How much more of this could I take? Honestly, I didn’t know. Years later, I still couldn’t believe Shane was the man I had chosen after a long hiatus from dating. If I had known then what I knew now, I would’ve left his ass right in the bar that night.
Shane glared at me, the muscles in his jaw twitching as if they were fighting for their lives.
“Fuck this, I’m out!” He snatched the bathroom door open and stormed out. The sound of jiggling keys filled the space, followed by the front door slamming.
The battle.
The cycle.
The heartbreak.
The exhaustion.
It had all become my norm.
I slid down the wall, drew my knees up to my chest, and welcomed the crying session I knew was coming. Small footsteps approached the bathroom. I rushed to my feet, smoothed out my shirt, and tried to act normal. Like everything was all good.
Rhema carefully walked into the bathroom. My big girl didn’t say anything. She wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me.
That did it. The floodgates opened, and I could not hold back any longer.
“I’m so sorry for putting you in this situation, my baby,” I cried. “Mommy is so sorry.”
Rhema squeezed me tighter. “It’s okay, Momma. We are going to be alright.”
My baby, Rhema—spoken word of God. I gave her the perfect name.
The way my eleven-year-old comforted me, her words were simple yet meaningful and powerful to me. Despite our circumstances, my daughter had the faith her momma lacked.
I had to find it within myself to stand up and put Rhema and me before anyone else.
My child had walked through all of life’s growing pains right alongside me, and we were still on this journey. I’ll always owe my baby more than I could ever say.
CHAPTER 4
REASON
“Okay, Mr. St. Pierre. We’re all set for a three o’clock delivery with your order of three hundred red roses.”
“Thank you, Khésha.”
I ended the call with one of the best florists in Miami, who was now on my payroll. It was nothing to pay Khésha top dollar every month to keep a smile on Saje’s beautiful face.
My next call was to my jeweler, Ricardo. Whoever said diamonds were a girl’s best friend must have had Saje in mind because my lady loved diamonds, and I made sure to keep her body laced with the finest jewels money could buy.
“Hey, Boss,” Ricardo answered on the first ring.
“What’s good, Rick? The wife been having her eyes on an 18k yellow gold tennis bracelet.” Fuck the pleasantries; I got right down to business.
“I got the perfect bracelet for Mrs. St. Pierre. I guarantee she’ll love it!”
“Aight, charge the card on file.”
There was no need for me to see anything. Ricardo was a trusted jeweler, and all the jewelry he had provided so far was always top tier.
“You got it, Boss. I’ll have it ready for you by the end of the day.” I could hear him smiling through the phone.
“Nah, I need it by two o’clock.”
