Chapter 104-Goodbye and Hello

Marcus

I sat thinking about Amari. She never came back and I didn’t really expect her to. The mood shifted after she left. The kids all became less talkative with Florence sending a clear message that they supported their mother. Florence picked up the change as well and we cut the evening short. I was not handling any of this correctly. I couldn’t properly work through my feelings for one woman while I was with another. It wasn’t fair to either of them.

“Marc, what do you think?” Florence asked stepping out of the bathroom pulling me from my thoughts.

She stood seductively in front of me in a barely there negligée.

“I bought it a few days ago. You like?”

I looked over her body which she had on display for me knowing what she wanted. We hadn’t made love while she’s been here and she was unhappy about that fact. It was hard to explain, but after being with Amari I didn’t feel right being with Florence. Sighing heavily I put my hand out. She slid hers into mine with a wide grin on her face as she straddled me. 

“We need to talk.” I said quietly when she leaned in to kiss me.

“Talk?” she asked sounding offended. “I am practically nude and you want to talk?” She finished angrily climbing off my lap.

“Yes, we need to talk.”

“If this is about today, me talking to her, I said sorry. I did not know she would run off.” I picked up on the emptiness in her tone. She wasn’t really sorry, I knew that.

Florence had always been a jealous woman, full of spirit and at one time it was something I loved about her. However, in light of the current situation, I was seeing as more of a flaw. Getting off the couch, I walked into the bathroom to retrieve a robe. She snatched it from my hands and I knew this was not going to be an easy conversation.

“I’ve not been fair to you.” I start quietly. “I’ve handled things, this whole situation poorly and for that I’m sorry.”

“No you have not.” She agreed. “But you can make it up to me. We get the wedding plans back on track and things will fall back to normal once we marry.”

I walked over to the window and stared at the twinkling lights of the city. Out there I had a wife and family. One that was taken from me, but now I had them back. I found myself wondering what they were doing right now. Had Amari returned home finally? Was she still upset or were the kids taking care of her? It was thoughts like these that made being with Florence seem wrong.

“Florence, I think it would be best if you returned to Italy.” I said turning to face her.

“You are breaking off with me?” She cried rushing towards me. “I knew it! You leave me because I do not give you a baby. You blame me, you have always blamed me.”

“That’s not what this is.” I retorted quickly. “I’ve never blamed you. Each of our losses was hard on me, but I have always, ALWAYS been there for you. Those things are out of our control.”

“Then why?”

“Because I can’t stay with you in good conscience with these growing feelings I have for her. I need to sort through some things.”

“Sort through? How exactly are you planning on sorting out?” She screamed getting angrier.

“I don’t know.”

“I do! You want to be rid of me so you can be with her! You think I no see it, but I do. The look that crosses your face when you looked at her today. She give you something I can not and you leave me for it!”

“No! This is about me damn it! I had, have another life before you and what I’ve needed from you is your support and understand but instead I get this. You have become this selfish and one sided person that I don’t know.”

I felt my temper rising so I took a deep breath to try and calm myself. Florence stood speechless looking hurt and this wasn’t what I wanted for her either. There was so much going through my head, and she seemed to be so resentful that I was getting my memories back. It left me with questions.

“Florence I need some time and it wouldn’t be fair to keep you in this state of unknowing with me.” I pleaded hoping she would calm down and understand that this needed to be done.

“I no stupid Marc. You can say this is you caring about my needs, but it is a lie. This is why!”

“Why what?” I asked letting out a frustrated breath.

“Why you hand me a robe instead of making love.”

“You are losing sight of the point Florence.”

“No! You want to lie to me. Tell me Marc when was the last time? Do you even remember?”

I walked over to the couch trying to recall the last time. I knew it hadn’t been while she was here so it had to be back in Italy. The first time that popped into my mind was after my return from the first trip out. I looked up at her and knew that my recollection was correct.

“I’m sorry.”

