The Point of Exhale by Kimberly Brown

Author:Kimberly Brown [Brown, Kimberly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: B. Love Publications
Published: 2022-08-18T04:00:00+00:00

Dinner was pleasant.

The kids really enjoyed having Safari join us. He even seemed to be in good spirits. I hadn’t heard him talk as much as he had tonight, and it made me smile that it was because of my kids. Dinner with Marshall was quiet and somber. The only sound that could be heard were the forks scraping against the plates.

The damage he’d done to me, ruined his relationship with his children. The kids barely spoke to him anymore. When he tried to talk to them, they gave him short answers. They didn’t love on him like they loved on me. Even when he tried to buy them off after one of his tyrants, they weren’t persuaded.

Any excitement they were feeling before he came around was quickly gone the moment he entered the room. They were happier here than they were at home. Even when we were in the motel, I hadn’t seen those smiles in so long. It reassured me that I made the right decision, even if it wasn’t a fully developed idea.

After dinner, I sent the kids to wash up and get ready for bed. As I ran Imani’s bath water in my room, she sat on the floor, looking at me with a big smile.

“What?” I asked as I poured the bubbles into the tub.

“I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Do you like Mr. Johnson?”

“I consider him a friend.”

“No… I mean do you like him,” she reiterated, tilting her head for emphasis.

“Why, Imani?”

“’Cause I saw you let him kiss you. You must like him.”

I palmed my face. “You’ve been being nosy.”

“I wasn’t! I was excited about the puppy. I peaked, just a little.”

“I bet you did. You told O’Neal, didn’t you? That’s why you looked at us like that when we came back in.”

She giggled. “He told me to mind my business.”

“As you should.” I smirked at her as I tested the water’s temperature. “You know, I think you’re the one who likes Mr. Johnson.”

She made a funny face. “He’s cute, but he’s too old for me. So you can have him.”

“Well, thank you,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Come on. Undress and get in.”

“Mommy?”

“Imani Noelle. This is the last thing.”

“Okay.” She settled into the tub and looked up at me. “It’s okay if you like him. Daddy was mean to you. He hurt you and made you cry. You don’t cry with Mr. Johnson.”

I tear slipped down my cheek. I stooped down, palming her face.

“Mr. Johnson is very special to all of us. He makes me feel safe, and that’s all I want for you and your brother. We’re very lucky to have him, so I want you to always show him respect. Do you understand me?”

“I understand.”

“That’s my princess.” I kissed her forehead. “I love you very much, Imani.”

“I love you too, Mommy.”

I left her to her bath and went to make sure O’Neal was getting ready for his shower. I knocked on his door.

“Come in!” he called.

“Hey, I was just making sure you were getting ready.

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