Chapter 80-Consequences

I avoided Jonas for as long as I could which turned out to be only a few days.  Carter seemed to be doing the same to me and I couldn’t say I blamed him.  The relationships that had always been so relaxed and easy had now been made tense and complicated.  I had gotten everyone off to school when there was a knock at the door.

“You’ve been ignoring my calls.”  Jonas accused when I opened the door.

“Not ignoring.  I’ve been busy.”

“Are you busy now?”

“No.”

“Great.  We need to talk.”

Jonas walked into the living room.  I sighed, closed the door then followed him in there.

Continue Reading: "Chapter 80-Consequences"

Chapter 79-Into the Fire

“Mmm, Marcus.”  I murmured softly as I snuggled closer to the warm body next to me.  The strong arms tightened in response.  I inhaled deeply which caused my eyes to fly open.  That was not his scent, this was not Marcus.  I looked around; I was in my house in my bed with a strange man.  I swallowed hard before lifting my gaze to see who I was lying with.  Oh no. I tried to ease away from the sleeping figure not wanting to wake him until after I had a chance to put on some clothes.  As I lifted his arm to free myself I saw a smile form on his lips.

“Good morning.”  He said as he looked at me.  “I don’t know how I never noticed before, but you have really beautiful eyes.”  I closed my eyes then turned my head.  I held on to the blanket while I slid away from him.  I wished I had been too drunk to remember what I did last night but as I glanced back at him, I recalled every detail.  It was a little fuzzy but it was there.  Bumping into him at the bar, drinking, talking, dancing, laughing having a good time.  Me asking him to stay with me a while because I didn’t want to be alone after he escorted me home.  Him holding me, him looking at me the same way Carter had then me kissing him.  In the back of my mind some tiny voice said this was wrong that I should have stopped but neither of us did.  I was so lonely and so very very drunk but so lonely.

“Amari are you ok?”

“Yeah Jonas I’m fine.”  I got up and ran to the bathroom before he could say anything else.  I locked the door then turned on the shower.  How could I have done this?  My best friend had confessed his love to me and I sleep with his cousin.  I felt low and dirty.  Once I was finished scrubbing myself, I wrapped the towel tightly around me before slowly opening the door.  Jonas was sitting there waiting on me.  I refused to make eye contact as I walked over to the dresser to get clothes.  After retreating back to the bathroom to get dressed I came out once again and he was still there waiting.

“Dax and Dunham sleep late so if you hurry you might be able to leave without them seeing you.  The triplets are probably up so I need to go check on them.”  I still wouldn’t look at him as I moved passed him towards the door.

“Don’t you think we should talk first?”

“No.  I don’t want to talk, there’s nothing to talk about.  I need to start my day and try my best to pretend I didn’t just make this mistake.”  Jonas looked as if I had slapped him.

“A mistake?  That’s what you think this was?  A mistake?”

“What would you call it then?”

“I don’t know but not that. “  Massaging my temples I tried to think of a way to make this better but I couldn’t.  My head was pounding from the combination of a mild hangover mixed with the stress.

“Look Jonas I’m sorry.  But right now I need you to put on your shirt and leave.  I hear them getting up and I have enough to deal with without having to explain why you are here in my room this morning.”

“Try the truth.”  He said angrily “You had too much to drink last night and I brought you home.  I stayed to make sure you were ok.”

“Jonas, please.”  I said burying my face in my hands.  “I’m sorry but please go home.  I had a really bad day yesterday.  I have a major situation I still have to deal with regarding Dunham and this…what we did.”

“Ok.  I’m sorry.  You’re right.”  He said pulling me into a hug.  “I’ll go, but we will need to talk.”

“Thank you.”  Jonas left and I took a few minutes to collect myself before heading into the nursery.  Both Dax and Dunham wandered into the kitchen as I was finishing up with the triplet’s breakfast.

