Breaking The Cycle

Chapter 13

Sarah's POV

*Present Day*

    It's Monday morning and the weekend flew by way too fast for my liking. Austin ended up staying the entire weekend at my house, only leaving once to go get clean clothes and honestly, it was some of the best sleep I've ever had. Something about being wrapped up in his arms gave me a peace of mind. I finally let myself relax and be happy this weekend and Saturday night, when Austin built a massive fort in the living room for the kids and Cameron wanted us all to have a sleepover, we did and I've never laughed so much before in my life. Everything about this weekend was perfect and it was all thinks to Austin. He kept me busy and my mind occupied and I never once thought about Mark or anything going on with that whole situation and it was great. But now the weekend is over and Austin and I are back to work across town from each other and the office is really slow today, so I have no one and nothing to keep me busy.

    I'm sitting at my desk eating goldfish, letting my mind wander to all the things I've been pushing to the back, when suddenly my phone rings. looking down at the screen, I see it says Lydia and my heart skips a beat. Hesitantly I pick it up and answer, "Hello?"

    "Good Afternoon Mrs. Smith. This is Lydia calling about your case. I want to let you know that I just got off the phone with my colleague and he has informed me that he received all your documents early this morning and as of 11 A.M. today, Mr. Mark Smith has officially been served. I will keep you informed on any updates in regards to your case and I will call you as soon as I receive the signed divorce papers back. That is all I needed. If you happen to need anything, please call my office and I will get back with you. Have a great day Mrs. Smith." Click. The line goes dead before I can even reply. Holy cow! She really got this done fast. I stare at my phone for a second debating if I should call my mom or Austin first. I decide to call Austin.

    "Hey babe. Am I bothering you?" I ask as soon as he picks up.

    "No, angel. I'm not busy. What's wrong? You never call me at work." I can hear the worry in his voice.

    "Nothing is wrong babe, actually everything is great! I just got a call from Lydia about my case and she said that Mark has officially been served as of 11 this morning. Austin, I am finally one step closer to being free from that monster forever!" relief fills my voice.

    "Seriously?! That's awesome baby! I can't believe it's already done and I'm so happy for you! Let's go out to dinner tonight to celebrate. I'll pick you up like normal when you get off and take you home to change and get the kids ready, because they deserve to celebrate this as much as you do." I finish up making dinner plans with him before hanging up and calling my mom to let her know the news as well as about our plans for this evening. She tells me how excited she is for me and that she will be working late, so she will see us when we get home later tonight. After hanging up with her, the rest of my day passes in a haze. At exactly 5 o'clock I see Austin's truck pull into the parking lot through the front window and slowly start to gather my stuff up.After saying goodbye to the few coworkers still here, I walked out to the truck, jumping in and leaning over to kiss Austin. Our lips met and my plan for a quick peck quickly were gone as he held my face to his firmly. Deepening our kiss, his tongue slips though my lips and a simply kiss has turned into a heated make-out session. My hands reach up behind his head tangling my fingers in his hair as I inch my body closer to his until I can feel his racing heartbeat against my chest. Just as I am about to climb in his lap and straddle him, he pulls away from me, smirking. I let out a small whimper from the unexpected loss of contact and his smirk grows.

    "Hey there beautiful. Is this how you greet every man you see?" he teases, kissing my cheek.

    "Just the good looking ones." I tease back at him, straightening myself in my seat.

    He laughs softly before turning form me and pulling his truck form the parking lot. As we head down the road towards my house, I roll my window down and turn up the radio enjoying the world around me as it is in this moment. Just as we turn on the little dirt road, my favorite song, Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson, comes on and I can't help but to jam out to it. Forgetting Austin is even there anymore, I let loose singing and dancing in my seat.

