Chapter 24

Twenty-five years later

Jasmine looked around the dinner table grateful for her family. She never imagined being a wife and mother after the hurt she endured. But God had other plans and she was at a place of peace and happiness for the goodness of God in her life. She looked at her children Austin Jr, Emma, Ryan, and Kaitlin. They each exhibited different personalities. Raising her kids was exciting, exhilarating, and eventful with Austin by her side. She smiled as they argued about who would get the first slice of her birthday cake.

“Mom, you have to give it to your twins,” Ryan said rooting for himself or his twin sister Katlin.

“In your dreams,” Austin Jr. declared. “I am the oldest, Mom’s firstborn,” AJ explained.

“All of you need to remember I am the baby. Mom never leaves her baby last,” Emma giggled amused by her sibling’s playful rivalry.

“Children, let me put you all out of your misery. I am the first choice because I was with your mother before all you came into the world,” Austin Sr teased his children.

“Okay, everyone let’s all relax,” Jasmine stated cutting several slices of cake for her playful kids.

“Honey, I love you, my husband and best friend,” Jasmine said passing him a slice of cake.

“Mom..............” the other kids said in unison making Austin Sr. laugh.

“Kids this is my wife of twenty-five years. You cannot get between us,” Austin Sr. said kissing Jasmine on the head.

“Do not eat until I permit you, Jasmine said passing out slices of cake to all her children. “To all my beautiful children, I love you and you all deserve a slice,” Jasmin explained.

“Take a bite,” Jasmine said keeping the peace. She knew she was dealing with a competitive group so she never entertained the competition. “Mom, you don’t play fair,” Ryan laughed as his siblings tried to take each other’s cake.

Austin smiled at his wife who he grew more in love with every day. He kissed her hand gently. “Happy 55th birthday,” Austin Sr. beamed.

“Thank you, honey,” Jasmine smiled as he leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips.

“Dad always bribes mom being all chivalrous and loving,” Austin pointed out.

“Indeed,” Ryan pointed out.

“You guys behave. Mom and Dad are beautiful together,” Katlin smiled admiring her parent’s relationship.

“Mom, open your gifts,” Emma said suggested excitedly. “Okay,” Jasmine laughed as her kids all gave her huge hugs. Jasmine enjoyed all this love on her special day.

Austin Sr. slipped outside and joined his wife as she sat outside in the gazebo admiring the stars.

“What is my beautiful wife thinking?” Austin Sr. asked sitting next to her.

“Just praying for you and the children,” she announced.

“What would we do without you?” he asked pulling her in his arms.

“I am getting so old,” she teased.

“Baby you don’t look a day over twenty,” Austin Sr. pointed out.

“Honey, you are good for my ego,” Jasmine laughed.

“But babe the grey hair does not lie,” she explained.

“Just wisdom on display. Your smile, beauty, heart, and personality do it for me,” Austin Sr. said smothering her with kisses.

“Dad, stop eating Mom’s face,” Ryan shouted from inside the house.

They both laughed as Emma turned up the music to a few golden oldies.

“Can I have this dance?” Austin said staring into the eyes of his beloved.

“Of course,” Jasmine beamed slipping into his arms. Jasmine prayed for moments like this with her family and hoped that they would always be happy.

Austin Jr. sat in the hotel room recalling his mother’s birthday party. It was good to be around his family because it made him forget his problems. He ran his finger over his wedding band. He was married to Madison Harris, his high school sweetheart. Their parents wanted them to wait but they were adamant in getting their happily ever after. Austin realized early on that fairy tales don’t exist and the real world was far much harder.

He was the oldest of his siblings and always felt he had to keep it together because everyone looked up to him. He and Madison went to college early and started their careers. Madison became a full-time therapist and Austin became a young reporter both excited about their careers. Everything was great in their first year of marriage. However, things went downhill after that. They both were committed to their careers and not enough into their marriage. They both were twenty-four and learning new things about each other daily. Madison wanted him to commit to staying home more and communicating with her.

However, Austin Jr’s job had him on the go many times unexpectedly and strained their marriage.

Austin Jr. loved his wife but compromising and striking a balance was becoming more difficult by the minute. He hated going home to an argument. Austin sighed knowing he was keeping this all a secret from his wife and family. The problems and the affair could destroy everything but he did not know how to break away from this hidden truth. He was going into his third year of marriage and knew he needed a change. His prayer life and connection with God needed improvement because he had lost his way.

Paige Dotson walked into the hotel room and ran into Austin Jr.'s arms.

“Sweetie, I have been thinking about you all day,” she stated seductively.

Austin lifted her to the bed. “Let’s do something about it,” he said completely mesmerized with her. Paige was a temptress and came on to him early when he joined the local paper. Of course, he ignored her advances and stayed faithful to his wife. But a year ago, heartbroken he fell into her arms after discovering Madison had a brief fling in high school with a friend when they were broken up temporarily. She never shared it and Austin was crushed learning the truth about it. It broke his heart and this affair emerged as a result. Austin did not love Paige but they had an arrangement as friends with benefits. Deep down he wanted Madison to fix things.

After they slept together, Austin took a shower and got dressed. He placed his phone to his ear and heard the voice note from Madison.

“Austin, I made dinner and.................. I have something to tell you. Please come home. I love you.”