My True Escape

By Jacqueline Clark

Once a person faces something devastating in their life, it changes them forever. But the changes can be different from one person than they are for another.  Allie always hated her life and herself even more. Could she ever heal from all the damage that was done?  She didn't know happine

• Language: English
• Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
• Release date: May 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885905480

Jacqueline Clark

Jacqueline Clark was born Jacqueline Allene Scott in San Antonio Texas, she traveled throughout her life with her parents, but mainly grew up in a little town in southeastern Okla.  Clark is the oldest and only girl of five children.  She now lives in a small town in Mississippi. Clark has a big family, and she loves large gatherings; Clark likes to spend her quiet time camping with the grandchildren or just sitting on the front pork writing. She loves to cook, and she is really good at it. Clark has always believed hard work never hurt anyone, so she tries stay as busy as possible. Her goal is to be as strong as she can be and to teach others that its possible to reach their goals, even when they dream big. All her life, she has worked to make her dreams come true.

Book preview

CHAPTER

1

It's dark outside, and the same fear is in me again. Will I ever be normal, or am I destined to a life of hell. I have lived in this one-horse town most of my life. Would anyone ever believe I was born in the city? The town is not the problem. Somehow, I feel stuck in myself. I know it sounds crazy, but it's how I feel. If I never had to be around people, I may be fine.

I don’t like to sleep until I get there, and then, I don’t want to wake up. Most people would think I was crazy. My life has been so screwed up. I was raped as a child. I left home when I was young and became a loner. Then, worse than anything, the only man I could ever love cheated on me. What a life...

Ding…. ding…. ding…. ding…. Lord, it is time to get up again. I hate school. I have to face all those other people. I can tell they don’t like me. No one has ever liked me, I can tell. I’m different. I know I am. I don’t know why, but I am. Oh well, it is what it is. Wake up, ding…. ding…. ding…. It's time to get up ding…. ding…. I grabbed my phone and hit the stop button. Another dream... ugh.

These memories flood in on me sometimes and I feel as though I will suffocate. How can childhood memories be so strong? I need to put on a happy face and head to work. There's a new hot guy starting today. I saw him yesterday when Rick was showing him around. Not that I would give him a second look after Todd, but wouldn’t it be nice if I could move forward. Have a normal life and truly escape and fall in love. I always wondered to myself, Could I ever love again? I doubt it the hurt just goes to deep.

I stood under the water thinking about the first time I ever saw Todd. His car had died on the road and he was walking to the shade to make a phone call when I saw him. I never stopped for strangers but something told me to stop. It was love at first sight. We stood talking on the side of the road waiting for the road service to show up. We had been talking for more than an hour when he asked me out and it was Heaven after that. Our first date was so awesome, we dated for 3 months. I was so in love. He was everything to me even though I thought I could never love anyone. Todd was so understanding when I told him I wanted to wait until we were married to have sex. Although, I never told him the story of my childhood, he said he was more than happy to wait. Everything was so wonderful and complete, but then things changed quickly.

My sister DeDe had left home and came to the city for a job and was staying with me ‘til she found an apartment. Oh, how things can change in the blink of an eye! It was on a Thursday. I will never forget. We had a big luncheon at the hotel for a new development case, the food was being served, and the waiter spilled soup on my dress. Candy offered to take me home to change on the way back to the office. When we walked in the door I heard laughing and talking in Dede's room. I felt embarrassed because Candy was there, I was trying to hurry and get out of there, and then I heard it, OH MY GOD YES TODD YES! I opened the door and there they were my sister and the love of my life. No wonder he didn’t mind waiting ‘till marriage! He already had a plaything! I kicked them both out and have not seen them since. That was a year ago.

I finished my shower after my memory explosion and daydreaming. Now to find something to wear that may attract this man's attention. I have not dated since Todd because no one has come around that spiked my attention, ‘til now.

CHAPTER

2

I applied a little makeup and straightened my hair. Not too bad, I guess. I have never considered myself attractive, but I think it may be a self-esteem problem. I have never liked myself. I wish I could, but it seems impossible. I finally finished getting ready for work and left. I walked into the office and greeted the receptionist Joy, and then went to my office.

My phone beeped almost immediately; it was my boss. I worked in research and development. I researched all information for the new areas we explored. I loved my job, but my boss Steve kept me on my feet. I spent most of my time in his office instead of mine. Lately it's been quiet here because he's been off on sick leave. So, I guess it's back to playing hardball now.

Hello Steve, I answered. The voice though, was a woman. It was Candy, his secretary.

Allie, could you come to the President's office please?

Sure, I’ll be right there.

Candy was an excellent secretary. The woman must be a genius for sure.

Go on in Allie, they’re waiting for you.

They? I walked past and opened the door, but Steve was not in the office. Director Martin and oh my God it's that man! That new man! Oh wow!

I became nervous. I wish I was not scared to death around new people. Horses is what I can do, not people.

Good morning, Allie, said Director Martin.

Good morning,

Allow me to introduce you to our new President, Chad.

Excuse me Director, but what happened to Steve?

I’m sorry Allie, I thought you knew. Steve had some medical issues and had to resign, but Chad here is an excellent replacement,

Allie, I’ve heard you’re incredibly talented in research and development. I look forward to spending time getting to know you, said Chad

Wow, I thought. No, well, I was not thinking at all, but I certainly couldn’t tell him that.

Yes, Mr.…,

No, Call me Chad, please.

Ok, Chad it is then.

Have a seat. We have a few things to go over Allie, said Director Martin.

Sure, no problem, I replied.

Seven hours had passed before we knew it. My stomach began to rumble. How embarrassing. We had worked straight through lunch, and we were settling into the new land and development issues when Chad said, It's getting a little late, how about we continue this over some dinner?

Oh, that's it, let me bury my head. How embarrassing. He must have heard my stomach.

Director Martin looked at both of us, I have another meeting, so I’ll let you two have it from here. Dinner is on me, and he walked out the door.

Chad looked at me.

I suppose it's you and me,

Ok, Oh my God I am going to be alone with him this can’t be happening I stood and followed him out the door. Watching him from behind was as good as watching him from the front. I can just imagine that ass in a pair of jeans. Oh my, I’m crazy, but it was indeed nice. He must have felt I was staring at him because he turned and smiled. My face was beet red. He reached out and held my arm as we walked to the parking lot.

My car is this way,

Oh, it's ok, I can take my own, I replied.

No, that's nonsense, we’re going to the same place.

I walked along with him to a beautiful silver-gray BMW.

Nice, I smiled and spoke.

He just smiled back and opened the passenger door. Well, I was not expecting that, but I did like it. I got in the car, he shut the door, walked to the other side, and got in. We didn’t speak much on the way to the restaurant, but we had been talking for a few hours once we arrived.

Chad and I discussed our business and then he said we would take a break and he began asking me about myself. Oh my, that's not good. I thought. Not a subject I want to address for sure. I decided to tell him about my work and hoped that would be good enough.

Well, I’ve been working at Walker Land and Development since I finished school three years ago. I started in the mailroom, but when there was an opening in research, I applied and hooked the job. Steve believed in me more than I believed in myself.

"Well, we’re not talking about work, we’re on break, and I want to get to know you." Chad said.

Oh my God, I want to get to know you too! I certainly couldn’t