Craigslist Lover Read online

  I’m so nervous.

  No need to be. I’ll be right by your side, holding your hand.

  Thanks…

  “Leaving for the day?” Mrs. Ferdinand asked, coming out of her office.

  “My court date has been moved up. I cleared it with your assistant. She said it’s not a problem.” McKenzie had only been working at the firm for two months, and she tried her best to keep in line. She needed the income.

  “McKenzie, I don’t care what time you leave, as long as you keep my finances afloat. I’m not a micromanager. Good luck. I hope you get Wayne for everything he got. I knew something was wrong with him, but Frederick wouldn’t listen because he is one of his best accountants.” Mrs. Ferdinand sounded bitter. “Just because he still works with my husband doesn’t mean I support him. Take tomorrow off, dear.”

  McKenzie locked her door and hurried down the hallway to her car, then picked up Caleb. She texted Toby after parking behind Eric’s vehicle.

  I’m here. See you in a few.

  She opened her modest car door, and stepped out. Caleb was clapping as she unbuckled him from his car seat. “Come here, peanut.”

  “Ma, ma…” He grabbed on to her necklace, and started chewing on the plastic beads. McKenzie strolled up to the front door, and knocked.

  “Hey, lil’ dude.” Eric took Caleb and the baby bag. “He’s hanging with Big Eric today.”

  Caleb looked at Eric, then at McKenzie, and started pouting his full lips, until Eric tickled the baby’s tummy.

  “He’ll be fine.”

  “Thank you again. I know this was short notice,” she said, hurrying down the pathway.

  “Go before you’re late. Good luck…”

  Her lawyer was the best at what she did. But when dealing with here soon-to-be ex-husband, McKenzie needed more than luck.

  ***

  McKenzie was seated in court, waiting for her case to be called up next. Toby squeezed her hand. He’d been there every step of her new transition, and he never overstepped. He let her take control of her life and just followed along.

  Every day, he would message her, just like old times. She didn’t mind if he became a more permanent fixture in her life. McKenzie wasn’t ready for a relationship. It was time for her to live her life the way she wanted to.

  “Mr. and Mrs. O’Sullivan,” the bailiff called up.

  McKenzie’s rubbed her palms together trying to calm her nerves as she glanced around the courtroom. She hadn’t known he would be there. He’d already been awarded supervised visitation with Caleb in the last court hearing, and now he was going to sue her for full custody.

  Wayne entered the room with his mother in tow and her heart sank. He’d threatened to sue her for custody of Caleb if she didn’t drop the divorce. She’d finally called his bluff and here they were.

  “He can’t hurt you,” Toby whispered in her ear. “Go end this chapter in your life.”

  McKenzie stood, and walked up with her head held high. The judge started asking questions and their lawyers answered.

  “Your Honor, my client doesn’t want a divorce. He believes he and his wife can work this out,” Wayne’s lawyer stated.

  Her hands started to sweat.

  “Your Honor, that’s insane. This man put my client through hell for years. He threatened to kill her and their son. Mrs. O’Sullivan isn’t asking for anything from Mr. O’Sullivan. Her one request is to get her name changed back to Strong.”

  “He’s willing to attend anger management classes, and marriage counseling. Your Honor, he loves his wife.”

  “He’s been to classes and counseling, and it didn’t change his behavior. Enough is enough, Your Honor. Do you want to see this mother in a body bag?” Her lawyer made sure to pronounce the last words slowly.

  The judge went over the papers in his hand. “Mr. O’Sullivan, did you hit your wife?”

  Wayne looked back at his mother. “Your Honor, I grabbed her once. I love my wife. All I’m asking is for six months.”

  “Mrs. O’Sullivan, what do you want?” the judge asked.

  McKenzie thought long and hard about what she would say. She decided to sum up her life with Wayne in one paragraph. She hadn’t shed a tear over the situation since the last day he’d put his hands on her, but at this moment, a tear escaped her eyes. “I should’ve seen the signs early on. I was too naïve and in love. I couldn’t see that he was starting to turn me into what he thought a perfect wife should be. I thought I had it all: a promising career, a handsome husband, huge house and nice cars, until he shattered it into a million pieces.” McKenzie swallowed the sobs threatening to burst out as all the memories of abuse over the last three years resurfaced.