“Morning mom.”  Dax said.  Dunham simply shot me a glare as he poured himself a bowl of cereal.  He took his bowl outside to eat without saying a word to me.  He was actually trying to make me out to be the bad guy in this situation.  I knew I was going to have to talk to him, there was no avoiding it.  First I would call Aric to see how their talk went last night.  The pain in my head was getting worse. 

“Dax watch them for a sec please.”

I went back upstairs hoping I had some aspirin or something I could take to make it stop throbbing.  This was more than a headache. 

Go away.

That’s not very nice.

Go away.

I massaged my temples and after a few minutes the throbbing started to dull a bit.  Before I could call him, my phone rang showing Aric’s number on the ID.

“Nursing a hang over this morning?”  I could hear the humor in his voice.

“Was I that bad last night?”

“Yeah but you’ve been dealing with a lot.  You are entitled to one night to let loose I guess.”

“Well thanks for your permission son.”

“Anytime.  Besides I had a good time.  Kicked Dax’s butt a few times at pool and the babies gave me no trouble.  I’ll have lots of practice for when Nina and I have our own.”  There was a hint of sadness there but he quickly recovered.  “So I’m gonna be an uncle.”

“Yes.  Did you have a chance to talk to him?  Can you tell me what the hell he was thinking?”

“What he was thinking is what got him in this trouble to begin with.  The pregnancy took him by surprise but he wants to do the right thing.  He really feels like he is in love with her.   He pursued her.  She was still wrong for not stopping it but he did go after her.”

She was wrong for not stopping it.  I still couldn’t believe she would do that.  He’s a child, my child and now he’s having one of his own.  Dunham was supposed to be the good one.  Not that Dax wasn’t but Dunham gave me less trouble, he reminded me a lot of Aric until now.

After I hung up with Aric I surprised myself with the next phone call.

“Mrs. Smith…I, I didn’t expect to…”

“Don’t talk, just listen.”  I said slowly as I tried to keep control of my temper.  I could feel it rising by simply hearing her voice.  “Be over here in half an hour understand?”

“Um..yes, yes ma’am.”

I hung up on her without a goodbye then went to find Dax.

“Can you help me take them over to Cece?”

“Yeah sure.”

“You can stay there or go hang out with friends.  I need to talk to your brother.”

“About Embry?”

“You knew?”

“No.”  He said quickly sensing the tone in my voice. “He told me last night.”

“Oh.”

We got the kids settled then he took off to his friend’s house.  I found Dunham still outside sitting on the swings.  I still could not believe this was happening.  I keep waiting to wake up from what is turning into one really long really horrible nightmare.

“We need to talk.”  I said taking a seat on the other swing.

“Why do you want to yell at me more?”

“You really want to have an attitude with me Dunham?  I had, I have every right to be upset with you.  Do you have any idea how hard your life is going to be?  I’m an adult and having kids isn’t easy.  You are a kid.”  I turned away as I felt the tears starting to roll down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry mom.  I really am.”  I looked at him and he had tears in his eyes.  My heart broke seeing him like that.

“Oh Dunham what were you thinking?”

“That she was cute and that it would be cool to have an older girlfriend.  But we were careful.  I know we were.  But I do love her mom.  Really I do.”

“Oh Dunham.”  I sighed going over to hug him.  He was in over his head and that fact was hitting him hard now.

“Go get dressed son, she’s on her way over here.”

“Why?”

“Because she has things she needs to answer to.”  The look on my face stopped him from saying anything else.

By the time he got back down stairs Embry was there.  She gave him a weak smile as he walked over towards the couch.

“In the chair.”  I said stopping him.

“Mrs. Smith.” She started but I put my hand up to stop her words.

“Don’t.”  The sight of her was enough to get my blood boiling.  My gums were itching and I was trying not to lose my temper like yesterday.  I was lucky she was too scared of me in general to notice the difference.  After a few cleansing breaths, I spoke again.

