11 YEARS LATER...
Lauren
"Alexis be still." I said as I combed her hair.
"Ma! Why do you still do my hair! I'm 13." She said yelling.
"Because you can't do it right."
She rolled her eyes then got off the floor. "I can do my own hair." She said then stormed up the stairs.
"Fine then!" I yelled back.
Luke came inside the house with a bag of chips in his hands.
"Where you been?" I asked him putting on my heels.
"Went to the store and bought some chips."
"Oh. Watch your sister while I'm gone."
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"To do grown woman business that's where."
He chuckled.
When I got into my car I rode down the street to Pepper's house. They still live in the same spot.
I knocked on the door and she opened with her daughter on her hip.
"Hey tee tee!" Pepper's daughter yelled and jumped into my arms.
"Hey Cece." I said and kissed her cheek.
Pepper finally had a baby! It took forever but she did. Cece is five years old.
I walked inside Pepper's house and sat down on her couch.
"Go upstairs with ya' daddy." Pepper said referring to Darwin.
"Okay." Cece said and ran up the steps.
"Girl I'm tired as hell." Pepper said plumping down on her couch.
I laughed. "I know how you feel. I had too take care of two babies by myself."
She laughed. "Where you going all dressed up and shit?"
"To visit Ace." I smiled.
"You're not taking the kids?"
"Nope." The kids have not even been to visit Ace. Even though Ace asks every time to see them I never take them.
"Girl when you gone let them kids see their father?"
"Ace has one more year and then he will be free. They can wait."
"You're a mess girl."
I laughed then looked at the time.
"Well I'm gonna go. Visitation hours just started."
"Okay tell my bro I said hey."
"Alright."
After leaving Pepper's house I went straight to the jail.
"Oh hey Tucker haven't seen you in a minute." The female security guard said as I walked in.
"Yea I been kinda' busy lately."
"Mmm. Well go on through."
I walked into the visitation room and saw Ace sitting in a chair.
"Hey baby." I gave him a big hug.
"Hey." He said.
I sat down at a chair in front of him.
"How you-" he cut me off.
"Why haven't you brought the kids to see me?"
I sighed. "Ace I have told you this plenty of times-"
"Why? Huh?"
"I don't want them to see you like-"
"Don't start with that bullshit Lauren."
"You know what? I'm just gonna go on back home. Obviously you're not in the mood." I stood up from the chair.
I walked away without even saying goodbye.
"That was quick." The guard said.
"Sure was. I don't think I will be back." I told her and placed the shades on my face.
If Ace wants to act that way he can. Fine by me.
*
*
*
"Hurry up and eat. Y'all going to spend the night with Pepper." I told Luke and Lexi as they ate dinner.
"How come every Friday night we have to spend the night over there?" Lexi asked.
"Because I need a break sometimes. Being a single mother is hard."
"Your not single. Your married to dad." Luke said throwing his plate away.
"Yea well dad isn't here."
"Whatever." Lexi said grabbing her bag.
Pepper blew her horn telling the kids to come on.
"Bye I love y'all." I waved.
"Mhm." They both said and left.
I sighed and shut the door. I went into the kitchen and grabbed a wine glass and some wine. This is the way I spend every Friday night.
*
*
*
Ace
The sound of my cell door opening woke me up. I looked up and saw it was my lawyer.
"Yo Tucker good news my man."
"What?" I said.
"Your getting released today on good behavior."
"Man you stay playing." I said laying back down.
"I'm serious! You haven't had a fight in 2 years. Your free to go."
I shot back up. "Dead serious?"
"Dead serious." He said smiling.
"Oh shit." I said not knowing what to think or do.
I can finally go home to my family and get my life back!
*
*
*
I was riding in the car with my lawyer.
"Can I see your phone? I need to call someone."
"Sure." He said and handed me his phone.
I dialed a number and it rang for a couple of minutes. Then she finally answered.
"Who is this?"
"It's ya boy."
"Ace? How are you calling me?"
"Off of a phone. I'm a free man."
"Boy stop lying." Pepper laughed.
"I'm serious. I couldn't believe it either."
"OMG! Wait until I tell Lauren this-"
"Nah don't tell her yet. I wanna' surprise her tonight. Just make sure the kids aren't at the house with her. Oh yea and tell Darwin and Tae to meet me at the mall."
"Gotcha'."
I was gonna give Lauren the biggest surprise ever. I can't wait to see her reaction.
Lauren
The radio blasted through the house as I cleaned up.
I heard the front door open and the kids walked inside.
"Hey ma." Luke said.
"Hey." I said and continued to sweep the living room floor.
A couple of minutes later they came downstairs with clothes.
"What are y'all doing?" I asked curiously.
"Auntie Pepper said we're gonna spend the night again."
"Oh. Okay then. Bye have fun."
"Alright." They said and walked out the front door.
Since the kids weren't going to be here again tonight I can have a little fun.
Ace
I spent the whole day buying shit for Lauren. I know yesterday I kinda pissed her off but I plan on making up for that. The time now was 8pm and I decided to ahead and head home.
Tae pulled into the driveway.
"Here man." He said and handed me a pack of condoms.
"Good looking out." I said and slid them into my pocket.
I took a deep breath and walked up to the front door. Good thing it was already unlocked.
When I opened the door I saw Lauren standing over a man wearing a red thong and bra.
"WHAT THE FUCK!" I yelled making both of them jump.
"Ace!" Lauren yelled and threw on her robe. "W- w- what? How? Why?" Lauren said confused.
"Who the hell is this Lauren?" The man asked standing up from the couch.
"Nigga I should be asking you the same got damn question!"
"I'm Richard Smith."
"And I don't give a damn who you are!" I pushed his ass outside the door.
"Does that nigga know your MARRIED!" I yelled at Lauren.
I looked down at her hand and noticed her ring wasn't there.
She tried to hide her hands behind her back.
"Nah you know what? Fuck you Lauren."
"Ace wait-" she grabbed me but I pushed her away.
"No. fuck you! Fuck all this shit! All of the shit I have done for you and this is the foul shit you do to me? I helped your ass out when you almost got raped by some dirty bastard! I payed for your fucking abortion when you were carrying your father's child. IM THE ONE WHO MADE YOU WHO YOU ARE TODAY! You wouldn't have none of this shit if it wasn't for me."
I walked outside and saw that man still standing there.
"Aye you can go back in. She's all yours. And do me a favor and let me know do that pussy still taste good."
Lauren
Everything was happening so fast. My head was pounding and my heart was racing. I wasn't expecting Ace to be home at all.
"Lauren who the hell was that?" Richard asked coming back into the house.
"I think you should leave." I said.
"What? Why?"
"I just need some time alone. Please just leave."
He sighed. "Alright." He tried to kiss me but I pushed him away.
"I'll call you later." He walked out of my house.
Over the years I started talking to Dr. Smith. We became closer and closer and we just connected.
Hell yea I knew it was wrong. But with Ace being in jail I just wanted someone to be there for me and Dr. Smith was.
So I lied and told him I was never married, and we soon formed a relationship but I regret it all.