yet.  He too had secrets of his own and they would never be a couple as long as there were secrets between them.  He started the truck and drove off into the night with her looking out the window.

Chapter 4

A month had passed since Virginia left Evendre and she hadn't looked back.  She and Adrew were getting closer every day and was getting strong feelings for him and she knew he was getting strong feelings for her as well.  She tried to avoid him but it wasn't easy to do since she worked for him.  He had invited her to a weekend camping trip with him and his family but she declined.  She knew he wanted her to meet more people but she would not feel comfortable being with his family.  She had to change her number because everyone back home was contacting her and trying to get her to come back but she refused.  She couldn't go back because she didn't have a place there.  The only person who had her number was her best friend Sam and she was sworn to secrecy not to say anything.  Sam knew everything and the reasons why she left.  She snapped out of her thoughts and went back to the task at hand and that was to find her a permanent place to live.


This place was nice and all but it didn't fill like home she wanted something more spacious.  She was searching around online and came across a place to rent so she picked up her cell and called it.  She wrote down the address and decided to go take a look at the place.  She had no idea that it was in the same apartment complex where Andrew lived either.  She drove to the place and found a parking space and parked.  She then made her way to the office and knocked.  From what she could tell just from the outside this was a nice place to live.  The complex was gated and had a swimming area.  " Can I help you." the woman said who answered the door.  Virginia could tell just by seeing what she did that the inside was just as nice.  " Yes my name is Virginia Cantell and I called about the apartment earlier." she told her.  The woman than smiled at her.  " Yes I remember now." she said to her as she flashed her a smile.  Virginia smiled back at her. " Well I was wondering if I could possibly look at it today." she said to her.  The woman looked at her and smiled. " Sure just let me get the key." she said.


The woman came out a few minutes later and the two walked to the apartment.  " This apartment was just remodeled and each apartment comes with it's own washer and dryer hook ups if you prefer to do your laundry there or we have a community laundry room as well." she told her as she unlocked the door.  The two women stepped inside and right away Virginia fell in love with it.  The apartment was spacious and was a two bedroom and one and a half baths.  She could tell it was redone too.  " The kitchen is average size and comes with a dishwasher and a glass top stove.  It is all electric as well." she told her as she continued showing her the place.  " How much is the rent?" she asked and hoped it was affordable because she wanted it.  " Rent is $ 550.00 a month with trash paid and the deposit is  $250.00 and if you have a pet or wanting to get one an additional $100.00 will be added on to the rent." she explained.


Virginia liked the apartment but felt it was too expensive for her to get right now.  " It is very nice and I would like to get it but I am afraid it is way out of my league right now." she said as the two women walked back to the office. " I can understand that." she said to her.  The two women talked for a little while and then Virginia turned to leave.  " If you change your mind all you have to do is call and we will set everything up." the woman said.  Virginia nodded her head and walked back to her car.  She really wanted a place of her own but couldn't live beyond her means to have one nor did she want to drain her accounts just to rent a place either.  She sighed, started her car, and drove off.  She would have to go back to where she was currently staying and search around some more until she found a place that she loved and could afford both.


It wasn't like she didn't get paid enough working for Andrew because she did it was the fact that she had only been there a month and didn't have that kind of money saved up because if she used it all then she would be broke and she did not need that.  She was about to pull out when her phone rang. " Hello." she said when she answered it.  She recognized the number of her best friend.  " Hello Ginger." Sam said and called her by the nickname that she had gave her.  " Hey Sam what's up?" she asked her as she put her ear peace in and started her car.  " Nothing much.  Just calling to let you know that everyone is asking me questions as to why you left." she said.  Virginia than backed out of the parking space and put the car into drive.  " You haven't told them anything have you?" she asked her.  She knew Sam wouldn't but had to be sure.  " No you know I wouldn't say anything, but I think you need to call your parents and tell them." she told her.