“I don’t want to hear you are in love with my son.  I don’t want to hear this wasn’t planned or that you didn’t mean for it to happen.  What you did was WRONG.”  I looked over at Dunham then back to Embry.  “I should have you arrested and if you don’t comply with the terms I am about to give you I will have you arrested and Dunham will just have to get over it.”  I looked directly at him when I spoke those last words so he would know I meant it.

“How far along are you?”

“Um a..about 10 weeks or so.” She stuttered.

“Have you thought about your options?”

“Options?”  She repeated looking from me to Dunham who sat in the chair not saying a word.

“Yes, Embry, your options.  Adoption, termination, keeping it.  Options.”

“Oh…well um.  We had only found out a day or so before we told you.  I um haven’t um really thought that far ahead yet.”  I threw my hands up in frustration. 

“When do you think you will decide?”

“I.  I have two more semesters before I graduate.  I do love him Mrs. Smith so I’ll probably keep it.”  Dunham seemed to relax a little in the chair when she said that. 

“Your family.  Where are they?”

“My mom’s job relocated her to Bridgeport so that’s where she, my younger sister and step dad are now.”

“So are you planning to move to Bridgeport so your family can help you?”

“No I’ve been offered a job here after I graduate.”

“Not the high school.”

She quickly shook her head no as she sensed my displeasure at the idea she would be around other kids like my son.

“I’ll be a third grade teacher.”  She said quietly.

“Ok so this is what’s going to happen.  You of course are fired.  You also are to have no contact with Dunham.”

“Mom!”

“Dunham be quiet.”

“You’re 10 weeks now, once you hit 14 weeks it will be safe for you to get a paternity test done.  You and your doctor can decide on the best timing but it will be done.”

Embry sat there shaking her head in agreement while shooting side glances towards Dunham.

“If it’s determined he ---if he is the father then if he wants and if it doesn’t interfere with his school schedule he can attend appointments with you.  You are not to contact him directly still.  All communication will go through me.  If I find you are talking, texting or even send smoke signals to him I will have you arrested.  Am I making myself clear?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“The same goes for you Dunham do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“If you two are as in love as you claim then once he’s legal and can make his own decisions I can no longer stand in the way and you two can ride off into the sunset as one big happy family.  Until then these are my terms and they are final.”

Neither of them said anything.  They glanced at me then at each other.

“Thank you for not having me arrested.”  Embry finally said.

“I didn’t do it for you.  I did it for him but I won’t hesitate to change my mind if you break my terms.  Understood?”

“Yes, oh yes ma’am I do.”

“Good you can go now.  Call me once the paternity appointment is set.”

After she left I told Dunham that he would have to get a job if he was the father.  He was upset with me for thinking she might be seeing someone else.  He refused to believe she could do that since they were in love.  It was wrong but I hoped he would have his heartbroken by finding out he wasn’t the father.  He was in love and believed in her.  She was a good person he kept saying.  He didn’t want to wait until he got the results, he wanted to start working now so that he could start saving up to take care of his baby.  He was grounded for the next month that meant no car, no cell phone, no TV, and no computer unless it was school related.  After he helped me go pick up the triplets, he grabbed the paper to find a job.  There were several openings but he was hoping to get on at the book store.  That night after everyone had gone to bed I stared into the night.  Looking at the twinkle of the city lights couldn't help but to wonder if he was out there somewhere.

In the darkness under the stars was he there?  My hope of him coming back was fading and I was being forced to face the reality.  He was gone.  That fact didn't stop me from thinking what he would say or how he would feel to know what I had done.  I had not only slept with someone in my house in the bed I shared with my husband, I slept with my best friend’s cousin after rejecting his advances.  Did the depths of my depravity know no bounds?
"Oh Marcus I'm sorry.  I'm so very, very sorry." I muttered as I hugged myself tighter.

