Hope Moves

Part 6:

Hope could no longer tolerate Mitch’s behavior towards her Mom. He wasn’t physically abusive but the verbal abuse needed to stop. Hope was on the edge of becoming untrained on his fat ass. Enough was enough and she finally spoke up. 

It was an intense argument with plenty of yelling and screaming. Barbie was devastated. How can one choose between a man you love unconditionally and a daughter? The thing was, Hope did not want her to make a choice, she knew in her heart Barbie would see him for what he was in her own time. That is when she would sit with her in the entire pain and devastation and help pick up the pieces as they lay. 

Hope didn’t go back to Barbie’s house for a week. Her office was there but so was Mitch and she was done with him. Once her mind was set there was no stopping her. It’s the Scorpio in her. She is very loyal until pushed over the edge and this time the entire cliff collapsed.  

“Mom, I need to talk to you.” Hope said with fear and hesitation in her voice.

“I know, you don’t need to say it.”

“No, he needs to go or you need to go. This is unhealthy and last week was my final straw. I accepted a job in Texas and I have already set my move in motion. I wish my heart was here but it’s not. I miss my people and it’s time for me to get back to the warmth. I am sick of eating my vitamin D, I want to absorb it.”

“Are you serious? I mean I understand but I was hoping you would stay in Seattle.”

“No, with the exception of you and Dorothy I don’t feel complete here. Even if Mitch spontaneously combusted I wouldn’t want to stay. I want to get on my ATV and ride through the trails to the creek. I want to be able to take off my shoes and walk in the creek without facing hypothermia. I am just a Texas girl at heart I guess.” Hope said with a quivering lip.

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow, Fed Ex is picking up my boxes and Dorothy is taking me to the airport. I love you and I am just a plane ride away but you have got to get rid of him. Call me if you need anything.”

“I will” Barbie said as she hugged her. “I love you.”

“Love ya too.”

And just like that Hope was gone. Her therapist discussed her always leaving and they determined this time she wasn’t running away. No one knew it but she was also returning to Texas to face what she did run away from, her failed relationship despite many other things. She wasn’t going there to repair it, but she needed to make new memories and get busy living her own life. She was healthy, clear minded and ready to finally be independent.

Rusty and Tia have been Hope’s friends for over 20 years. Their house is home to her in Texas. The friendship they share is unconditional. They enjoy having Hope around and the three are incredibly close. Hope often refers to them as her husband and wife. Of course this was not meant in sexual terms. To be more accurate, Hope was their 6^th child but the eldest. The three just jived well together and had fun doing so.

Rusty fetched Hope from the airport and brought her to the house where Tia was waiting. 

“When do you start working?” Tia asked Hope.

“I am meeting with Matt tomorrow for lunch and then meeting the owner of the bar after.”

“I still can’t believe you are going back in the bar business.”

“Shit, I know but I can’t even look at a legal document without thinking of that horrid family case and the idiot judge who made that decision resulting in that poor baby’s death.” Hope said with some sadness.

“Yes, but a bar again?”

“Sure, why not for now? Maybe it will be fun and I already know a ton of their regulars so we will see what happens.”

“I heard the owner was a real asshole.” Tia said.

“Well, I will just have to see for myself I suppose. According to Matt he is bearable but then again some people think Matt is an ass too and I adore him.”

Tia looked at Hope and smiled “if anyone can tame a jack ass it is definitely you.”

“Hmm, I don’t know if that is a good thing or bad thing. I don’t want to be the jackass whisperer.”

“Oh but you are.” Tina said with some laughter. “So, you are going to drive the white car for now until you figure out what you are going to buy. It will be weird not seeing you in a jacked up truck.”

“You are the best and yes, it will be different but everything is different now.” Hope sighed.

“Yep, that is for sure.”

Hope met with Matt for lunch and discussed the new job. She followed him after lunch to the bar and met George, the owner. He was indeed an asshole but it didn’t bother her. She liked him as ignorant and racist as he was, there was such a deep sadness in him so she looked past the obtuse behavior. Hope knew some people hid behind irrational behavior because they had not or did not want to confront why their anger subsided in themselves.

To be continued AGAIN…