Deceitful Vows

by A. Mackin

  ***

  Stephanie strolled into labor and delivery an hour later and gave the nurse Kayla’s name. After being informed that she’d just delivered and wasn’t taking visitors yet, Stephanie had a seat in the waiting area and began reading a magazine. She was in no mood to be mushy over a baby that was conceived by accident, but she would do her best at pretending for Mark’s sake. This was the first time they’d hooked up in months and she didn’t want to ruin the chance to pick back up where they’d left off. Besides, she didn’t understand why Kayla called her anyway. They hadn’t spoken since the day she came to pick up her things from her house. Thinking about that pissed Stephanie off even more. It’s been months since they spoke to each other. Not a single text message or phone call. Yet, the second she has a crisis, she asks for Stephanie to be there for her once again.

  She couldn’t wait until Mark left her needy ass for good. She would be right there to rub it in little Miss Perfect’s face that for once she got the man and the happy ending and then she would see what little Miss Psychology would do then.

  ***

  Mark didn’t know what to say to Kayla. She had just given birth to their son who was off having emergency surgery. Little did Kayla know, but he’d missed the beginning of her labor because he was in a hotel room banging her best friend.

  Mark kissed Kayla on the top of her head. “You look beautiful. You did a great job.”

  Instead of smiling or squeezing his hand, she erupted in tears. Not knowing what to do, Mark stood up to go get some air. Before he was out the door, Kayla’s voice stopped him in his tracks.

  “I know you’re sleeping with Monica,” Kayla said slowly before she began crying again. “I want a divorce.”

  Mark couldn’t get on the other side of the door quick enough. Not only was his adulterous ways catching up to him, but the truth about one of his flings’ identity was out in the open.

  “How in the hell did she know that?” he said, not realizing he was talking out loud.

  “Know what?” Stephanie asked with a smirk on her face.

  “Nothing, nothing!” Mark quickly said trying to avoid telling Stephanie the truth.

  Of course, Stephanie had already known about Monica. After all, she walked in on the two of them at his office. He just didn’t feel comfortable talking about what had just happened between him and his wife with Stephanie.

  Monica wasn’t the only other woman that Stephanie knew about it, though. The two of them had shared women before. It was Stephanie’s idea, but he was glad he’d gone along with it. Having two women please each other in front of him was every man’s fantasy, and Mark had enjoyed it on more than one occasion.

  Stephanie had a free sexual spirit. And although he enjoyed that about her while they were together, he knew it was also one of the reasons that he could never be with her exclusively. His dad had always told him that the woman that you make your wife should be as pure as possible. What Jack didn’t tell him was that his wife would probably be as boring as possible too.

  Mark knew he had to get away from Stephanie before he said something he would regret, so he made up a lie. “I have to go get Kayla something to eat.”

  Apparently lying had become his new favorite hobby, and he was getting better and better at it.

  ***

  Stephanie eased into Kayla’s room, still confused by what she’d overheard Mark saying in the hallway. She stood back to watch him, hoping that the mumbling he was doing meant they had something in common, and he had “people” telling him what to do as well. It would be perfect if he did. Then they could live happily ever after, and finally they would have no secrets between them. But once she got closer to him, she could tell something had just happened between him and Kayla, and that it was bothering him.

  She walked over to a crying Kayla, and surprisingly she was genuinely concerned; not for Kayla, but for herself. She was hoping that the tears meant that Kayla was leaving Mark, and she was closer to getting him all to herself.

  Sitting down next to Kayla, she was curious about the tears and faking her concern, “What’s wrong, Kayla?”

  Kayla stopped crying long enough to tell Stephanie about Mark’s affair with Monica. “It was right in her face all along! I had no idea what was going on. I’m filing for a divorce as soon as possible.” As she wiped her face, she turned and looked Stephanie in the eyes. “Steph, I just want to say that I am so sorry. I know we have been a little distant, and it’s been months since the last time we spoke. I just want to say thank you for being a true friend to me. When Mark and I started having problems in our marriage, you were right there when I needed you. I can’t thank you enough for letting me bend your ear and for holding my hand.”