Continue Reading: "Chapter 79-Into the Fire"

Chapter 78-Revelations

“She’s really gotten big and she seems just as spoiled as Bam-Bam is with Aric and Nina.”  I commented to Carter as I watched Pebbles play in his backyard.  Life was starting to settle down again.  Aric and Bynni had been trying to teach me how to block out Mulo.  It was hard and a little draining.  I could only do it if I really concentrated.  Once I was feeling better I was still nervous that things would change with Carter, Jonas, and I.  They said they understood but it was a lot for anyone not really living it to deal with.  They continued being great friends as always.  Carter however did start to act a little more nervous around me.  I would catch him staring at me but he would try to deny it.  I guess he was waiting for me to grow a second head or something.  I didn’t blame him; I was waiting for the same thing.  I had discovered additional changes.  I was able to eat normal food again but every once in a while I would crave the plasma fruits or juice.  Also when my temper flared my incisors grew.  Not as much as Aric or Bynni’s but enough to make me look a little more menacing.  I was not comfortable with that change. 

“She is quite spoiled.”  Carter said coming to stand with me.  He was looking nervous again causing me to self consciously run my tongue across my teeth to make sure they were normal.

“Carter what’s going on?  You have been acting strange these last couple of weeks.”

“Strange?  Strange how?”  He asked, his voice going up an octave which was another dead give away he was nervous about something.

“Strange as in you getting all jumpy around me.  You not holding eye contact with me for long.  If you aren’t comfortable with me now, just say so.  I’ll understand.”  I would be a little hurt.  Not having him in my life would be a huge adjustment but honestly I wouldn’t blame him.  Having me for a neighbor and friend couldn’t be easy considering how my life was going.  He ran his hand through his hair then let out a sigh.  Walking over to the bar he fixed himself a drink.  Now I knew there was a problem.  Carter rarely ever drank, he hated the taste of the alcohol. 

“Carter?”

“You’re right I am a little nervous around you.  But, but not for the reason you think.” He added quickly when he saw me getting ready to speak.

“We’ve been friends for a long time now.  I’ve been wanting to say something but it was never the right time, and it just felt wrong to bring it up.  And…”

He was so flustered.  He was rambling on and I was unsure of what he was trying to say.

“I care about you Amari.  I love you Amari.”  I walked over and put my hand on his cheek. 

“It’s ok Carter.  I know and I feel the same way.  Whatever has you so nervous it’s ok.  Just tell me.  We’re friends and I…” My words were cut off when he kissed me.

 I was shocked, that was not what I had expected.  It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening before I pushed him away.  My hand flew to my lips as I stared at him in disbelief.

“Why, why did you do that?”

“I’m sorry Amari.  I shouldn’t have.”  He reached out for me but I backed away.

“No, don’t.  You’re my friend, we’re just friends.   Why would you do that?”

“Because I’m in love with you.”  He said softly.  “I have been for a while but you were with Marcus and happy so I was content to just be your friend.  But now, I want to take care of you.  I want to…”

“NO!”  I screamed.  “Don’t say that!  You can’t say that.  We are friends why are you trying to ruin that?  I can’t be with you Carter.”

He looked so hurt when I said those last words.  The last thing I wanted was to hurt his feeling but this was wrong, I didn’t understand why he didn’t see how wrong this was.

“Because of how I look?”

“What?”

“Is it because you can’t see yourself with a person that looks like me?”  It was my turn to have hurt feelings. 

“You really think I’m that shallow?  Maybe you don’t know me as well as I thought you did.”

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean it like that.  I know you aren’t that you wouldn’t be like that.”  I felt my temper rising followed by the uncomfortable itching of my gums.  I pressed my lips together then took a few deep breaths to try to calm myself.  Why was he doing this?  I didn’t need any more changes in my life right now.  His timing couldn’t have been any worse.

“Amari I know I’m not Marcus but if you give me a chance I could make you happy.”  He said quietly. 

“Don’t you see Carter?  What we have, our friendship does make me happy.  It’s what I depend on but now…”  I looked down at the wedding rings I still wore.  “Do you see these Carter?  These are why.”

His eyes followed my gaze as I twirled them around my finger.

