The Saintwood Series

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

A situation

Gloria

A few months passed, and I met Carri to talk to him about leaving sooner. We met at the motel, giving into our passion as we made love. I craved to be with Carri, and wasn’t aware that it would be the last chance I would see him.

Carri made passionate love to me as I gave in to him. After we finished, we talked.

“Are you sure?” Carri asked me.

“I can’t remain there any longer. I hate that family, and I’m miserable. You make me happy.”

We lay in bed.

“Okay, yeah, let’s do it.”

I grinned.

“Once we get settled, I’ll finish classes and earn my degree. It won’t make Mason happy, but it doesn’t matter. I love you, Gloria.”

“I love you, Carri.”

Carri smiled at me, then tugged me to him and made love to me once more. We dressed, and I drove home.

I arrived home and showered so that Maurice wouldn’t suspect. Maurice was waiting when I finished bathing and appeared from the bathroom in a towel.

I glimpsed at Maurice, then grabbed clothes from the dresser to wear.

“Gloria, I’ve been hard on you, but I’m trying. It seems like you don’t care.”

I closed the dresser drawer and dressed.

“Gloria, talk to me.”

I snapped my head towards him. “What do you want me to say, Maurice? You tell me that you changed, then beat the hell out of me every chance you get. You have people watching me like a hawk, which is no way to live.”

He walked towards me as I backed away until my back hit the wall. Maurice cornered me against the wall.

“Get away from me, Maurice,” I spoke through gritted teeth.

“No, you’ll act like my wife.” Maurice pinned me to the wall.

I furrowed my brows, knowing what was coming.

“Even if it means taking it.”

I became horrified as Maurice held me against the wall, undid his pants, and made his way inside me. I tried pushing Maurice off me, but his strength was more significant than mine.

As Maurice thrust inside me, he growled. “You’re mine and no one else.” I closed my eyes as Maurice continued until he finished. He removed himself from me as I remained there, numb. Maurice fixed his pants. “I’m tired of you denying me s*x, so now I will take it.”

I leaned against the wall as Maurice left the bedroom. How will I tell Carri? It wouldn’t matter because tonight will change everything.

*****

After that night, trying to meet Carri was impossible. It didn’t help that Maurice would force me to have s*x with him. I laid there and faked enjoyment most of the time since it was the only thing I could manage.

Two months after that night with Carri and Maurice, I was late. I picked up a pregnancy test. Maurice wouldn’t be home, so it’d give me a chance to discover if I was pregnant.

I followed the instructions and waited. If it was positive, I was packing my s**t and leaving. I waited until the test revealed a positive result. I held the test in my hand, not realizing Maurice had come home early.

“Is that a pregnancy test?” Maurice entered the bathroom and peeked at it, then at me. “You’re pregnant?”

I nodded since I had no words.

Maurice walked over to me. “I’m going to be a dad!”

I gulped, nodding my head.

“I can’t believe it!” Maurice pulled me into a hug and spoke about fatherhood.

But I didn’t know whether the baby was Carri’s or Maurice’s.

“I can’t wait to inform the family.” Maurice left before I added anything.

Tears dripped down my cheeks.

Maurice called his family, and they showed up at our house. I acted happily, so no one suspected except for one person. I was in the kitchen, preparing beverages, when Mateo walked over to me.

Mateo didn’t look at me but out of the kitchen window. “I find it interesting that my brother will be a father when his w***e wife lays with another man.”

I peeked at Mateo, horrified.

“I will make it simple. If you plan to take off, knowing it will destroy my brother’s happiness, I’ll s*******r you and that bastard child.”

I gawked at him as he glanced at me. “Are you threatening me?” I crumpled my eyebrows.

“Consider it a promise, whore.” Mateo smiled.

He left the kitchen as I paused there, shocked. I placed my hand on my stomach. I’ll sacrifice my happiness to save my baby.

I’m sorry, Carri.

*****

Carrington

The last time I saw Gloria, we planned to leave after this semester, picking a date and a meeting place. The semester ended, and I packed my bags, then loaded the suitcases into the trunk.

“Carri? Where are you going?” Elliot asked me.

I twisted to face my brother. “I’m leaving. I met a woman, and we’re going to be together.”

“What about school?”

“Once we settle, I’ll finish school. Elliot, no one understands, but what provides us happiness doesn’t come from a book.”

“What if this woman disappoints you?”

I beamed. “I love her.” I got into the car and left Elliot standing there. I drove to the destination, which was an hour from town, and waited. I remained outside of the vehicle and lingered. I’ll wait forever for Gloria.

I glanced at my watch and checked the time, expecting Gloria to turn up. Hours passed as a car pulled behind my car, and the headlights turned off. Someone stepped over to me.

“Gloria’s not coming, is she?” I noticed Joseph standing there.

Joseph glanced at me with empathy.

I looked down at my shoes and sighed. “How did you find me?”

“Elliot called me. It took little to figure out where you were.”

I blew air past my lips and kicked the ground with my foot.

“You expected to run off with Gloria. But it never ends well with a married woman.”

“Will you tell me, ‘I told you so?’” I expected the boom to drop.

“No.”

I peered at the ground.

“I’ll offer comfort.” Joseph wrapped his arm around me as my heart broke.

My family recommended that I not get involved with Gloria, but I didn’t listen. What do you do when it involves your heart? Do you risk the chance of breaking it, or do you hope the other person catches you?

When you fall for someone, you hope they catch you, not letting you fall. That is trust. When you open yourself up to someone, you pray the person loves you how you love them. That is faith. You risk happiness for someone else and protecting them from harm, knowing you’ll suffer. That is love.

You have faith, trusting the person to love you when there’s a chance it won’t work out. That is sacrifice. We all sacrifice something in our life for someone else, and I didn’t grasp it now, but Gloria sacrificed us for someone more significant. When I discover the truth, my anger will disperse, and happiness will replace it.

It will take one person for me to understand Gloria’s sacrifice.