Kiera's Soulmates

Day 1

I wake up and feel the bed next to me. Dan has already gotten up for the day. I feel the emptiness in my core. I miss him, but understand that he has a lot to do today. From talking to our new candidates to meeting with his team. I stretch and Brutus hops off the bed. I smile as he waits to stabilize my chair for me to get into it. I sit up and slide over into it, pushing myself into the bathroom to get ready for the day. Brutus barks alerting me to Stella's presence. She always helps me in the mornings. She takes Brutus out for a quick potty break. I have a few minutes to empty my bladder and brush my hair and teeth before Brutus comes bounding back into the door. I tell him breakfast and he runs down the hall to the kitchen and I can't help but laugh. In some ways he is still a puppy. Strolling into the kitchen I see breakfast is already on a plate, my medicine I need next to it. I glance at the clock and realize it is 11am. I look at Stella. She shrugs, "Dan told me you were up late last night working on the children's painting. Said to let you sleep in a little." I feel irritated at my husband because of all the plans I had for the day, but the feeling is quickly replaced with love. I eat my food and let her know that our plans are put on hold until tomorrow. She nods. "Whenever your ready to go, your van is gassed up. Food has been ordered and is ready for pickup." She already knows I'm planning to take him lunch now. I hurry to my room to get dressed for the day.

***Ashley***

I wake up and look at the clock. it's 12pm. s**t! I am late. I hurry out the door in the clothes I wore last night.

