To Love Again (Read 5,298 times)

[Kpatch]

Chapter 1

As she sat on the bench waiting for the bus, she absentmindedly craned her neck to see if it was coming and then resumed her position staring off into space. She had just finished her weekly volunteer stint for the free clinic and was ready to go home. “Don’t take your car,” her dad told her repeatedly. “It’s too showy,” he said. Never thought she’d have a showy car, but she had all this money from the divorce settlement, so why the hell not?

And she dutifully followed Daddy’s advice, just like always. She didn’t bring her hot rod to this part of town for fear it would get stolen or stripped. Daniel usually picked her up after she was done, but he was at a medical convention this weekend and she didn’t have the heart to ask anyone else to give up part of their Sunday night to shlep all the way out to Needle Park.

Truth be told, she didn’t mind taking the bus. She liked having this time to just zone out and be alone with her thoughts. Except when her thoughts started to turn against her and took her to the dark places in her mind. The places where she beat herself up. The places where she felt unworthy, unloved, and where her life was a shambles.

It had taken a long time before she admitted to herself that she was not blameless. It was so easy to point fingers and act superior and innocent. But she wasn’t. In fact, she was the catalyst for everything that transpired. She had it all, and she wanted more. Why oh why would she think Philip wasn’t enough for her? Why did she keep Nathan on the hook, interested, hopeful, insistent, practically stalking her. Why was she so indecisive? Why did she let Nathan kiss her in Maggie’s kitchen that day? Why did she kiss him back? And dear god why did Philip have to be there to witness the whole thing?

Too hard. Too hard to answer those questions that seeped into her soul during those quiet times. She longed to put on her headphones and block out the world at times like this. “And don’t wear your headphones. You’ll just make yourself vulnerable. You need to be aware of your surroundings.” Her father sure liked to make up for lost time. He wasn’t around when she was growing up, but he wasn’t shy about giving her advice nowadays. And she dutifully followed his advice, despite the negative effects her own thoughts had on her psyche.

She even followed Dad’s advice when she told him that she could maybe possibly someday eventually forgive Philip. The look in her father’s eyes was disbelief. And hurt. Are you kidding me? Philip was the man who ruined the world. But she could have forgiven Philip. Really and truly. Except for one thing. One tiny thing. The one-night stand personified: Parker.

These thoughts rolled through her mind again and again. Today. Yesterday. Last week. Last month. So engrossed was she in the pursuit of self-flagellation, that she didn’t realize she had just missed the last bus back to Salem. Or that she was crying. Or that a man in a car was staring at her.


To be continued weekdays ...



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Copyright ©2012 kpatch. All rights reserved.

[sportsgirl]

Oh know!... I hope Mel will be ok... I hope this man is Brady or some other friendly face.

[gapeach]

Oh no, hope the guy doesn't have ill intentions!! Great start!!

[André DiMera]

Whoa! That is an awesome first chapter! Like sportsgirl, I hope that Melanie will be okay! This story looks to be very interesting. I'm looking forward to reading another jkjpatch story! Thank you for the chapter, jkjpatch!

[MrsM]

Wow, great start kpatch! I like that we are hearing Melanie's thoughts. Great job!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DancingDays]

Ooooh. Good start. Can't wait to read more.

[mae00]

Awesome start jkjpatch!!! Can't wait to read more! I hope Melanie will be ok!

[fluffysmom]

I wonder who's in the car watching her. I liked hearing Melanie's thoughts.

[krw627]

Uh oh! I hope the man is Brady or Philip...or at least a friend.

[djm]

I just love hearing Mel's thoughts. Great start to the story. I am also hoping that Mel is ok. I am worried about her alone in the bad part of town. Thanks for the chapter Kpatch. I liked the way you voted (LOL I was going to be happy no matter what story won)

[Kpatch]

BUS STOP

So engrossed was she in the pursuit of self-flagellation, that Melanie didn’t realize she had just missed the last bus back to Salem. Or that she was crying. Or that a stranger in a car was staring at her.

The man in the car was waiting for the traffic light to turn green when he noticed Melanie sitting at the bus stop crying. Something about her touched his heart and he pulled his car to the curb. She didn’t seem to notice him at all and he briefly wondered if her vision was impaired. But more than that, he wondered what a pretty young thing like her was doing all alone at a bus stop in a bad neighborhood after nightfall.

Getting out of his car might startle her, so he rolled down the power window on the passenger side and called out to her. “Miss, are you okay?” Nothing. No reaction. “Miss?”

Slowly, Melanie turned toward the stranger and saw him looking at her.  She wiped her tears away. “Why do you assume I’m not married?”

The stranger’s brows knitted as he decided she must have escaped from a nearby mental institution and he wished he had just kept on driving. “Excuse me?”

“You called me ‘miss,’” Melanie noted. “How do you know I’m not married?”

A smile came slowly to the man’s lips. “Sorry, I meant no disrespect. Good-bye.” He started to put his car into gear when he thought better of it. “Miss. I mean Mrs. … Whatever. Are you aware that you just missed your bus?”

“What? Are you freaking kidding me? That’s the last bus back to Salem tonight. Sh!t!”

“If you were a nicer person, I’d offer you a ride. But since you’re a pill, I’ll just say adios.”

“What? Wait! No, you’re wrong. I’m a very nice person. When I’m in a good mood.”

“And how often does that happen? Only in leap years?”

“Yeah, but you’re in luck. This is a leap year.”

From inside the car, the man pushed the passenger door open and Melanie rushed inside before she had time to think about whether this was a prudent move or to hear her father’s scolding in her head. She was merely pleased she scored a ride. “Yay!”

“So what’s a quote-unquote nice girl like you doing in a place like this.”

“I’m a nurse.”

“And … you’re … what? Waiting for the derelicts to drop dead at your feet?”

“No silly. I volunteer over at the free clinic every week.”

“Just to prove to people that you’re nice?”

“No. I do it because it’s the right thing to do. Give back to the community and all. You know. Hey, what’s a guy whose dressed in a designer suit, driving a designer car doing in a place like this. You lost?”

“Ha! No.” He laughed.

Oh god, Melanie thought. Killer smile. Don’t get attracted. Don’t get attached. He’s a stranger and he’s just giving you a ride. Don’t fall for another set of dimples beneath mischievously gleaming hazel eyes, ash brown hair, and a physique that fills out an Italian suit in a way that only a few men can.

“I was volunteering too. Social work,” he said.

Going. Going. Gone. Too late. She was already falling fast.


To be continued …

[sportsgirl]

Ok, who is this man? Do we already know him?? At least he seems to be safe.

[MrsM]

Hmmm. He seems an awful lot like Philip. I can see how she is falling for him.

[djm]

Boy did Mel fall fast for this guy. Don't think we know him unless he is one of the young children that left Salem and is now back because Mel does not seem to know him. At least I feel she is safe. Thanks for the chapter.

[mae00]

Oh Melanie!!!

Glad that she doesn't appear to be in any immediate danger. Very curious as to who this guy is tho. I agree he does sound a LOT like Phillip.

Great chapter jkjpatch!