"Hi, babies!" After noticing us, Prince kissed our children with the most adorable smile. His band and members of the entourage went back home, leaving us alone to bond as a family. Despite loving motherhood, I still missed my husband terribly.
Our twin daughters were now three years old. Armed with nannies and this large security team, I visited Prince backstage after the Video Music Awards. MTV broadcasted their annual ceremony once again and it was good to leave the house.
"Great job." I smiled, already carrying one of the twins on my hip. She dropped her curly hair onto my shoulder. Despite his wild stage outfit, Prince held his second child, hushing his voice as we continued speaking. I smiled in return, grateful.
"Thanks." Prince then smirked, knowing exactly what song he performed earlier. "Gett Off" had been one of my favorites and it was nice to know that he still remembered to be sexy. Life wasn't just, work, marriage, and kids, even right now.
"If it wasn't for the girls, I could've been jamming on that stage, too." I teased back, whispering as our babies drifted right back to sleep. Prince nodded, kissing my nose. Both of our girls didn't even stir and nannies watched from the hallway.
"We'd get in trouble." Prince winked. We both walked out of the room to leave and gently traded our babies to the nannies. I knew what this man meant by talking like that. Tension welcomed itself into the limousine that evening. I just swooned.
"Keep hinting that way and I'll end up pregnant again." In the limo, I laughed to keep myself from fainting. Even as he turned and faced this back window, I licked my lips. Silence fell as he reached to hold my hand. Our wedding rings beamed.
"I love you." Through his chuckle, Prince soon became romantic once again. His stare glanced with the eyes that met me in that record store. We were still young, but he cared. Life could've been much worse and I thanked our heavens for peace.
"I love you, too." Following my whisper, we kissed. Streetlights ambered outside the limo as I drifted to sleep on my own. Prince quieted himself, standing interlocking my limp hand. At least I could feel the beat of my own heart tonight.
Yet, months later, Prince wanted to divorce.
"What did I do wrong?" I questioned, trying to figure out what happened. I'd called him on the phone several times before to no avail. Thank goodness that the girls were asleep or else I'd lose my mind and yell. Frustration still fumed within me.
"Nothing." Prince lied. If I'd been good enough, this moment in time wouldn't actually happen. One of my worst nightmares had been realized. Even Momma lectured him earlier that week, reasonably pissed off beyond about this stunt.
"Don't lie." I lowered my voice, soon gritting my teeth. Enough was enough. My heart dropped with both anger and sadness. A lump formed in my throat. Silence fell between us as Prince just failed to answer me now. I couldn't believe him.
"Nicole, I'm so sorry." Prince sighed out loud.
When he whispered "Nicole", I knew that we were over.
______
Following our divorce, I was granted sole custody of the girls and Prince said goodbye. Beyond his visitation agreement, no other assets mattered to me. Outside the courthouse, I walked past cameras, veiled with shades to fight that lens glare.
Meanwhile, Prince still lurked with his security team in the parking lot. If it wasn't for my kind heart, I would've ignored his presence. There was already enough hate in this world and I'd set this terrible example for my daughters. Prince still knew.
"Hey, sorry things had to end like this." Prince took off his sunglasses and faced me with respect. I nodded in return, trying to not cry in front of him. Silence fell in the afternoon air. This moment was really going down for us. I didn't want it to be true.
He spent nearly a decade trying to reach me and yet here we were, standing in this courthouse parking lot. Our strong bond, the fairytale wedding, and two perfect girls couldn't actually make a difference anymore. I nearly shut down all over again.
In truth, I simply felt gutted. "Baby," I tried, finally allowing myself to be vulnerable. I had to find him.
He was the man who blushed at first sight of me in that record store. The man who pushed me to greatness. The man gave me angels. The man who kept me going, even at my lowest point. My mind jumbled now with questions and memories.
I wanted my soulmate back. Why was this moment in time even happening to begin with? My heart jumped and dropped all at once.
When his limousine finally pulled up, Prince didn't even bother to kiss my cheek and just waved, turning into this complete stranger. I didn't even know what to think, but sadness quickly washed over my entire being. There was no other choice then.
Standing here alone, I watched in total silence as my ex-husband greeted someone brand-new. This random yet beautiful woman almost left me speechless. Light skin, soulful eyes and long dark hair. The color of red painted her smooth lips.
Eventually, I learned that her name was Mayte Garcia.
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