She loved her life and family but she wondered. Just a glimpse of the life others led was all she wanted. How much could that hurt? But as it turns out, the price for that glimpse was more than she expected.
Edited by LadyCibelle as always.
Consequences-Janet
The End of Hope
Janet Temple swore under her breath as she pulled into the closest parking space she could find. It was at least a hundred feet from her door and while normally that wouldn't be too bad, today she had two bags of snacks for her daughter Alison's sleepover. Well, it couldn't be helped so she parked the car, climbed out and moved around to the back to unlatch the hatchback. It creaked as she lifted it, the two cylinders that were supposed to make it easy both corroded and useless. She pulled out the two plastic bags and set them down on the ground while she used her weight to pull the hatchback closed. She made sure the stubborn catch was engaged and then carried the two bags into the stairwell to make the climb to her third floor apartment.
Once she had unlocked the door and let herself in, she set the bags down and fell heavily into one of the three chairs that surrounded the small table she found and refinished to use as a combined dining/kitchen table. She slumped back in the chair and waited until she caught her breath. She was tired, of course, since she had just finished a full shift at 'The Bistro', the small café where she worked as often and as many hours as she could. Ally stayed with her mother during the day and that saved a lot of money that she desperately needed to keep them housed and fed. But this was Friday and since she worked late, Ally was going to stay overnight with Charlie, her father. He picked her up after he was done work and would bring her home tomorrow for her sleepover Saturday night. Maybe he would stay and talk to her when he did. She looked forward to those times. She had hope then.
Since the divorce, Charlie did what he could to pay her child support but she knew that what he gave her was almost as much as he made working at the Midas garage. He was living on the rest and she knew he was struggling. Even with his brother's help, Charlie was just making do. He and Jeff lived together in the small trailer where they were born. Their father had died soon after Charlie moved out and the two of them were now pooling their recourses. She felt the tears begin to well up and stood up, cursing herself for thinking of him. Foolish hope! Just let it go! Just do what has to be done to make sure Ally's sleepover went as well as possible. She angrily wiped her eyes and got up to get things put away.
As she made sure the spare room floor where the girls would spread their sleeping bags was clear of boxes and bags and other stuff she stored there, she thought back to the divorce. It was her fault, all of it. She was the one that screwed everything up and made Charlie have to divorce her. He was not very smart and he didn't make a lot of money but Janet loved him. She had as long as she could remember. Charlie lived with his dad and older brother, just the three of them after his mother died. Charlie's father was a drunk and not worth much but Charlie and his brother took care of him. Janet also came from a single parent home, her mother taking care of her. They grew up together and they graduated high school together and they dated through it all. When they were both eighteen, Charlie proposed and in spite of the warning from her mother that Charlie would never amount to anything, she accepted and they were married by the pastor of their local church.
Charlie took what little money he had saved and bought a tiny two bedroom trailer and they moved in. Janet was handy with things so she began to find and restore old pieces of furniture to use and slowly they furnished it. Charlie was proud of the job Janet did and he never failed to praise her. They were as happy as if they were rich: and if happiness was a measure of wealth, they were as rich as anyone could be. The only thing that would make them happier was if they had a baby and so when Janet told Charlie that she was pregnant, he was sure he could never want for anything again.
Alison was born in their second year of marriage. She was perfect in every way and they both loved her with all their hearts. She grew like a weed, happy and healthy and life was perfect. She learned fast and was a joy to Charlie. He had never considered himself smart but as he watched his daughter, he took pride in her ability and said a prayer of thanks each night that she had the brains he lacked. Ally thought her parents were the end all and be all of everything that was good. She was happy, Charlie was happy and Janet was happy. But as with all things, change was guaranteed. And change did come.
When Allie started first grade, Janet told Charlie that she needed to go to work. They needed the money and they could certainly use it to move to a bigger trailer or even a three bedroom apartment. Janet wanted to work during the day while Allie was in school and be home for her in the afternoon. Her mother volunteered to help and watch Allie when Janet had to work over. While it hurt Charlie's pride to see his wife have to work, he agreed that it would be nice to have the extra money. He agreed and Janet started at a café in town called The Bistro, although her hours were later than she wished.