Life in Sitka wasn't all that bad.. Jenny was right. Margaret had talked to Nathan about both ladies staying around for a while, at least till Christmas.. So they needed to keep themselves busy with something.. They needed a job.. And not long after he was told, he talked to a friend of his at WILLA'S, a food and beverage company, and got both girls a job at the factory..
Working at the factory wasn't all gold and silver, but it was better than sitting at home all day doing nothing.. Especially for Vanessa, it helped her take her mind off Mark.. But still, not a night went by without her shedding tears before going to bed.. He hurt her.., he hurt her real bad...
They both worked on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.. They had the rest days as their days off..
It was already mid-October., over two weeks since they had arrived in Sitka, and not once did Vanessa visit her old home.. She even tried her possible best to make sure that she never took any route that led to that place.. She just couldn't bring herself to go there.. She was sure she was going to breakdown completely if she did..
Thanks to friends that were more than family around her, they kept her mind of everything that she didn't want to think of.. Even when it was her day off, she would not have the time to think of Mark not when Jenny was there.. She wouldn't give the girl a chance to do so.. And most especially now that a particular sweet little comforter was always around...
Em was rarely at her own home.., it was either she was at school, or at Aunt Margaret's place.. The only time you would find Em at home with her father was at night.. When he had gone to pick her up from Margaret's place..
Her daily routine was.. Wake up in the morning, pray to God., get ready for school, go to school, and when coming back from school head straight to Aunt Margaret's house.,after doing homework, spend the rest of the day with beautiful Vanessa and Jenny... She loved spending time at Margaret's house before, but now it was just too much.. She never wanted to go home.. She once told her father that she would move in with Vanessa and Jenny.. To which he replied...
"No way young lady.., you really want to leave me all alone in this house.. I am not allowing that... Was his reply...
Nathan was getting kinda jealous.. She spent all her time at Margaret's place, leaving him all alone in the house.. She never wanted to be away from him before, but now with Vanessa and Jenny around, she was running away from him... Every time he dropped her off at Margaret's house, he'd always ask..
"Hey honey., you sure you don't want to spend time with daddy today..?.. But the answer is always the same.. She barely even looks at him when she gives her response.. She just runs off saying.." No, I want to stay with Vanessa and Jenny... And that was it she would dive into the house... Sometimes he would hang around because he really didn't want to be left alone at home, and then when it was obvious that his presence was not needed, he would see himself out...
On their working days, they closed around six in the evening.,so those were the only days that Emily went straight home after school, much to the delight of someone...
"yehhh.., school is closed for the day., now I can go see Vanessa and Jenny.. She would say happily.. But someone was even happier to bust the little girls bubbles...
" oh no honey today is Wednesday, Vanessa and Jenny would be at work today... He would say sympathetically, but not letting the girl see the smirk on his face..
" oh, that's true.. I guess I'll go home then.. The girl would say softly, with shoulders down, obviously sad about this. But behind her will be her father jumping in joy, punching fists into the air and saying silent.." YES's".. Happy to have his daughter to himself and not be left alone in the house...
Bad Bad Daddy...
In the weeks that they had spent here in Sitka., Vanessa still had not attended a single church service..
I guess some kind of miracles don't happen just like that.., it probably took a lot of time.. Nathan had wondered what she was doing alone at home when he met her for the second time in the well the other day.. It was a Sunday., and Margaret and Jenny were at church, but she was home alone...
He was going to ask her directly, but then he decided that that might not be a good idea, so instead he called Jenny and asked her instead..
"Well Nathan.. I mean pastor.. Or Em's dad.. I'm really confused I don't know which one to call you... Jenny said as she faced the predicament of addressing him personally...
" Nathan's fine.. Call me Nathan.. He said sending her a reassuring smile..
"oh okay.., Nathan.. Vanessa doesn't actually believe in God.. And it has been like this for a very long time.. She's the type that would say God is not real.., and even if he is, he is not fair and has not noticed her.. That's what she believes... I've been trying for as long as I can remember to change her mindset., but it's not working... She can be very stubborn sometimes... Nathan smiles as he pictures a stubborn Vanessa in his head...
"I was hoping that something or someone here would be able to change her mind, and make her see the goodness and mercy of God, but the miracle is yet to happen.. She says sadly..
Nathan sat there, and listened to Jenny...
He felt like it was worth a try... He would try and change her mind on how she sees God... She had gone through a lot in life, and it was only natural that she had no faith in God.. I mean there was a time he himself lost his faith in God... He once cursed God for being unfair.. He had had his share of hardships in life, ups and downs, good and bad.. So he understands what it was like to give up on God when you felt like he had given up on you..
But he was able to get back on track with the help of someone, and God willing., he would help Vanessa find faith and strength in God...
It was a challenge, and he was going to make sure that they came out victorious...