Twenty minutes later I show up. Looking at the buildings in front of me, I double check the address. it's right. the contract wasn't kidding about this being a campus. it's HUGE. At least the size of a small community college. I wonder about the dorms. if I will have a roommate or if the room I am assigned is a single. they said I could be assigned to either. I looked over the contract last night. I still have my doubts that I will be able to do this. The first month will consist of classes. ug I hate that. all I want to do is work. but the classes are paid for. after the first month then we work with classes in the evening. it doesn't say what exactly the classes are, but I feel like they are geared towards construction. I'll be able to pick the nightly classes and the list is long. I almost feel excited, but I can't shake the feeling that I will fail. I see Jarrod at the entrance with another man as I pull up and neither look happy. There is a van behind me and I see the other man smile briefly before he turns his gaze back at me. I find a parking spot and hop out. The van having pulled into one of the handicapped parking spots. I wonder briefly if it is the owner's wife. I heard she was disabled. shaking my head I run over to Jarrod. "Nice to see you here finally" "sorry, late night last night." "your life, I'm just here to talk to Dan about some other people. Let me introduce you guys real quick." Turning to Dan he says, "This is Ashley." Dan looks me up and down. "Good to meet you, I am Daniel Andrews and this is the Second Chance Construction Campus. Did you sign the contract?" "I did." "Well we have new contracts now. so you will have to sign the new one. your team leader will get it to you. She is waiting for you inside. Her name is Teresa. We will talk about your tardiness later. My wife is here." Daniel starts walking towards the van. my gaze follows him to a woman in a wheelchair and my breath catches. I feel instantly like I know her from somewhere. Shaking my head to clear the cobwebs, I head inside. The woman in front of me looks even more annoyed. "I expect the best out of my teammates. I'm Teresa and being late won't be tolerated. Here, this is the new contract. it now includes monthly visits with a therapist and team group therapy sessions once a week." She looks me up and down. "Have you ever done construction?" I smile sarcastically. "Only demolition." As gorgeous as this woman is, I'm not attracted to her which is odd. Normally, I would be wanting to jump on her bones. "A smart ass. Like we don't have enough around here. Look, it has its places but I don't suggest using it on the Andrews." Just as she finishes I hear the door open. Turning around and I see the dog holding the rope that I had noticed was on the door earlier. The woman rolls in and my breath hitches again. That feeling intensifies and I feel a pull to her. Daniel and her come up to us. "Ashley, I would like you to meet my wife, Kiera." I look at her and she has this look on her face like she is confused. Good, that makes two of us. Shaking her hand, I can feel an electric current roll through them. I clear my throat. "Nice to meet you." The dog comes up to her and whimpers. "Oh, I'm sorry. This is Brutus. He is my helper when my assistant isn't around." The dog.. oh I'm sorry, Brutus.. lays down next to her. I can't keep my eyes off the woman, my insides stirring and I am starting to get hard. Daniel clears his throat and the dog jumps up. "I will see you in a bit Ashley. going to enjoy some lunch with my wife." his smile is huge as he says it. Teresa hands me the contract and a pen. I can't help but watch the couple go down the hallway, my gaze mainly on her. I am puzzled. Why am I reacting this way? What is this pull I feel? Making a note to call my uncle later and talk to him, I look at Teresa. "She is something isn't she?" Teresa says while looking at me with a smile. "What do you mean?" "Kiera was involved in that pile-up six years ago. Doctors didn't think she would make it out of her coma. She can feel below her waist, but her legs won't support her weight. It doesn't stop her from trying though. She has an innocent heart and everyone here loves her. She is the one to talk to if you're having a bad day and feeling the pull towards the old life. She has a way of putting things in perspective." I look down the hall while listening to her talk, my heart throbbing in a way I never known it to do. "I need to get out of here." "I get it. The door is right there. You're not bound to do this program, but it is the chance of a lifetime." "No, I just need some air." "Well, why don't we go for a walk and I'll give you a tour and you can decide if you want to sign the new contract at the end." "Ok" We walk out the front door and around the side of the building and I can't help but stop and whistle. The place is bigger than I thought. "I know, I had that same reaction when I got here 4 years ago, and it keeps expanding. We just built our team's dorm building. It is over there. The whole campus got together and built it in a week. Daniel was planning to expand to 6 teams within the next year, but some kind of project forced him to expand sooner. The team leaders are in charge of their team's well being. We each have a foreman assigned to us who oversees our projects. I will live with the team, until my probation period is up and then a new team leader will be assigned. If you have any injuries, or your mind starts drawing you back to your old life, seek me out. I could use the hours to graduate anyhow, so you would do me a favor." "Graduate?" "I am taking night classes to become a counselor." "Oh." "To the left is the doctor's office and pharmacy. He is pretty cool and here full time. He is a widow with two kids and sleeps in the house behind the office. To the right of that building is the cafe. It serves breakfast lunch and dinner. Of course, your welcome to order food from local food places too, but the chef is a whole lot better. When your not doing demolition," she coughs that word out, "what do you like to do?" I have to think for a minute because I can't remember the last time I did something that wouldn't be considered illegal. "I don't know." "Hm. That's ok, alot of us don't at first." "Us?" "Yup. with the exception of the Andrews and the doctor every last person on campus is an ex-con. When I graduate and get off probation, the Andrews are keeping me on as counselor. I'll house up with the on campus staff in that building there. Oh, here is the rec center!" She opens the door and we walk in. Looking around I stop in my tracks. This building has bowling, a theater, swimming pool, dance hall, arts and crafts. I can't help but wonder why Daniel would build a place like this. I get the grand tour and am amazed. "Right now it is empty because everyone is either on a job or in orientation." I feel bad because I missed the orientation. Teresa must have seen the look on my face because she says, "Oh, yours started when you pulled up. Daniel gets it, atleast one or two in every new team has to have one last bender. My entire team I started on was late. We wound up having to do orientation the next day." "You can stop trying to make me feel good." She looks at me hard, turns around and walks out the door. I look around a little bit more before walking out myself. I see her on a picnic table under a tree. She waves me over. Sitting down, she looks at me and has a small smile. "Depression, anxiety, and from the way you have been, I wouldn't be surprised if you have ADHD too. Look, I get it. No one in your life believes in you. your a burden on everyone. Now, you have this opportunity to change your life and your wondering why you when there are thousands of people on probation who would jump at this chance. I can't answer the question for you. Lord knows we didn't interview to be here, and we don't have to stay. Daniel sees something when he reads our files and gives us the chance to change, but ultimately it is on us to do so. I don't know why we are here, or why this campus is here. You will have to ask him about it if you ever get the courage. I do know the Andrews attempt to invest into each one of us and they try to make us feel like family. Down to them spending their holidays with those of us who don't have family to go home to. How long is your probation?" "Six years." "So, how about it? Are you willing to give yourself a second chance and sign the contract?" "I don't know. The new clause has me iffy." "It shouldn't. Look at it as an opportunity to get better at being you." I look at her. She beeps and she pulls out a radio I didn't know she was wearing. "Go ahead." "Teresa, Kiera needs your assistance on something" "10-4" She hops up from the table. "I know which car is yours, if it is still here, I will seek you out, or you can just drop the contract signed with the main office. Your room will be 13C. It is single. All of ours are." With that she walks off. I sit and look around. I can't do this. She was right, my spot belongs to someone else. I jump up from the table and head towards my car. Reaching it I hear a man's voice. "I thought you might run." Turning around I see Daniel. "I'm not going to stop you. This program will be here when your truly ready, but before you solidify it in your mind, walk with me?" I shrug my shoulders and go to him.

