Forgiveness and Second Chances Read online

  “Hey, baby.” He gave her a lingering kiss.

  “That’s so nasty. Stop!” Alanie said, covering her eyes with her hands. “Mom, make her move,” she said, placing her hands back on her belly.

  “I’ve been trying, but now that Daddy’s home, I bet she will.” She grabbed his hands and placed them on her stomach, and the baby started kicking.

  Jeremy’s chuckle was deep. “That’s my girl. Only for daddy.”

  Alanie started laughing. “Mom, are those her tiny feet?”

  “Mom!” The woman said, coming from the bathroom.

  Malanie had forgotten all about her the moment he’d seen her family.

  Jeremy and Alanie jumped and turned around at the voice.

  He stood. “Laura,” he whispered.

  Malanie watched him closely. The woman was his ex, and she looked more gorgeous than Malanie had expected.

  She marched over to where they were. “Oh my, Alanie, you’ve gotten so big and beautiful.”

  She lifted Alanie into a hug. “Thank you.”

  Jeremy still didn’t say anything. The woman went up to him, gave him a hug, and then stepped back.

  “Why are you calling your maid ‘mom’?”

  “Maid?” Jeremy asked.

  “She assumed I was your maid or babysitter,” offered Malanie.

  Alanie backed away. “This is my mom, not no maid,” she said with a bit of attitude.

  “Your real mom.”

  Malanie pushed forward. “Yes, I’m her biological mother.”

  “Laura, what are you doing here?” Jeremy asked.

  “I wanted to talk to you.” She gazed at him.

  “About what? It’s been years. There is nothing to say.”

  “Please, just a few minutes. It’s important,” she pleaded.

  “Laura, this is my wife, Malanie.”

  “Your wife?” She sounded surprised. She stared at her ring for the first time.

  “Yes, my wife. I think you should leave now,” he said, walking to the door.

  “But I came all this way.” She followed him.

  “Talk to her….” Malanie said, getting help from her daughter.

  “Baby, I don’t need to hear anything she has to say.” He watched her.

  “But it looks like she does.” She finally was able to get up, and she picked up her purse and keys. “We’re going to get lunch.” The woman wobbled. “Come on, Alanie.”

  Alanie walked past the other woman and headed out. “It was nice seeing you, Ms. Laura. Bye.”

  Jeremy grabbed her hand. “Lanie, you don’t have to leave.”

  “I know, but I have something very important to take care of.” Taking the wrap off her head, she glared at Laura. “And I trust you.” She got on her tiptoes and passionately kissed him. He opened up and smiled. She wiped his mouth.

  “I love you,” he said, chuckling.

  “Me more. Bye….” She waved and went down the stairs.

  His expression changed as soon as she was down the stairs. He turned and glared at Laura. “What are you doing here?”

  “I didn’t mean to run your wife off,” she said.

  “You didn’t run her off. Say what you came to say and leave,” he said, crossing his arms.

  “You downgraded.”

  “I downgraded what?”

  “Your house and woman.”

  “Don’t disrespect my wife.”

  “I never thought you would marry that kind of woman.”

  He chuckled. “What kind of woman, Laura?”

  “The kind that stays home and eats bonbon all day. I thought you wanted an independent woman that could take care of her own and not rely on you.”

  “I have that, and more.”

  “Whatever. You left me because you thought all I wanted was your money, and look at you now.” She laughed.

  “Yeah, look at me now.” He smiled, thinking if only she knew my wife is a shark in the accounting world, and that she earned more than him.

  She got serious, and touched his arm. “Are you happy?”

  He stared into her eyes. “Yes, I’m in love with my wife. We have a beautiful daughter and we’re expecting. Life can’t get any better.”

  “Jeremy…. Do you ever think about me?” she asked, caressing his arm.

  “I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

  “You still care. That’s enough for me.”

  “Laura.” He took her hand. “We were together for all the wrong reasons. You used me, but in a way I used you.” He released her hand. “You used me because you thought I had power and status, and….” He sighed. “I used you to forget.”

