I Loved Them All :Part 2

By Dee Martinez

Tara continues to struggle with her choices with men.

Cheating husband or lying married man? Who will she choose?

• Language: English
• Publisher: TDUB Publishing
• Release date: Feb 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386804444

Book preview

Chapter 1

After my gut feeling about Gerry not being as honest as he claimed to be was proven to be true things were very different around the house.  My mom didn’t offer her opinion on my life as much as she had previously.  I felt as if she was questioning her inner gut since he had her and my father completely hoodwinked.  I threw myself into my job and I did sign up for a few evening business courses at the community college.  I also got a part time job on the weekends.  I felt bad about how much time I was spending away from Antonio, but I knew it was for the best and he was in good hands with my mom.  Within six months I had saved enough money and was able to move out of my parent’s house.  I found a nice little two-bedroom apartment not too far from where my parents lived but far enough away that I felt like I had some freedom and privacy.  I left my job at the car lot for personal reasons, I had a tough time getting one of the managers to keep his hands to himself.  One afternoon after everyone else had left for the day and he cornered me and attempted to kiss me.  I felt the situation was escalating and I didn’t feel safe.  It was a family business so there was really no point in bringing it to the owner’s attention since it was his father.  I felt it was best for me to leave.  I began my job search, found another job and gave my two weeks’ notice.  During those two weeks I made sure that I was never alone with Mr. Handsy.  If everyone else left early so did I. 

I was able to find a better job working for one of the local cable companies.  I was the assistant to the office manager.  We managed the sales team who went out and attempted to sign up new customers.  I really enjoyed my job there and made some new friends.  Most of them were men but I wasn’t interested in starting any new relationships with anyone right now, so they were all just friends. 

Casey and I kept in touch and I didn’t pressure him at all I just allowed him to find his own way.  One day he called with great news.  The phone rang, and I answered,

Hello.

Hey babe.  How are you and my son doing?

We’re good and you?

I’m great.

Oh really?  What’s going on?

Well I have some great news.

Well what is it?

Guess who is no longer on probation?  I jumped up and said,

OMG Casey.  Really?

Yes really.

That is wonderful.  I know that you are so happy.

Yes, I am, and I rushed back home so I could call you and tell you.  So now I want to come up there with you.

You want to come here to visit us?

No Tara I want to come up there to live with you.  I sat back down and said,

Oh, okay well I think we need to talk about this a little bit more Casey.

Why?  You with someone else Tara? I rolled my eyes,

No Casey but you can’t just leave everything and come here.  There has to be a plan.

What plan Tara?  I mean dang I’m just trying to get back to my family.  I could tell he was getting frustrated and I needed some time to think so I said,

Okay listen I just think we need to think everything through is all.  When can you call me back?  I want to think about everything, and I need a little bit of time.

Alright well I can try to call back tomorrow after work.

Okay that’s great and Casey?

Yeah.

I’m really happy about your parole being lifted.

Well it doesn’t really seem like it, but I got to go.  I’ll call you again tomorrow.

Okay I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Bye.  He didn’t say anything more he just hung up the phone.  I put the phone back on the receiver and settled back onto the sofa.  My mind was racing.  I was excited about the possibility of Casey coming here to live but also a little nervous about it at the same time.  Life here was very different to what he was accustomed to.  He’s never been outside of the state of Pennsylvania before.  What kind of work would he do here?  So many thoughts were going through my head.  I thought about what my mother might say about this and immediately I knew that she would tell me to do a pro versus con sheet.  That was her answer for almost every tough decision.  She would say,

Tara sit down with your paper and pen and go down your pros and cons and see which side of your argument wins.  Antonio was still napping so I decided to do as I knew she would suggest.  I sat at the kitchen table and started my list.  I found it difficult because there were so many unknowns.  Instead I decided to make a list of questions and concerns to discuss with Casey the following day. 

After Antonio woke up from his nap, I got him dressed to go over to mom’s house for dinner.  We still got together on Sunday’s for dinner and