***Kiera***

Daniel and I had a wonderful lunch but I can see he is worried. "Talk to me." "It's Ashley. I'm worried about him taking off." "Oh." "I know he can do it, Kiera, but something tells me if he doesn't he is not going to live long." "Hm." I sit there thinking about stuff for a minute. "We can't keep them if they don't want to be here, but we can make sure they know that the program and us are always here for them." "Your so smart." He hops up and grabs his radio before heading out the door. Ten minutes later Teresa walks in the door. "Hey, you needed help with something?" She makes me jump out of my skin. "My husband must have paged you to me to see what Ashley would do and try to intercept him. but since your here, what are your thoughts on him." "Your husband is why my life is better. I would be 6 feet under if not for him." I laugh. "Not my husband, Ashley." "Oh. He is scared. Unsure, insecure, lonely. Has depression, anxiety and I suspect ADHD." "Hm. Sounds like Daniel is right to be worried." "Yeah" "Hey, since I have you, you want to go do those welcome baskets for the new team?" "They usually don't get them for a week." I wink at her. "I know, but it may be just what Ashley needs." "Why are you guys worried about him so much?" I sigh and tell her the story of Daniel's brother. Ten minutes later, she looks amazed. "So, I owe my life to Joey." "pretty much." "It also explains why you see so much in Ashley" "Ashley is the same age Joey was." She has a shocked look on her face. "Exactly." "Let's go make those baskets. Are you wanting to deliver them as usual?" "I do." "Given the new information, I don't blame you." I smile. Teresa has a way of seeing through people which is why I think she will make an excellent counselor.

Three hours later..

Pulling up to 13c, I can hear something that sounds almost like crying. I knock on the door. "What?!" comes across sounding rather pissed. I don't answer the question, just knock again. The door slams open and before I can see him, he turns his back and walks to the bed. I wheel in and whistle. these new dorms are nice. Complete with their own bathrooms and kitchenettes. I place the welcome package containing snacks, movie schedule, doctor info, hygiene products and other stuff on the counter. It never ceases to amaze me that a lot of people come here with next to nothing. It really makes me appreciate my life more. Teresa walks in behind me with our work shirts and casual t's, pants and socks and underwear. It is enough for a week. Each dorm having its own laundry center. I grab some tissues and wave her out the door. she looks at me and gets it. Brutus comes in right before she closes the door. He walks right up to Ashley and sits in front of him. "What do you want?!" he says in a huffy tone. "Nothing, Brutus wanted to say hi." He starts petting Brutus. I hand him the tissues saying, "I get it." "You don't get shit." I look at him and laugh. He finally looks up at me. "You're right. I don't. I don't understand at all what it feels like when your life falls apart around you. I don't get not wanting to live to see the sunset much less the next sunrise. I don't get why some people walked away from the accident, while others were buried and still others.." I wave at my chair. "Yeah, I don't get s**t. the only thing I don't understand is the pull to commit crimes." He is staring at me. "Say something cuz ur making me uncomfortable right now." "Who are you?" "Kiera Andrews" "Not what I meant." He gets up and pushes himself past Brutus and into the bathroom. "Well, what did u mean then?" "Nothing, Nevermind." "Ok. well, that package I put on your counter contains mine and my husband's cell numbers feel free to use them anytime you need to talk." I motion to Brutus and the door. He hops up and as we exit I hear, "I won't" Brutus closes the door behind me and I whisper, "You will." Everyone does at some point.

Exiting the building I run into my husband. "Are you ready to go home?" "I am. I need to finish the painting and I am starving." "Let's go then" We head to our cars and I notice that Ashley's is behind the secured fence. "He gave up his keys huh?" Daniel looks to where I am looking and briefly smiles. "Yeah. Said he would give it a month." "Good." We head to our vehicles. He helps me with mine. I can see the exhaustion and worry on his face, but I know that will ease some soon. "Let's go home Mr. Andrews." he gives me a kiss before raising the van's ramp. Driving home I go over my conversation with Ashley. That pull was hard to ignore. I really need to talk to my shaman friend. Maybe he can tell me something. Will have to wait till the weekend though. I think about Daniel and Stella and wonder if they feel the same thing I am feeling with Ashley. I really need to talk to my friend some more about polyamory. Pulling to the driveway- we only live 5 minutes from the center- I see Stella standing at the porch deep in thought. I smile and let myself out of my vehicle before she realizes we pulled up. "Oh! Kiera! I just got off the phone with the community center. The owner saw one of your paintings at the Kreepy Crisp. He is wanting you to do a mural in the gym." "Holy s**t!" I hear Daniel exclaim. The Kreepy Crisp is the local bar with excellent food. It is haunted. Apparitions have been seen and people regularly get evp's on their videos. I had done a Halloween themed painting for them a few weeks ago. It is hanging in their entrance way. Only July, but they wanted it. So I did it and had fun. "Ok. We can go by tomorrow and talk to him and see what he is wanting." The wheels are turning in my head. I want to surprise Daniel for our anniversary in October and try to walk. Maybe I can work a deal out with the owner. Anywhere else and Daniel will get suspicious. My last doctor appointment was promising. She said if I could build the strength up in my legs, I may be able to. "What's for dinner?" I hear Daniel ask Stella. "Well, I didn't know how late y'all would be so I ordered pizza. Yours is in the oven." "Oh good, I was feeling like pizza tonight" "I figured you might. The first day with new people is always hard on you both. Kiera, your water has been changed, brushes cleaned, and everything is set up so you can paint when you're finished eating." "Thanks Stella. Your the best. Why don't you two go find a movie to watch and leave me be for a bit?" "Ok baby." I hear Daniel tell me. We go into the house and I grab a plate and pile it up with pepperoni pizza. As I head to my studio I hear Daniel tell Stella, "She has had to deal with some s**t today. I'm not sure what, but she has seemed out of sorts since she got out of the new dorms." "She will be ok. Our Kiera is a strong woman." I smile hearing Stella say "Our." Daniel is right though. The whole interaction with Ashley has me in my head. Some old feeling came back up. Feelings I thought I had buried.

