Chasing Joshua Read Online Free PDF

card it was a wedding invitation. His life's plan went down the drain. He had already arranged to quit. Then he met Grace. And now, he lived a quiet life as a school teacher. The mothers all brought him food and desserts; the kids all loved him. It was quiet unexpected, but flattering. It made him realize what he wanted, and he couldn't settle for less again.
    * * * *
    Evelyn looked around the room. It was bare for a guest room. Stacked plastic boxes with kids’ toys were in one corner. Labeled, organized. A desk and chair, this was Grace's mother's room, she remembered that now. It looked different, but everything looked different downstairs. Joshua may not be gay, but he had a good sense of decorating. She laughed at that while sleep was pulling at her eyes. “Just a minute, I'll close them for just a minute,” Evelyn told herself.
    * * * *
    Joshua wanted to sleep, but he was up for the day. He got dressed and headed downstairs to make breakfast. He wasn't shaving. He walked the sidewalk in front of his house trying to figure out how she got here. Finally he gave up. It was about two hours later when he heard her scream. Like lightning he moved up the stairs. The door swung open and she was asleep. Like a baby. His breath was fast and heavy. He slowly moved toward her. As he moved closer, she began to mumble.
    "Let go of her. I'll be good, I promise. Don't touch her. Please.” Evelyn was talking in her sleep. In her dreams she was talking to her father. “Don't, look, I'll do it. I'll do it, Blade. I swear if you let her go I'll do it."
    "Do what?” Joshua couldn't tell if she was asleep or awake, but she was in terror either way. Sweat poured off her, and tears streamed down her cheeks. He said softly, “Evelyn."
    "I'll call you daddy. Let her go. I'll do it.” Evelyn's voice was childlike and innocent.
    Joshua fell into a million pieces right then. He couldn't hear another word. His stomach lurched, and he thought he would throw up. He wouldn't tell her about this; he didn't know how.
    "Evelyn!” he shouted, “Wake up, you're dreaming!” He didn't touch her. He couldn't. He didn't want his hands associated with that dark memory on any level.
    "Mommy!” Evelyn shouted as her eyes opened. She burst into tears afterward, heavy sobs that hurt her ribs, but she couldn't stop them. As she looked around getting her bearings, she realized Joshua was in her room. Fright turned to anger, as it easily did, squelching the tears almost immediately. She was dreaming. “What the fuck are you doing in here?"
    "You were screaming. I thought you were hurt.” Joshua locked his knees and elbows. He wanted to grab her and hold her and tell her it was safe now, but he didn't know if that were true. That memory could have been from childhood, or it could have been from last night. If he found out that man was still alive, he would pay, either way.
    "I was?” Evelyn wiped the tears and bit down. She was afraid to ask the next question but had to know. If the nightmares were back, she was in more trouble than she thought. “What did I say?"
    "Well, this last scream you yelled mommy. Before that I don't know. I was downstairs and just heard the wail.” Joshua was matter-of-fact. If he showed too much concern, she would know he heard more, and he didn't want to scare her, too.
    "Did you just call me a whale?” Evelyn wasn't sure what that meant. Her head was processing, and she thought he just called her a whale. He thinks I'm fat, thinks I sound like a beached, moaning whale.
    "No, not w-h-a-l-e, wail as in sound w-a-i-l.” He spelled it out to her. And here he thought he would miss class today. For a tough chick, she had some serious insecurity. That made him want to reach out and hold her even more. He stayed locked. “Anyways I yelled your name so you would wake up; you did. You seem fine now."
    Joshua grabbed the fallen ice bags and headed for the door. “I'll get some more ice."
    "Wait.” Evelyn's voice was calm and