“Just stop with this crazy talk Marc. We go back home, get married. All will be fine. You can even have the children visit. They will love it.” She said still refusing to admit what we both knew to be true.

“Florence. You won’t be satisfied not having a hundred percent of me and I can’t be with you with these lingering feelings.”

The hopefulness in her eyes quickly changed and I sensed her mood shift. Without another word, she got up and stormed off to the bathroom. She came back out cussing me in Italian as she gathered up her belongings. There was nothing I could say to her that would make this better. She refused to see things from any other point. I could have told her it wasn’t necessary to get another room, but I said nothing while she called the front desk.

“Florence.” I called out as she started to leave.

“What?” She snapped.

“Why did you never question my past? Even without the possibility of a wife and kids, how could you not wonder if I had other family that might be looking for me?”

She gave me a wicked grin. “It was not important to what I wanted.” She replied with a shrug. She looked down at her finger then slid the ring off letting it drop to the floor.

As I laid alone in bed, I wondered how I was so blind to her selfish ways for so long. I owed a lot to Florence and her family. They helped me through my change and never asked questions. A lot of the early conversations they had gave me a sense they were talking about me, but it was before I understood Italian. When I asked the connection to the woman that turned me, I never got a straight answer. Magic and fate was all they would say as to why I was with them. Now I knew there was more. Now I believed me being with them wasn’t random and they knew, she knew more about who I was than they wanted to tell me. Jumping out of bed I felt this urgent need to see Amari.

Mulo

“I wondered when you would be by.” I commented dryly as she stormed into my apartment.

Continue Reading: "Chapter 104-Goodbye and Hello"

Chapter 103-Unleashed

Marcus POV

I saw Florence enter the house shortly after Amari, but I was playing with Finley and couldn’t stop her. She was angry when I said she should just stay away from Amari today. She didn’t understand why I was protecting Amari’s feelings over her own. I was quickly growing tired of her selfish attitude. She refused to see things from Amari’s point of view, to even stop and think about how all of this would affect her. I knew I held fault there since it came across to her as if I cared more about how Amari felt than how she felt. I couldn’t properly explain it to her since I couldn’t explain it to myself, but I didn’t want Florence antagonizing her further after their first encounter.

“What were you doing?” I asked as she walked into the room to meet me.

“Nothing, I wanted to say hello. It did not seem she was going to speak.”

“Why? You are here to meet our children, not talk to her. I asked you to just leave her alone. Especially after the last meeting you had with her.”

I tried to see what the conversation was about, but she was actively thinking about anything other than what just transpired. That fact alone was enough to let me know whatever it was, it wasn’t as innocent as she wanted to claim.

“You know what, never mind. Just go back outside please. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Marc?”

“Just go! Florence please. I just need a minute.”

She started to argue with me but then turned and headed back outside like I asked. I was making this worse for her, and for myself. I knew looking at her, feeling her frustrations that I was going to have to figure out a better way of dealing with all of this. I headed up the stairs to find Amari. I knew she was planning on leaving and I wanted to talk to her before she ran away again. She was walking out of our room as I got to the top of the stairs.

“Going somewhere?”

By the way she hesitated before responding I knew she was hoping to leave without having to talk to me.

“You are supposed to be introducing your fiancée to our children. I’ve gotten everything set up so you can enjoy the day letting them get to know her without things being awkward with me hanging around.”

She attempted to step around me, but I blocked her path forcing her to step back into the room. “Are you ever going to stay in the same room with me for more than five minutes?  I want to talk to you, no, I need to talk to you yet you deny me.”

“We don’t have anything to talk about Marcus. You are engaged to be married, our time is over. We just have to work out things where the kids are concerned.” She replied sounding very annoyed. If anyone had the right to be annoyed and frustrated right now it was me.

“Damn it! Why are you so intent on making this so much harder for me?”

“What? I’m trying my best to get out of your way but you won’t let me.”

