Page 44 of Heartbeat
“Just let me get it all out, and I promise to answer any questions you may have.” Raven nodded, and Josephine continued. “Your father was always working, and I know that’s no excuse, but I was left alone with a restless seven-year-old for days at a time. I wanted love and affection, so I went out and found it. I’m not proud of what I did, in fact, I’m mortified that I was so weak. The affair was brief, and I was so consumed with grief that I confessed to your father. However, I was pregnant, and I wasn’t sure if you were Alejandro’s or not, but I knew I couldn’t get rid of my baby.”
I don’t know what Raven was feeling, but I could feel the tension radiating off her like it was my own. I pulled her close and kissed her on her temple.
“Alejandro was distraught and rightfully so. He wasn’t sure if he could raise a baby that wasn’t his, and I refused to give you up. So we separated. I was alone for most of my pregnancy with you. We reconciled after you were born. Even with your bright gray eyes, I insisted that we get a test to prove you were Alejandro’s. You are.” Josephine declared, knowing her daughter needed to hear the confirmation.
“But then why…” Raven didn’t finish her question, but it was clear what she was asking. Why the hell did Alejandro treat her like shit if she was his daughter?
“You were a constant reminder of my failure. I failed your mother, and I failed you. I wasn’t there for her pregnancy or when I almost lost you both because Josephine was so sick that she collapsed while she was alone.” For the first time since I met the man, my father-in-law’s façade had cracked.
“I couldn’t love you the way you needed because I hated what I had done.” He shook his head before continuing, “Every time I looked into eyes that mirrored my own, I’d feel ashamed. You looked so much like me, and I gave you tough love so you could be better than me. It just morphed into something else, and I apologize, Raven. I was a horrible father, and I apologize.”
Tears streaked down Raven’s cheeks as she turned and buried her face into my neck. I lifted her onto my lap and rocked her like the Princess that she was. I knew it was a lot to process, but I’m glad my wife got her explanation. What she did with the information was up to her, and I would support her in any way that I could.
* * *
With all of our appointments canceled for the next few days, Raven and I were held up in the penthouse, making love like we did our first week of marriage. We only left to meet my parents for dinner and Sasha for lunch. I hovered over Raven like a protective father. I didn’t want her out of my sight for too long. Raven hadn’t broken down since she found out why her father had treated her so bad all these years. I knew that she was still hurt because she would cry in her sleep as I held her in my arms, but she still wasn’t willing to talk about it. I gave her the space that she needed because, with me, she was herself. She hadn’t talked to her parents or Robin since that day, though. Raven called Dove to check on everyone and send them love through her.
The one good thing to come out of all of this was how strong Raven and Dove’s relationship was now. I had no idea how it would feel to have love withheld from you from your parent for something you had nothing to do with. I understood Alejandro’s point of view, but Raven was an innocent child. His disdain should’ve been directed at his cheating ass wife. I was still pissed for my wife. If Alejandro wasn’t already laid in that hospital bed, I would’ve whooped his ass. There was no reason he should’ve treated Raven so horribly. He should’ve gotten therapy, which is precisely what I suggested to Raven. She agreed, and we will start couple’s sessions as well as individual sessions next week. I don’t want to take any chances of fucking up my little PJ. We already know the baby’s first words are going to be fuck and shit, so there’s no need to display our awesome parenting skills by traumatizing the poor soul any further.
Raven walks in the room, wearing a bright pink maxi dress with her hair falling just below her shoulders. It’s the first time I’ve seen her wear her hair straightened, and although I love any look on her, I miss her wild afro she rocks.
“You look pretty, Princess.” I smile at her giving her my best smoldering look as I lick my lips then bite the bottom one suggestively. I rub my hand down my beard and growl at her just to put a little more umpf in my seduction. Raven pouts at me as she folds her arms across her chest. I know she’s horny because she’s always horny. She’s not even in the second trimester yet, and she stays begging for the D.
“Why must you do this to me? I just finished getting dressed now my panties are wet, and you’re going to have to lick my pussy before we leave.” She flops her arms to her side in exasperation, and I laugh at her craziness.
