“I’m so sorry I made you recount such a horrible crime.”
“No, I had to,” she choked out. “It was past time you know everything.”
“Don’t cry, momma,” Cedrick comforted, kneeling in front of Priscilla, massaging her twitching hands and wiping her tear stained face.
After gaining her composure, Priscilla continued, “I pushed back the signing of the Islamic marriage contract for three months, contemplating if I was worthy of Haashim’s love … I was no longer pure, and I couldn’t tell him what happened. I didn’t think he or anyone else would believe me. Who would? It’s the Qadi. Then two weeks later, I missed my period.”
Cedrick gazed into Priscilla’s yielding eyes, realizing she’d been put in an impossible situation.
“I didn’t have a choice but to come clean. Haashim swore I was lying to cover up a premarital tryst. Even if that were the case, why would I blame it on an Islamic judge? I’d never dated anyone before your father, so the likeliness of me being with someone, was next to none,” Priscilla explained. “About a week after I told him, we were at the market and ran into the Qadi with his family. My bladder involuntarily released, and I remembered waking up on a gurney. When I think about it, I can still feel the warm urine trickling down my legs before they went numb.”
Cedrick dropped his head in Priscilla’s lap, trying to hold back the tears that had a mind of their own as they spilled onto her housecoat.
“Don’t feel sorry for me,” she said in a loving tone, rubbing his back. “You’re the reason I draw a breath every day. There isn’t a mother’s love greater than the love I have for you.”
“You’re a brave woman,” Cedrick acknowledged, feeling Priscilla’s profession of love deep in his soul.
“I’m a mother,” she replied with the first genuine smile she’d had all morning. “It’s my job, and the greatest one I’ve ever known.”
Cedrick stood, grabbed paper towels and dishwashing liquid, and cleaned the mess off the floor. “How did you and Haashim end up married? Especially since he didn’t believe you?”
“Once I regained consciousness, he scooped me up off the gurney, refusing medical treatment on my behalf. If the paramedic would’ve examined me, my pregnancy would’ve been revealed. From that day forward, he promised to protect my secret, claim you as his son, and marry me before I began to show. We signed the contract, and the Qadi performed the short ceremony as if nothing happened. We didn’t consummate the marriage until after you were born.”
“That sounds like torture,” Cedrick remarked, thinking how strong his mother had to be, being married by her rapist, and pretending like everything was alright when she was broken and carrying his child.
“It was one of the best and worst days of my life,” she confessed.
“The man who loved you sounds nothing like the one that raised me.”
“He tried to love you as his own ... at least in the beginning. I don’t think he ever got over how you were conceived, although he knew I was forced, I’d still been with another man,” Priscilla reflected, rubbing her arms as if she was cold. “I’m not making any excuses for him, the Haashim I loved, died years ago, and I’m at peace with that,” she said, holding onto the table for support as she stood.
“Why didn’t you leave?”
“It wasn’t that simple, son. As a young Muslim wife, I didn’t have any power. Financially, we were dependent on your father––– Haashim. I wasn’t allowed to work outside of the home.” She frowned, wringing her hands. “Times were very different than they are now. “I’d saved eleven-hundred dollars from the grocery money that I’d been skimming from over the years,” Priscilla admitted. “I’d never stolen anything in my life, but I needed access to money of my own. At the time, I didn’t know what for, but I’m thankful it was there when the situation arose.”
Cedrick gathered her up in his arms. All the animosity he’d felt against her for hiding the truth was long gone. She was his mother––– his greatest defender and he would be the same for her.
“Thanks for loving me enough to keep me,” Cedrick said in a voice laced with affection. He rested his chin on her shoulder. “I owe you my life.”
“Nonsense,” she protested.
“It’s true. If not for your courage and love, I wouldn’t be here. I’m proud to call you mom and blessed to be your son.” Cedrick smiled. “Now, go on and relax. I’ll whip up a breakfast fit for a queen.”
Epilogue
“I feel free for the first time in my life,” Cedrick admitted to Sierra as they peeled from underneath the girls who had fallen asleep on them while watching Princess and the Frog in the family room.
“Where did that come from?”
“I was thinking about everything that has happened these past few months,” he replied, looking down at the girls, then back to Sierra. “And now, I can breathe without always looking over my shoulder or over analyzing hang-up calls or wondering if people’s intentions are genuine. I can have peace of mind knowing that I owe nothing to the monster that raised me. I can relax and truly be free in my spirit to love you, and the girls and give you the best life possible with a healthy heart and mind,” he said, lifting Lena into his arms and stroking her hair. “I’m sorry for the nightmare I put you through.”
“No apologies needed. I’m grateful that through all of it, we’ve grown closer as a couple and our level of understanding has deepened. I’m happy that you know the whole story about your past and finally have closure regarding Haashim. And you’ve reconnected with Victoria,” Sierra countered, grabbing Carrington by the hand and assisting her to her feet. “I have no regrets. If we had to go through the storm to get to where we are now, it was all worth it.”
