�I�m so glad you are going on this trip mom!�� Melissa stated as she helped her mother pack her bags.
�Are you sure you�ll be okay here by yourself?�� She asked as she sat down on the bed. �
�Yeah, I�m sure.� It will do me some good to be by myself; beside how could you turn down a week at a spa!�
�Are you still upset over what happened with Nick?�
Melissa sighed and brushed back her hair.� �Nick just showed me his true colors.�
�Honey, he was angry.� I know he didn�t mean it.�
�Mom, please just stop.� I don�t want to hear you defend him.�
Kathleen made her daughter look at her.� �I�m sorry, but I know how much Nick still means to you, even though you won�t admit it.�
�He did at one point, but not now.� The Nick I knew would never say those things to me.� �
�I don�t want to fight honey.� �
�Then don�t make Nick out to be this saint.� He is the one who hurt me, not the other way around.� �
Beep�beep. �
�That�s your Aunt Rachel, we are going to get Nick�s mother and then head out.�� Kathleen replied as she picked up one of her bags.� Melissa picked up the other as they headed to the front door.
�Have fun.�
�I will and Mel�don�t let that anger consume you.� It won�t make you feel any better about the situation.�
Melissa closed the door behind her and leaned up against the door.� Her mother�s words rang in her head.� She needed to get out of the house, maybe go for a jog in the park.� Melissa quickly changed into her workout clothes and grabbed her keys.� Once the door was locked, she walked over to her car.� Her eyes glanced over to the guys working on her house.� She noticed Nick looking at her; she quickly looked away and continued walking towards her car.
�Hey there.�� A tall dark haired man said to her.�
�Hello.�� Melissa could tell he worked for Carter Construction by his tool belt. �
�My name is Gary and your name is�� �
�None of your business.�� Melissa tried to walk around him but he stopped her.
�Come on now, you don�t have to act that way.�
�Look Gary, I�m not interested, so please move out of my way.�
�And if I don�t�� �
�Then you�ll have to deal with me.�� Nick stated stepping in between Gary and Melissa. �
�And me.�� Brian stood behind Nick.
�You�ll be sorry Carter.�� Gary gave Melissa one more look and then went back to work. �
�Are you okay?�� Nick asked turning towards her.
She looked at him and walked over to her car without one word.
Nick sighed and looked at Brian.� �I�m going to have to report Gary to my father.� He is up to no good.�
�I agree.� I would do it once your dad gets here, we don�t need to worry about him now that Mel is going to be alone for a week.�
�That�s right.� Her mother, her aunt, and my mother went to some spa.�
�Yeah, Sam and I are going to keep her company.�� Brian replied as he picked up his hammer. �
�Does she know about that?�� Nick grinned, knowing Melissa all too well.
�Not yet, but she will.�� He laughed and then went back to work.
�Hey dad, can I talk to you for a minute?� Nick asked once the lunch hour began.
�Sure, what�s up?�� He asked adjusting his hat.
�It�s about Gary.� He is causing trouble.�
�Nick, I know you don�t like him.� �
�Yes, I don�t like him, but that isn�t what I�m talking about.� He has been making comments about Mel and today he got in her face.�
�Is Mel okay?� �
�Yeah, she�s fine; Brian and I got him to back off.� But I don�t feel comfortable with him around especially now with her mother gone.�
�I agree, Gary has become a problem that I can�t deny anymore.�
�What are you going to do?� �
�Don�t worry about that, I�ll handle it.�
�Thanks dad.�
Melissa jogged hoping for even a moment she could forget all her feelings.� She stopped, grasping for air.� Some how she had ended up at the pond and she sat down.� This town held so many memories, memories that she use to cherish, but now all they did was hurt her.� Melissa began to wonder if she was going to feel pain for the rest of her life.� The last happy memory she had was at her graduation.� That seemed so long ago, so far away.� At one point she thought she could put this behind her, let go of the hurt and tears.� But something comes back and reminds her why she left and what she missed out on.� No matter how much she wished things would go back to the way they were, they weren�t.� She had to face her pain and make decisions about her past and present.� It was the only way she could find peace.
�Gary, can I talk to you?�� Mr. Carter asked him.
�Sure, Mr. Carter.�� Gary put down his tools and walked over to him.
�Gary, it has come to my attention that you have been causing problems for Melissa Barnes.� �
Gary sighed, knowing full well who advise him of the situation.� �Mr. Carter no offences, but your son has it out for me.�
�Gary, this has nothing to do with my son.� I have other problems with you and you are becoming a liability.� I�m sorry, but I�m letting you go.� Grab your gear and go.�
�You�re firing me?� �
�Yes, I�ll mail you your last check.� �
Gary was in shock; he needed this job to make ends meet.� And now thanks to Carter, he was out of a job.� He walked over to his tools and glanced over at Nick.� His anger got the best of him and he lunged at Nick.
�I�ll make you pay, Carter.� �
�It is your own fault Gary, I told you to stay away from Mel.�� They were finally pulled apart by co-workers.
