Unexpected Mate

Fresh Start

The next morning, she was up bright and early and hoped to be out of the house before Leonard was awake. She didn’t want to have to deal with him on such a perfect day. She took all of her bags out and put them in her car. And she went back into her room and grabbed the money that she had been saving and took it out from under her mattress and stuck it in her pocket. She would be glad to not have to hide anything of value anymore. It had taken her forever to save the money for her car and she had to have her grandmother hold it for her until she had enough. And she had been saving for months to collect the cash she had now. But she knew she would need it to get through while in school. To her surprise her grandmother had doubled the money she had saved and that gave her enough for a car that was twice as nice. It still wasn’t new, and it wasn’t the best car, but it was hers.  When she came back out of her room her mother was standing in the living room looking out the window to the driveway at her car. She turned around when Tahlia came into the room. She had tears in her eyes, which made Tahlia’s guilt return full force. Tahlia wasn’t sure what to say and her mouth went dry. Her mother just shook her head and smiled and pulled Tahlia into a big hug. She whispered to Tahlia so she wouldn’t wake Leonard up. She told her that she was proud of her and that she should be proud of herself too. She also told her that she was sorry for not giving her a better life. Tahlia managed to tell her that she knew she loved her and that was enough. That was true. She never doubted how much her mother loved her. She always knew. When her mother finally let go of her she slipped something into Tahlia’s hand and told her it wasn’t much, but she hoped it would at least help with some of her gas money, or whatever else she needed. Tahlia tried to give it back because she knew her mother didn’t have much but she refused to take it. They finished saying their goodbyes and Tahlia hoped in her car and backed out of the driveway and pulled out onto the road. She looked back at the house and thought to herself that she would miss her mother, but she hoped this was the last time she saw that house and Leonard.

                Tahlia drove until her gas light came on. She decided to grab something to eat and so she did just that and when she came back and got in her car before taking off again, she decided she would put the 300 dollars her mother gave her in her bag. When she put it in her bag, she realized that she had never opened the card her grandmother had given her. She decided she would open it and read whatever inspiring message her grandmother had written for her. She opened the card and read her grandmothers handwriting, it said “I am so proud of you bumble bee. Keep chasing your dreams.” And then Tahlia noticed that her grandmother had put a check inside for five thousand dollars! Holy crap! She didn’t expect that. But it truly would help out.  She would call her grandmother and thank her later.  She pulled back out onto the road with a smile on her face thinking of how her life was already getting better. She had booked hotels to stay in along the way. It was an extremely long drive even with having a place to stay at night and rest. She was thankful that she had set all of it up before she had left. It made things so much easier.