After tucking the girl’s in their beds, Cedrick and Sierra returned to the family room. She picked up the empty popcorn bowls and crumpled napkins, then turned toward the kitchen.
“Leave it,” Cedrick said, removing the items from her hands and placing them on the end table. “I’ll take care of this mess in the morning. Right now, I need all of your attention,” he said, scooping Sierra into his arms as if he were going to carry her over the threshold.
Giggling, Sierra wrapped her arms around his neck. “What’re you doing?”
“I love you, Mrs. Dalton,” Cedrick whispered, planting a soft kiss on Sierra’s lips. “I vow from this day forward to make sure you always feel loved, cherished, and protected. I promised all of these things when we got married, but I need to rededicate my life to you, by being the best me I can be, and the first step is therapy.”
“There’s nothing sexier than a man who can admit his faults and is willing to do something about them,” she said, laying her head on his shoulder. “You have my support.”
Lightly shrugging to get her attention, Sierra lifted her head. “I want to make sure you know that I’ll never check out on you. To make sure you know, that I know, it isn’t an option. I will be here, talking your ears off and doing all the things that work your last nerves for the rest of our natural lives.”
Sierra slowly ran a finger along the side of his face, tracing his jawbone. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Their lips met each other’s in an intense kiss. When they came up for air, tears had flooded both of their eyes and spilled onto their faces. Cedrick brushed his lips over the salty liquid running down Sierra’s cheek while she wiped his away with her thumb.
“I’ve never felt more connected to you than I do in this moment,” Cedrick whispered, gazing into her eyes.
“Same here,” she responded, pressing her hand against his heart.
Cedrick pulled her more into him, carrying Sierra into their bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and climbed on top of her.
“What are you doing?” she asked in a flirty tone.
“Do you really have to ask?”
They hadn’t been intimate since the suicide attempt. Cedrick didn’t want to come to Sierra until he was the best version of himself. He was on his way
to becoming that person.
“No––– but.” She squirmed in response to the soft nibbles on her neck. “Oh, how I’ve missed this anddddd as much as I’m enjoying it––– um––– don’t start something you can’t finish.”
Cedrick pushed up on his arms, glancing down at her. “Besides Lena maybe waking up for a bottle, what other reason could there be?”
“The grand opening of Le Dalton Brasseur Bistro in less than ten hours.”
Cedrick was thrilled that Chef Brasseur accepted his offer to join his staff at The Smokehouse. But after observing Juan in action during his hiatus, Cedrick promoted him to head chef and opened another restaurant. He and Chef Brasseur were now business partners.
“I didn’t forget about that.”
“I think it’s cool what you did for him.”
“It was a win for both of us, but I don’t want to talk about that right now,” Cedrick said under hooded eyes. “I want to make love to my wife.”
Sierra’s eyelashes fluttered, and a smile spread across her face. “Well, don’t let me stop you.”
About the Author
National bestselling author, London St. Charles has always had a passion for the pen, paper, and books. She is a Chicago native who uses the Windy City as a backdrop to the romance, suspense, and contemporary fiction stories she writes. London published her debut novel, The Husband We Share in 2017 and is one of nine authors in the anthology, Sugar. She’s currently working on several bodies of work scheduled to release throughout 2019. In addition, she composes an online newsletter, London Writes, that keeps readers abreast of what’s going on in her world.
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Excerpt of Sugarcoated Deception by London St. Charles
Four words would put an end to Cadence Goldsmith’s perfect life.
“That’s Mr. Goldsmith, Mommy.”
She searched out the source of that small childlike screech, an unnatural occurrence in the Adali Global Reveal. The event was an exclusive affair for people who worked in the European auto market.
Cadence peered around the velvet curtain from her spot backstage of the McCormick Place Convention Center, surprised to find that her husband, Jackson, and mother, Phylicia were sitting in the front row next to a scowling Steven Bekker, her work nemesis.
“Hiiiiiii, Mr. Goldsmith,” a little girl with light-brown skin, blue-eyes and puffy blonde twists crooned, as she rushed to stand near her husband. “You work at my school.”
Cadence grimaced. Why was a child there and why was she so interested in Jackson? Wait, was that an image of her husband on that child’s shirt? She almost couldn’t make it out because the girl’s fist twisted the material.
“I present to you, CDO, Cadence Goldsmith.”
Applause rang out as she strutted center stage with her attention on the bleached-blonde woman wearing a navy dress, who grinned and winked at her before taking an empty seat next to Jackson and pulling the little girl onto her lap. Jackson glanced at Cadence, then frowned as he put his focus back on the woman. She didn’t miss the panic that took over his features for a split second.
Cadence’s heart surged with a bit of panic of her own. She prayed that her confidence would still show through, even though relishing the acknowledgement of being the designer of the first self-driving automobile was taking a back seat to Jackson and the unknown guests.
Jackson, who seemed occupied with the distraction that little girl had become, hadn’t acknowledged Cadence at all. He and the woman were having a heated, but whispered conversation. Jackson’s body language—tense and angry—screamed discomfort.
