All Chapters of Mermaid Thighs: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

A strong woman won’t go back to the person who broke her heart because she understands that she can’t get happiness from the same place she lost it. – Rayi NoormegaTuesday morning Bunny walked into Jolene’s hospital room with a small backpack in one hand and her work bag in the other. She wore a hunter green sweater dress and burgundy leggings. Her knee-high dark brown boots matched the decorative buttons on her dress almost perfectly. There was a slight baby bump that was showing.Jolene smiled at her from her hospital bed. Daphne had brought her several day dresses and sun dresses that made it easier for her. Today’s dress was long, black and had skeletons dancing around the bottom. It did not take her long to get rid of the pinks and pastels that Hank preferred. Now she wore the darker colors with a goth vibe that she liked.“You’re not in high school anymore.” Hank would tell her. “It’s time to dress like an adult.”When she had said something to Neo about it, he simply laughed.

Toxic families are allergic to the truth so much so that they would rather support an obvious lie or protect an overtly bad person over supporting the scapegoat. – Dr. Sherrie CampbellJolene was in the physical therapy room, her guards sat in the corner trying to blend into the background. Physical therapy was mild, small movements just to keep her muscles from atrophying. However, at the end of the session, she was always exhausted.Moving stiff muscles to recover from trauma was difficult. Being reminded of the trauma made it worse. Add in the fact that this happened at the hands of a man who she thought loved her, and it became even harder.And today was her first anniversary.This morning she made her first entry into her journal that Jolene had given her. It was a short entry with only a few sentences. A year ago today, I married my husband, my world, the man that I loved. He became my abuser, my hell and the man that I now hate.After that short entry, she stared at the page t

There are places in the heart you don’t even know exist until you love a child. – Anne Lamott“Kitten, come sit down.” Reese told Helen as she stood at the window looking out across the driveway.Helen sighed and came back to the couch and sat down next to him. “I’m just worried.”“Talk to me, kitten.” Reese encouraged.“He’s my baby.” She whispered. “I don’t like him living away from me.”“Look at me kitten.” Reese said gently. It took a moment and then she looked up at him. “If you would have said something, we could have made different arrangements.”“But he goes to the Navy in July.” She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. “Do we need to move to the big house?”Helen looked at him with confused shock. “Wh-what?”“It’s twenty feet. If we need to move twenty feet, we can.” He gently caressed her cheek.“You say it like that, it doesn’t seem that far.” She settled back into his side and wrapped her arm around him.“It’s not. You think I would let Dean stay over there by hersel

The biggest rewards in life are found outside your comfort zone. – Jack CanfieldHelen was a little nervous as Reese unlocked the playroom. The last time that she was in here, she had bolted. As if he could sense her nervousness, he kissed the top of her head.“We’re not going to play in the playroom tonight.” He whispered.“Then what…?” she asked as they entered the room and he shut the door behind them, securing the lock.Grinning at her, he leaned down and kissed her. “We’re going to take a shower.”“There’s a shower in our bathroom.” She pointed out as they walked to the bathroom.“Not like this one.” He said huskily as he flipped on the lights inside the bathroom and closed the door. Using the digital control panel, he set the lights down low and turned on some music playing lightly in the background.“Come here, Kitten.” Reese ordered softly.Nervously, she stepped up to him. “Yes, Sir?” she asked looking up at him.“First, when we play, you will never look at me in the eyes unl

You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. – C. S. LewisGina sat behind her desk in the office behind the bullpen of her deputies. She was nursing her third, possibly her fourth, cup of coffee. She always left a little coffee at the bottom of her cup, that way, technically, it was still her first cup. It would get topped off, but never refilled. Her logic had gotten her through more extended shifts than she could count and did not make her feel guilty when she told her doctor she only had one cup of coffee a day.The large window looking out into the bullpen had holiday cards from local businesses, schools and families surrounding it. A long folding table was set in front and covered with sweets and treats from the community. Gina did not have any delusions of being a better sheriff than her predecessor. But she did have a better relationship with the county.When the elementary schools had invited her deputies to their holiday