Loving Jacob (Breathless 5)

“Mama, is something wrong with the baby?” she asked. Montana shared the news she overheard me telling my mother on the ride over to Montie’s office. I was pregnant with the new heir to the Turner Enterprise. An enterprise I didn’t want one red cent, or even acknowledgement from now.

“Are you pregnant, Destiny?” Montie asked.

Another cry squealed from me, stopping me in my tracks as I reached the door. At that very spot in Montie’s office, Jacob’s betrayal sank into my soul and took me to an all-time low.

I swiped away my tears and held back the emotions building behind my lids, for my children’s sake.

“Say goodbye to your father,” I whispered to Junior and Montana.

Montie apologized to me profusely and held me in his arms, friend-to-friend. I held onto his familiar caress. I needed it.

A woman walked through the door carrying a large bag of take out and wearing a huge smile that instantly faded when she saw me.

“Hey ba—bee…” she sang, her words waning as she stepped into the solemn room.

My eyes crashed into hers and flew to Montie’s.

He stepped back from me, held my hand, and gave it a light squeeze. He went over to greet the woman with a kiss.

I understood the loving look he bestowed upon her. I’d lost Montie completely, after choosing Jacob who cheated on me and tried to hide it. This lady had filled the void that I left wide open. She was someone special to Montie. I could tell by he way he kept her protectively at his side that he had no intention of ever letting her go. He once felt that way about me and I let him go. What a dirty brush with karma.

“I’ll wait in the lobby,” I said, and bolted from the room whimpering as I trailed up the hallway. An emotional wrecking ball, I frantically dialed Jacob to hear his side of the story.

“I thought she was you, Destiny,” was his sorry excuse. “I knew she was ruthless, but this is horrible. She played a dirty trick on me. I have had to live with my actions since that horrible day. I would have told you before now, but I couldn’t find it in myself to tell you that I could be so stupid to make a mistake like that. But we don’t have to worry about her anymore, Destiny.”

I lit into him when he admitted to sleeping with Justine. “I’m not worried about her anymore, or you. You let her win, Jacob. How could you sleep with her of all fucking people?”

“I never would have touched her in my right mind. Listen, I don’t think we should talk about this over the phone. I’m in the car now. I’m coming over to get you,” he said.

“Just let me go, Jacob. This has caused too much damage already.”

“Baby, we don’t have to worry about her playing anymore horrible tricks on us. My father just told me that she’s been locked up for Rick’s, murder,” Jacob said, adding the reason he brought me to Atlanta. “That’s why I wanted to come here, back to where we started, because I knew once I told you the truth you would be upset with me. My dream is to never see a frown on your face. I couldn’t bear the thought of me being the reason for you being hurt.”

“Well, you have failed, Jacob,” I said ending our call.

Montie approached me trying to apologize.

I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. I stormed out of his office onto the curb where I stood crying senselessly.

Seeing my distress, Lynetta got out of the back of the second car and ran over to be by my side. “Mrs. Destiny, what is the matter?” she asked.

“Just take Montana and Junior with you.”

“No Mama, I want to stay with you,” Junior said.

“Me stay too,” Montana added. “Gotta be with you, mommy.”

“No, I’m fine.” I faked a smile. “Go ahead with Lynetta and she’ll take you for ice cream,” I said.

Lynetta got into one of the unmarked Lincolns parked by the door and I got into the other. I told Henty to take me to back to the airport.

“Mrs. Turner, should I call Mr. Turner and let him know you’ll be departing Atlanta.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Just take me to the airport, please!”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said and tilted his hat.

My cell phone rang and it was Jacob.