“May I have everyone’s attention please,” Cadence said walking to the edge of the stage, standing in front of her husband.
Jackson’s brown eyes gazed into hers, but the comfort and security she usually felt was missing.
“Mommy, now,” the little girl asked.
“Shhhh.” The woman placed an index finger to her thin pink lips. “Not yet.”
Cadence raised an eyebrow, then glanced at her husband.
The lights dimmed, and Cadence began the PowerPoint presentation of the newest addition to the Adali luxury car fleet.
Ten minutes later, every person, except for Steven and the mystery woman, were on their feet clapping.
Mike lifted a hand to settle the crowd. “Cadence Goldsmith has a bright future with Adali, and we, along with the two most important people in her life, would like to present her with the Outstanding Innovative Design Award.”
“Yay, Mr. Goldsmith,” the little girl squealed, slapping her hands together. Cadence’s attention was drawn to the child whose eyes matched the woman she assumed to be her mother. High heels clicking across the stage accompanied by Jackson’s signature fragrance snapped Cadence from the trance.
Mike handed a plaque with the Adali emblem engraved on it to Cadence.
“Thank you.” She shook his hand trying to play it cool even though she wanted to shatter the surrounding windows with a high-pitched scream.
“Congratulations.” Jackson beamed with cautionary excitement written all over his face as he embraced his wife.
“Who the hell is that woman,” she whispered through a clenched-teeth grin as her lips brushed the side of his ear.
Jackson’s dark-skin ashen. “Her name’s Braelyn,” he replied, planting a timid kiss on her cheek. “We’ll talk later.”
Her mother stepped forward. “Your father would be so proud of you.”
Small feet galloping up the stairs onto the stage made everyone in the audience gasp. Cadence peered over Phylicia’s shoulder at the lively little girl sprinting forward, spotting a picture of Jackson splayed on the front of her shirt.
Executive’s plucked phones from their purses and suit jacket pockets.
Security rushed in. “We’re going to have to ask you to get your child and leave, ma’am.”
“I have a right to be here,” Braelyn exclaimed, throwing a glance at Steven as she flashed the VIP badge.
After a thorough inspection, the guard said with a remorseful tone, “My apologies, Ms. Nevels.” He glanced at Mike. “She has clearance.”
“Nevels,” Cadence whispered, wondering why that name sounded so familiar.
“Show everyone your cute shirt, Jackie,” Braelyn instructed, smiling at the pretty girl, before planting a menacing glare at Cadence and Jackson.
Jackie spread her arms wide, facing the audience. “Look, Mommy.” She pointed jumping in place. Everybody’s taking my picture.” She put her hands on her hips and said, “Cheeeeese.”
The lump in Cadence’s throat grew larger with every word she read on the back of Jackie’s shirt.
Jackson Goldsmith Is My Daddy.
Click here to read more of Sugarcoated Deception
Excerpt of Domino Effect by Gisele Marie (Coming Soon)
Present Day
“I can’t believe you would mess with her. Out of all the shit I’ve been through with you, why would it be okay to cheat on me?” an emotionally charged Blaine screamed at the top of her lungs, as anger dominated her body and simultaneously caused anxiety tremors. Feeling her bangle slip off her wrist, Blaine knew her inability to stay in control was slipping through her fingers.
I’d kill them both if I could right now, with no regrets.
“What are you looking at? Both of you ruined my life. I hate you,” Alyssa spat with
a mixture of mucus and tears between each word.
Blaine began to count to ten in her head. If Alyssa were in arm’s length when her count concluded, jail would be home for the night. Before she could count to five, Alyssa grabbed her purse and stumbled out the front door. Turning to face Javier, he stood next to her with closed eyes and his arms resting on the top of his head. Blaine could only blame herself. Falling in love with the wrong man always came with complications, even if he claimed to be a changed man.
Javier firmly gripped Blaine by the forearm, then escorted her to the back door of the lounge. “Let’s go.” Removing his hand, Blaine swiftly walked to the passenger side of Javier’s Challenger.
After flopping her body into the front seat, Blaine tried to express her pain and frustration through her tears. “Javier, I’m not understanding how you think it’s ok to cheat on me. We been through so much shit in the last couple of years, why this? Why now?”
“I told you, Alyssa was cool. The shit just happened. Sometimes, I don’t think you understand why people don’t care to be around you. It’s always ok for you to do some shit, but other people gotta be fucking perfect for your ass and you far from it. You didn’t have a problem fucking me before I married my wife and during my marriage.”
For the first time, Blaine was speechless. Instead of expressing random feelings, she’d wait until they arrived home. That would ensure she had his undivided attention, and it gave her time to make a final decision about which direction their future headed.
Thirty minutes later, Javier pulled into their apartment complex. He parked in their assigned spot and shut off the car. Blaine removed her seatbelt and intertwined her fingers, then turned and leaned her back against the door, giving Javier all of her attention. He sluggishly dragged his hands down his face. Nine years his senior, Blaine hoped that someday he would understand her and love her for the flaws she possessed.
Betrayal of Trust Page 11