  “Take your time,” the judge said with sympathy in her voice.

  “First it started with a shove, then hurtful words, putting me down, making me think that I was worthless. Then overnight, it turned into black eyes, broken ribs and a couple concussions, and when I thought I was free, he showed up with flowers and empty promises of change. Change that never happened. I prayed for him to change over and over again. My knees got weak with how much I was on them, begging God. Over the years, I expected to be beaten just because he was having a bad day. I found out I was pregnant and instead of being happy, I was miserable. Because now I would always have a connection to him.” She stared at Wayne. “He would always have a hold on me. I ran to another state, and once again he caught up to me and gave me a beating that I wouldn’t soon forget. I almost lost our child and deep down I wanted to miscarry. I didn’t want my baby to suffer through what I had.” McKenzie wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “But once I laid eyes on my sweet baby, everything that I thought I didn’t want was right in front of me. I was responsible for this little being, and I promised never to let anyone hurt him. Caleb gave me a reason to want to live in that hellhole, because I knew he wouldn’t want for anything. It wasn’t about me anymore. I could sustain the whuppings for him.” McKenzie sobbed, and took a moment to get her emotions in check.

  Toby stood and exited the room. Soon after, he came back with napkins in his hand. He handed them to her, and she wiped her face. “No weapons formed against you shall prosper,” he mouthed, and went back to his seat.

  She inhaled and exhaled, continuing. “After my son was born, Mr. O’Sullivan became more possessive of me. He became jealous for no reason. If the mailman looked too long, he assumed he wanted me, but in the same sentence would tell me that no one would want me, I was ugly, too fat, and that I was worthless without him. He almost had me convinced that I was all those things.”

  Wayne showed no emotion as she talked. His mother was bawling.

  “I was given a monthly allowance and told when and where I could go, and if I defied him in any way I would regret it. He did the unthinkable and threatened my son. Can you believe that?” McKenzie asked the judge. “He did the one thing I told myself I couldn’t accept. Mr. O’Sullivan put his hands on my baby.”

  “Oh no…” Mrs. Carmela cried out.

  “He pointed a gun at his tiny head without remorse and said I quote ‘If you leave I will kill him first so you can see, then you and then I’ll end my own life, and we’ll be together for eternity.’”

  The judge and her own lawyer were in tears as she remembered that day like it was yesterday.

  “Do you remember, Wayne?” She turned to face him. “When you grabbed me by the neck and lifted me against the wall? Just because I spent more than the allowed on groceries?”

  Wayne looked away from her.

  McKenzie faced the judge. “Your Honor. You ask what do I want? I want to be free of the chains he had on me. I want to be able to spread my wings and fly…” she paused. “I need to find myself again. The smart, funny, professional woman I was before he tried to break me down. He tried, and he almost succeeded. My faith in God saw me through my despair and I know God will see me through this. I plead to the court to put my son first in your decisions concerning his custody. He shouldn’t be left alone with him. Please continue the supervised visitations.”

  Mrs. Carmela ran out of the room.

  The judge rose and gave them a recess, and McKenzie walked out of the courtroom.

  Toby strolled up to her and wrapped his strong arms around her. “You did great,” he whispered in her ear. “I got you.”

  Although McKenzie felt at peace in his embrace, she could feel someone staring at them. When she pulled back, Wayne walked up to them.

  Toby stepped toward him. “Take another fucking step and you won’t be able to walk out of here.” His voice was soft but vicious.

  “It’s okay.” She placed her hand on Toby’s muscular chest. “Let him say his piece.” Gone was the frightened girl, and now stood the strong woman. Nothing Wayne could do could harm her anymore.

  Her husband smirked. “So this is the punk you cheated on me with?” He observed them. “He can’t give you everything I did.”

  He didn’t have a clue, she didn’t care about the things a man could or couldn’t give her. It was about respect and understanding.