  “But you almost married me.”

  “But I didn’t. My heart belonged to Malanie.”

  “You were kids. How is that possible?” Her eyes shone.

  “You’re right, we were kids, but I knew she was the one back then, and now I’m all grown up and I still believe it. I’m in love with the adult Malanie.”

  “I guess I’m too late, then.”

  “For what?” he asked, curious.

  “For a second chance.”

  “Yes.” Jeremy opened the door. “I hope you find what you’ve been searching for, because it’s not me.”

  She passed by him and stopped. “I didn’t know what I had until I lost you.”

  She went to kiss him and he placed his index finger over her lips. “I know what I have and I won’t mess that up. Bye, Laura.”

  “Bye, Jeremy…. Happy birthday.”

  At least someone remembered. He watched her go down the steps and leave.

  ***

  Jeremy sat waiting for Malanie and Alanie to come home. The phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and it was Malanie. “Hey, baby.”

  “Daddy, Mom’s in pain.”

  He rose up. “Where are you?” he asked, grabbing his keys.

  “At Aunt Carolyn’s.”

  “I thought you guys went to get lunch. Tell your aunt to take your mother to the hospital. I’ll meet them there.” He raced out the door.

  “Aunt Carolyn said she can’t take her.” Alanie sounded claim.

  “What do you mean she can’t take her?” He raised his voice, jumping into his car.

  “Her car is not here. Mom said drive safe.”

  “I’m on my way. Bye.” He hung up, worried. Why hadn’t they called 911? He rushed over to his sister’s house. He was pissed—furious—to see Carolyn’s car in her driveway. Why the fuck couldn’t she take Malanie to the hospital?

  He could see through the sidelight windows that the house was dark. He knocked and nobody answered. He turned the doorknob and the door was open, so he pushed it in.

  Surprise!

  Everybody screamed, scaring him half to death. He looked around the room. Derrick, Stefanie, Carolyn, Thomas, Blake, Tomas, Alanie, and Malanie all laughed.

  Happy Birthday!

  He stared at Malanie. She and the baby were all right. She’d gotten her hair done. Her curls were gone, and she wore a red dress. Her make up was flawless.

  She rushed toward him and hugged him. “Happy birthday, baby. I told them not to do it,” she whispered.

  He kissed the top of her head. “You scared me, but I’ll forgive you guys because you didn’t forget my birthday. I love you.” He kissed her lips.

  “Always.”

  “Daddy, happy birthday. Sorry,” Alanie said, trying not to smile.

  “I’ll get you back.”

  Derrick came over and gave him a man-hug. “Not my idea.”

  “Happy birthday.” Stefanie said, holding her one-year-old baby. “We didn’t mean to scare you, but we needed to surprise you. I hope you still love us.”

  His sister brought out the cake with sparkling candles, and they began to sing.

  ***

  They arrived home late; it was time to go to bed. Jeremy took a shower and waited in bed for Malanie to take hers. He knew she had questions about why Laura had been there. He couldn’t bl
ame her, but had the situation been reversed, he would’ve never left her alone with another man.

  The bathroom door opened, and she started to sing happy birthday. He started laughing because she was no American idol. All of a sudden, her leg showed. He stared at her chocolate-toned leg as it went up and down.

  Then she gave him a bigger peek. She wore a red teddy with lace under her chest, pushing her breasts up. Her stomach poked out a tiny bit. She started dancing seductively, making him hot and aroused. His wife didn’t know how beautiful and sexy she was. Her pregnancy had just made it better.

  “Do that again,” he said between chuckles.

  She wound down and then up, dancing seductively to the bed. She climbed on the bed and crawled up to him, pulling back the sheets so she could kiss his legs. His boxers looked like a tent. She stroked his cock, gave it a kiss, and continued up to his stomach where she stopped, dipping her tongue in his navel and making him jump. She giggled, continuing to his nipples, making circular motions with her tongue. “Am I forgiven?”

