Swapped

Chapter 15

Joy

I never could come up with the courage to tell Marcus the truth I was just terrified of his reaction. I suddenly understood how Summer felt because I could not bring myself to schedule the appointment with the obgyn. However now that I knew I was pregnant a lot of things made sense, like my swollen feet. I couldn't call my mom she would never understand. She was going to be so furious when she found out. I really wanted to talk to Summer just one time before she found out that I wasn't shit. So I called her "Hey Joy" she'd said and I knew she was smiling.

"Hey Summer I miss you. I just wanted to call and check on you" I said.

"You sound funny what's wrong and don't say nothing because I know you to well for that" she said to me.

"I'm just tired is all? I wish things were different like they use to be" I fought back tears. Hearing her voice just made me feel awful I had to tell Marcus and I had to tell her the truth I just wasn't ready.

"Girl guess who is here" before I could say who she said "Lauren!" She sounded shocked when she said it "And she is being super cool. You think she going to try to kill you in my sleep and still my baby" she asked?

"Summer stop" I laughed "she can't be that bad" I said. She snorted and smacked her mouth. Lauren did have issues Id admits but I was kind of glad they were getting along. She would need someone after she found out the truth. "I better go Summer I need to cook before Marcus gets home"

"Wait so I decided to call Rodney. I think I'm ready to hear what he has to say" she said. I was silent as I listened to her breathing. I know she was waiting for my response.

"You deserve to be happy Summer I mean that with all my heart and if Rodney does that for you then I think you should work it out" I sighed

"Yeah I'm going to call him. My mom says the same thing" She said. 'Speaking of mom she's calling me I'll talk to you later Joy. I love you' she said and I instantly teared up.

"I love you to Summer" She hung up in my ear and I jumped at the sound of Marcus's voice. He came in and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Baby what's wrong" he asked.

"I didn't hear you come in Marcus. I'm fine' I said wiping my tears away. He was not convinced. He lead me to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair. He grabbed a chair next to me and had a seat.

"Baby what is it. I wish you would talk to me" he said pleading "I know something is wrong" he said grabbing my hand and squeezing. It was time I couldn't keep this bottled up any longer.

"Marcus I have to tell you something and you're not going to be very happy when you hear it" I said. He looked me over and frowned at me.

"Baby what is it. Talk to me baby you scaring me" He said.

"Marcus do you remember when I went to the hospital. I learned something that day that I didn't tell you" I let the tears fall as I began to tremble.

"Oh God" Marcus cried dropping to his knees he threw his hands around my waist "Your sick aren't you. Oh my God how bad is it. Oh my God Joy I can't live without you Joy' His shoulders shook as he started to cry. Oh my God Oh my God what have I done. "Marcus I'm not sick baby" He wiped his tears and looked up at me confused so I just blurted it out "Marcus I'm pregnant" I shouted. He looked confused then he lifted himself back up and pushed his chair away from me. The chair scraped along the floor as he slid. He leaned forward to study my face "Say what" he said. When it didn't immediately respond he grabbed the solid oak table and flipped it over. He jumped up and kicked it. "Man Joy you better start talking and fast because I'm feeling some kind of way" he ran up to me and grabbed my shoulders "Say something damn it don't just sit there" he yelled. "Okay okay okay" he said pacing back and forth after he shoved me back against the chair. "who did it. Who raped my wife. Yeah yeah it had to be rape it had to be" he said more to himself than to me. He stopped and stared at me. I shook my head no and before I knew it he had charged me knocking me back over in the chair. I screamed. He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me up slamming into the wall. "So you telling me you slept with another man" he yelled!

"Marcus I'm sorry baby I'm sorry" He looked at me and in the moment he looked so hurt. He slammed his fist into the wall and let me go. It wasn't until then I realized my feet had been dangling into the air. I fell hard to the floor. "Nah Nah get up bitch" he yelled "Who was it" he demanded 'Who" he yelled down at me?

"Rodney" I said it practically a whisper. He dropped to his knees and got all the way up to my face.

"Who" he demanded to know?

"Rodney" I said louder. It was like the words cut him he knelt over and stated beating his chest. Then he started crying and laughing hysterically as the reality sunk in.

"You slept with him" he laughed harder "Does Summer know" he asked?

"No" I whispered. He laughed harder and suddenly he got this crazy look in his eyes. He slid over grabbed my hair and snatched my head back "You fucking whore! You muthafucking whore. While I slept only a few feet away you slept with another nigga under the same fucking roof" He jerked me up and we both stumbled to our feet "I'm a fucking kill you ass" he said in a tone full of hate that ID never heard. I tried pushing away at that moment but he punched me several time in the face. I screamed as every blow came so fast and hard I thought Id pass out then I felt him drag me into the bathroom by my hair I must have passed out. I heard the water running in the tub the next thing I know is he picked me up and dropped me into the water like a sack of potatoes. He had snapped Marcus had snapped as the water began to fill I struggled to get away scratching his arms and punching his chest he had his hands around my throat and I couldn't breath as the water got deeper and my head went under I started to truly panic. He just kept squeezing. His face looked demonic. I started saying the Lord's prayer in my head and a calm came over me. I quit struggling and accepted my fate. I created this monster. This was not him, he was not abusive, not cruel. When this was over and he realized I died at his hands he would be inconsolable. He would hate himself, his life would be ruined. I'd imagine he would be angry but I thought he would walk away not kill me. I looked at him and even in this moment I still loved my husband. I needed him to know it was okay that in the end I was not angry. I looked him in the eye and mouthed I love you, and in that moment he released me. He fell back against the cold tile exhausted, holding his hands up and staring at them in awe. I came up gasping for air, choking, and crying. I pulled myself up and clung to the side of the tub. He look at me like I was diseased sliding away from me he slid and scooted away. A few minutes later I looked in the doorway and he was standing there holding a gun to his side. He slid his wedding ring off and tossed on the on the bathroom floor. As I stared at it there I heard the front door open and slam. Just like that I knew Marcus was gone forever.