“I don’t expect you to not still love him Amari.”  He took my hands in his; the soft loving expression on his face broke my heart.

“I know that.  That’s not what I am talking about.  The last man that professed his love for me, wanted to be with me vanished.  I can’t risk—“ I slid my hand free of his.  “I need to go.”

“Amari wait please.”

“I can’t, not now Carter.  I can’t.”  I walked out of the house but I heard him still calling for me.  I couldn’t believe he had done that.

I walked home slowly mourning the loss of the person I considered to be my best friend.  I didn’t see any way for us to get back to how we were before he confessed his feelings.  Even if we managed to remain friends things would be strained.  By the time I got home I needed a drink.  My nerves were shot and I would normally call Carter to talk these things over, but this time he was the reason for this situation.  I walked into the living room and saw Embry and Dunham in what looked like an intense discussion.  Their body language wasn’t that of a disagreement between teacher and student.

“What’s going on?”

Dunham had a look of confusion and fear on his face.

“Mom, sit I need to talk to you.”  This didn’t sound good and after dealing with Carter I didn’t need any more surprises.

“Um, ok.  What’s wrong?  Are you still failing?  I thought things were improving since you started seeing Embry.”

“Mom!” he said interrupting my string of questions.  I took a seat in the chair while they sat on the sofa.

“Mom, you’ve raised me to be the kind of person to take responsibility for their actions right?”

“Yes.  Why what have you done?  Are you in some sort of trouble?”

“I’m pregnant” Embry blurted out.

I was confused as to why she would say that until I saw Dunham take her hand.

“Excuse me?” I said slowly standing up out of the chair.

“She’s pregnant mom.” 

“And what the hell does that have to do with you?”  I asked with my anxiety level rising.

They gave each other nervous glances.

“It’s mine.”

“Come again?” I couldn’t have heard him right.  I didn’t hear him right.  There was no way my teenage son was sitting here telling me he was about to be a father.

“Embry’s baby is mine.”  Those were the last words I expected to hear come out of his mouth.  I took several deep breaths trying to keep my temper under control but I was seething.

“Dunham Robert Smith this had better be some sort of twisted joke!”

“Mom, I’m sorry it…it was an accident.  We didn’t mean to…”

“To what Dunham?”  I yelled at him.  “You didn’t mean to sleep with your tutor?  Or you didn’t mean to get her pregnant?  And you!”  I said turning my attention on Embry who was as white as a sheet.  “You are an adult, he’s a minor!  What the hell is wrong with you seducing my son and then being too dumb to use protection?”

“I didn’t…he, he”

“If you are about to tell me that the child was in control of this situation, that he seduced you, save your damn breath.  I don’t care if he showed up at your house in nothing more than his birthday suit as the adult you should have put a stop to it!  If he was flirting, then you should have either found a better way to handle it or you should have quit!”

“Mom, please”

“Don’t mom please me boy.  I can’t believe you could do this!  How in the hell can you take care of a baby?  You don’t take care of yourself.  Everything, EVERYTHING you have I pay for!  I do your cooking, your cleaning.  You're a child.”

I pulled out my phone and started dialing.

“Mom what are you doing?”

“I’m calling the cops what the hell do you think I’m doing?”

Dunham pulled the phone out of my hands. 

“You can’t do that.  I won’t let you.  I love her mom and she loves me.”  I stared at my son in shock.  Embry was still sitting on the couch too afraid to speak or move. 

“What she did was illegal and immoral.  I don’t care anything about you claiming to love each other.  You are a minor she is an adult.  If she really loved you she would have waited until you turned 18.  If she really loved you she would have been on some sort of birth control and made sure you used a condom.  If she really…”  I couldn’t even finish.  My eyes darted from Dunham to Embry and back again. 

“Mrs. Smith, I’m so very sorry.”  She said timidly walking over towards us.  The look I gave her stopped her in her tracks.