  He gasped. “For what?”

  “For scaring you.”

  He cupped her face and nipped her bottom lip, and with his tongue, teased her to open up. “I love you, Lanie.”

  She leaned away, going back down the length of his body, taking off his boxers. She took his cock in her hands and started stroking him up and down.

  “La-nie….”

  She twisted her wrist and lowered her mouth to the tip of his cock and licked it all the way down to the base. In one swift move, she took as much as she could in her mouth. Sucking, she bobbed up and down.

  “Fuck…Baby…” His toes curled. “That’s it!” He grabbed her hair and guided her until she almost gagged, and he stopped her.

  He slipped from under her and laid her on her back. “We’ve been through so such, and I love you more each day.” He took her foot in his hands. His lips curled, and he gently sucked her toes, each in turn.

  She gazed into his eyes. “Mmm, I never thought that could feel…oh…so good.”

  He kissed her ankles and continued licking her calves and thighs. He looked at her pussy and said, “I’ll be back.” He kissed her big belly. “I love you, too.”

  He leaned to the side and rubbed her nipples between his fingers, obviously knowing she was extra sensitive. “You like that?”

  She moaned when his wet lips wrapped around her nipples, taking them one by one.

  “Yes…yes….”

  He then licked his way from her collarbone to her neck and lips. He kissed her eyelids. “Look at me,” he whispered. She gazed at him, matching the desire and love she saw in his eyes with her own. “You’re amazing.”

  “No, baby…you are.”

  He went back down and began nibbling her inner thighs. She started shaking in anticipation.

  “Don’t tease me.”

  He placed his finger on her pussy, opening her labia, and kissed her clit. “Oh, yes…. More…don’t stop,” she said in between murmurs. He continued eating her out, then placed a finger in her core while he licked and nibbled on her clit. Her pussy started to squeeze around his finger. “I’m coming…. Yes! Yes!”

  He helped her get on all fours. This had become her favorite position since her stomach had started getting big. “Je-re-my…. More, now.”

  He lubricated his cock with his pre-cum and pushed into her little by little, not wanting to hurt her. “Fuck, Lanie. You were made for me,” he groaned between his teeth. He gave her slow strokes, gripping her hips, moving her to his rhythm.

  She arched her back, giving him more access to her sweet pussy. He was so addicted to her. It felt like no time had passed between them. “Harder! Don’t hold back. Give me more.” She backed up, giving him a run for his money.

  “Baby, I don’t want to hurt you.” He tried to slow her movement, but she wouldn’t stop. If she wanted it, that was what he was going to do.

  “Hold…on.” He began to pound her ass. Leaning over her, he grabbed her breast to pinch her nipples. That must have driven her over the edge, because she screamed out and he could feel her essence lubricating his cock. He was in too deep. He couldn’t slow down. He gripped her hips and plunged into her until he burst deep inside her. He was numb from his release but knew he couldn’t fall on her, so he rolled and dropped next to her. She lay on her side.

  “Oh my God, that was amazing,” she said between breaths.

  “The best birthday present ever.”

  She slipped under the covers and started to fall asleep.

  “Lanie, about Laura,” he said, sliding in behind her.

  “I trust you.” She took his hands and wrapped them around her belly, and the baby moved. “I know you love me, and that’s all that matters.”

  Chapter Forty

  Malanie had promised Jeremy this would be her last week at work. She’d planned to take a month off before her due date. The doctor had said there was no sign of any problem with her placenta. Maybe happiness was finally in store for her.

  Her cell phone rang.

  “I need to see you, Malanie,” said Carmen. “It’s important.”

  “Are you okay? You sound out of breath.”

  “Please, Malanie.”

  “I’ll be here until four. You can come by.”

  “Okay.” She hung up the phone.

  Malanie just stared at her cell. What’s wrong with Carmen? She placed the phone down and her office phone rang.

  “Malanie Wood, how can I help you?”

  “I never get tried of hearing you say your name.”

