You'll Never Stand Alone

Chapter 41

The ocean never sounded louder to Whitney than it did that night. She usually enjoyed their California ranch-style home for that reason. The ocean wasn't present in her Jersey-home. However, that night, it was more disturbing than anything, more-so because she felt all alone.

She strained her ears for the sound of Kevin's car, but there was nothing. "Who could that have been on the phone?" she asked aloud. Fear cascaded over her body and she shivered at the very thought that Kevin would actually go out and have an affair and be in the arms of another woman. She knew that she had been very wrong in her actions, but wanted to believe that her husband wouldn't have the spiteful heart to cheat on her, even for revenge. Whitney pulled on a robe and went to check on the children. Krissy, as usual, fell asleep with the television on and Whitney tucked her in properly before giving her a kiss on her cheek. The twins shared a room. Ayden fell asleep with his favorite toy in his hand; she removed it and gave him a kiss. She did the exact same thing with Babydoll, who insisted that she had to listen to music before she went to bed. Babydoll showed a lot of interest in music and already was saying that she wanted to be a singer, like her mom and dad, when she grew up. She turned off her little radio and gave her a kiss before turning off the light. She thanked God for how loving and sweet her children were.

She tried to go back to sleep, but she started to toss and turn. She hadn't slept well ever since everything came into the light with her parents and husband. After a more minutes of sleeplessness, Whitney kicked back the covers and went downstairs for something to drink. She fought off the urge to grab and use the one thing that got her in this situation to begin with.....

Instead, she grabbed a soda and decided to go into the great room to watch television. She was shocked to see Kevin asleep on the sofa and stopped dead in her tracks. Unsure of what to do or say, she stood there watching him, resisting the urge to slide underneath the blanket beside him so he could hold her like he always did to keep her safe and warm. Sensing her presence, Kevin opened his eyes. "Hey" he told her. "Hey, you." Whitney replied. She sat down in a chair across from the sofa. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"I wasn't quite asleep yet. Why are you up?"

Answering a call from your phone...with some woman's voice on the other end she wanted to say. However, she honestly didn't know how to deal with the call. He could have accidently left his phone somewhere or had it stolen. She knew that women loved to play games, especially with other women's men.

"Well. I couldn't sleep. So I got up to check on the babies and came downstairs to watch TV. I didn't know you were here." She badly wanted to know where he had been and how long he had been home, but wasn't sure if he would even reciprocate to conversation.

Kevin closed his eyes and sighed. "I can't sleep either."

He doesn't seem to be angry, Whitney noticed. It was the first time they had spoken to each other amicably in weeks, but Whitney was afraid to hope for more.

"So...I've been thinking...." Kevin began. After his strange encounter with Leolah, his anger was fading and he wasn't as upset at Whitney as he initially was. This was the biggest issue that they had faced as a couple and he was starting to feel that they could work on fixing everything to overcome this.

"What were you thinking, baby?" Whitney couldn't help being anxious to hear what he had to say.

"About the drugs....and stuff." He began. "Is this the only thing that you've ever kept from me?

"Oh yes baby. Yes it is. I've shared every single thing about me....except for that. I just didn't know how to tell you...." She responded.

"But why did you feel like you had to hide something like that from me? I thought we knew we could tell each other anything." Kevin looked at his wife with confusion in his blue eyes. Whitney took a deep breath, finally feeling some relief in getting to talk to him. "I don't know exactly why Kev.... I was ashamed, most of all. Here I am, your wife, your other half. I'm supposed to support and compliment you as a man. How would that look to you that I didn't have it quite all together?"