En Garde Daddy

Goodbye to the past

Chapter 1

Amirah

I stepped off the train , my sons hand firmly clasped in mine. This was it. Our new start. I had been through what amounted to the most bitter divorce my lawyer claimed he had ever seen. In the end I was awarded full custody of your 4 year old son, Child support, alimony and a house in New York City that I never even knew about. Probably a place he hid his mistresses at. I don’t know, but for a new start, it would be perfect. No one knew me here. It was a large place, easy to get work at a local hospital and lots of activities for Stylan, our son. He was 5 and didn;t understand this whole mess. I didn’t either, really.

We were high school sweethearts. I was an army brat, a transfer student and he just happened to be the one in the office when I enrolled. He was given the task f showing me around, which he did. We turned out to have a few classe together and it was like fate from there. We went to homecoming together and were inseparable after that. He even took a gap year to wait for me to start college with him. We went to HBCUS, He was at Morehouse. I was at Spelman.  After a short 4 years, we graduated. I was finally a nurse, he had realized his dream of becoming a engineer. He had planned to go on to grad school but was hired by a company right away and thus began our adult life.

We settled down in Philadelphia. I quickly found work at a local hospital in the NICU and he began his dream job.. Things seemed perfect. We had a lovely two bedroom apartment, were making good money and meeting new friends. After 2 years, it felt like we were living the dream. I was happy beyond my wildest dreams. The next year, We had Stylan. Thinking back on on it now, that was where some of our problems started, Max hated me working while pregnant. I compromised and agreed to take leave at 6 months. After I did that things went back to normal and we were the beautiful happy couple again.

Delivery was nice and smooth and the next thing I knew, we were a family of three. Those first few weeks were a dream. Then, when I started the nanny search, things became tense again. Max didn’t want me to go back to my job.He wanted me to stay home and raise Stylan. I was against it at first but he assured me he was getting a raise and we would be able to afford it financially. My first mistake was agreeing to quit.

After that Max became more demanding. He wanted things his way or no way. I was to stay home with Stylan all day. I could grocery shop on Thursday and Sundays when he was off and able to stay home with Stylan. His controlling nature took over. Soon I was miserable. Then the cheating started. I couldn’t deny it anymore when I started finding hotel cards in his pockets and womens hair on his clothing. That was enough but the ultimate humiliation was when he cheated with a man. Not because it was a man mind you, but how I found out. He obviously cared for him because he brought him to our home while I was shopping. I guess he should have been long gone but he wasn’t.

I cried. I asked why did he marry me or at least not tell me he was bi.  It was a whole mess. And the guy. Oh my goodness that poor man had been told that Max was a widower. He became a supporter of mine in the divorce as odd as that may seem.  He also helped me get myself together to move on. As odd and painful as our meeting was. I am grateful to Tobin because I could have easily fallen apart without some kind of support system. The makeover he gave me improved my self confidence so much. It was needed. It is strange how you meet people indeed.

Now. Now I am here and ready to make a new life for me and Stylan. I am excited to be here in New York City. I just don’t know what crazy adventures await me. I will feel much better once I get a part time job and set myself up with a routine. The first step-get a taxi to our new home.