�Gary, get the hell off my jobsite.�� Mr. Carter yelled.� And with one final look, Gary let. �
Mr. Carter looked at his workers.� �The show is over, get back to work.�
Melissa showered and changed into a pair of jeans and a lavender tank top.� She looked around her childhood house.� She was finally alone in her house; every where she looked was memories from the past.� Every room held a memory.� She walked into the family room, looking at everything.� In the family room was where the Christmas tree was always by the fireplace.� She would wake up and look at the tree and then run to her parents� room to wake them.� Slowly, she walked into another room.� The kitchen, they had all their family dinners at that table. On many occasions, the Carters would join them.� Melissa and Nick would quickly eat, so they could play together.� As the years past, they still had the family dinners.� Nick and she would quickly eat, not so they could play, so they could be alone with one another.� Melissa laughed at that memory, she and Nick were inseparable. �
Every memory was linked to him one way or another.� He was such a big part of her life.� She sighed and headed towards her dad�s office.� She hadn�t stepped into that room since she got back.� The room seemed eerie, she gradually walked in.� Her hands grazed the top of the chair before she pulled it out so she could sit down.� Her eyes went to the framed photo of her family on the desk.� The next photo was of her parents on their wedding day, they looked so young.� The third photo was of her at a young age, maybe ten.� Her father always told her, no matter how old she was, she was his little girl.
�They will regret firing me.�� Gary stated as he got out of his car, grabbing two items out of the back of his truck.� He quickly walked over to the supplies left over for the day�s of work.� He grabbed the piece of cloth he took from his truck and used his box cutter to cut it up into pieces.� He dipped them in gasoline that he brought and placed them in with pieces of scrap wood.� Gary stood up and reached into his pocket for lighter.� He flicked the lighter and watched the flame appear. �
�I told you Carter that you would pay.�� He tossed the lighter on the pile of cloths and wood.� The fire started growing quickly.� A smile appeared on his face as he watched the fire grow.� With one last glance he walked back to his truck and left.
�Hey Brian, no, I�m on my way to Mel�s.�� Nick stated into his cell phone. �
�Are you going to apologize?�� Brian asked as he and Samantha sat down to watch a movie. �
�Yeah, I was way out of line. Plus I want to warn her about Gary, I have this feeling he is up to something.� �
�Well I hope she forgives you, but I�m not betting on it.�� Brian laughed.
�Thanks for the support.� �
�Anytime, oh and tell Mel that Sam and I will be out later to see her.�
�Bye.�� Nick flipped close his phone and focused on the road.
�What is this?�� She asked herself as she came across an envelope with her name on it in her father�s handwriting.� Her slender fingers ripped out the seal and pulled out the letter.
The date shocked her as she looked at it.� It was dated two days before his death.� She slowly read it.
Mel,
My thoughts lately have been of you, my lovely daughter.� I miss you so much; having you so far away has been hard on your mother and me.� We understand why you thought you needed to leave. The pain you endure was sufficient.� I could see that in your eyes that night.� But my beautiful daughter, I have this unsettling feeling in me.� This feeling is of you.� I need to be honest with you.� Even though I understand why you left, I can�t help but think that you are running from the hurt.� The pain can be great and do some serious damage.� However honey, you have to face your demons head on or they will just grow.� I don�t want you to have to face that.� I know you are strong, I know this because you are my daughter.� I want you to be happy and in order for you to be that, you must face your past.� Please remember that no matter what you choose, your mother and I are behind you hundred percent.� That will never change.� I love you and miss you. �
������������������������������ ������������������������������ Tears flowed freely from her eyes after
reading her father�s words.� She missed him so much and wished
he was here to give her the advice she so desperately needed. �
�How do I face my demons?��
She rested her head on the desk as her tears consumed her. �
Nick turned onto Melissa�s street as
he reached her house; he saw the renovations they had done on fire.�
He quickly pulled into her driveway, but far enough that the flames
couldn�t reach it. Nick grabbed his cell and dial 911. �
�A house is on fire, the address is
2326 Willow Drive.� One person is inside, please hurry.��
He closed the phone and ran to the house.
�MEL, MEL ARE YOU IN THERE?��
He shouted at the top of his lungs.� He tried to open the door,
but it was locked.� �Please don�t be in there.�� He
stated right before a small part of the house collapsed.� This
caused him to pound on her front door.� �MEL, OPEN THE DOOR.�
THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE! MEL!!�
Melissa lifted her head off the desk.�
�What was that?� Her eyes finally focused through the tears.�
�I smell smoke.�� She got up and walked towards the doorway.�
�Oh my god!�� Her house was covered in smoke.� She ran
to the front door to get out.
�MEL, OPEN THE DOOR!�� Nick
yelled to her once he saw her.� The smoke was getting thicker.�
She ran to the door, but stopped.� �MEL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?�
GET OUT OF THERE NOW!!�
She couldn�t leave without her father�s
letter. Melissa ran back into her father�s office and grabbed the
letter off the desk.
�MEL, COME BACK! DAMN IT!��
Nick charged at the door but it wouldn�t budge. � Finally Melissa
reappeared and headed towards the door.� �MEL, WATCH OUT!!��
He yelled as a piece of wood fell down, pinning her.
