Authors: Cheryl Spence
that Felicia, don’t mind if I called you Felicia do you?” “No, I hope one day our relationship will be so close that you will call me momma.” Julian patted her hand and winked at her. “One day at a time and we will get there. Ah Bessie is here, I will see you later.”
Chapter 25
Guilty Secret
Christine, even though seemed happy, was extremely worried about her marriage. “How can I tell Julian what really happened in Uber. He will hate me forever! Guilt ridden she decided to leave her shop earlier than usual. She did not immediately go home, but wondered around for a few hours, she was so confused and unhappy. She was dreading the thought of going home. I can’t stand it anymore, I need to tell Julian the truth. I love Julian and I can’t live with this pain in my heart anymore. She spent the night in the same bed with Julian, but they hardly touched. Julian she saw was very disappointed, as they have not made love since she returned four days ago. She went through the next day in a daze and decided since, her mother is now in her new house, and she will unburden herself to Julian. She was very nervous and hoped he will not abandon her and the boys. She arrived home, at about 8 pm and found that the children were asleep, after kissing them goodnight, she found Julian in their room. He was in bed reading, and Christine’s skin goose pimpled at the sight of him in bed. The bed was draped in white cotton sheets which looked spectacular against Julian’s chocolate skin. On seeing her he sank a bit deeper in the bed and leant his head on the head board and looked at her through half closed eyes. He reached for her. She complied by leaping next to him and snuggling under the sheet with him. She rubbed her nose against his chest and licked his nipples. It was the only intimate moment they have shared since her return from Uber. She said, “Mmm you smell nice.” She always loved the way he smelt, always a peach or jasmine scent. “I have been waiting for you so we could bathe together. I could not wait so I went ahead and took a bath alone.” Julian, looked so tempting, God he is blessed with such good looks and personality. She decided now is the time. “Jules, you know I will do anything for you right?” “Honey, you look so sad, what is the matter? I know you love me and I you. Our love is forever.” She kissed him and rubbed her nose on his. “When I was in Uber, I overheard, poppa and Paul placing a bounty on your head. They were planning to send assassins, for you to be killed here in New York. I then went to Paul’s estate and pleaded with him to leave our family alone.” Julian shivered, “Oh God McClelland is such a bastard, how my death will be of any good to him? He knows you will never love him.” Christine nervously continued, “Anyway he told me that ahhhh, if I slept with him, he would leave us alone forever.” “I hope you told him to go to hell and take his proposal there with him.” Christine, hopped off the bed and wrung her hands in despair. “Jules, I accepted his offer. Julian, I slept with Paul!” Tears sprung to Julian’s eyes and he stared at her in shock and disbelief. “What! Christine, please tell me you are lying please.” “Oh God, I wish to God I was lying but it’s the truth. I let that bastard inside me. “Chris, Chris, how could you. Less than a week ago, I had Lizzie throwing herself at me, she wanted me to end our marriage. I spurned her offer, as I thought you and I had a rock solid marriage. A marriage that did not necessitate us, cheating, betraying or lying to each other. Oh God, why are you causing me so much pain as of late. First you told Becky where we lived and now this!” Christine wailed, “Julian I sold my soul for you. I sold my soul for you.” “I did not ask you to! All I wanted was for us to love and respect each other. I am tired of you causing me pain. When will this end, is it worth staying married to you?” “Julian, what are you saying? Our love is a love that has survived near death, kidnapping, hate and ridicule. We love each other, please don’t end us like this!” Julian, said through gritted teeth, “We love each other you say. Christine you could have contacted Blake Bach, he could have arrange for additional guards from me and the boys. Instead in your love for me, you slept with the person I hate most in this world. Christine, he is my enemy. What were you thinking?” “Julian, I had no choice my darling. He said his men, were waiting for his orders and only he could stop them. Please don’t look at me that way.” “Paul is a snake and a liar. Could you tell me what were you thinking when he was inside you? Were you thinking about me and the children? About how this will affect our lives.” “I thought about you and the children, while I lay there with that snorting pig on top of me. I laid there crying at the disgust of him even touching me. That is why, I haven’t touched you since I returned. I scrubbed myself daily, but I cannot remove the stench of