Virginia sighed and rolled her eyes.  Sam you know I can't tell them or anyone anything." she told her best friend.  " I know this but I think everyone would be understanding and forgiving." she said to her.  Virginia thought about this for a minute and knew she was right but still couldn't tell anyone.  " Sam I can't." she said as she made a left hand turn.  Sam sighed. " I know this but I miss my best friend." she said to her.  Virginia missed Sam as well. " I miss you too.  Soon I will let you come and visit me I just need to find a decent place to live." she told her.  She explained to Sam everything that was going on and about the apartment she had just saw.  " I know you will find something soon." she said to her.  


The two women talked until Virginia reached the place she was currently living at.  I need to get off of here I got a long day of apartment searching ahead of me." she said.  So the two women went hung up and Virginia got out and headed to her apartment.  As soon as she made it in the door the tears started flowing. 

Chapter 3

The stranger watched the woman leave and turned back to his food. " Rebecca do you know who that pretty young woman is who just left?" he asked her. She took out the napkin and handed it to him. " I don't have a clue, but I know she was asking about a job earlier." she told him. Andrew took the napkin from the woman and smiled. " I guess you told her about me." he said as he unfolded the napkin. " Yes I told her that you was looking for a secretary." she told him. He wasn't too found of anyone getting into his life but Rebecca was different she was his best friend. " Yeah and I need to find one soon because Margret is retiring in less than a month." he told her as he finished his meal and coffee.

Virginia was driving along and trying to figure out what she would do for money. She was so deep in thought that she almost didn't hear her cell phone ring. She turned down the radio and grabbed her cell phone and barely getting it in time. " Hello." she said when she answered it. he felt his heart flutter when she spoke. " Virginia?" he asked her as he ignored the way his heart was behaving. " Yes." she said as she pulled into a gas station. She was not about to talk on the phone while driving again because she did not want to cause another horrific accident. " Hi I am Andrew Flanagan and your number was given to me by Rebecca from the Country Crow." he said.

She totally forgot she gave her number to her. " Oh yes I"m sorry I forgot I gave her ,y number." she told him. He chuckled and she felt her heart flutter. She ignored it and waited for him to continue. " That is quit alright. I am calling to see if you are still in need of a job?' he asked her. " Yes I am and I need on soon my money is running out." she told him. She wasn't trying to give her the sob story but she did. " Great I need a secretary and was calling to see if you are still interested." he told her. She had to keep from crying because this was what she needed right now. " Yes I am very interested." she told him. She was glad that she was only thirty minutes away because she needed time to get freshened up and meet him. " Great come to my office around ten o clock and we can meet." he said.

He then gave her the directions to his office and she carefully wrote them down. " Great see you then." she said as she folded up the peace of paper and stuck it in her purse. The two then hung up and she stuck her cell phone back into her bag. She then had to find somewhere to freshen up and change because she wanted to look presentable when she went to go see him. She was nervous but knew that this was the first step in making the fresh start in her life. She also knew that if anyone found out why she left like she did then it could be bad and for that she could not tell anyone and hoped that no one found out.

She made it to Andrews office and parked. She knew that she was a little but early but she wanted to make sure that she found it with no problems. She then got out and went inside. She walked up to the receptionists desk. " I am here to see Andrew." she told the older lady. The lady looked up from her typing and smiled. " You must be here to talk to him about the receptionists job." she said to her as she picked up the receiver on the phone. She went over to the chairs and sat down. " He must have told you." she said as soon as the woman got off the phone. " Yes he did and I know he has been trying to find someone to replace me before I retire." she said to her.

Andrew was surprised that Virginia showed up early to meet him but he was glad because that already showed him that she was a punctual person and he needed someone who would show up on time. He finished the file that he was working on and called Margret to send the woman in. He was nervous but he looked past that because he knew that this was business. " He is ready to see you now." she said as she got up to show her the way. She realized that Andrew was an insurance agent and this was his own office building. " Here you are." she said as she led Virginia inside. " Thanks." she said as she went into his office.

