Chapter 23

Sophie nervously dialed the phone, "Alex, this is Sophie, I have the day off the kids are at school, and I really need to talk to you, will you please just come over here? Thanks for the flowers, they are beautiful. Well, are you coming over here or not?"

I knew the plan would work, this bitch has fallen into my trap, one way or another I will get even and ruin her life just like she has ruined mine. "I suppose I can, I need about an hour though, there are a few things I need to take care of first. I should be there around eleven or so."

"That will be fine, take your time. I am trying to clean the house right now; the damn kids left a big mess last night. They did not even clean up after they made dinner." What a shock, wonder what happened, got to stay firm she is not doing this to me. As shocked as I am and want her back I am not giving in to her. He still had to wonder if she was up to something, or if she really just wanted to talk to him, either way this was his way to get Sophie back. She called me to come over, I am just not dropping in on her, plus she is wanting to be alone, must be up to no good. So many things went through his head at this point, she must still care about me, she would not call me to be alone otherwise, hope she wants me to stay over, I have to play it cool, I will make her beg, she can find out just exactly how it feels to want and not have.

Alex arrived at Sophie’s, he felt as though he had never lived in the house, he knocked on the door; Sophie looked upset when she finally answered. “Sophie, you look upset, is something wrong with one of the kids? Kay-Leah is okay isn’t she?”

“Yes, the kids are fine, nothing happened to any of them. The problem is nothing to do with them at all. It is all to do with me. I am just so confused, Jake and I were discussing our wedding plans then I had a sudden urge to see you, to be with you that one last time. It just hit me when I hung up the phone, after talking to him, next thing I knew I was calling you. I don’t know, I am just so confused, maybe it was the flowers that you sent me, maybe I just made a mistake, whatever the problem, here I am and here you are.”

“Oh god, Sophie, you are so beautiful, whatever happened to you, to me, to us? We always seemed to have our lives so together; we always knew what we wanted. Now look at us, we cannot see anything the way we used to, our views are totally different, and we live two different lives, where did we go wrong? Where did I go wrong? It is never too late to try to work this all out, we can always try to piece the broken pieces of our relationship back together, and all it takes is for you to say yes we can try again. Please, Sophie, just give me, give us, one more chance. I still think that you are making a big mistake; you are going to end up ruining your life and our kid’s lives as well. He is not the answer to what is lacking in your life. How can you just throw away fourteen years for a guy that you barely even know? What if after you are with him you find out that I have been right all along? Then what will you do, in that case it will be too late to turn back and pick up where we left off.”

“No, Alex, you are totally wrong, I have cried so many nights over the way that you have hurt me, over all the hell that you have put me through, the times that you were not there when I needed you the most. Wonder why that was, could it have been because you were always drunk, or just to wrapped up in your own little world to even worry about what I was going through. Now you think that you can make that entire up in ten minutes or less, you do know that is not how things work, at least not with me. See, thinking you would give me all the sex I could handle would shut me up and this would all just go away. I am sorry to inform you that do not take back all the hurt that does not make up for the lost time that does not correct the lack of communication that does not take away all the insecurities I carried around day after day. Alex, seriously, are you really all that blind, our marriage was over years ago. It just took me meeting Jake to realize that, for me to be able to stand my ground, be strong and to tell you how I feel. I do not have any regrets, not now, as a matter of fact now that I have talked to you, I no longer have the same urge I had before, I do not need nor do I want to be with you that one more time, it would be a waste of time. For once in my life I can honestly say that I know how I feel and I know what I want, and it is not you. I want Jake, I love Jake. He has given me more in one year than you have given me in fourteen years. He gave me the love I needed, he helped me to rebuild all the confidence that I had lost in myself, he helped me to see that I do not need to be treated like a dog, he helped me see what a true relationship really is and what love, true love really feels like. Alex, I am over you, I am moving on.”

“So what are you telling me that you do not want to sleep with me anymore, just one last time? Is that what I just heard come out of your mouth? Are you damn sure about this, once I walk out that door there is no turning back, that is not a threat either, that is a promise? If I walk out that door you may regret the choices you have made for the rest of your miserable fucking life.”