Continue Reading: "Chapter 103-Unleashed"

Chapter 102-Regrets

I rolled out of bed dreading this day. Marcus had been coming over every day for a week, but I made sure he waited until the kids were home from school. He’d spend a few hours with them before leaving to go back to Florence. He even spent time at Dunham’s house getting to know his daughter-in-law and granddaughter. I tried to avoid being in the same room with him whenever possible. Having him in the house, seeing him almost daily was hard enough. Some days I would leave to spend the time either at CeCe’s house or at Carter’s. Today however I wouldn’t be able to avoid him. The kids knew of Florence but today they were meeting their new soon to be step-mother. They were curious about her and wanted to meet her and I couldn’t blame them, it was only natural. It was time since they could get married now without any concerns. My official divorce decree arrived in the mail yesterday. I handed Marcus his copy when he came over then left. I didn’t want to be around any one so I took Fred and Wilma on a walk to the dog park.

I headed to the bathroom so I could shower and get myself ready for the day. The triplets were already in the dining room eating breakfast with Finley. I looked at my youngest child and recalled the heartache I had when I found her crying in her room one night. She looked at Mulo as a father figure as much as the triplets had. She would never get to meet her father, the triplets had theirs back, and Mulo no longer being around all left her hurt and confused. I was angry with Mulo all over again seeing once more the effect his actions had on my family. It was hard for her not to have a father, but I reminded her how many people she had in her life that loved her. They didn’t make up for not having a dad, but she would always have someone there for her.

“Good morning kids.” I said as I walked past them towards the kitchen to fix myself a cup of coffee.

“Mornin’ mom.” They all responded.

While my coffee brewed, I did another check of the groceries to make sure I had gotten everything at the store yesterday. It was going to be a small family cookout so that the kids could welcome Florence to the family.

“Mom.”

“Yeah sweetie?” I responded turning to see Finley.

“Can I help make the cookies.”

“I can’t do them without you. They never turn out right.” I replied smiling as I pulled the eggs out of the fridge.

The triplets came in to put their dishes in the sink then left to go get dressed. Finley and I enjoyed a fun time making cookies. She was an easy going child, and it was nearly impossible to remain in a bad mood when she was around. We had just pulled out the second batch when the Edson walked in.

“Mom can I ask you a question?” He asked.

“Of course dear. You can ask me anything you know that.”

“Why’d you do it?”

I looked up at him and saw that this was going to be the talk they had been avoiding with me. I would catch bits of things as they talked to Marcus but none of them spoke to me about how they were feeling in all this. When I asked, I got the standard ‘I’m fine’ answer.

“Finley go upstairs and get dressed dear. I need to talk to your brothers and sister.”

Even though they weren’t downstairs, I knew they would be. They still communicated without the use of words, and if this talk was going to happen, it would happen with all of them.

“Aww Mom, we aren’t finished with the cookies. Why can’t I stay?”

“Because sweetie…”

Finley threw up her hand to stop me from talking. “Yeah, yeah, yeah I know I’m not old enough. I really hate that answer.” She grumbled as she sulked out of the kitchen.

“Let’s go sit shall we.” I said directing him towards the dining room. The others were entering just as I suspected they would. “So is this about Mulo?” They all nodded. “What do you want to know exactly?”

“Why not all of it.” Elton answered with a shrug.

Continue Reading: "Chapter 102-Regrets"

Chapter 100-Face To Face

I can't believe this is my 100th chapter! I had no idea when I started this story it would become such a story LOL. I know that sounds strange but it's the truth. My first attempt into the world of sim stories and I thought hey a baby challenge should be easy. Well 100 chapters later, it's no longer a baby challenge but I appreciate the continued support you all have given me! Through all the ups and (mostly) downs of Amari's life you guys have stuck with me. I can't say it's going to make it 100 more as I feel the story may be nearing its end, but I hope you all enjoy the final ride with me.

She was even more stunning up close. I had only seen her briefly that day I went by their house but now being face to face with her, I felt instantly shabby in comparison. Her skin was flawless, her makeup was perfectly applied, and her clothes looked like something you would see in a magazine.

