Every Woman has a Price

by B. M. Hardin

  I told him that I had called him that very same day to give him my bad news about finding Niecy dead. I also told him that Mario had been going by Marcus the whole time, so technically I was married to him. I also told him all of the awful things that Mario had done to me.

  I even thought to tell him what Mario had mentioned earlier. That 'he' had done the same things to him that he had done to me. Whoever he was. I'm guessing whoever had kidnapped him had tortured the hell out of him but thankfully somehow, Mario had gotten away. But by then whatever he had endure had messed him up, mentally, for life.

  I currently felt something for Mario that I hadn't felt for him in a long time...sympathy. I couldn't help but wonder where he would go, what he would do. Somehow, I knew that his daughter and I would never see him again. But nevertheless, I still loved him, especially now, since I knew his story. I hoped with all of my might that he found his place in life.

  Looking at Marcus in front of me, I knew that I still couldn't stay married to him. I didn't even know him. Besides, I had had a baby by his brother and I was currently pregnant by somebody else.

  And I was thinking....California sucked.

  ~***~

  Though everything had gone on, I didn't leave California right away. Marcus and I had filled for a divorce. We weren't going to fight over anything but he decided to be generous and open my own bank account with five million dollars in it. I explained to him that he didn't have to but he said it was the least he could do.

  Months had past and neither of us had heard from Mario. On the night he left, the next day he made a couple of thousand dollars withdraws but ever since then, all was quite. Marcus explained that he was probably back where he wanted to be and that when he needs him, he knew how to find him. No matter what, Mario always found him.

  I was now five months pregnant, and having a boy.

  Marcus had been helping me out with Kimbrella, and had taken some time off just to get to know us until we left. We had also gotten to know each other a little better. It seemed like we had picked up right where we had left off.

  God, how I wish things had turned out differently.

  Marcus was that same guy that I had been attracted to all that time ago.

  I was preparing to make my big move in less than two weeks, but I hadn't been able to get in touch with Tony. I hadn't quite told my family the big news yet about moving back home, nor had I told them about the pregnancy. I wanted Tony to be the first to know, but I just hadn't been able to reach him. I had called and left a few messages but he had never returned them. That was until a week before I was scheduled to be back in Alabama.

  “Hi, I have been calling you. Did you get my messages?”

  “Yes, I had to get a new phone. Is everything okay?” he said.

  I was nervous. I'm not sure why. I knew this man; at least I used to know him.

  “Well, I'm scheduled to move back to Alabama soon. But the real reason I had been trying to reach you was to tell you that I was pregnant, by you and I'm having a boy.” I was smiling because I thought it was good news, but after a few minutes of dead silence, something told me it wasn't.

  “Kasey, I'm sorry. I wasn't completely honest with you. But I'm married. And I don't think my wife---”

  “Tony, you know what, don't worry about it.” I said and hung up in his face. When he didn't call back I knew that he had every intention of never worrying about.

  Why would he lie? I was honest with him. If he had told me he was married, that night would have never happened. And if it had I would have at least gotten an abortion a long time ago. I was only keeping it because I thought I would be going back home to start over with him.

  I had gotten my hair set on fire behind this baby and he was married? I tried not to get worked up but it was impossible.

  What was I going to do now with two kids without fathers?

  I had tried so hard to do everything right, and I still managed to mess it all up. I stood still, a cried. I tried to weep silently but I had failed because Marcus had heard me in peeked in. I swear this real Marcus was always running to my rescue.

  “What’s wrong?” he questioned, moving my hands away from my face.

  I shook my head.

  “Come on, you can tell me?” he said, hugging me, trying to comfort me.

  My stomach jumped and we both laughed at the thought of the baby kicking him away from me.

  “Well, come to find out, his dad is married.”

  “What?” Marcus asked.

  “He had lied about being married and when I told him about the baby that's when he told me. What was I going to do with two kids and no fathers? I never wanted my children to grow up the way I did. Everything have ever done has been for the future of my children. Now what?” I asked.