"Well I ain't never

Been the barbie doll type

No I can't swig that sweet champagne

I'd rather drink beer all night

In a tavern or in a honky tonk

I want a four wheel drive tailgate

I've got posters on my wall of Skynrd, Kid and Straight

Some people look down on me

But I don't give a rip

I stand barefooted in my own front yard with a baby on my hip

'Cause I'm redneck woman

I ain't no high class broad

I'm just a product of my rasin'

And I say "hey y'all" and "Yee Haw"

And I keep my Christmas lights on my front porch all year long

And I know all the words to every Charlie Daniels song

So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country

Let me give a big "Hell Yea" from the redneck girls like me

Hell yeah

Hell yeah

Victoria's Secret

Well their stuff's real nice

Oh but I can buy the same damn thing on a WalMart shelf half price

And still look sexy

Just as sexy

As those models on TV

No I don't need no designer tag to make my man want me

You might think I'm trashy

A little too hard core

But get in my neck of the woods

I'm just the girl next door

Hey I'm redneck woman

I ain't no high class broad

I'm just a product of my rasin'

And I say "hey y'all" and "Yee Haw"

And I keep my Christmas lights on my front porch all year long

And I know all the words to every Tanya Tucker song

So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country

Let me get a big "Hell Yeah" from the redneck girls like me

Hell yeah

Hell yeah

I'm redneck woman

I ain't no high class broad

I'm just a product of my rasin'

And I say "hey y'all" and "Yee Haw"

And I keep my Christmas lights on my front porch all year long

And I know all the words to every Ol' Bo Seafus song

So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country

Let me give a big "Hell Yeah" from the redneck girls like me

Hell yeah

Hell yeahHell yeah

Hell yeah

Hell yeah

Hell yeahI said hell yeah"    Just as I let out the last 'hell yeah' I hear laughter, but it's not Austin. Opening my eyes, that I didn't realize were closed, I see we are at my house and the laughing is coming from John who happened to be outside when we pulled up and since my window is down, he heard everything.

    "Something funny ass hat?" I call to him as I climb out the truck.

    "Hell Yeah!" he tries to sing out through his laughter. "Were you putting a concert on for the damn corn field or something?" he is now holding his sides form laughing so hard.

    "You're just jealous that I got mom's talent for singing and all you got was her feminine looks." I throw back at him.

    "Ha. Ha. You think you got jokes? Well jokes on you because I videoed you just now and I'm going to go public with it, so in your face!" with that, I was off. I dropped everything I had in my hands and took off across the yard heading straight for John's smug face. Letting out a roar of laughter, he takes off around the side of the house trying to get away from me. He darts into the little greenhouse mom has set up in the back and I circle around to the other side, tackling him to the ground as he comes out. I pin him to the ground and pull my arm back, fist balled, ready to punch him in his face, but before I can, someone grabs me from behind and picks me up.

    "Put me down so I can beat his ass!" I scream swinging aimlessly at the person holding my up in the air. A deep chuckle rumbles against my back and I recognize it as Austin's. "Austin Anderson, put me down right this instant!" I scream again.

    "And let you beat your poor brother to a pulp?" he laughs.

    "Hey now bro! I can hold my own against my sister! I didn't need you to 'save' me and she definitely would not have beat me up!" John argues with Austin, getting up off the ground and dusting himself off.

    "Yea right dude. She was about to knock the s**t out of you before I got her. You don't stand a chance against her, but if you think you can handle yourself, I'll let her go right now." Austin says, holding me slung over his shoulder now.    

    "Yes! Please put me the f**k down so he can try and prove himself!" I beat my fists on Austin's back.

    "Hey now pretty lady, no need to abuse me." he laughs and sets me on my feet, but keeps a firm grip on my sides. "If you can promise to keep calm and go straight inside to get ready for dinner, I will handle John and make sure the video he took never gets anywhere."

    "Fine!" I roll my eyes. "I promise to go in and get ready for dinner, but," I turn to John, "I swear to God if that video gets out and ANYONE see's it, I will knock your ass out." I growl at him as I turn and storm into the house.