“Pardon my English. I seek Amari Smith.”

“That would be me and who are you?”

She cocked her head to the side and gave a sly smile. “Tink you know already. May I come inside?” Her words were spoken with a thick accent, but her body language was easy enough to understand. She was here to fight for her man and my morning just got a hundred times worse.

“Certainly.” I replied stepping to the side to allow her in. I didn’t miss the once over she gave me as she entered.

I directed her towards the living room. “Give me a minute to get dressed and we can have a talk. Although I’m not sure we really have anything to discuss.”

When I got to my room I thought about calling Marcus to let him know she was here. I suspected her just showing up like this meant she hadn’t told him she was coming. I was pissed she had come here. She had already won, even if she didn’t know it, but now she was here to stake some claim on him. She was wandering around the living room when I got back downstairs.

“Can I offer you something to drink?”

“No, but thank you. He loves me, but only feels an obligation for you.”

So the claws were out. She was cutting right to the chase and skipping all the pleasantries. “An obligation? Is that what he’s told you, to help ease your fears?” I asked walking towards the sofa.

“It is obvious. You use children to get him, but it will fail.”

I sat there shocked that this woman, this stranger who didn’t even know me, accused me of using my children to get Marcus back. I was going to attempt to be nice, but why? The gloves were coming off.

“I don’t have to use my children to get him. He came looking for me, he may love you but I think you know he has feelings for me as well.”

“You play on his memories. What he feels is nothing.” She spat angrily.

“If you really thought that, you wouldn’t be here. What I think is he stays with you out of a sense of obligation. I mean considering your troubles, he may not want to seem heartless leaving you after such a loss.”

It was her turn to be shocked. Her entire demeanor changed and I felt slightly bad bringing up the loss of her babies. I had experienced that sort of grief and knew the heartache that came with it, but she was the first to strike.

“How you know of my losses?”

“Marcus, we talked the last time he came to see me.”

“Marc would never share something private with a stranger.”

“Ah, but see I’m not a stranger, I’m his wife and the mother of his children.”

Florence’s face contorted into an angry scowl when I said that. She didn’t like being reminded we were married and certainly didn't want to be reminded I gave him something she couldn't. I understood, however, how learning something so deeply personal had been told to the other woman would be hard to hear. I could see that this meeting was not turning out in the way she had hoped.I was willing to be nice and even help ease her fears more, but she didn't want it that way.

“You are just a link to a life forgotten.” She counted regaining her composure. “If you were so memorable Marc would not forgotten you so easily.” She sat back with a smug look of satisfaction on her face.

“You are so very correct Florence.” I replied coolly. “If we were dealing with a simple case of amnesia, but we aren’t. Which is why you are here. If you were as confident in your relationship as you would have me believe, you wouldn’t have come here to have this little meeting with me behind his back. So you are here to what? Ask me to walk away? To plead your case on letting the two of you have a chance? I sent him divorce papers, the fact that he didn’t sign them should speak volumes to you, because it does to me.”

This time her brave face crumpled. Florence got up and started walking around the room. I knew I had struck a nerve and it was cruel of me to do so. She was just as innocent in all of this, but I was tired of playing nice. I know she was scared of losing Marcus, hell I shared her fear, but I was tired of putting everyone’s feelings above my own. That favor never seemed to be returned to me and today she got the brunt of that. The pain I am inflicting on her now would only be temporary. Once she made it to his hotel she would learn she won. He signed the papers; he was free of me and my mess. She had him, she had won.

“I think you should go now.” I said standing. “You need to talk to him, not me.”

Without saying a word, Florence picked up her purse and gave me a weak smile. Once she was gone I finally let this morning’s discovery sink in. He had signed the papers, he did as I asked of him and chose the easier life and it hurt worse than I thought it would to lose him a second time.

Continue Reading: "Chapter 100-Face To Face"