  “And you’re working again. Caleb needs a full-time mother.” Wayne glared at her. “Why are you working?” He waited for an answer. “McKenzie, you belong to me. He will never love you the way I do.”

  “She belongs to no one,” Toby said, clenching his jaw. “You come near her and—”

  “And what? I’m tired of your threats. You think I don’t know who you are?” Wayne pointed at him and huffed. “You let this man come into our home and beat me with a fucking bat. If you go through with this, I will press charges and get full custody of our son.”

  “Give it your best shot,” Toby snapped. “You have nothing on me.” He closed his fist and took a stride, landing face to
face with Wayne. They were barely touching each other. The vein on Toby’s neck throbbed and Wayne’s nose flared.

  McKenzie took Toby’s hand. “He’s not worth it,” she said, and led him back into the courtroom. “Your support means a lot.”

  “I can’t wait until you’re finally divorced.” He combed his fingers through his hair.

  “Why?”

  Toby gazed at her through dark blue eyes. His irises had darkened; gone were the baby blues. “You’ll find out as soon as the judge says you no longer have ties to that motherfucker. I know he’ll always be Caleb’s father, but he will no longer have any claims on you.” He squeezed her hand.

  Minutes later, court was back in session.

  “Mrs. Strong,” the judge said, making her smile. “Your divorce has been granted.”

  “Oh!” McKenzie lift her hand in the air. “Praise God!” Toby patted her on the back.

  Then the judge turned toward Wayne. “Mr. O’Sullivan, you need help. If you think the way you treated your wife is normal, it’s not. I’m ordering you to anger management classes, before you can see your son again.”

  “You can’t keep my son from me!” Wayne yelled, banging his hand on the table. His lawyer whispered in his ear.

  “I can and I will until you get the help you need. Mr. O’Sullivan, you made the decision to aim a gun at your family.” she pointed at him. “You, young man had every intention of using it. Your son is innocent in all of this. He shouldn’t have to live without a father or a mother. I’m giving you the opportunity to do better by him. You’re serving community service for the assault. Had it been me over that case, you would be behind bars. I don’t care that you had a license to carry a concealed weapon.”

  “I would never hurt my son.” His face was contorted in anger.

  “It’s sad.” The judge nodded her head. “You just admitted that you didn’t have any intention of hurting your son, but Mrs. Strong was a different story.” She glared over at him, waiting for him to answer, and then continued. “You are ordered to pay spousal support for a year.”

  “What?” He stood. “That’s my money.”

  “Money that you held over your wife’s head. You just told me you were the sole provider in the household, so she’s entitled to the same lifestyle you had her used to. You’re also ordered to pay child support for Caleb O’Sullivan.” She flipped over the documents in her possession. “I hereby give primary custody to Mrs. Strong, and once you get yourself together, Mr. O’Sullivan, you’ll be able to see him under supervision.” The judge banged her gavel and then stood smiling at McKenzie. “Go spread your wings, and fly,” she said, with a final smile as she walked out.

  McKenzie ran into Toby’s arms. “It’s finally over. I’m divorced.”

  “And free.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. “I’ve been wanting to do this.” Toby gave McKenzie a feather kiss on her temple.

  “Get your hands off my wife!” Wayne yelled and as soon he went to rush over to them, his lawyer pushed him back, stopping him.

  “Are you crazy? You already lost your wife. Do you want to lose your son, too?” His lawyer picked up his briefcase. “It’s time to let her go. As of today, she is no longer your wife.”

  Wayne stared at her, tears running down his cheeks. “I love her. I love you, McKenzie!”

  “Let’s go celebrate.” Toby grinned, ignoring her ex-husband. “I texted Eric the good news. He said we can pick Caleb up anytime we want to.”

  McKenzie grinned back. “I’m divorced!” She chuckled as Wayne stormed out of the courtroom.

  “Yes, beautiful, you’re divorced.” Toby entwined his fingers with hers. “One chapter closed; let’s start a new one.”

  They left the courthouse hand in hand. McKenzie was excited. She’d already started a new chapter in life, but now all loose ends were tied and burned.