“Alex, honestly, the only mistake I see here is calling you to come over here, now if you do not mind it is time for you to leave.”

“Alex, please leave, is that all you have to say to me? You are not even going to fuck me like you know that you want to just for the memory and to see what you are missing?” Alex then walked over to Sophie and tried to kiss her.

Sophie slapped Alex across the face and tried to push him away, but he would not leave her alone. “Leave me alone, do not touch me.”

Alex slapped Sophie across her face leaving a large handprint, and sending her off balance, and then he turned around and punched her in the face. “You nasty fat ass fucking bitch, you are the one who called me to come over here, you are the one who said that you had the urge to be with me one more time, now you are going to give up that pussy and like it. Feeling guilty is not my problem that is your problem.”

“Let me go, get the fuck out of here, I swear I will call the police and report you hitting me, I will tell them that you raped me. I will scream rape as loud as I can, someone is liable to hear me, all of the windows in the house are open, not to mention the kids get out early today. Is this what you want your kids to see? The swollen face that you just caused and the black eye. Have you really gone that crazy, you really were and still are that obsessed with me?” Sophie yelled and struggled to get away from Alex.

“You are so wrong; I just love to torment you. I do not really love you anymore. Looking at your fat ugly ass makes me want to hurl. Honestly, I am still trying to figure out how anyone could love you or even how they could trust you.”

“Damn Alex, really, calm down you are scaring me. You really are crazy, so many people have told me that you had lost it; I just did not want to believe them, now I do. Leave me alone and get the fuck out of my house.”

“I guess the truth is that I really do still love you. If you would have just given me that one last chance before you jumped into another relationship I could have proven that to you. My life just has not been the same since I lost you and the kids. Can’t we just try to take one day at a time and see where it goes? I am so sorry I did not mean to hit you, I guess you are right I have gone crazy, I just figured if I took charge that you would give in to me. You surprised me, I can see now that you really do love Jake. I really never meant to hurt you.”

“Alex, really, you have to understand that forcing me to have sex with you, and hitting me is not showing me a damn thing, except that you are an angry person, and have resorted to the domestic violence. That shows me just how unstable and childish that you really are. It will not stop me from marrying Jake; it will just push me to him that much faster. In all honesty I was depressed when I call you, I needed someone to talk to, once you got here and I saw you I remembered just why it was that we had split up to begin with. Then you reaffirmed all of that when you angered and hit me. At least now I know there is no turning back, it is over.”

“I am still not giving up on us. You have not married him yet. It is not easy to just forget or give up on someone after you have spent so many years with them. I am really sorry for hitting you. But, you just make me so crazy, and so angry.”

“I am sorry to Alex, but by doing that you have completely lost any hope that you ever had in us getting back together. You may as well just give up, I plan to marry Zander, and I really love him. I may or may not regret it that is a chance I am willing to take. No one really knows how the whole thing will turn out. Only time will tell. Shit, look at the time, the kids will be home soon, I cannot let them see me like this. Look at my face, you have to leave, I am going to have to explain this so that they will not hate you or judge you. Now please, just go.”

“Really, Sophie, just tell them that you fell coming to the door. You have always been clumsy, that will not be anything new to them. Besides I want to see my kids, it has been a while since I have seen them.” Alex thought to himself, right now I would like to just kill your bitch ass then no one would have you and my kids would be with me, of course maybe not, guess I should have been more careful about hitting her, it was in the identity, and she could press charges and I would never see my kids.

“No, I am not going to lie to the kids, they think that you are God and so perfect, that this whole breakup was my fault, they know nothing about how much you spend on drinking, and doing your damn drugs. You are actually lucky that I have not pressed charges on you on you in the past or now for that matter. You cannot just go around hitting women, and thinking nothing is wrong with it. It is domestic violence that is against the law; women are not made to be punching bags. So now either leave or I can call the police and have you removed even arrested for what you did. Just know that when Zander comes home again for a visit that I do plan to tell him what happened, then he can deal with you. You will have to worry about showing up at the wedding trying to ruin it, he will hurt you first. I cannot believe that you have the nerve to even stay around or say I am sorry after what you have done, then ask me to lie. Just so you know you did it, and now you want it covered up, you need to face the music, when your kids hate you, no one except you will be the blame.”

