Hey guys, here's the next chapter, sorry we didn't post one last week. We were painting pickets, and no not Picket Longtreader we wish it had been that, on the porch. Just so you know there were a lot, and we mean a lot of pickets...lol...anyway hope you guys like this chapter and the last and finally chapter, given that nothing comes up, will be posted next week, so enjoy!

Jonathan:

The next few weeks he spent in silent fuming. Most the time he sat in his room or went to try and find something he could do to make money. He shunned Jo, unable to bear the pain that came with acknowledging his son and Tawny…

Tawny was an ever-present reminder of everything he had lost when Lea died. Tawny did all the things Lea had done. She cooked, cleaned, took care of Jo, and she even tried to comfort him. It should have made him happy to have someone to help, but it made him mad. It angered him, that somehow, she could go on as if everything was fine. Somehow, she could laugh and smile. Somehow, she could keep on living when all he could feel was pain.

After weeks of looking for work he finally hired onto the one job he had never wanted to do again. A mason. His father had been a mason and working the same trade as his father brought up even more memories to haunt him. Memories of working with his father with Josiah and Joseph. Of finishing work in time to visit Lea. Of his mother and father who had died, of the happy life he had lived but could never get back. He felt like he was grasping at straws. Trying to bite back a piece of the happiness he had once had, but there was nothing there for him now. Nothing but loneliness, pain, and silent misery.

He stepped into the house and heard Tawny and Jo laughing. Tawny was sitting in the floor with Jo in her lap. She looked up as he came in and smiled. “Find any work Jonathan?”

“Yeah,” he said shortly. Something about the picture in front of him…of Jo sitting in Tawny’s lap like he used to do to Lea. Memories, longings, followed by rushing anger.

Tawny turned back to Jo. “Did you hear that little guy, daddy found work.”

She clapped his hands together and he squealed with delight as he mimicked her, “Dah-da pound work!”

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you so happy? Don’t you know what happened? Surely it upset you too?” Jonathan asked, looking at Tawny in disbelief. “I got work as a mason, just something else to remind me of all I have lost. Do you feel no pain?”

“Oh, Jonathan,” Tawny said standing, picking Jo up with her, “If it seemed that way. No, I know what happened and I feel it deeply. I am so sorry you couldn’t find anything else. But at least you found work.”

“Dah-da pound work!” Jo said smiling, as he clapped his hands. Tawny smiled at him and nuzzled him gently.

That act made him really mad. She was just being nice, but…. He didn’t know… he couldn’t take it anymore. No more smiling just cause. No more laughing. No more joy. He had enough of Tawny’s blithe happiness. How could she be so happy they had lost everything! He clinched his fist and tightened the line of his mouth.

“Are you okay, Jonathan? I really…” Tawny started but he interrupted.

“Get out!” He said, pointing to the door.

“What?” Tawny asked in confusion as she shifted Jo.

“I said get out!” He yelled as he ripped Jo from her grasp. “I’m tired of it! Tired of you pretending everything is just fine, when its not! Tired of all of it! So, get out! You’re not Lea, you’re not…you can’t fill their places, and you can’t make me forget, so get out!”

Tawny just stood there looking at him her lip quivering, her eyes sad and filled with tears. She opened her mouth then closed it putting a hand up to wipe away her tears.

“Dah-da, Jo wants Tawn,” Jo said stretching his arms toward Tawny.

“Quiet, Jo!” He said turning on his son. Jo looked at him for a minute than started crying and reaching toward Tawny. Jonathan slapped his arms down as he said, “No Jo, Tawny is leaving.” He threw her withering glare.

Tawny sniffed and waved at Jo as she said, “Bye Jo, I’ll see you again.” She then walked to the door. But she turned when she reached it and looked back at Jonathan, “Don’t ruin him Jonathan, don’t let your anger at the world ruin him.” She made as if to go again but added, “I loved Josiah more than you’ll ever know. It hurt me when he died, but he told me long ago that if he never came back, he wanted me to keep living, to keep laughing and smiling, for him.” Tawny then closed the door and left.

Like that she was gone, and he and Jo were alone. It was what he had wanted, but somehow now that he had it, he didn’t want it anymore.

Okay there it is, sorry its short....if there is anything we should work on let us know! But overall we would just like to know what you think!