  All kinds of things were going through Stephanie’s head. She couldn’t believe her ears. Kayla was divorcing Mark, and soon enough she would have him all to herself. She also made a note to take care of Monica. There was no way she could keep her around after the divorce. She knew her and Mark had history, but that was all they were going to have if Stephanie could help it. She didn’t sit around in the wings this long waiting to have someone else come in and swoop Mark from up under her again. Stephanie had finally gotten her man after all these years, and nobody was going to get in her way of her happily ever after.

  Chapter 12

  Vivian helped Kayla get out of the car and into her house while William carried a sleeping MJ in his baby carrier. A week later and they were finally released from the hospital. Kayla felt fine, but Vivian insisted that she still had to be sore. William constantly expressed his disbelief that his baby girl had had a baby. Judging from the look in his eyes, as he admired MJ, one would think that MJ was his first and only grandchild. However, what he truly couldn’t believe was that Mark had been cheating on his daughter. When she came to visit months ago, he knew something was wrong the moment he laid eyes on her. He never wanted to pry or insert himself in either one of his daughters’ relationships unless they asked him to, so he made it a point to wait until she wanted to talk about things. When he got the news that she was pregnant, he had mixed emotions. He knew Kayla would make a terrific mother, but even then he was worried about the state of her marriage. When a few months went by, and he never heard anything else, he assumed that she and Mark had worked through their problems like he and Vivian had dozens of times before. Now here he was arriving at the hospital after she had had her first child, to find out that not only was their marriage not on the right track, but that they were getting a divorce. After William had seen Mark a few times at the hospital, he had to fight back the urge to confront him. He promised Kayla he wouldn’t, but deep down he really didn’t understand why Mark would sleep with his assistant behind Kayla’s back. He also fought the urge to ask why Mark appeared to be so uncomfortable around Stephanie. From what William knew, they were all supposed to be close and good friends, yet Mark made it a point to be nowhere near Stephanie while in the hospital and Stephanie made it a point to keep her eyes glued to Mark no matter where he went.

  ***

  Getting in and comfortable, Kayla couldn’t help but to be relieved that she was finally home. MJ’s surgery was minor, and her baby proved to be a fighter. He was released to go with no special instructions or plans. His first appointment would be in a couple of days, but that was normal for a newborn. Kayla prayed every day while they were in the hospital that God wouldn’t punish her son for her letting Mark’s unfaithfulness get to her. Now, here she was at home with a baby that was healthy and happy and Kayla couldn’t ask for more. She looked around and noticed that Mark had honored her request and began to move out before she came home. Divorce was never something Kayla expected to experience. Her marriage was supposed to be solid and last just as long as her parent’s marriage had, but now here she was with a different scenario. She also noticed that she hadn’t heard from Stephanie since she got out of the hospital. That was strange being that she was right by her side for the first few days until Kayla’s pare
nts arrived. Deciding she would call her later, Kayla decided to take a nap while her parents were still there. They would be leaving tomorrow, and once they were gone she had no idea when she would be able to sleep again.

  ***

  Mark was a wreck. He didn’t know what to do or where to go. He was laid up in his suite, at the Four Seasons, with Monica. Since Kayla had asked for a divorce, he didn’t know how to occupy his time. Instead of trying to get back with his wife, he decided to, once again, fall victim to temptation’s lust. Before a few days ago, he had never been intimate with Monica. He would just get blowjobs in his office. But now here he was laid up beside her in a hotel bed, having gone all the way with her. He knew that he would never get Kayla back this way, but he also knew that if he did. he would have to fire Monica. So he decided to enjoy her while he could.