  She smiled. Even now, every time she heard his voice, her heart raced.

  “Lanie, I’ll be late picking you up.”

  “How late?”

  “Maybe an hour. I have a meeting.”

  “That’s okay. Carmen is coming to visit, and I have a few things to finish.”

  “If I’m done early, I’ll call you. I love you.”

  “I love you more. Mwah!”

  Once she’d entered her third trimester, Jeremy had begun driving her to and picking her up from work. He did everything for her, from cooking to getting everything she craved. Alanie loved to talk and sing to her belly.

  The baby moved, and she patted her stomach. “Yeah, little mama…I can’t wait to see you.” She sat up and looked up to the sky. “Annabelle, I will always love you. Always.” She wiped a tear as it fell.

  ***

  There was a soft knock on her door. “Come in.”

  Carmen rushed in, and with a little push, Malanie stood. “You’re pregnant.”

  Carmen strode over and hugged Malanie, surprising her. “Carmen, you’re shaking. What’s wrong?”

  “Malanie…I should’ve told you this months ago, but he threatened me.” Carmen paced back and forth.

  “Who?”

  “Luis, that’s who.”

  “Carmen, I’m finally happy. I don’t care about your cousin.”

  “Malanie!” she yelled. “He and that slut framed Jeremy.”

  “What are you talking about?” She crossed her arms over her stomach.

  “The rape. Luis and some lady named Briana. They set him up.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I heard them. He told her if she even dared open her mouth he would kill her. They caught me eavesdropping and he told me he would hurt me. So I left town.” She sat down and covered her face with her hands.

  “And you waited until now to tell me!” she yelled. “We’ve been through so much because of that accusation and you knew all along that Luis set him up.” She stood in front of her.

  “I’m sorry, Malanie. I was, and I’m still afraid.”

  “Sorry! You’re supposed to be my friend!” she yelled, feeling her eye twitch.

  Carmen stood. “I’m here now.”

  “We need to go to the police station.” Malanie strode around her desk, looking for her purse.

  “I’ll do anything for you to forgive me, Malanie. I do cherish
your friendship. You’ve always been there for me, even when I’ve been a bad friend. I never believed that my cousin could be so vicious. I always turned the other way, but I can’t do it anymore.” She grabbed her purse, too. “I don’t want him to hurt anybody else. I’m afraid he’ll hurt me, too.”

  “He almost cost me my family.” She rubbed her big belly.

  Carmen saw the ring on her finger. “You’re married.”

  “Yes, I married the man who was created for me. We’re finally a family,” she said, smiling.

  Carmen sat back down. “So I don’t have to report him.”

  “What?”

  “You’re happy, Malanie. The set-up didn’t destroy you. No one has to know.”

  “He almost destroyed Jeremy’s career. Damn it, Carmen, he is a cop. He is supposed to uphold the law, not use it to his own advantage.” She picked up the phone and dialed. “Jeremy, please call me as soon as you get this—” She didn’t get to finish.

  “Hang up now!” Luis slammed Malanie’s office door shut and locked it. He walked over and ripped the phone cord out of the wall. “Your mom said you were coming home today.” He glared at Carmen. “What did I tell you?”

  Carmen got up from her chair and scuttled back. “Luis, please leave us alone. I didn’t tell her anything.”

  “What was she supposed to tell me?” Malanie asked

  He turned and for the first time really took a look at Malanie. His eyes got big when he saw her stomach. “You’re pregnant,” he whispered.

  She instantly grabbed her stomach.

  “You’re fucking pregnant. Is it that white boy?” You let him touch you, feel you. You’re suppose to be with me,” he said, staring at her.

  Malanie just glared at him. She started praying for her baby to be safe.

  He moved forward, though not menacingly. His facial expression was soft. “Malanie, I know I hurt you, but I love you. You’re the only woman who ever saw the good in me. He can’t love you like I do.”

  “Luis, I don’t love you. You hurt me in so many ways.” She refused to break eye contact with him.