Page 42 of Our Promise
The more she talked, the more furious he became.
“Tara, why would you do this?”
“Why? I want to see you hurt like how I was when I got the word that you were married to the woman you told me not to worry about. You made me feel like I was crazy. I wasn’t crazy! You wanted her this whole time. Me cheating gave you the escape you needed to run off into the sunset with her. You don’t get to have a happily ever after without me!”
“Everything with Lorielle and I happened after us. You broke us up long before she was in the picture.”
“Liar! When you couldn’t have her, you came to me, except you didn’t give me your all. That’s why I cheated.”
“Benny!” Jo burst through the front door. She stopped when she saw he was still on the phone. His father and mother rushed around her. Trey and Elle were close behind. They made their way to his side.
“We called the police,” Trey whispered.
His parents were leaving, but there would be nothing they could do once they arrived. They were too far away. The damage had already been done.
“You mad?” Tara taunted.
Jo snatched the phone from him. “You’re going to jail, bitch!” she spat.
“And I’ll be smiling in my mugshot.” Tara laughed. “Congratulations, Bernard.”
“You better hope the cops find you before I do.” Jo was normally rowdy, but Jo on liquor was ten times worse, and with Lorielle feeding off her energy, she grabbed the phone.
“’Cause we’ve been waiting to lay hands on you. You’re a weak ass, jealous ass bitch that wants what she can’t have.”
“Just remember, I had him first.”
“You know better than that. That’s why you’re mad.” Lorielle ended the call. “Let’s go.”
Benny couldn’t get his feet to move.
A night that was supposed to be for celebrating had turned into a night of mourning.
Chapter
Ten
Stand the Test of Time
The last two weeks had been hell.
Lorielle drove to what used to be Cup of Jo. That bitch Tara not only burned a business to the ground, but she took away a dream, memories, a legacy, and all over a breakup. Though Tara was sentenced to three years in jail and fined ten thousand dollars, Lorielle felt like that still wasn’t enough. She would be counting down the days until she touched down.
However, Lorielle would trade her most valuable possession if her husband didn’t have to go through what he was going through. Benny was taking it hard. So were his parents. Mr. B had put his blood, sweat, and tears into that place, and Benny felt like it was his fault instead of who was really to blame.
What made things worse was he still had to be business-minded and focus on the other location and the distribution center.
Lorielle tried to be understanding, but her husband wasn’t himself. He was bitter, disconnected, and rightfully so, but he was pushing her away instead of embracing her support. thattriggered her. She hated to make this situation about her, but she was fighting. She would communicate with him. Let him know how his behavior was making her feel and hopefully they could talk and come up with a solution.
Now, if that didn’t work, she knew herself. She was going to check out. She had spent years in an awful marriage, and she wouldn’t continue in a second one that showed signs of being like the first.
She pulled her car into the parking lot, and sure enough Benny’s car was there.
Lorielle watched Benny for a second. Looking at him walk on the rubbish of what used to be his business was heartbreaking. Her heart was reaching out to him, but he was closed off. She didn’t know how to help his mood.
It was killing her because she was his wife. She was supposed to be able to make everything better.
“Benny.” She approached him cautiously.