Margret turned to go when Andrew stopped her. " Hold my calls for a little bit." he said as he motioned for Virginia to sit down. " Sure." she said as she shut the door behind her. He then set down in his chair and folded his arms on his desk. The two of them talked for quite awhile and then he smiled. " Your hired and if you want you can start today and Margret can train you and show you how to do things." he said to her. She smiled back at him and was glad he hired her. " Great but there is just one thing." she said to him. She needed to make arrangements to find a hotel room until she could get an apartment. " What is it?" he asked her as he set back and crossed his arms. " I need a good and cheap hotel that will let me pay by the month to stay until I can get a place. I am new here and I don't have much cash nor a bank account. " she told him.

Again she was telling him too much information and hardly knew him. " Well let's see. There is a cheap and really nice hotel apartment two blocks away." he said as he wrote down the information. " Will they let me charge by the week?" she asked him as she folded up the paper and tucked it in her pocket. " Yes they will because I know the owner and he owes me a favor anyway." he said as he picked up the phone. She wasn't wanting no free handouts because she wasn't that type. " I won't accept it if it is free." she told him when he got off the phone. He smiled at her again. " Don't worry about that. He said he will charge you half the regular rate." he told her. She wasn't sure about that either but at least it wasn't free. She then picked up her things. " Would you mind if I started tomorrow instead?" she asked him as she got up.

She wanted to get settled in before she started working. " Sure I will see you tomorrow." he said as he smiled. She then left the office and shut the door behind her. She breathed a sigh of relief and raced to her car. She studied the directions he gave her and made her way there. This was a nice hotel and from what she had seen a nice town. She wanted to get away from Tennessee, but this was a good place and she had a job and would soon have a place to stay.

Chapter 2

Virginia woke up early the next morning. She had to get dressed and get back on the road but first she had to get her some coffee and something to eat. The sooner she got out of this hotel room the better. She got up and went to take a shower. She didn't sleep all that great because the bed was lumpy but she slept. She got done with her shower and dressed. She then got her things together and turned the key in as she left.

She got into her car and drove away. She drove until she spotted a small town diner and pulled in. She got out and went inside and found a small table in the back. A lovely young waitress walked out of the back and over to her table. " My name is Rebecca and I will be your waitress. Welcome to the Country Cow." she said as she handed her a menu and silverware. " Thanks and can I have a cup of coffee?" she asked her as she opened the menu to see what she wanted. " Sure and how would you like your coffee?" she asked her as she opened her pad. " Three sugars and two things of creamer." she told her. Rebecca than closed the pad and walked away.

She studied the menu and after a few minutes she decided what she wanted. " Are you ready to order yet?" her waitress asked as she handed her her coffee and took out her pad. " Yes I would like the number three but leave off the grits." she told her. Rebecca than wrote her order down and stuck the pad back into her pocket. " I will have that right out." she said as she picked up the menu and walked away. Virginia spotted an abandoned newspaper and picked it up. She went to the classified section to look for jobs and a place to live she just wanted to get an idea of what was out there if she did stay here.

She picked up her coffee cup and out of the corner of her eye she spotted a very nice looking man walk in. Everyone must have knew him because they he greeted him by name and he did the same. She went back to reading the paper and paid no mind to how handsome he was because she did not need to get involved with anyone right now. Rebecca came back out with her food and she put the paper beside her. " Are there any good jobs and places to live around here?" she asked her. " Yes there are in fact the gentleman over there is looking for a secretary." she said to her pointing at the gentleman she was looking at earlier. " I see well not sure if that would work out, but give him my name and number anyway." she said as she wrote down her name and number on a napkin and handed it to her.

She then took a sip of her coffee and a bite of her food. She did not know why she gave Rebecca her info to give to him but she did and now she was regretting it. She was not sure if this was where she wanted to stay or not. She knew she had to decide something because she was running low on cash and she didn't have a bank account of credit cards anymore so she had to decide soon before she had to stay on the streets.

She finished her meal, paid the bill and left. She went to her car and set there for a minute to count how much cash she had left. She had a little over a thousand left and she knew that would not last her another month. She started her car and took off. She had no idea where she was going to go. She didn't think he would call her but deep down inside she was hoping he would because she so desperately needed a job and needed one quick.