that animal.” Julian was sad beyond words, and stood weeping. Christine, continued, but he was so dazed he hardly heard her. “I also thought that now, my husband will be free of that bounty on his head. I also thought, my children will have a father and I a husband.” Julian, looked at Christine with so much pain in his heart, she felt as if she wanted the earth to swallow her up. “I am tired if it is not one thing it’s the other. I need peace and to get that I am leaving you, just to sort my thoughts. I cannot remain in this house with you for a minute longer.” Christine, held on to him, but he stepped away from her. “Julian, why do you always run from any problems that we have? Why?” “Because, our problems always seem so overwhelming. I am beyond shock that you would believe that McClelland would back off, by you just sleeping with him.” He shook his head at Christine’s naiveté. “I want you to know, that I never meant to hurt you or our children. I did this to ensure our safety. I did not know what else to do, I offered him money, shares in our business, all of which he refused.” She saw that her explanation, was having little effect on Jules’s stance. She said, “You should also take into consideration that I did tell you about sleeping with Paul. I could have kept it to myself.” Julian furrowed his brows, and wondered if she would take back the nonsense she just uttered. “What do you actually expect me to THANK YOU for telling me of the filth you did with McClelland? Ooooh I am so happy to have such an
honourable
wife who sleeps around, but has the courtesy of letting me know. Thanks.” “Julian, I don’t expect you to immediately forgive me, but please don’t be so sarcastic and mean to me. I am your wife and now I only feel your hatred.” She pleaded, “Don’t you love me anymore?” “I love you more than life itself. Whenever you touch me, make love to me all I feel is that I have been blessed more than anyone in this world. Christine, my darling, love cannot fix this mess. I don’t know what will, all I know I need some time away from you. I will leave tomorrow.” “Where will you go? I need to know for my sake and the boys.” “I may go to Daniel’s or for the heck of it. I may go to Connecticut.” “Lizzie, is in Connecticut. Are you deliberately trying to hurt me?” “I
said
I may go there, I did not say I am going. What is the difference? You slept with your old lover, shouldn’t I be afforded the same opportunity?” “Julian, if you go to that pathetic wretch it may end our marriage. I will not stand for you to have an affair with her or anyone else to spite me.” Julian, did not reply but, sat on the bed and just stared at her. “Jules, please what I did in Uber was what I thought would be saving our family.” “You, know what? Goodnight, I will spend the rest of tonight in the guest bedroom. I don’t want to hear anymore.” She darted off the bed and stood in the entrance of the door. “You are not leaving this room. We need to resolve this problem.” Julian, did not reply but attempted to leave the room. After a few minutes of trying, he finally spoke, “Christine, I need to leave this room now. I love you but I cannot stand to look at you anymore, every time I do all I get is the image of you and that swine together. Please move away from the door now!” Christine, slowly moved away from the door and stood closer to him. Her voice trembled when she spoke. “I love you too, but I will not stand for you to treat me this way. I am a proud woman and I will not beg you to stay with me anymore. But I beg you, do not expect me to wait around for your forever.” Julian, countered, “I guess if I don’t return according to your schedule; Paul McClelland will be waiting in the wings for you.” With that statement he left the room. The following morning Christine came downstairs to find two bags at the foot of the stairs. Julian was in the breakfast room saying goodbye to the boys. He told them he will be going on a trip for a few days. He told Joshua that since he is the older of the boys, to take care of his momma as he will be the man of the house for a while. The boys cried, hugged and kissed him, then ran upstairs to their rooms. Christine stood there with tears flowing, looked at Julian with such pain that he started to sob. She ran over to him and whispered she wish he will stay. She pulled him to her and kissed him as they both cried. Julian pulled away from her and hastily went through the doors. She ran to the window and watched until his carriage disappeared from her view. She then ran to her room and threw herself on the bed wailing. She rolled to his side of the bed, hoping to still feel his warmth. She found that it had gotten cold! The only reminder was the smell of his musk he used the night before. The boys came into the room, they wondered why she was sad, she told them that she missed their poppa so much its making her sad. They laid beside her and she felt so much comfort that she quickly fell asleep.