“You’re sorry?  You’re sorry!  You being sorry doesn’t mean crap at this moment.  Were you sorry when you decided to have sex with my teenage son?  Do you have any idea how you have ruined his life before he even gets a chance to really live it.  He will be a father before he graduates high school.”  I started pacing.  I needed to wanted to hit something and if I stood still for much longer I would have lashed out at her.  I couldn’t believe how irresponsible they both were for getting into this situation. 

“It was her!”  I yelled as the realization of the secret girlfriend hit me.  “All this time I thought it was some high school girl you were dating and it’s been her!”  Dunham didn’t have to speak, the look on his face confirmed I was correct. 

“GET OUT!”  I screamed.

“What?”  Dunham asked unsure of who I was talking to.

“I want that child molesting pedophile out of my house this instant!”

“Mom, you can’t put her out.”

“The hell I can’t and you are grounded.”

“If she goes, I go!”  I knew at that moment he had truly lost his mind. 

“Don’t test me right now boy.  If you even think about leaving this house with her I will not only have her arrested for statutory rape, but for kidnapping as well along with anything else I can think to have her charged with!”

“Dunham, it’s ok.  We’ll talk later.”  I was in her face before she even finished getting those words out.

“You most certainly will NOT be talking later.  You best leave now and be happy you are doing so without handcuffs.”

Embry gave one last look towards Dunham before quickly retreating out of the house.

“Mom.”

“Go-to-your-room.”  I said slowly through clenched teeth.

“But…”

“Now Dunham!”  I needed him out of my sight before I did something I would regret later.  My entire body was shaking when I collapsed onto the sofa.  I was so angry and hurt I wanted to scream.  I had three grown children, two of them married, yet it was my teenage son that was going to make me a grandmother.  And Embry, how could she do something like this. 

“Oh Marcus where are you?  I need you.  I need you so much right now.”  I cried sliding to the floor in tears.  One step forward, two steps back.  The story of my life. 

“Mom are you ok?”  Dax asked as he walked in finding me on the floor.

“No sweetie, not really.”  I said picking myself and wiping off my face.  “Dax.”

“Yeah mom?”  I started to ask him if he knew but decided against it.  I needed to figure out things with Dunham and I didn’t need to bring Dax into it.

“Nevermind.  Well do me a favor please.  I have to get the triplets fed can you get in touch with one of your older siblings and ask them to come over.”

“Does it matter who?”

“No just whoever you feel like hanging out with.”

I went to prepare dinner for the triplets.  Dax came to help me get them all settled.

“Aric’s coming over.”  I knew he would call him.  He loved hanging out with Aric.  “What happened this time?  When I went to the room Dunham was in there and not looking very happy.”

“Yeah he’s grounded.”

“Really?  What’d he do?”

“Dax don’t sound so happy that your brother is in trouble.”

“Hey it’s usually me so it’s a refreshing change.”  I smiled at him then gave him a hug.

“You two never seem to give me a break.”

“We’re boys mom, what’d you expect?”

When Aric arrived he helped get the triplets dressed and ready for bed.  Dax when down to watch the game on the TV in the basement since it was the bigger screen.

“So why am I here?”

“Because I need to get out for a few hours if you don’t mind and your other brother is on lockdown.  I need you here to make sure he doesn’t try a jail break.”  I filled Aric in on what transpired today with Embry and Dunham.  He was just as shocked to find out.  He said he would attempt to have a ‘man to man’ talk with him.  I got dressed and headed out.  The last time I was at any kind of bar was the day Marcus and I reconnected in Riverview. 

I settled down at the corner of the bar.  It wasn’t too busy but it had a nice live jazz band playing.  I sat listening to the music, replaying the events of the day.  I couldn’t believe I had two bombshells dropped on me today.  I was so lost in my thoughts staring into my empty glass, I didn’t pay any attention to the fact someone had slipped into the space next to me.

 “Can I buy you another?”  I looked up and smiled at the friendly face.

“Sure why not.”

Continue Reading: "Chapter 78-Revelations"