“If I lick your pussy, Princess, we will be late.” I smile at her, all of my white teeth showing. I didn’t give a fuck about being late, but I’d throw that out there to get her really frustrated. Those hormones came in handy when my Princess was really worked up. I licked my lips at the thought of how juicy she gets now.
For a few days after her little altercation, I refused her any love even though Dr. Delgado cleared her. Raven needed to learn not to fight, I was here to fight her battles for her. I couldn’t have her getting hurt, and she needed to learn her lesson. However, I broke down and sexed her little ass into oblivion when she started parading around naked. I was still impressed with the two days I held out.
Raven’s cute little growl brought me back to the moment. She pulled down the halter top of her dress and displayed her larger breasts with the gleaming nipple rings. I sat up in my seat, mesmerized.
“You’re not playing fair.” I was out of my seat and stalked toward her like a jaguar on the hunt.
“Fair?” Raven chuckled with an arch in her brow. “I need you to be quick, myPrince. We have shit to do.” Raven pulled down her dress and stepped out of it. She pulled her panties down and smiled seductively.
“I’m onlyPrincewhen you want something.” I smirked as I got on my knees in front of her. Raven chuckled then threw her leg over my shoulder.
“And yet… it still works,” Raven panted out as I licked her hot wet slit.We are definitely going to be late.
Epilogue
RAVEN
It had been three months since my parents had dropped their bomb on me. I still hadn’t worked through all of my feelings, but therapy was helping. I was so thankful to Lennox for standing by my side. He was everything I didn’t know I wanted in a spouse. An asshole at the best of times, but he loved me with his whole heart, and he showed me every day. I loved him so much it hurt to think about sometimes.
We walked into the glorious ballroom filled with pink and blue balloons with my family and friends clapping and cheering our arrival. I smiled so wide my puffy cheeks hurt. I was in my sixth month of pregnancy, but Dove insisted we throw the baby shower in the Spring because Summers on the Island could be suffocating with heat and humidity. I caved because I was already hot, and my little bump had barely popped. Many women complained about the weight they gained, but I was ecstatic that my little PJ was growing at a healthy rate. Although my face was extra puffy and my boobs plumper, my body was pretty much the same except my round basketball belly.
As I took in the impeccable décor of my baby shower, my eyes, as usual, filled with tears. There was a pink and blue rose flower wall with sparkly little gold crowns scattered throughout that served as the backdrop for photos. The tables were decorated with white table cloths and adorned with pink and blue alternating teddy bears made of roses. Each place setting was white and gold in the pattern of my wedding dress overlay. But when I laid my eyes on the balloon garland surrounded by a gold carriage with a cardboard cutout of me dressed as Cinderella in the back, I laughed. I knew right away Lennox had to give Karessa his input even though I specifically told her not to listen to his meddling ass.
“I love it,Prince!” I laughed as I kissed his smirking face.
“I told you to trust me.” Lennox kissed my lips to the sounds of hoots and hollering of our audience.
After we took pictures and talked to our guests, I sat down at a table to eat while Lennox went off with Jagger and Oran to “talk.” I knew that was code to sneak whiskey. Lennox pretended not to drink because I couldn’t, but I could always taste the lingering taste ofBlack Labelon his lips. I wouldn’t complain or nag him about it, though. Sometimes Lennox deserved to have a drink to celebrate or after a rough day or when he lost a patient, which didn’t happen often, but the one time it did, he was devastated. So I’m glad today’s drink will be celebratory.
Lennox may hide behind his condescending attitude, but he really did have a heart of gold. I loved this man so much.
Sasha sat down beside me with a bright smile. She and Dove were playing co-host to this little soiree. I hugged her to my side and squeezed her shoulder. Sasha had been such a godsend these last few months. Although Dove and my relationship was one-hundred and ten percent better, I wasn’t entirely over Robin’s betrayal. I know that everything turned out perfectly for me, but I couldn’t get over the fact that she didn’t take my feelings into consideration. I was working it out with my therapist, and although I was slowly forgiving her, I held her at an arms distance. However, she and my parents were both in attendance. I may be slow to forgive them, but I didn’t want to regret anything. And I have never been a selfish person, so I would never keep the opportunity from my Mama to celebrate her first grandbaby.