Marriage Violation

Chapter 24

    Today im going to the doctor to get checked out. I'm 35 weeks pregnant, I was really excited. Dominic didn't seem too excited when I told him at first but he got there the bigger I got. Things been pretty good between us. Dominic kind of shut down a few weeks ago, I wasn't really sure why. All I could do was understand, seeing how I shut down when our son died. I don't know why he shut down. I asked him over and over again, he said it was nothing. I couldn't force him to tell me so I just gave him some space. Today im going out to eat with my dad. I know with my mother being in jail, it's been a little hard for him. He packed up everything back home and moved it all out here. I'm glad to have him out here permanently. I really don't know what ill do without my dad and Hakeem. They have really been supportive throughout everything. I really been needing him lately since Dominic has shut down. He say it has nothing to do with me but im not too sure about that. He doesn't want to kiss me, lay with me, none of that. I know my dad will give me some great advice.

    Hey baby girl! Hey dad! How are you and the baby? We both are good, she's so active. She? Yes, you will have a granddaughter this time. Another baby girl, what I always wanted. How you doing? I know not having mom around after being together for so many years is difficult. I'm not happy about it but im not happy with what she did. I have to live with the painful decision she made. I wanted to talk to you about something. What? My marriage is not how it should be. What you mean? Dominic has shut down; he's been that way for a while now. I ask him time and time again what's wrong. He tells me it has nothing to do with me. I wanna believe him but his actions say differently. What does his actions say? He don't kiss me, don't wanna lay with me, none of that. At first I thought he wasn't attracted to me no more. What you think it is? I think he not attracted to me no more. It might not be that, my dad said. You think so? Yeah, he might just be going through something. Going through what? It could be work related, personal, it could be anything. If that was the case, why wouldn't he tell me? Not too many men want to share their personal issues with a woman. I used to be the same way with your mother. So I shouldn't be worried? No, just give him some time. I'm sure whatever it is, it'll pass. Once it passes, he'll be willing to talk about it. My dad was right, I should just give him some time and see if he talks about it. I don't wanna force him to tell me or jump to any conclusions. So im going to wait it out and hope it's nothing.

   I left the restaurant and headed home. When I got there, Dominic wasn't there. I wasn't surprised that he wasn't, he don't be home much now days. I'm trying to take my dad's advice and not assume the worst. I just see a change in Dominic and I don't like it at all. I'm trying to be positive but I know in my heart something ain't right. This ain't the man I married. I called Crystal to get her opinion on things. Hey girly! Hey! How are you? I'm good girl, just relaxing. How are you? I'm ok, just needed your opinion on something. What's up? Remember I told you Dominic been act different? Yeah, I remember. Well things still haven't gotten better. He still real distant, he hardly here, he don't kiss me, don't sleep in the same bed with me, none of that. Didn't you do the same when y'all son died? Yeah, but he knew the reason for my actions. I don't know the reason for his actions. I ask him time and time again what is it. He just tells me it has nothing to do with me. You think it could be work related? I don't know but my dad said the same thing. If it was work related, personal, or something why wouldn't he just tell me? Sometimes men have a hard time expressing how they feel, especially to a woman. It's 2 ways you can play this. You can play it smart and take his word for it. You can play it safe and do some work on your own. What you mean? Check what he tells you, check pockets for receipts, follow him, hell put a tracking device on his car. If you feel strongly about something not being right, go with that gut feeling. The more you ignore it, the more it'll eat you alive. Crystal was right, I should go with my gut. My gut telling me something ain't right. I never wanted to be the kind of wife that doubts her husband and checking up on him like he a kid or something. I don't wanna do this but I have to if I wanna be happy. You right, gotta do what I gotta do.

