The Short Lost Things (BWWM)

The Pursuit of His Pride and Her Unhappiness

Hurts Like Hell - Aretha Franklin

"But, you Honor she is an unfit mother!" I felt as if I was going to explode.

"How am I an unfit mother James, when you're out screwing everything that has a pulse and two sets of lips!" My wife yelled back at me from the other side of the courtroom. I could see her lawyer standing up to comfort and console her. I could see the judge growing frustrated and I knew I needed to hold my tongue. I noticed Jackie shedding her pent up tears. This woman bothered me with a passion but seeing her cry was something I never wanted her to do.

"Quiet! At this point you both seem like unfit parents." I pinched the bridge of his nose, and leaned back into his chair. "This is what we're going to do. Mr. Harrington you are living with a woman while your divorce is still pending. I personally believe that Mrs. Harrington would provide a moral and sound household for you daughter. I am granting her primary custody, of Savannah. You are able to visit her at least 2 days a week and that can be determined by you and your wife." The judge banged her gavel, rose from her seat and exited the courtroom.

I looked over at Jackie who still had tears soiling her face. She looked at me with what almost seemed like pity and exited the courtroom along with her stubby looking lawyer. I sat down in my chair and placed my head in my hands. What had I done to my family?

5 Months Prior

I pulled my shirt back on, and zipped up my pants. My secretary, Abby, helped my clean up my office and wipe down the mess we'd made. Abby had made me feel alive again. Life, something I felt was lacking in my own marriage.

"You're going to be late getting home James. You might want to hurry up. Don't want the Mrs. Snooping around again do we?" Abby said while putting on my blazer, and kissing my cheek. I didn't love Abby, I loved my wife. But Jackie didn't make me feel like Abby did. I turned around and kissed her roughly before heading out the door.

I drove home as quickly as possible to avoid suspicion from Jackie. I parked the car, and quietly made my way into the house. All of the lights were off, Jackie must have gone to sleep. I flicked on the living room, to see Jackie with a pile of suitcases, while wearing the skimpiest outfit she owned. I was beyond turned on and reached my hand out to touch her. She slapped my hand away, she was being a bitch again.

"Baby, where are you going so late?"

"I'm not going anywhere, but you are. I know about your whore. I've known about your whore. I sat back and let you shack up with that blonde haired bitch. For the sanity of our daughter I have stayed and put up with you for as long as possible. But when I walk into your office, and everyone can hear you fucking that bitch up against the wall. I was embarrassed. I won't be embarrassed James. So I had the decency of packing your shit for you. Now you're going to be as quiet as possible. You can say good night to Savannah, and you can leave." I was stunned; I never would've though she had known.

"Why the theatrics Jackie?" I said while yelling. My quickest defense mechanism was being an asshole.

"The theatrics are for you sweetheart. For you to see what you'll never have again. And if you wake my child up with your yelling you'll regret it."

"I'll regret it? How about I take Savannah with me?" She raced past me and blocked the stairs.

"If you wake my child up, I will kill you." The look in her eyes told me she was serious. I backed off and grabbed my things and headed out the door. I lost this battle but I wouldn't lose the war.

Present

I raced out of the courtroom and caught up to Jackie. I grabbed her by the hand and turned her around.

"Jackie, I don't want to fight you anymore. If you want to end things between us, I'll be fair. But please I love my daughter more than anything. Let me be in her life like I should be." She stared deeply into my eyes; she always knew when I was lying.

"That's all I wanted from you. But you can't go around throwing a fit every time things don't seem to go your way! I'd never keep you away from your daughter. We can be fair about things. But I don't want her around my daughter. When you're with our daughter, it's just you and Savannah only." She stuck her hand out for me to shake. I shook it and we departed ways. I knew I shouldn't have brought Abby around my daughter I only did it out of spite.

I made my way back to Abby's apartment, the place I'd been crashing for the past few weeks. I turned the key and heard muffled screaming from the kitchen. I raced through the living room to see Abby being slammed into the wall by her landlord. I couldn't even be mad at her; a woman who sleeps with a married man is willing to do anything. I'd done the same to Jackie. I grabbed all of my shit and headed out the door.

"Wait baby, James! Where are you going?"

"Abby, I'm going back home where I belong. I'll see you in the office of Monday." I shrugged and made my way to my car. I drove home like a madman hoping and praying that Jackie would let me in and take me back. I unlocked the door and saw watched Savannah and Jackie making cookies. Savannah sat up the bar stool helping Jackie mix the batter and chocolate chips together.

"Mommy, Mommy! Daddy is back." She hopped off and jumped into my arms. Jackie automatically looked up at me in confusion. I only nodded to her and made my way to the living room. Savannah and I played dancing games all night until she fell asleep, I carried her back into her room and shut the door.

I knew I had to explain myself to Jackie. I ran downstairs and braced myself for impact. She sat at the dining room table with a glass of Merlot in her cup. She nodded for me to sit down.

"You already know I'm not going to allow you to run in and out of my house with you tail between your legs every time you figure out what you've lost. It's not fair to us."

"I know. I just....I've made a mistake." She looked at me unconvinced. "Look I'm going to be honest. The spark between us has died, and when something appealing came by I jumped at the chance. I did it at the expense of you and Vannah. Please believe that I've never stopped loving you but things haven't been great between us." She rose out of her chair, and slapped me.

"Things haven't been great, but you don't give up whenever things get rough. Did our vows mean nothing to you? I have never been unfaithful never! If you want your family back you're going to have to put up one hell of a fight. It won't be easy, I can't trust you!"

"But you're saying there's a chance?"

"Yes. But I won't be your sloppy seconds. You're a low down dirty dog, and I won't let you forget that until you change." She brushed past me and went to the closet and threw a pillow onto the couch. "Say hello to your bed for the next couple of weeks." She rolled her eyes and headed upstairs.

At least she said a couple of weeks and not years. 

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Bam! My first shorty! This one will have a part 2. This will rarely happen but this one definitely needs a second part. I hope you enjoy. Vote, Comment, Share. All that good stuff. Until next time. 

Onto the start of a new adventure

-Lex2324