James loved Ashlynne very much. When he first met her he knew she was the woman he’d been looking for. The woman he would spend the rest of his life with. Everything inside of him wanted to protect Ashlynne. He would give his life to ensure no hurt, harm or danger would ever come upon her. He could promise her the world. He could promise her happiness, security, protection, and a love to last a lifetime. The only thing he couldn’t promise her was the one thing she wanted: children. That was one promise he couldn’t make her. Due to the abuse of her ex boyfriend he could never promise her she would be able to carry his child.
He watched her from the bedroom as she waited anxiously for the results. She was the most beautiful woman in the world to him. She had smooth, chocolate skin, skin the color of hot chocolate. Although she was dark the many scars that she had endured at the hands of her ex boyfriend were still visible. He cringed as he thought about all she had been through. She had big brown eyes and full lips. She was tall and thick in all the right places. Her perky C cup breasts were perfect for her body. They weren’t too big or small, but just enough to hold in his hands. She had a nice, flat stomach which was pierced and held a red belly ring. She had nice long legs and a booty that any rap star would want to rap about. She was perfect. She looked like a supermodel.
Ashlynne stood up and ran her hands through her short jet black hair. She was nervous, anxious, and it felt as if 2 minutes was taking a lifetime. He stood up and walked over to her. He kissed her on her forehead and pulled her close.
“Its okay baby. No matter what the results are it’s me and you forever. We will get through it.”
Ashlynne smiled and kissed him on the lips.
“I love you,” she said softly.
“I love you more baby.”
She picked up the test and his heart dropped when he seen the expression on her face. A tear slid down her face and he pulled her close to him.
“Its okay baby. It will happen one day. We just gotta keep the faith.”
Ashlynne nodded and wrapped her arms around James. She loved him and was happy to have met such a wonderful man. They had been dating for almost a year, but it had gotten serious so fast. After one month they had moved in together and now here they were 2 miscarriages and 4 negative pregnancy tests later. They were ready to start a family and it wouldn’t happen for them.
The doorbell rang as they continued their embrace. Neither of them wanted to answer it but they knew it had to be done. It might be his mother.
He kissed Ashlynne on the lips one last time.
“I’m gonna get the door.”
She smiled and nodded.
He went downstairs and looked through the peephole. A tall, light skinned man stood at the door. He looked like he had worked out every day of his life. He wore a red t shirt and a pair of black basketball shorts.
James opened the door and the man gave him an angry stare. After a few minutes he finally spoke.
“Tell Kendra I need to talk to her.”
“Sorry man, you got the wrong address,” He said closing the door. The man put his hand up and stopped it from closing.”
“Naw man, I’m sure I have the right address. Now tell her to come here, I need to talk to her.”
“I don’t know no fucking Kendra my man. Now please get the hell off my doorstep.”
“KENDRA!!” He yelled trying to look past James and into the house. James was trying to figure out if it would be quicker to call the police or go get his gun from upstairs. He usually didn’t answer the door without it but he had been caught at a sensitive moment.
“KENDRA!! GET YO ASS DOWN HERE!!”
Before James had a chance to react Ashlynne came up behind him.
“What’s going on?” She asked looking confused.
“Kendra, it’s time for you to bring your ass home. You been gone long enough.”
Ashlynne looked confused.
“I’m sorry sir, you must have the wrong person.”
She tried to close the door like James had earlier but the man stopped her.
“Don’t play fuckin’ games with me Kendra. I found you. You can’t run from me anymore.”
“Wait a minute, is this your ex boyfriend, the one that used to beat you up?” James asked looking at Ashlynne.
The man got a confused look on his face.
“Beat her up? Is that what you’re telling people about me? Seriously Kendra? I saved you, why you actin like this?”
“Is this your ex boyfriend?”
“I’m not her ex boyfriend, I’m her husband. Kendra, you need to tell this man the truth.”
James looked at Ashlynne but she had a blank look on her face. He didn’t know what the hell was going on or what to believe. All of a sudden a little girl ran up and pushed past the man. She had caramel skin and long brown hair that was braided with colorful beads at the end. She was about six years old and she had the same features as Ashlynne; from the big brown eyes to the long legs.
She ran right up to Ashlynne and wrapped her arms around her.
“Mommy!” She yelled as tears ran down her face. “I missed you so much!”
When I looked at Ashlynne’s face it confirmed my worst fears: this was her daughter, he was her husband and this was her family. Not me. She had a look of love and regret on her face. Anybody could see just from those few seconds how much she loved this little girl.
“Mommy please come home. I miss you come home.”
“I am baby. Go wait in the car with Daddy while I talk to my friend. I’ll be right out.”
“Don’t play games with me Kendra,” the man said looking at Kendra with a serious look on his face.
“I’m not Jeremy.”
“Come on Ashlynne,” he said grabbing the little girls hand and heading towards the black Chevy Tahoe they had come in.
James turned and looked at her with his mouth open in shock. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. He didn’t know what to say to her or what her name was. She had lied to him. She went into the house and he followed her.
“You have a child?”
“James I’m so sorry,” she said as tears rolled down her face. She didn’t know what to say to him that would make up for what he had just seen. She had no explanation for what she had done to him so I’m sorry was all she could say.
“Tell me the truth. Who are you?”
“Kendra. I’m Kendra. I’m so sorry I lied to you James, I really am.”
“So why did you tell me your name was Ashlynne? That’s your daughter’s name.”
She paused as tears ran down her face.
“It was the only way I could hear it every day.”
Jeremy honked the horn and Ashlynne looked at the door.
“I’m so sorry James but I have to go. I have to be with my daughter. She misses me and I miss her and she had to be number one in my life from now on.”
“Is that your ex boyfriend?”
Ashlynne closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. Tears rolled down her face.
“He’s my husband.”
James couldn’t believe what was happening. Everything she had told him had been a lie. She was a lie. He didn’t even know who she was.
“So did he beat you up? Are you going to tell me truth about anything?”
“I used to be a prostitute okay! I’m ashamed of that but I had to do what I had to do. James never beat me up, my pimp did. But that was the only way I could explain all the scars without you finding out I was a prostitute. Jeremy saw my pimp beating me up one day and he came and saved me. He beat him up and took me away from that life. He saved me.”
“So why did you leave him?”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to see what else was out there. I never had control of my life, somebody else did and I just wanted to see what it was like to control my life for once. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have left my family.”
James couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was this the same woman he was trying to get pregnant this morning? The same woman he had just held and kissed minutes earlier.
“So you used me?”
Jeremy honked again and Ashlynne looked at the door. She looked back at me and at the door again. She looked James in his eyes as hers welled up with tears.
“I meant it when I said I loved you. I didn’t use you. I’m so sorry.”
She turned and walked away from James and toward the door. She turned and looked at him one more time before she walked out of his life forever.