    I really hate to do this but shit I got to. Hey Steph! Hey, what's up? Have you talked to Dominic? Yeah, I talked to him maybe 15 minutes ago. I was wondering if you were busy. Not at the moment, you need something? Actually I do, I said. With me being pregnant, I get tired real quick. I've been trying to call Dominic for the past hour but he's not answering. I was hoping you could take me to a few places. I'm sure Dominic won't mind you helping his pregnant wife for an hour or 2. I'm sure he won't either, I don't see the problem in it. I will be at your house in maybe 10 minutes. I know I won't get much out of Steph but hopefully I can get something useful from her ass. With her being Dominic's assistant, im sure she knows something. Hey Diane! Hey Olivia, how are you? Pregnant and tired, how are you? I'm doing pretty good, can't complain. I was calling to see if Dominic was busy. He's not here at the moment. He finished his last client for the day and he left about 45 minutes ago. I was just about to leave out myself. I know this is going to sound strange but I was wondering if you could give me your key to the office. Dominic has been a little stressed out lately and I wanna do something nice for him. I wanted to come to the office, set up a nice dinner for him, and surprise him. That sounds really nice, Diane said. Can I meet you somewhere to get the key? I really don't have time; I have an engagement party to get to. You can ask his assistant for her key. Oh, I didn't know she had one. Yeah, Dominic wanted both of us to have a key. I'll call and ask her, thank you. You welcome and I hope everything go as planned. Shit if I knew Steph had a key too, I wouldn't have asked Diane. You ready to go, Steph asked? Yeah, let me get my purse.

    How is the pregnancy so far? It's ok, just tired a lot. I wasn't this tired when I was pregnant with little Dominic. I only need to go to the grocery store, I can get the other stuff I need out of there too. I'm planning a nice romantic dinner for Dominic tonight. He been stressed out lately so I want to do something nice for him. I think he'll enjoy that, Steph said. I was hoping if I can see your key to the office, I wanna do it there. Sure, Steph said while handing me the key. Can you not tell him? It's safe with me, Steph said. While im at the office, im going to check everything. His appointment book, his desk, the trash, all of that shit. Lately he been saying he at the office a lot or staying late. I wanna see if his appointments match the times he tells me. I wanna believe he not lying to me but it's kind of hard right now. We made it to the grocery store and I didn't wanna do no shopping. I was ready to get to this office and check out some shit. I really hope what im thinking ain't true. Steph im sorry I wasted your time but I have to go. Are you ok? This heartburn is killing me right now and I left my pills at home. I'll take you back home, Steph said. She took me back home and I waited about 10 minutes before heading to the office. I called Dominic, of course he didn't answer. I know he's not at the office so I left out. The whole way there, my heart was pounding. I'm praying to God what im thinking and feeling ain't true. This is the first time in my life I wanted to be wrong.

    I made it to the office and I was scared to go in. First I check Diane's desk, just to look at the appointment book. Took a few pictures so I can look at it later. I was trying to get out of here quick so I didn't have time to really look at it. Next I checked Dominic's office, damn it smell just like him in here. Before I could check anything, I noticed a bag sticking out of his closet. I looked and saw a night bag. It had a change of clothes, socks, boxers, and cologne. This weird, why would he have this in his office? I put it back in the closet and checked his desk. I didn't find anything on his computer, thank God. I checked his draws and I did find a few receipts. Some was for new suits, watches, shoes, and some other stuff. Dominic never bought this much stuff for his wardrobe. I checked the garbage, didn't find anything in there either. Only thing I found that was a little fishy to me was the bag. It could be many reasons why he has this bag in here. I could be tripping over nothing; I hope im tripping over nothing. While I was there, Dominic called. Hey baby! Hey, where are you? You remember the girl I told you I found outside the office that night? Yeah, I said. Her mother wanted to treat me to dinner for helping her. Oh, that was nice of her. How is she? She's good, she back at home with her mother and she left that dude alone. Well that's good. Yeah, im glad I helped her. You still at dinner with them? Yeah, I just wanted to call you and check on you. How was the doctor appointment? It was good, she doing fine. She really didn't wanna be seen today. That's because daddy wasn't there, im sorry I couldn't make it. What time was your appointment? My client came around 10:30am, Dominic said. I'll check and see if he telling the truth later. Right now, it seems like everything is checking out. I haven't seen anything fishy or too suspicious just yet. Hopefully I don't see anything. I'll be home in about 15 minutes or so. Ok baby, I said.