Many the Miles

Part 11

When he left the room I called Mia again. Then Ella called me. I stopped my call to Mia and answered. “Daddy, you on your way back,” Alyssa shouted.

I smiled. It was good to hear her sweet little voice. “Not yet, but I’ll be there soon.”

“I want you to come home now. And to bring Tia Katie,” she whined.

“Katie isn’t going to be able to come, but Taj will be there.”

“Can we play in the pool,” she asked.

“Anything you want.”

Mia

It was hard to recover from how I felt about Ben. If he was sure about marrying that girl I had to get my self in order so the kids can have a real dad. I felt like someone scooped my inside out. I was empty and achy.

“Mia where’s dinner?” John asked.

“I’m not hungry,” I shrugged.

John growled. “I just worked 16 hours Mia,” He yelled as he closed in on me.

“Order a damn pizza!”

“Fine,” he said and walked away.

My heart was racing. This was no longer a house it was a prison. He put up cameras every where, and watched my every move. Somehow he was tracking me and knew where I was all the damn time.

I didn’t want the kids here so Ella took them to my mom’s. Dominique was upset that Ella hadn’t told her about Taj or Ben.

Not to mention Grant was home and surprisingly hush-hush about where he was and what was going on. I was very worried about them. And how invested they’re in my divorce. I didn’t need John finding out before I had everything in order.

I went in the kitchen to grab a drink of water and John was sitting there. I got my glass from the cabinet and got water from the refrigerator door.

“So what’s the plan now?” John asked. “Are you going to leave me even if there’s no place to go.”

“Look it’s my fault for letting you forget who the f**k I am. But I don’t move on your command. I respected you because I thought you respected me. I cared for you because I thought you cared about me. I loved you because I thought you loved me. All of it was bullshit. I’m not doing this any longer Johnathan.”

John walked over to me. “There is no court in this state that will let you walk away from me. Not with my kids.”

“They’re not yours.”

“I’m your husband. They were convinced in our marriage. I signed each birth certificate. I will get what ever lawyer it takes to make sure you never see them again. You don’t want to go down that road Amilia.”

“There is no way in hell I’d ever let you do that.”

“Mia it’s done,” he laughed. “You can leave all you want. But it won’t be with my kids. We can work on us. Go to therapy, see a priest, whatever you need. I know you need to trust me again. And I don’t trust you.”

I laughed. “How ironic.”

“Mia don’t act innocent. Guys like him don’t get all heart eyed for nothing. I know you put out. So lets not do this. And if you didn’t the emotional betrayal is enough. You’re no better than me. Just admit it. Please just help me show you I’m the guy you married. Just a few months. If it doesn’t work I’ll send the papers and I’ll give you alimony and child support. No strings. Just try.”

I knew there wasn’t a thing he could do our say at this point to make me stay. But if it meant I’d be rid of him fine. “I want us to be legally separated and I’ll do it.” I knew that was a risky request. But he was desperate. “It’s that or nothing. And we don’t start this until we are legally separated.”

I could see John didn’t like my terms. He was thinking it over. “Okay, I’ll work on it,” he said. I knew he was too cocky to think he’d lose. But I didn’t want anything to do with him.

“Okay,” I said.

“Also, I don’t want you alone with Ben. I don’t trust him and I know he hurt you. I know you want the kids to have a relationship with him. And I do see the need. I just think if you’re fully committed to making this work, he needs to be on board.”

“Fine.”

John wrapped his arms around me. “I promise to make this work.”

Benji

After a week of declining interviews and posting statements. It had become abundantly clear Lauryn and I weren’t engaged. Now it was time to make it official that we’re no longer together.

Katie was gone and Taj was busy getting things ready for us to head back to Sonoma. So I had a poolside brunch prepared. I wanted answers and Lauryn was going to give them to me.

She was lead to the back yard by the maid. She wore a short dress and high heels. Her hair was sleek and straight. She wore a huge pair of Dior sunglasses and has a blank look on her face.

I waited for the maid to leave to speak. “I’m sure you know by now that I didn’t plan all that stuff for you.”

“I know you didn’t. Because you were too busy making a fool out of yourself with someone else’s wife,” she accused as she removed her gasses. “Now I’m willing to look pass all of that if you promise this thing with the two of you is over.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. There was literally no way this could be happening. “Who told you that?”

“You can f**k someone’s wife and just think it’s going to be OK. Her husband knows and he doesn’t seem Ike the type of guy to play with Benji.”

Of course it was John. It’s always John. He told Lauryn and he probably helped Lauryn set this up all to make sure Mia wouldn’t leave him. “Mia never cheated on him. I never slept with her. He is jealous because he cheated on her and she’s leaving him. You fell for that bullshit.”

She looked appalled then yelled, “Bullshit. It’s not bullshit Benji. I saw the way you were looking at her. How you were holding her. It was far from bullshit.”

“I’m not going to deny that I-I do have feeling for her.”

Lauryn started to cry. “Really you’ve been the only constant in my life for 8 years. I’ve been with you through everything Benji. Every DUI, every trip to rehab, every interview. Everything! For what?”

“I admit that I didn’t handle instant fame well. That all happened at a time I really didn’t know myself. But I’m not there anymore, and neither are you. What we had worked for who we used to be. And I know I’m not who you want. I know about Aaron and Stephan I’m not stupid. We aren’t good together.”

“Id never walk away from you. There was never a time I’d stop seeing a life with you.”

“Because you want to know you have someone that is there for you no matter what you do. And I love you Lauryn. I’m just not in love with you. I hope we”-

“Don’t you say you want to be my friend if you intent to be with her. Don’t you dare say it, if that’s what you’re going to do.”