III: The Redemption (Completed)

1. First Day of School

Welcome back! We live babyyyyy! Lol, I hope you enjoy but first remember; you must read KEEPING SECRETS & THE REVELATION first.
Thanks, love ya xo ❤️

7 Years Later

Samantha King

"One more picture Lili." I said to Elise as she posed in her school outfit. I never thought I would turn into one of these mothers; but seeing my baby going off to the second grade today made my heart flutter. She was growing up too fast for my liking, so I made it my duty to document every single moment of it.

"Mommy, my mouth hurts." She whined, rolling her eyes in the process. "No more."

"Just one more baby." I said while looking through the multiple I had already taken. I held my camera up and on cue she placed her hand on her hip, and gave me that award winning smile. "Perfect." I cooed, snapping a few more in the process.

"I'm going to be late!" she shrieked, then grabbed a hold of the straps on her backpack, strutting over to the car.

"You're right." I checked my watch; realizing that I had to get through the first day of school traffic and be at work in less than an hour. I pushed my phone into my purse that sat on the steps, throwing it over my shoulder. I picked up the car seat that held my 10-month old son; Carter then followed her; placing him into the back. Once I got them all situated, I hopped into my SUV; throwing my bag into the seat next to me.

As I cut on the engine and got myself strapped in, I couldn't help but notice the look of concern on Elise's face as she stared out the window. "Baby, what's wrong?" I asked, as I began to back out of my parking spot.

"Daddy is missing another first day of school."

"C'mon Li, you know he didn't mean to. He's just busy."

"He's always busy!" she whined, throwing up her hands in frustration.

"That's not true! He took you for ice cream last night baby..."

"I know but I still miss him and I miss Nya." She pouted and looked down at her hands in front of her. "I never saw her last night."

"Because Nya was with aunty Rochelle sweetie, I explained this to you. Just like you and I spend time; Nya needs to spend time with her mom as well." I pulled my sunglasses on and headed down our street and into the expected traffic filled with other mothers running late and multiple school buses.

"I want her to spend time with me.... At our house like old times... when daddy lived with us." Her voice cracked and I turned to see her wiping tears from her eyes. I groaned, and rolled my eyes. I was not in the mood to deal with this today.

Ever since Alonzo and I separated a year and a half ago; Elise had been struggling with the transition. I knew I couldn't blame anyone but ourselves for it, but I would be lying if I didn't say it was getting annoying.

I tried my best to avoid Alonzo, although we had mutual friends and now had a daughter in the middle; I created a schedule for him to pick her up from school on Fridays, keep her till Tuesday morning where I would pick her up and have her for the remainder of the week. That way; we never had to deal with each other directly. I, myself was trying to move on, but having to constantly bring him back up for her sake made that process worse for me. Especially, since we separated with my feelings for him still intact. I loved him from the bottom of my heart, was willing to go through hell and high waters for him, however; after a few years of marriage it was clear that his intentions weren't the same.

Alonzo started returning to his old ways; I watched the drugs begin to come in little by little, I didn't judge him because I knew we were struggling and needed the extra money. But it became worse; to the point where he would be out until 4 AM in the morning, coming back reeking of weed, beer and even cheap perfume from time to time. There were nights when he came home bruised and all scratched up. Alonzo started skipping his classes just to make money, he would get a call and decide a wop was better than studying for an exam. It seemed as if no matter how much I tried to encourage him to stay in school and just finish because he was so close, he wouldn't listen. He got a taste of his old life and dove right in, not giving a damn about how it would affect us.