  ***

  Stephanie was fuming. She had followed Monica to Mark’s hotel once again. It was the third day in a row. She knew that they were sleeping together because Monica walked around with that same glow that Stephanie would get after he made love to her. She knew she had to get rid of Monica, but she just didn’t know how. She decided that if she confronted Monica she could get her to just quit and walk away, but the voices in her head were telling her that she needed to get rid of her for good. Stephanie knew if she listened to them she would have to go back to the resort, and she didn’t want to do that and risk losing Mark for good.

  She pulled off and headed home. She needed to take her meds and think of an idea to get Mark back and stay out of the resort.

  ***

  After a night out with Monica, Mark stopped by Kayla’s house to see MJ. Kayla made no attempt to hide her disappointment in him for the affair. She also made it a point to let him know beforehand what she would ask for in the divorce settlement. Mark felt horrible as he looked into his son’s eyes. He knew that he would still be a great father, but he also knew his marriage was done. Raising his son in separate households wasn’t ideal, but if it came to that he would do his best job at making sure MJ was healthy and happy and that Kayla had the least amount of worries.

  Kayla was off pumping milk for his son’s bottles. Although they were happily married just a few weeks ago, the truth was they were now separated, and she refused to pull her breast out and pump in front of him. The doorbell rang, and she called out for Mark to get it. Since she had been home, coworkers and Mark’s family and friends had been stopping by to see MJ. Mark asked Kayla to let him break the divorce to his family, so whenever someone visited she would say he was working.

  When Mark answered the door, he stood there stuck and frustrated.

  “Well, are you going to let me in or what?” Stephanie asked highly annoyed with Mark’s presence. She knew about him and Monica, yet he wasn’t answering any of her calls or texts.

  “Hello Stephanie,” Mark responded with matching annoyance in his tone.

  He didn’t have any more interest in Stephanie, and he definitely wasn’t in the mood for her nonsense with Kayla in the same space as them. He hoped for her sake she would be able to keep it together. If Stephanie let the truth slip out to Kayla, it would be hell to pay.

  “Let her in Mark,” Kayla said from behind them.

  Kayla couldn’t help but notice the startled look on both their faces when she spoke. It was almost like they had seen a ghost. She went to greet Stephanie with a hug and felt the obvious tension between them.

  “You must have known that I was about to call your butt. I haven’t heard from you since the hospital,” Kayla said, playfully nudging Stephanie’s arm.

  “I was coming, damn. Chill out. You know I don’t do hospitals.” Stephanie said, with a slight smile.

  “Well, that’s cool, but you could’ve made an exception for your nephew.”

  “He is not her nephew,” Mark spat.

  Before Kayla could get a word out, Stephanie butted in and said, “He’s right, Kayla. MJ is not my nephew, but he is my Godson, and I’m here now.”

  Those words should have put Kayla at ease, but she couldn’t help but notice the tension in the room was thicker than usual. She remembered her mom telling her that her dad thought something was weird with Stephanie and Mark. Now Kayla was wondering if her dad was right. Noticing that MJ was asleep, she picked him up, took him upstairs and laid him down. Since she didn’t intend on being out of work too long, she wanted to get him in the habit of sleeping in his crib so she wouldn’t have a problem with him later. Once she laid him in the crib, she made certain to remove the stuffed animals from out of the crib and placed them on the dresser.

  Starting towards the door to head back downstairs, Kayla was stalled with a conversation that suddenly filled that air that proved to be priceless.

  “You don’t know how to return calls or text now?” Kayla heard Stephanie attempt to whisper. Her voice was full of frustration.

  “I do, just not yours. Can’t you tell we are over?” Mark replied, matter-of-factly.

  He had lowered his voice as well. He was as clueless as Stephanie that Kayla was eavesdropping on their conversation.

  “We’re over when I say we’re over, so again I suggest you start answering the phone.”

  “Why can’t you get it through your head that I don’t want you?!” Mark’s voice raised a bit. “I never wanted you!”

  “You wanted me until Monica came along.” Stephanie’s voice was also starting to grow louder.

  “You’re nuts!” Mark said, in an angry whisper.