    Inside, I get Lizzi and Cameron ready for dinner first and then go to my room and get myself ready. Once I've change out of my work clothes into a basic, yellow sundress and I've let my hair out of it's tight bun, flowing down my back in loose curls, I step to the bathroom to apply a little mascara and lip gloss; a simple look for a nice dinner out. Finishing up, I head out to the living room where the kids are waiting and see John slouched on the couch pouting and Austin standing by the front door with a huge grin on his face. I quickly look between the 2 and chuckle to myself before grabbing up Lizzi and Cameron and heading out the door, Austin following behind.

    "Damn it!" I say as we get to the driveway. "I forgot my keys in the house and we'll need to take my car so the kids have their car seats."

    "Don't worry angel, we are good to take my truck." he smiles, a secretive smile. He walks to his truck and opens the door to the back seat. "I picked up seats for them today on my lunch, so that we don't have to keep switching them out between cars." his smile widens, obviously proud of himself.

    "You are simply amazing, Austin." I kiss him softly and go to load the kids in. As I'm buckling Cameron's seat, Austin goes around to the other side and gets Lizzi in and buckles her for me and then waits for me to come around so he can help me in.

    We get to where we are going for dinner, a quiet little Mexican restaurant, and they sit us in a little booth on the far wall, Austin and Cameron on one side and LIzzi and I on the other. The waiter comes over immediately placing a green and a red salsa on the table with a bowl of fresh tortilla chips and takes our drink order before walking away, giving us a chance to look over the menu. A few minutes pass and we finally decide what we want just as the waiter makes his way back over. I order a kids enchilada plate for each of my kiddos and then a fried, stuffed avocado with a side of rice and beans for myself, while Austin orders a fajita plate with all the toppings. As the waiter walks away to put our order in, I hear a woman's voice behind me call out Austin's name and when I look at him, his eyes are wide with worry.

    "Austin, baby, is that you?" the woman asks as she makes her way to our table. She stops and looks me over before turning her attention back to him. "I ain't seen you so long, I thought you skipped town or something."

    "Hey Cynthia. No, I've been here, just busy." he rubs the back of his neck nervously.

    "Too busy for me I see.." she gives me a look of disgust before eyeing my kids over. 

    "Uh, Cynthia, this is my girl, Sarah. Sarah, this is my old friend, Cynthia." his eyes, filled with fear, dart between the 2 of us.

    "Hi Cynthia. It's nice to meet you." I extend my hand out to her, but she ignores me.

    "Just an old friend? Really Austin? We were a lot more than friends the last time I saw you or do you treat all your 'friends' to 3 hours of s*x?" she laughs, cutting her eyes at me trying to get a reaction. I show no emotion, not bothered by her childish games. I know Austin has a past before me and I'm not some crazy jealous girlfriend, so she can go on all she wants, it won't get to me.

    "Daddy Ausin, what is s*x?" Cameron looks up at him, pure innocence in his little green eyes. Before Austin can answer him, Cynthia chimes in.

    "Daddy?! What now you're taking in charity cases, because these sure as hell aren't your kids Austin." her attitude becoming vile.

    "Baby boy, s*x is a grown up word and I don't want to hear you say again." I step in and answer Cameron, completely ignoring Cynthia's hateful words.

    "Cynthia, I think it's time you leave. The kids don't need to hear things like this and you are stepping out of line talking about Sarah and her children the way you are. Please leave and let us enjoy our dinner." Austin tells her sternly, standing from the table.

    "Whatever Austin. You'll regret picking her over me soon enough. You have my number when you're ready for a real woman." she walks off, forcing her hips to sway as she goes.

    "I am so so sorry Sarah. She's just an old girl from my past, she means nothing to me; never has, I promise." Austin begins to explain once she is gone.

    "Austin, it's fine. Everyone has a past, some of us just have it come back and haunt us every now and then. I trust you and she doesn't bother me at all. Now, let's enjoy our dinner and forget what just happened. It's supposed to be a night of celebration, right?"

    "You're right baby, let's enjoy this night. I love you."

    "I love you too. Now shut up and let's eat, because here comes our food and I'm starving!" the waiter sets our plates on the table and refills our cups before walking away and all four of us dig into our food enjoying our night together as a family. My perfect little family.