  ***

  Wayne sat in the dark in his empty house, listening to “Boomerang” by Lyfe Jennings imagining that white boy making love to his wife. He took a long gulp of his vodka, and in his mind, he heard her moan. He clenched his jaw, and his nostrils flared as he gripped the glass in his hand. Wayne slammed the glass against the wooden table, shattering it to pieces. He stared at his bloody hand as tears ran down his cheeks. It was over. McKenzie had finally followed through on her threat. They were divorced. He’d lost it all, his wife and son. Wayne balled his fist. He’d given her everything and he’d never once stepped out on her and this was the thanks he’d received.

  She was an ungrateful bitch, but she wasn’t going to keep his son from him. He could see McKenzie and her new man laughing at him.

  How dare the judge order him to pay spousal support? McKenzie had said she didn’t want shit from him, then why was he paying her anything? She just stood there with a fucking smirk on her face as the judge read her decision. She told the court lies. McKenzie hadn’t mentioned how she back-talked, or the times she’d hit him back. It was always after he’d struck her, but he was the man of the house. Wayne was going crazy in this empty house without his family in it. McKenzie would forgive him if he got his shit together. She always came back. This time he’d have to put some work into it.

  She divorced you!

  He would show up at the anger management class and he’d even go to therapy again. Caleb was all he had, and he wasn’t going to lose him. He would do whatever it took to stay in Caleb’s life. Another man wasn’t going to raise his son. “I will be a better man for you, son.” He picked up the bottle and slammed it against the wall.

  Wayne heard someone opening the front door, and he jumped out of the chair. “McKenzie, I knew you would come to your senses,” he said with a grin on his face—until he saw his mother instead of his wife and son.

  “No, it’s not your ex-wife.” she placed her purse on the kitchen counter. His mother stared at him through disappointed eyes that so resembled his. “Are you drinking your misery away?” She glanced at the shattered glass and liquid on the floor. “That’s your problem.” She opened each cabinet in the kitchen and grabbed the bottles he had and emptied them, one by one, into the sink.

  “What are you doing?” He moved closer to her until she glared at him.

  “I’m getting rid of your crutch.” His mother slammed the empty bottles in the garbage. “You’ve hurt that girl enough. Let her go, Wayne, or you’ll lose what you have left.”

  “I thought she cheated on me!”

  “But she didn’t.” His mom stared him down. “And even if she did, you have no reason to hit her.”

  “I didn’t mean to.”

  “You didn’t mean to. I sat here a few months ago and I asked you point blank if you’d ever hit her before, and you looked me in the eye and said no!” his mother yelled. “I would’ve helped you.”

  “I was ashamed of myself.”

  “And you should be.”

  He bowed his head in shame. “I’m nothing without her!” He sat on the stairs going to the upper level.

  His mom lifted her right eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. “You should’ve thought about that before the first time you lifted your hand to cause damage. McKenzie is everything without you.”

  “Why would you say that?” He was hurt that his mother wasn’t on his side.

  “Because it’s the truth. You need help, son, and I will be right by your side if you let me, but first you have to release her. McKenzie is no longer your wife,” she said with unshed tears. “You tortured that woman for years, and you held a gun on her and your own son,” she hollered. “How could you?”

  Wayne combed his fingers through his unruly curls as tears overcame him. “I don’t know why,” he sobbed. “Everything was great until I lost my job. I felt like shit, because she was making all the money paying bills, and one day I took out all my frustration on her.”

  “For years!” his mother yelled. “It wasn’t a mistake, Wayne. A mistake can be forgiven. When it becomes a hateful pattern, then it’s time to let go. If you go after her or try to tear her down in any way, I will walk out of your life, too. McKenzie didn’t deserve the hand you dealt her. You will never find anyone as compassionate and caring as your ex. She held down this house and paid your bills when you couldn’t and you punished her for that. So what, she threw up the fact that she was the sole provider in the house?” His mother’s lips thinned. “She didn’t tell you to leave like some other women would have—no, she stood by your ass.” Tears rolled down her face. “Where did I go wrong with you? What did I do to make you an abuser? Tell me!”