  Marcus held me close and allowed me to cry on his shoulder. He assured me that everything was going to work out for the best. All I had to do was have a little faith.

  I guess he was right.

  ~***~

  I still decided to go back home, at least there, I would have my family's love and support.

  At least there I wouldn't be totally alone.

  On the day I was scheduled to leave, I stood watching Marcus and Kimbrella out the kitchen window, in the backyard. He held her close. Kissing her face. He was talking to her and all the while she was trying to get a hold of her lips with her mouth.

  That girl had taste like her mama.

  I could tell she thought Marcus was her daddy, but though they looked the same, he wasn't. And it wasn't his responsibility to take care of her. His role was to be her uncle, and that's all I could ask of him.On the ride to the airport, we talked and laughed like the good friends we had become. Arriving at the airport, he grabbed my arm as I attempted to get out the car.

  “You know, if you and Kimbrella need anything, I'm just a phone call away.” he said.

  I smiled.

  “I know.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek. I placed my hand back on the door handle and he grabbed my arm again.

  I could tell he was nervous and I looked at him confused. It took awhile, but finally he spoke.

  “So I was wondering, could I take you on a real date? But you know, we're going to have to get you another job right?”

  My face lit up. I remembered those words, and just like then, hearing them now, I couldn't do anything but smile.

  ~*************~

  ~* Life is only what you make it. Live everyday like it's your last. Because you never know, it just could be. Every day is a chance to do something different, something wonderful. Live .Laugh. Love. ~*Anonymous

  ……And Then….

  *My Real Wedding Day*

  The real Marcus and I had been together for two years now, and it was finally our wedding day. I was smiling, glowing as I prepared myself for him with my mama and his real mom by my side.

  At the airport that day, he had asked could we try, just one more time. My reality was that my children were fatherless, and if there was a man willing to step up to the plate, why not?

  We now had Kimbrella, Marcus Jr. And another bundle of joy on the way. Although technically, Kimbrella and Marcus Jr weren't his, you could never have guessed it. He loved them with all of his might, and legally, on paper, he was listed as both of their fathers.

  I was so happy to have them both apart of our day. We had since moved from his old mansion, to a new big white house, just like the one from my dreams. Words could not express the love I felt for this man. I was positive that what I felt for him was the kind of love grandma was talking about. I was positive he was the one. He had always been the one.

  After all was said and done and we were husband and wife, again, I was ready for forever with Marcus and our kids. I was so happy. I had never been so happy.

  I watched our families enjoy themselves and I thought about how truly blessed I was. I had come from nothing. Nothing and now I had more than I could ever imagine. And this time I wasn't referring to money
wise, I was talking about love. Happiness. Joy. Peace. Those things were truly irreplaceable. And now that I had them, I found it hard to believe that I had ever been without them.

  I excused myself from the crowd and headed in the house to the bathroom. It must've taken twenty minutes to pee with the wedding dress on but I worked it out. Heading back to the backyard, to my wedding reception, I passed the living room window.

  I froze, as I couldn't believe what I had just saw.

  I rushed out the front door and stood on the front porch in my wedding gown. I couldn't believe my own eyes.

  There on the sidewalk stood... Mario.

  I didn't know how to feel or exactly what to feel. He looked good. As if he was doing better. I hoped he was.

  We stared at each other for a while. Neither of us bothered to speak. Neither of us bothered to move.

  Finally he smiled. Mario blew me a kiss, mouthed the words

  “Congratulations” and turned and walked away.

  I watched him until he was out of sight. I turned to go back to my wedding reception but for some reason I glanced back one last time.

  “Thank you.” I whispered. “Thank you”

  ~***************~

  *About the Author*

  B.M. Hardin has always loved to write. At such a young age, she learned to perfect and master her skills in journalism and in literature. Writing has been the one thing that she has loved most. A native of Gastonia, NC, B.M. Hardin plans to keep writing, in hopes of reaching millions with her words. Every Woman has a Price, is her second novel following her debut novel Just to hear the words I love you. B.M. Hardin is just getting started and plans to continue to bring you more and more stories for you to enjoy.