The Epic Saga of Laurel Grisby - Chapter 1

At the beginning of our story, Laurel Grisby is a single mother living in a small trailer with her toddler daughter, Willow. Laurel has led a difficult life so far, seeking attention from men to replace her own absent father. When she became pregnant with Willow, she had no idea who the father was, and to this day doesn't know. She slept with so many men in her late teens that she really didn't even know where to begin trying to figure that out.

Alone and with only a minimum wage job, Laurel hoped she would find something more. She dreamed of a perfect life with a husband and children, in a big house on a hill somewhere, but that dream seemed very far away. One night while she was out clubbing, Laurel met Hal Breckenridge. He seemed like such a sweetheart, and when she found out he was a cop, she was thrilled! A big, strong man who could protect her - this is just what she needed. Laurel's daughter, now a young child, could sense that something just wasn't quite right about Hal. When she was alone with him, Hal said mean things to her. She wanted to warn her mother, but she could see how happy her mother was when she was with Hal, so she didn't want to ruin that.

One night after dinner, Hal came over to Laurel's place. He told her that he had missed her and just wanted to see her. Laurel's heart melted at the thought of this, and over the next few hours they talked of their future together, the things they would do. Hal said he would take care of Laurel and Willow, would always be there for them, the things he said sounded like the dream she had always had!

Late that night, Laurel and Hal made love. It felt so right, Laurel just knew that Hal was "the one".

The next morning, Laurel awoke with a big smile on her face. She decided to cook some breakfast for Hal and Willow as they started their new lives together. When Hal got up, Laurel tried to kiss him goodmorning but he pulled away. Laurel asked what was wrong and Hal told her the truth. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Look Lauren...I mean Laurie....er...whatever-your-name-is, you're real nice and all, and even slightly cute, but you got baggage....a kid....and that's not how I roll. And as an officer of the law, I really should advise you....you shouldn't sleep with every guy you meet at the club. You could get a disease or something!!"

You are UN-believable Hal!!! I can't believe that you slept with me, said all those things to me, you lied. You're.........a liar......you're........" And Laurel began to sob. "Well, it was fun....see ya." Hal said as he walked out the door. "YEAH GET OUT AND STAY OUT YOU SON-OF-A-LLAMA!!!!!" Laurel screamed. Thankfully, Willow had already left for school. Laurel was glad she didn't have to witness that.

Just a few weeks later, Laurel was introduced to her next door neighbors, who lived in the trailer park behind hers. There was Lamont, Latoya and their young son Jakobi. In another trailer was Will Laker, whom she thought looked awful familiar but couldn't place him, and his gay roomate Chen Chow. Will wasn't gay, and he was a very good looking mixed race man. In the last trailer lived a woman named Maria Gonzales, who was very nice. Living with her was her brother, Juan and his best friend Joey Peters. Juan was a bit of a hoodlem, always in trouble with the law, but extremely charming, muscular and handsome. Joey was chubby, a pothead and very lazy. They all invited Laurel and Willow over for a party, and Laurel had a great time. Juan showed a particular interest in her, and by the night's end, they were making out. For the next 3 months, Laurel and Juan took things slowly. They hadn't even slept together yet, which was a first for Laurel. She really liked Juan though, and Willow had grown attached to him also. Since they lived so close, they saw each other everyday. Juan had even given up his life of crime and had a job at the pizza shop.

Things took an unexpected turn though. Laurel had been sick for days, and when she finally went to the health clinic, she was told that she was 3 months pregnant. She knew it had to be Hal's baby. She hadn't slept with Juan yet, and in a way she was glad because then she would be in the same situation of not knowing who her child's father was again. She was even beginning to show, and she knew she would have to tell Juan the truth. He would probably leave her, she thought, but she wasn't about to give up her baby. If Juan couldn't love her, past mistakes and all, then she didn't need him anyway.

When she told Juan the truth, he actually took it rather well. "Juan, I know this is hard, I know this isn't what we planned and I'm sorry this happened. But I need you to understand that I can't give up this baby." Juan replied "Laurel, I love you. I love you no matter what you have done in the past, and this baby is a blessing. I love Willow and I will love this baby too. And when we have one of our own, I will love him or her too! I promise you. In fact, I have wanted to ask you this for a while now, and I know it's only been 3 months, but....would you be my wife?" "YES!!!!!!" Laurel screamed with joy. Finally things were going her way! She was engaged to a wonderful man and pregnant with her second child. She had many dreams for their future together.

The next several months flew right by. Juan moved in with Laurel and Willow, things were going really great between them. They were planning a wedding one year from now, and were loving their lives together, though things were tough financially. Willow was doing great in school, Juan was still crime-free and in the fall, their daughter, Hallie was born.

In their bliss, they made love. They had been sexually active since finding out Laurel was pregnant with Hal's baby, but this particular night was special because she was no longer pregnant. It was just she and Juan. They were using protection of course, they wanted to have children together but they knew it was best to wait until after the wedding. Besides, Hallie was just two weeks old. Having children nine months apart probably wasn't the best idea.

Exactly 4 weeks later, when Laurel's "womanly visitor" didn't show up, she took a pregnancy test. To her surprise, it was positive! She was nervous about telling Juan the news, but she knew he would be happy regardless! And she was right! Juan was thrilled. He agreed that the timing wasn't the best, but they were very much in love and this was a product of their love.

Eight months later, Laurel went into labor! She couldn't believe this was happening so early....it wasn't time yet! She tried to call Juan but he wasn't at work. Odd, she thought. She left a message on his cell phone for him to call her right away, she was on her way to the hospital.

The next morning, Laurel was released from the hospital. Still no Juan. When he finally got home, he was all beaten up with a black eye and cut lip. When Laurel asked him about it, he apologized profusely and said that someone tried to rob the store he worked at, and he chased after them. Relieved that he was okay, Laurel and Juan just wanted to enjoy their newborn TWIN daughters.....Juanita and Juliana.

While Laurel was busy with Willow, a young child....Hallie, a toddler....and infant twins Juanita and Juliana, Juan was busy with work. He had been back in the business of "crime" for months now, unbeknownst to Laurel. He had to do it though, the minimum wage he was earning at the pizza place wasn't supporting himself, much less his fiance and their 4 children. He was making plenty at his "new" job, which was really just being a gang member. Juan wasn't a bad person, he just wanted to support his family. One night he told Laurel that the pizza shop called him in. This wasn't the case, but she believed him. She was pre-occupied with the kids anyway.

Unfortunately, that was the last time she would see Juan. He was killed in a gang related shooting. In a strange twist of fate, Hal was the one who told her the news. She didn't feel it was the right time to tell him about Hallie, and she didn't think she even wanted to tell him ever. She was devastated as was Willow. Hallie was too young to understand what was happening.

This is the end of chapter 1. What will become of Laurel? Will she learn to love again or will she forever grieve her dear finance, Juan? Will Willow grow up and avenge her step-father's death in the gang world? Will Laurel reveal to Hal that Hallie is his daughter? Could she ever forgive him for the way he treated her that night? Will Juanita and Juliana still grow into thriving adults in the midst of all this? Will Laurel ever break this cycle of poverty for herself and her children? Find out as our story progresses.............