  Kayla couldn’t believe her ears. Stephanie was sitting in her living room, talking about sleeping with her husband while she was just upstairs putting MJ down for his nap.

  “I’ll show you nuts! I know you’ve been screwing her for the past couple of days. That’s why you’re not answering my calls. Kayla thinks it’s just Monica, but wait until she hears about all the others.”

  “You wouldn’t dare! Besides, how can you tell her about the others without telling about yourself?”

  “She doesn’t have to. I already know.”

  Stephanie and Mark both sat shocked and speechless. Neither of them had realized the baby monitor on the coffee table was present let alone turned on. Kayla had heard the entire conversation from the nursery. To say she was shocked was an understatement. She thought that they hated each other all long. Now finding out they had been having an affair, she didn’t know which one she wanted to smack first.

  “Stephanie, I can’t believe you! You were supposed to be my best friend!” Kayla yelled.

  She was now also crying hysterically from the betrayal of the two people in the world who were supposed to mean the most to her. Here she was just days after giving birth to a baby to find out her husband was cheating on her with her best friend! Had it not been for MJ, she would’ve tried to kill them both. Smelling his assistant on him that night was bad enough but at least she had no ties or connections to her so it wasn’t personal, but Stephanie was her absolute best friend! She couldn’t believe that she sat there time after time and listened to her go on and on about Mark all the while knowing that she was the other woman.

  “After all we’ve been through, you slept with my husband behind my back! You let me cry on your shoulder and sleep in your home, all the while knowing it was your fault. Now it all makes sense why you’ve always thrown shade about Mark and why you weren’t happy when I found out I was pregnant. You were jealous all along! You wanted him for yourself. But guess what? You can have him now. I don’t want nothing to do with neither one of your lying asses!”

  “Bravo, bravo, Miss Drama Queen, bravo!” Stephanie said while clapping her hands. “Are you done now? That was a great speech but then again you’re always good at taking the spotlight. But let me ask you; how does it feel to know that little Miss Perfect isn’t so perfect? It didn’t take much convincing to get Mark in my bed. Hell, I told you he wasn’t no good. I knew because I had him, and it wasn’t just me. I hate to burst your bubble, but I’ve been sharing your hus
band all along.”

  Seeing the hurt in Kayla’s face seemed to egg Stephanie on.

  “Yep… we’ve had more threesomes than I can count, and he’s been with other women on his own without me. so don’t think for a second that things are just about you because they aren’t.”

  Kayla had heard enough from Stephanie. So much so that she couldn’t decipher what was real or fake. What she was certain of was that she didn’t need to hear a word from Mark. She had heard enough and it was time for both of them to leave.

  She walked over to the door and opened it. In the calmest voice, she could muster up she told them, “Get out.”

  Mark and Stephanie both looked confused at Kayla’s sudden calmness. Mark left without looking her way, but Stephanie was sure to blow her a kiss before she made her exit. After closing the door, Kayla could hold back, no more, the inevitable flood of tears.

  Chapter 13

  Two months after finding out about her husband and her best friend’s affair, Kayla decided it was time to move on. She filed for legal separation from Mark and had gone back to work within two weeks. She’d began to interview sitters for MJ and then decided it was best and easier if she could find a nanny instead who could come and stay with him during the day. This would keep MJ in his environment and possibly help to keep him from getting sick because he wouldn’t be around any other germy children.

  Another added bonus was that without having to drive him to a facility, Kayla could spend more time with him in the mornings. Looking for a nanny was a hard process. By the time the background checks came back, half of her choices were cut; more were cut during the phone screen, and nobody passed the face-to-face. Mark had expressed to her that he thought she was too overprotective, but she didn’t care what he thought about anything these days. After the more recent interviews of five highly qualified nannies, he showed extreme frustration that she couldn’t make a choice. He had the nerve to tell her that maybe it wasn’t the nannies but that it was her. Kayla’s response was full of ice at his apparent gall.