His Wife (3/3 the final sequel to remember my journey)

3

That evening when the kids were awake we broke the news to them and it wasn't what we were expecting.

"So it's a bastard's child? Just great mom thanks for setting the example!" Lori snapped smacking her hands on the table leaving in a rush.

I wanted to call after her but Michael didn't want me to. "It'll take time for her to get used to Rori besides she's not little anymore." He mumbled trying to not worry the other two at the table.

I feel bad about this! What was I thinking about getting drunk and being with my ex-fiancee? After eating dinner in silence I go upstairs to talk with Lorraine.

(Knocks) "Hey, Lori can we talk? You're not in trouble I just want you to...ugh this is hard to explain please let me in."

I sit down my back turned to the door waiting for her to answer. No answer only the sound of her guitar strumming away her voice hides it like a nightingale.

Lori: "Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you
Jolene
He talks about you in his sleep
And there's nothing I can do to keep
From crying when he calls your name
Jolene
And I can easily understand
How you could easily take my man
But you don't know what he means to me
Jolene
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
You could have your choice of men
But I could never love again
He's the only one for me
Jolene
I had to have this talk with you
My happiness depends on you
And whatever you decide to do
Jolene
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him even though you can
Jolene, Jolene."

I sat there by her door hearing this voice. Like an angel, I never knew she could sing like this until I realized my brown notebook was gone and Lorraine had it.

Lori: "Another night in any town
You can hear the thunder of their cry
Ahead of their time
They wonder why
Shadows of a golden age
A generation waits for dawn
Brave carry on
Bold and the strong
Only the young can say
They're free to fly away
Sharing the same desire
Burnin' like wildfire
They're seein' through the promises
And all the lies they dare to tell
Is it heaven or hell?
They know very well
Only the young can say
They're free to fly away
Sharing the same desire
Burnin' like wildfire
Only the young can say
They're free to fly away
Sharing the same desire
Burnin' like wildfire
Only the young can say
Only the young can say
Only the young can say
Only the young can say
Young can say
Only the young can say."

Mike comes up to see me sitting with their hands on my head making a mockery of myself just for trying to connect for once with my daughter in my life. Then she begins to sing again and I pat the ground having Mike sit next to me.

"Well, now we know what she inherited from your side M," I said holding him eyes closed figuring out how to solve this problem.
"Hey, at least she got your sense of humor and spirit!" He whispers so Loriane doesn't hear us.

Lori: " Dear younger me
Where do I start
If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far
Then you could be
One step ahead
Of all the painful memories still running thru my head
I wonder how much different things would be
Dear younger me
Dear younger me
I cannot decide
Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life
Or do I go deep
And try to change
The choices that you'll make cuz they're choices that made me
Even though I love this crazy life
Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride
Dear younger me, dear younger me
If I knew then what I know now
Condemnation would've had no power
My joy my pain would've never been my worth
If I knew then what I know now
Would've not been hard to figure out
What I would've changed if I had heard
Dear younger me
It's not your fault
You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross
Dear younger me
You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed
Every mountain every valley
Thru each heartache you will see
Every moment brings you closer
To who you were meant to be
Dear younger me, dear younger me
You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed
You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed
You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed."

For the rest of the night instead of trying to talk to her we both as a couple sat there by her door listening to the gift she opened.