Just as Alex was getting ready to leave he saw the kids walking up the sidewalk. Alex thought to himself, shit now what do I do? Should I walk outside hug them and leave, or just stay and be a man and tell them what I did to their mother instead of making her do it?

Heather was the first one to run up to her dad and jump up for him to pick him up. “Daddy, I missed him, what are you doing here? Are you coming home to stay?”

“No, I came over to see you three. I left some money for three of you; your mom is supposed to either take you shopping or take you to have dinner. If you behave yourselves she may even give you a few dollars.”

“Hey, dad.” Said Jared as he ran up the stairs. “When are we going camping? You promised we would go camping.”

“Hey, dad, is that all that you have to say to me? You are worried about us going camping. No asking how I am.”

“”Well, what else is there to say? You never call, you never come over, and I call you never answer the phone. What do you expect, are you even hearing me, you seem to be looking away?”

Alex just stared at Jared not knowing what to say to him. The truth hurt him pretty badly, but of course his son was right.

“Kay-Leah, you are getting big, when is the baby due again? Make sure you at least call me and let me know when the kid comes along. I would at least like to see the kid and hold it. I may not have been the greatest father in the world, but I would still like to try to be a part of this child’s life. That is what a new baby does, it brings families together.”

“This baby is due in October. I will call you as soon as I have it. That is if you bother to answer the phone, something that you never seem to take time to do these days.” Kay-Leah out of respect hugged her dad, “I miss you dad, I wish that we could see you more often, of course the problems you have with mom seem to get in the way of that, which is a poor excuse on your part and on hers.”

“When school is out for the summer I promise to come by to see the three of you more often, we can go to the zoo, on a picnic, something, whatever you three want to do.”

“We are going to Florida to see some sites, in July, with mom and Zander. We will be there for two weeks, and then we are coming back here. Mom wishes Zander were coming back with us, but of course he can’t. He has been trying to transfer closer to home, it just is not that easy, he tried the movie industry had him hopping, and he will not know for a few more years yet if he can just go to part time to be home more.”

“Your mom is really going to marry him isn’t she? I hope she knows what she is doing. Then again he won’t be around much, and he makes good money. Tell me the truth, how do you kids feel about this whole marriage thing? Don’t you feel as though our family is being torn apart because of him? You three kids know that I better never hear you call him dad. I swear I will fuck his world up and beat all three of your asses for that. I am your father and he will not change that fact. As a matter of fact he is not to hit you or punish you either. If he does I want to know about it.”

“Yes, dad we all know that. All that matters to us is that mom is happy and she has the life she deserves. Even if we do not like him or want she with him it is what makes her happy.” Kay-Leah took a deep breath and began to cry, “I wish we could change this all for you but we have no control over it her mind is set. Jared, take Heather in the house, I need to talk to dad.”

“Okay, but, why?”

“Just do it.”

Jared went into the house with Heather.

“Look dad, I stayed over at Aunt Jewels, I heard her talking on the phone to Zander, he threatened Jewel, and said she better make sure that this is pulled off as planned, and if it is not he will make her life a living hell. He has to have a place for his four kids to live, to get them away from being molested by his x wife’s family. He even told her that he would see to it that she went down for it if she did not hold up her end of the deal. He does not love mom, he is using her, he says her fat lazy ugly ass makes him vomit, that is when I had to walk into the room and the two shut up I could not hear anymore. The other two kids do not know anything. By the way where is mom, I need to talk to her? Is she here?”

At that point Sophie had felt a need to check on Kay-Leah, “I am right here, I think you need to leave Alex, you have been here long enough. You have done enough damage to last a life time for me. Now please leave.”

“Mom, are you okay? What the hell happened to you? Where did all of those bruises come from?” Just then Kay-Leah turned around and looked at her dad, giving him dirty looks, “Oh hell no, you did this didn’t you, Jared, take Heather upstairs.” She waited for the two of them to get upstairs then she turned around and glared at her dad. “What the hell were you thinking? How could you do this to her? Do you realize that you are pushing her to really hate you by doing that? If I were her I would have your ass put in jail. That is a domestic battery that is why there are so many divorces in this county. Obviously you never stop to think about anything do you? I never thought that you would stoop that low, hitting a defenseless woman. You need help, better yet, you need to get out of here now, before I call the police.”