Chapter 26
Julian, arrived at Daniel’s around twenty minutes after he left Christine’s. He knocked and Daniel answered almost immediately. “Julian, what’s the matter? You look terrible; why do you have bags with you?” Julian, sighed miserably, “Daniel, please can I come in?” “Yes, yes of course!” “Daniel, I will be staying with you for a while, if you don’t mind.” “Why, what happened? Are you and Christine ok?” “No, we are not. I have left her and I don’t know if I will remain her husband for much longer.” Daniel almost choked and blurted out “What?! What do you mean you have left her? The last time I saw you together you were so happy it was sickening. Are you joking with me?” “I wish I was
lying Daniel. Christine slept with Paul McClelland in Uber.” Daniel, sat down as this news was too much for him to bear. “Jules, are you sure? Who told you McClelland?” “No, Christine told me herself. I am still numb with shock.” “How, could she do such a terrible thing? Told you about them White women, always betray us one way or the
other.” “Daniel, please don’t start with the I told you so speech. I don’t wanna hear it.” “I am sorry, maybe it’s a good thing she slept with him.” “Daniel, are you mad? How is sleeping with the hog of the earth be a good thing?” “Jules, look at it this way, your
relationship with her is putting your life in danger, what with the kidnapping and all.” “Christine, claims, that O’Connor and Paul were sending men to kill me in New York and sleeping with Paul, was the only way he would stop them.” “Do you believe her? I think she is lying.” Julian sighed and rubbed his eyes, “Daniel, we have been married for ten years and not once has Christine, cheated on me. I love her so much, but can’t forgive her for what she did.” “Maybe she just went crazy and wanted to know if he has improved his bedroom skills. In any event I am so sorry that you are hurting.” “I felt sick inside, every time I looked at her, after she told me. I had to get the hell out of there.” Daniel, spoke above a whisper, “Jules, you didn’t hit her, did you?” “Of course not, I was raised by strong Negro women, and taught never to hit a woman. It is a disgusting thing to do.” Daniel, hugged him as a way of offering comfort. “So I guess , now you have to think real long and hard, ‘bout what to do next. God how could she hurt you like this? That's why I don’t care to love one woman. I just bed ‘em and leave ‘em. Maybe you should try this approach as you won’t end up being hurt, just dem.” “Daniel, I love my wife. I always will. Just hope that some time apart will help me overcome the hurt and betrayal I am now feeling. So can I bunk with you or what?” “Take all the time you need. Alls I ask is that you don’t steal any of my ladies. One look at you and they may forget that old Daniel exists.” Julian, laughed for the first time in hours, “Don’t worry, I’ll make myself scarce when they come over. I know that I am sexy, handsome, very handsome and irresistible.
I will most certainly keep away!” “You, are a humble man ain’t you. I will go and get your room ready. Hey, what did you tell the children?” Julian suddenly, stopped laughing
and became quiet, “I lied to them, I feel so terrible. I told them I am going away on a business trip. I don’t like lying to them, but I could not let them know the real reason I was leaving. I have to telephone them daily, especially Julian Jr. he has been having nightmares, since I was kidnapped.” “I am so, sorry I hope you will be back home soon.”
Julian, could hardly sleep during the night. The image of his darling wife sobbing while he was leaving, played over and over in his head. God he wished he could forget about what she did in Uber and move on. But he couldn’t he felt violated and betrayed. McClelland was his worst nightmare. He hated him for having the audacity to try and bring him back to Uber, to murder him. Christine and I fell in love over ten years ago, why Paul and Jim couldn’t just move on. Now he doesn’t know if he has a marriage, worth fighting for. He felt so sick inside and wondered what his next moves will be. He awoke to the smell of bacon and biscuits and figured Daniel, must be awake already. It was 7 am, he wondered why Daniel was up so early. After bathing and shaving, Julian went into the kitchen and found two plates loaded with food. He assumed Daniel, cooked for them both, just as he was about to eat, Daniel yelled. “Don’t touch that, it’s for me and someone else, yours coming up just now.” Julian, whispered, “Did you pick someone up last night? When did you leave?” “I went out, you went to bed at ten, dems hours is for partying when girls are plentiful and sexy. You been married too long, when you were too young too. Dems the hours to flirt with all dem young and single gals. You don’t know how to flirt and frolic no more.” “Why would I need to? Christine is the most beautiful woman on earth. Arrggh I want to be back with her soon. Oh God, why can’t I?” “Jules, you need to come to