The Saintwood Series

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Little arrivals

Carrington

The preceding month, Gloria and I spent as much time together as we could together. We kept our affair a secret from everyone and met at the motel for our rendezvous.

I imagined the day when Gloria was free from Maurice, and we began our life together. I couldn’t wait for the day when we left, married, and had a family.

The weather warmed, and Mason welcomed his son, Cole. We arrived home to welcome the new addition to the family. I cradled my nephew, and he was a mixture of Luci and Mason with Mason’s blue eyes. As I held Cole, I imagined Gloria and me welcoming a little one, and that thought made me beam.

“Well, Mason, he’s the spitting image of you,” Charles mentioned while holding Cole.

“That means Cole will be devilishly handsome when he’s older,” Mason said.

We chuckled.

“What about you, Charles? When are you expanding your family?” Joseph inquired.

“Not for a while. Maggie and I are working through our difficulties.” Charles handed Cole to Luci. “Maggie doesn’t trust me to start a family, and it’s my fault for destroying her trust.”

I could hear the disappointment in Charles’s voice. My brother was an i***t, but family was essential to him.

“I’ll enjoy my nephew and Theresa’s child when it arrives,” Charles said.

A regret will hinder you and make you stagnant. I understand Maggie’s viewpoint, but Charles hung around the wrong people, and his buddies weren’t squeaky clean.

I left the hospital and visited Maggie. I’m not sure how helpful my visit will be, but I hope it is. I arrived at Charles and Maggie’s home and knocked on the front door, and someone answered it. I entered. Maggie closed the door as I settled there. “Hi, Carri.” Maggie’s tone held a coldness.

“Hi, Maggie.”

“What can I do for you?”

“I came to speak to you about Charles.”

Maggie pursed her lips and crossed her arms.

Well, this visit will be fun. “My brother is a fool, and you have a right to your anger. But the longer you punish Charles, the more distance you will place between you and him.”

“Carri, you weren’t there. Charles humiliated me at my parent’s hotel. People assume it’s because of his friends, but Charles decided of his own accord.”

“I understand, but we aren’t perfect. We do things we aren’t proud of, but it doesn’t mean you keep rubbing the person’s nose in it. Charles humiliated and angered you, Maggie, but he made one mistake.”

Maggie furrowed her eyebrows. “Do you understand how it felt when I discovered Charles with that woman? I questioned myself about what I did wrong for Charles to cheat, then questioned everything. It was the first time I didn’t consider myself sufficient for anyone.”

I recognized something about her anger. It was the same way as Gloria. A man promises to love and honor her, and then they do the complete opposite.

“You did nothing wrong, and Charles realizes that. I can’t excuse his behavior, but tonight, my brother regretted his decision. When he held Mason’s son Cole, he assumed he wouldn't have a family.”

Maggie’s expression shifted.

“When we lost our parents, it was difficult for all of us. Mason did his best, but it would have been different if they had lived.”

Maggie peered at me with empathy. I didn’t show up here to persuade her to forgive my brother but help her understand Charles better.

What Maggie said next surprised me. “People say you should leave when a man cheats on you. But how do you give up when it involves your heart? You don’t. You deal with the anger and hope you move past it. As angry as I am with your brother, my heart won’t allow me to leave because he can become the man it destined him.”

It was at that moment I realized Charles and Maggie would overcome this difficulty between them. I headed to Mason’s. Tomorrow I was returning to school and Gloria.

*****

Two months later, we received a call informing us that Theresa delivered a baby boy, Dean. We traveled to meet our new nephew.

Dean was a mini version of Grant, who’s Mexican. Dean’s skin tone was darker than Cole’s since Cole has an olive skin tone because of Luciana. Girls would favor the boys when they were older.

Theresa cradled her son. It made me yearn for a family of my own one day. I imagined having a son who would take after me but inherit Gloria’s heart, and that notion made me smile.

We stayed, visited Theresa and her family, then spent the night at Mason’s house. The next day, we were returning to school.

I rested on the couch at Mason’s, reflecting on Gloria.

“It’s lovely to have little ones in the family,” Christine replied.

“Yes, it is. You can spoil the kids, then give them back to their parents,” Joseph said.

Christine rolled her eyes as Elliot walked into the room. “Elliot, you missed seeing our nephew.”

“What’s there to see? Babies cry, mess their pants, and demand attention. I don’t get the fuss,” Elliot replied.

We all stared at him, annoyed.

“You’re young. One day, you will have children.” Luci rocked Cole.

“That is debatable. Women cause you grief, and children cause you headaches, and I have no need for either in my life,” Elliot said.

I shook my head. Our baby brother thinks he knows everything but knows nothing.

“What about you, Joseph?” Christine asked.

“Kids are wonderful when they belong to someone else. Mary and I decided we don’t want children but will enjoy spoiling our nephews,” Joseph said.

“We don’t have to worry about Carri since he isn’t dating anyone,” Mason said.

I shrugged. I didn’t tell my family about Gloria and our plans because they would react to our affair.

Later, I retired to bed. The following day, I’ll return to school. Soon, Gloria will have freedom from Maurice, and we will be together.

*****

Gloria

I wondered how Carri’s visit had gone with his family. Two babies in two months were terrific news, and it made me think of what it would be like to have a child with Carri, and that idea made me beam.

“Gloria!”

I strode out of the kitchen to see Maurice swaying back and forth.

“I ordered you to clean up this place. I’m not living in a s**t hole.”

“It’s your mess, so you clean it up. I’m not your maid!”

“Watch your tone!”

I swayed my head, walked past Maurice, and mumbled, “Why don’t you order your w***e?”

“What did you say?”

I rounded him. “I said talk to your w***e that you’re fucking.” That’s all it took as Maurice punched me, causing me to stumble backward. He didn’t stop at one time as he struck me several times, unleashing his drunken state on me.

Maurice finished, then spit on me. “You’re pathetic. Now get your ass up and clean this damn house!”

I rose to my feet, touched my face, and discovered blood. Maurice didn’t flinch, stumbled past me, and went upstairs.

I stumbled into the downstairs bathroom, flicked on the light, and stared into the mirror. My reflection horrified me. My nose and lip were bloody, and bruises started forming on my face. My eye swelled.

Maurice hit me before but hadn’t touched me since that day until now. I cleaned up, hearing a knock at the door. Now what?

I finished, then answered the door to find Mateo standing there. He strolled into the house as if he owned the damn place.

“Did you need something?” I asked.

“I’m delivering a message. I’m aware of your extracurricular activities.”

I stood there, emotionless.

“I won’t tell Maurice what you’re doing, but if you think about leaving, I will tell him. Then, enjoy the show.” Mateo smirked.

I glared at him.

“The Fraziers don’t need embarrassment.” He stepped towards me. “You will not ruin my baby brother with your ways. If you do, I’ll kill you.”

I furrowed my brows.

He looked around the living room. “Clean up this mess. You’re a disgrace as a wife.” With those words, Mateo left.

I stood there, thinking about the day I would leave with Carri. That day couldn’t come soon enough.