Four hours later.

God it is getting late. Brutus barks and I am feeling stiff and hurting bad. I forgot my pain meds all day long. Brutus barks again and I look at him. He runs out the door and starts barking like crazy. That's the last thing I remember before waking up in Daniel's arms with tears on his face. Stella is sitting next to him with worry on her face. "There is my girl." "What happened?" I look around and realize the doctor from the center is there. "Daniel? Why is Doc here?" "Brutus came running to us, frantic. We heard a crash and when we got to you, you were on the ground having a seizure. Stella gave you your shot and called Doc." "That's right, little girl. You need to be more careful with your meds. I am going to up your seizure medication for now. There is something I want to look into." He looks at Daniel and Stella. "You guys know the drill. She will need rest for the next 48 hours. I'll come back in the morning" His phone rings. He looks at it then looks at Daniel again. "It's Ashley again. Give me a minute." "Ok." "What's wrong Ashley?" I hear as he walks out the door. I look at Daniel. "Seizure?" "Yeah baby. You had us scared." "I wonder why. I have been careful with my meds." I yawn. "I was sore and stiff and remembered I didn't take my pain meds. Was just grabbing them. Last thing I remember is Brutus barking." He barks and jumps up on the bed at his name. Licking my face while I rub him down. "Ouch." I said he he hits a sore spot. "Your gonna hurt for a day or two, you landed on your paints." "Oh no," I groan out. Stella clears her throat. "I already cleaned up the mess. It's ok." I yawn again and Daniel hands me a glass of water with some of my stronger pain meds, the ones that knock me out. "Is the canvas ok?" "Yes. You didn't knock it over." I take the medicine and say "Ok." Doc walks back in and is shaking his head. "I don't know what kind of spell you put on that boy, but he has been worried sick. Calling me every 3 minutes since I left the center. it's amazing how fast word can travel around there. Well, rest up and if you hurt more than usual, don't be afraid to take some of your heavy meds. you need the rest, anyhow. If you have trouble breathing come to the center right away. You may have cracked or broken a rib, at the very least bruised a rib or two, so breathing will hurt. I'll come and check on you in about 8 hours. Daniel, Stella, you guys call if anything changes." "Will do Doc. I'll see you in a few hours." "Take the day off. You need it anyhow after the week you've had. And I am sure the little Mrs will want you around when she wakes up. I'll write you a doctor's note if needed." I hear Daniel chuckle and agree right as I drift off to sleep.

*Dream*

"Ashley! Ashley!! Where are you?" I am looking around the field frantically. Unable to see him in the rows of corn. "ASHLEY!! DANIEL WILL BE HERE IN 10 MINUTES!! WHERE ARE YOU???" "I'm right here honey" I jump before turning to my husband and playfully smacking him on the chest. "You scared me." "I know" I see a twinkle in his eyes before they turn serious. "Are you sure this is what you want?" "Yes." "Ok" We turn, holding hands, to an area that looks beautifully set up for a wedding. Guests are already seated. Kissing he lets me go before going to the front. I dash off towards the barn, not wanting Daniel to see me yet. I hear his horse come to a stop near the area. Feet hitting the ground I know he is headed to the front. Waiting a few minutes I step out and all heads turn my way. I smile when I see both my men standing at the end of the aisle. Our elder standing at the front. Walking down, I hear our elder say, "You understand that you will share this woman equally. that you will both love her and treasure her. neither of you having no more importance over the other?" "We do." "You understand that any children that come in are both of yours and not just one or the other's. That they are to be treated as your own, loved as your own, and disciplined as your own?" "We do." "Mrs. Kirkpatrick, please come to the front" I hear a whisper and it says, "I have waited a long time for you to return to my life."

I wake up with a start. Tears dried on my face. That was Daniel and Ashley. What is going on here?? Quickly grabbing my notebook I write the dream down, before laying back down and falling back to sleep.