Chapter twenty seven Beaten

Kayla was watching television when there was a knock at her door. She got up and went to answer it and smiled when she saw Steven standing there. "Hi baby, come on in." She said stepping aside so he could come in. She then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Hungry?" She asks. "Not at the moment, sit; I need to talk to you." He said sitting on the coffee table across from her. "Okay what's up?" she asks. "What's your relationship with this guy?" He asks placing his phone in front of her.

She looks over at it and finds herself looking at a photo of Tyler. "And Kayla, I would choose your words carefully if I were you?" He said coldly. "What's wrong with you? That's my brother, what's this about?" She asks annoyed.

"Funny you should say that because I had a talk with this man this morning after you left, now are you sure you want to continue down this road because I can assure you, it won't end well for you." He said in a deadly tone.

She got up and began pacing the room. "I told you, this is what he does, he plays with your head for fun and you're letting him play you, I thought you were smarter than that." She said sucking her teeth. "You see that's what I thought at first but guess what? He could actually prove that he wasn't your brother." He said walking up to her and placing his phone in front of her face.

"Here're photos of the two of you, at some event, and most interesting your engagement party. Now tell me, sweetheart, why is your tongue down your brother's throat?" He asks placing his hand on the back of her neck and the pressure she felt told her he was angry. "Baby listens, I can explain, he photoshops those pictures, please baby you have to believe me." She said in a panic tone.

"Thing is I did, I believed you, I believed everything you told me and you know what, all lies, every word that you said to me were all lies. Now repeat everything I said to you on our engagement day." He said in a tone so cold it sends shivers down her spine.

She had to get out of here and away from him. She thought looking at the door. "How far do you think you could get before you hit the floor?" He asks rolling up his sleeve. "Steve….please…I…" "Begin." He orders. "You told me to promise you that I would never lie to you, cheat on you or play you for a fool, which I haven't by the way, please baby you've to listen to me."

"I'm listening." He said. "I haven't done any of those things, he's lying to you, please trust me, he's the one that's lying." She cried. "Just how stupid do you think I am, do you remember what I said would happen if you did any of those things?" He asks. "Steve…." "Do you remember!" "Yes…. I do." "You know Jamaicans have this saying that those who can't hear, will feel and feel you will, sweetheart." He said grabbing her in her hair.

Kayla remains on the sofa for an hour after Steve left. Her face hurt so badly she literally couldn't move. He told her that she should be glad she was pregnant because the baby was the only thing stopping him from beating her to death. He also said that the next time she saw him would be in the delivery room. He had then put an envelope on the table which he said contained two hundred thousand dollars, to ensure that she delivers a healthy baby and if she didn't he would kill her in the delivery room.

And if she did and it was his he would take it away from her and she would never see the child again and if it wasn't then he would make her pay for all she did to him, so anyway she took it, she was screwed. At least she had a few months to figure out how to get out of this mess but right now she couldn't stay here, she had to find somewhere to lay low for a while, until her face heals. Tyler can't find out about this.

Two days later I was sitting in the swing with Faith in my arms as I waited for my friends to arrive, I had asked them to come to my house but didn't tell them why. I had just finished feeding Faith when I saw them walking across the lawn towards me.

They came to a stop in front of me with wide-eyed expressions on their faces, as they notice the young baby in my arms. "Hi guys, now before you say anything let me explain. This little beauty is Faith. She and her mother are a new addition to our family, take a seat and I'll explain everything."

Ten minutes later my friends had expressed about a dozen different emotions as I told them Janice's story. Jessica tried her best to fight back the tears that threatened to run down her cheeks. "I can't believe it; you said she is okay now, right?" Jessie asks choked with emotion. "Yes she's fine, she isn't a hundred percent better but she's getting stronger each day." "Why are we just hearing about this?" Jason asked also choked with emotion. "Because she wasn't well enough to accept visitors; and there the fact that the father of her child is still looking for her to kill her and her daughter," I answered putting Faith on my shoulder and rubbing her back.

"And also because I didn't want anyone to know that she's here and I still don't; no one; get it; especially Martin, I'm not really sure what's going on with that guy but I don't like it.'

"Alright, she'll be our little secret; out with the old and in with the new is what I always say," Jason said smiling. I could tell from the look on Jason's face exactly what he was thinking. "Oh no; it's nothing like that," I said holding up my hand.

"Come on Jase no, after everything I just told you, there's no way she's ready for any kind of relationship with anyone, now come on, I told her you were coming. She's waiting for us in the living room; follow me so I can introduce you."

"Hang on a second TJ, is she the one that's not ready or is it you, because I notice you're still wearing that ridiculous ring Kayla gave you, which means you're still not over that witch." I turned and glared at Jason angrily.

"What did I say about calling her names? Listen to me; the only reason you're here is that I wanted to introduce Janice to my two best friends, so if you're not interested you can just leave." I state firmly. "Wait, come on guys, don't argue, we're here to meet Janice so let's go do that alright," Jessica said calmly.

"I'm sorry TJ, I'm just worried about you that's all. You're a very good person and you deserve to be happy and right now you're not and it's because of Kayla." Jason states. 'It just makes me angry and after everything you just told us, there's no way you running into this girl at that exact moment was a coincidence; that my friend was faith and I'm sure little Faith would agree, wouldn't you baby? Yes, you would." Jason smile kissing the baby's little fingers. "But anyway Jessie is right, we're here to meet Janice, so lead the way, my good friend."

I entered Janice's room Thursday morning with the intention of saying goodbye and saw her curled up on her bed crying. I immediately rushed over to her and wrapped my arms around her, she rest her head on my chest as tears streamed down her face. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" I ask gently.

"My….My latest test results came back from the doctor's office and your father said that base on the results I won't be able to have any more children." She sobs. "Are they sure? I mean doctors have been known to be wrong some times."

"Your father said that they ran the test three times; it's because of what Leon did to me after I had Faith. He raped me and when I got away from him and ran outside he grabbed Faith from me and pushed me down and he ….he kept kicking me." She cried her entire body shaking. "He wanted to kill me and it's because of him why I can't have any more children." She continued sobbing into my shirt.

"Three men dragged him off of me and gave me Faith who was at that time on the ground and I grabbed my bags and ran, they barred him from coming after me that was how I got away." I tightened my grip on her as tears welled up in my eyes; I couldn't even imagine the pain she must have been feeling as she ran for her life.

"I'm so sorry for all that you went through but it's going to be alright; the lord will work everything out; shhh it's okay, I'm here; no one will ever hurt you or Faith again," I said holding her protectively in my arms.

"She pulled away from me and looked into my eyes. "Thank you, I'm sorry for soiling your shirt." She tried fixing it but I held her hands gently and massage her fingers. "I'm more worried about you than the shirt rights now; are you going to be alright?" I ask softly. "Well I have to try to be; what else can I do, but you need to go before you run late and when you come home later I want to hear all about your day okay."

"Alright, but in the meantime, if you need me just call, and if you don't get me then leave a message and I'll call you back as soon as I can alright." She nods her head as I kissed a sleeping Faith on her forehead. "Bye my sweet little muffin, I'll see you later, I'm going to miss you, remember, call me okay," I said on my way out. "I'll bye."

Thank you all for reading

Food for thought

Every action we take in life

Comes with a consequence

Whether it be good or bad