Prologue
My name is Natalie Lane. My full name is Natalie Marie Lane. I was born on September 10, 1989. I used to be a schoolteacher in my town, Houston, Texas, until I was let go a few weeks ago.
I live in a condo with my nine-year-old daughter, Jennifer Judith Lane, who goes by Jenny. I raised her alone. Her father was a total deadbeat. He never lifted a finger to help or pay child support. We were in love, but when I got pregnant, he up and left, said goodbye. He told me I'm better off without him and he wasn't what I needed, like my parents had said about him. He started his car, pulled out of the drive and didn't waste any time at all to look back. After Jenny was born, I fell head over heels for Matt Ogden, who was nice the first few days I met him, then he showed his true colors as a world class jerk. Hate to say it, but it's true. After he tossed casual abuse at Jenny and treated me like dirt, I decided I was through with him.
Jenny and I bond over a lot of stuff, like ice skating, snacks and watching Christmas movies together, too. We even visit Bay City, Michigan, my hometown, where my mom and dad live, along with my brother, Dominic, who goes by Dom.
Dominic was supposed to get his own apartment, but he got laid off from his job at Petco. Since he's been out of work, he's been stuck living with our parents, along with his two kids, Chandler and Hillary, after he and his wife got a divorce, and she moved out of state, abandoning the two kids.
A few weeks ago, after losing my job, I made the decision to tell my daughter that we were moving to Bay City. My daughter was shocked at first, but I told her that she would be fine.
Here's how my story begins when Jenny and I moved to Bay City to start over.