“Wait just a minute young lady, for one this is none of your business, and for another I am not one of your school friends that you can talk to that way. I will not stand for it. You had better say you are sorry, or you will get it next. Pregnant or not, I am not afraid to smack your ass. So Sophie when were you going to tell me you are getting married in three weeks? Have you bothered to talk to the parents of the father of my grandchild?”

“This is so like you to change the subject, no wonder you and mom are divorced you never take time to talk or to listen. For what it is worth Zander is not a bad guy, he is good to us kids, and at least he does not hit mom. He even has plans to spoil this baby when it is born, as for you I am not sure anymore if I even want you near my baby. For what it matters, mom did talk to Mr. Bright, he agreed to pay the doctor bills, the hospital bills, plus give us money for the baby.”

“I am so happy for the devious Mr. Movie Boy; he is such a perfect person, right Kay-Leah. TO hell with the man who has risen you all this time, do not look away from me; I am still your father.” Alex grabbed at Kay-Leah's arm causing her to lose her balance. He formed a fist and was going to punch her, when Sophie stepped in.

“Alex, get the hell out now.” Sophie yelled, opening the door, “What are you thinking, you want to hit a pregnant girl, you do not need to upset her anymore than you already have. If you do lay a hand on her, you will live to regret the day you met me, I swear that to you, do not push me Alex, I have had enough for one day. Now get the hell out of my house.”

“Sure no problem, by the way you fat ass bitch, your threats do not even faze me, I am not scared of your ass. Go ahead Kay-Leah tells her what you know, that she is making a mistake, tell her what you know. Lover boy is too far away to protect you, and Josh well I beat his ass once and I will beat it again, he does not scare me. I can handle him.”

“Dad, just get out now, Uncle Josh can beat your ass, and you only got him because he was drunk. Do not make mom any angrier than she already is. She will have you put in jail she is not joking, of course unless Uncle Josh puts you in the hospital first. Now go.”

“Fine, no problem, I am leaving, but just know you are making a mistake. I can tell when I am not wanted; it has always been that way, at least since your mom got the job she has. Now she thinks she is better than everyone else, she even has you three kids thinking the same way. Have a nice fucking life, I know I will.” Alex said as he walked out the door.”

“Mom, are you alright? Your face looks terrible. How could you let dad do that to you? I personally would have called the police, but that is just me. You are not married to him anymore; you do not have to put up with that. It is not right mom.”

“I am just fine. Kay-Leah promises me that you will not tell Aunt Jewel or Uncle Josh. You know how they are. Promise to not tell Zander. If the bruise is still there when I see them I will tell them what happened, just stay out of this okay. By the way what did your dad mean by tell me what you know, what the truth is?”

“I promise, I won’t say anything, I still think that you should say something to Uncle Josh, at least he can take care of you. At least go to the hospital get it looked at. Press charges on him, he deserves to go to jail.”

“Kay-Leah, please, let it go. You do not understand. I know how your uncle is, he would hurt your dad, I do not want that to happen, I can take care of myself. I do not need his protection. Now tell me why you are avoiding my question what are you not telling me?”

“Mom really, you do not know what I am saying, dad hurt you, why should you protect him? Let Uncle Josh take care of this; let him at least protect you from dad until Zander comes home.”

“You are still not telling me what I want to know, what is your dad talking about? No, just leave it alone, it was partly my fault. I called your dad to come over here. I had an urge to be with him one more time, and then after he was here, I got to think about Zander, then I realized that what I was doing was totally wrong, that is the point when your dad went crazy and hit me. He even tried to rape me, so you see you cannot tell anyone, it will just cause more problems.”

“I do not agree with you, no woman asks to be hit, but, I will let it go if that is what you want. I will keep this all to myself.”

“Thank you Kay-Leah, then this is our secret, but you still need to tell me what your dad was talking about.”

“Nothing mom, he was just mad at me, and trying to cause problems with me and you let it go.”

What the hell was Alex talking about; did Kay-Leah know something that she was not telling her mom? No way, she and Kay-Leah had always been close.