Our Hands

By Annie V. Prewitt

As the story of "Minnie Miles" continues to unfold through the finished work of "OUR HANDS" you will discover the amazing truths between Minnie and Dr. Malcolm Forbes. It turns out that Dr. Forbes is not actually the man that Minnie thought he was for so long. Before her very eyes she finds out who he truly is and what he's really all about.

Be amazed and inspired by what develops between Ms. Jackson and Mr. Baines the store owner over on Nims Road, simply through their phone conversations since the day he handed over to her the diary left with him by Cylia Faye Miles, Minnie's mother.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496908162

Annie V. Prewitt

Annie V. Prewitt is a native of Batesville, Mississippi. She resides in Memphis, Tennessee with her husband and their two adult children. She is also the author of a book of poetry titled "A Southern Wind Blew To Complete The Beauty In Whatever Season Of The Rose" and a book of short stories titled "Situations".

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© 2014 Annie V. Prewitt. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/25/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-0818-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-0816-2 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Forward

Our Hands

Cylia Faye’s Journal

Malcolm Forbes

Ms. Jackson

Mike And Shell

Malcolm’s Dream

Mr. Baines Goes To Detroit

Ms. Jackson’s Decision

Ms. Jackson Comes To Mississippi

Minnie’s Visit With The Austin’s

Ms. Jackson Goes Back To Detroit

Mr. Baines And Ms. Jackson

Renae Forbes

Mr. Baines Yacht

The Confession

The Fishing Trip

Malcolm And Minnie

Malcolm And Minnie Two Years Later

Acknowledgments

About The Author

Forward

Without much thought or even pondering the situation concerning the story of Minnie Miles I knew I wanted to continue this story because I had been drawn in by the characters. I love each and every one of the characters in the story of Minnie Miles.

The thoughts and the feelings came concerning each character so I wrote and wrote and I wrote simply and with simplicity of mind. As the days turned into weeks and for how ever long it didn’t matter because the important thing was I really wanted to continue this story. Therefore I’m very proud to announce this finished work in the formation titled OUR HANDS, the continuance of the story of Minnie Miles from my book titled REALITIES.

I hope this book will be joyful reading to all who reads it because I really enjoyed every moment of putting it all together for you.

I try to put all the feelings that I possibly can into what I write. I really try to feel through the words what I write and if it’s not heart felt and I can’t grasp what I’m feeling I can’t write it because it has no meaning for me. I have to feel it and know that it has meaning for me and I’m hopeful of the same for every other reader.

Concerning my previous book REALITIES, which is two-fold you may think you simply can not find love like that in the way that I write anywhere between a man and a woman. Well let me just say if not I just write anyway about how love should be between men and women when they’re in love or when a new romance is on the verge of fruition and that love becomes a reality. I don’t write about the maybe or how it usually is between most. The heart of the matter is that the human eye always sees things carnally and I do believe that through human possibility if we would just let it be, it can be, it’s possible, no matter how human we are and we are most definitely all human.

I try to write as soothing, relaxing and serene as I can if you will but there are problems of course while in the pursuit of love and also when the man and I do mean the man finds his woman, his companion, his helpmate in life but somewhere in the thereafter I try to portray mostly worry free romance, its fun and I love it.

With my writings by stating my characters names often through out the work I want the readers to become very familiar, I want the characters memorable with the readers as if they know these people personally and as if they’ve known them for years even though they’re fictional and not real. I want their names known and not forgotten as the readers read on and on through the pages until the end.

Annie V. Prewitt

CHAPTER ONE

Cylia Faye’s Journal

The day that I drug out mamma’s journal and started reading it I couldn’t believe what I was reading, but thank God almost none of it fazed me at all because I’ve been totally over all of it for a long time. Thank God for therapy and the love of family. All, of this love mom had for me, so she wrote in her journal and she never voiced any of it to me, never. She had me growing up thinking that she didn’t love me at all. She said I was her heart and I was the only thing that she had that she did love besides grandma. She said she really loved daddy in the beginning of their relationship and the first years of their marriage but he started ruining things for the both of them and she learned to hate him. She said she was stuck with him and couldn’t get away and leave him.

Mamma really poured her heart out to me in her journal. She said she really and truly loved daddy, that she loved the ground he walked on in the beginning, and the reason she started hating him was because when she was pregnant with me, carrying me, he told her that I was not his, that she had been with somebody else behind his back. Mamma said that really hurt her and from that day she found out that she couldn’t trust him anymore, that she lost faith in him. She said in her journal as time passed daddy seemed to stop caring at all. Mamma said when I was born Jack wanted to give me away and not keep me. He didn’t want to own me as his child even though I was. Mamma let me know that after I was born Jack, my daddy was so hateful to her and all the time that she started drinking really, really heavily and things started going really badly from that point. She said daddy was drinking heavily too and he started doing drugs and one day she fell right into the trap with him and they never stopped.

I’m so happy she explained to me why she made me live with that little old couple when I was growing up. I never wanted to live with those people, but I remember them being nice to me though, Mr. and Mrs. Sumner. I wondered if they were still alive after all these years, but that was a part of my past and I sure didn’t want to drudge that up. Mamma said Mr. and Mrs. Sumner had seen her with me at some store one day and said how beautiful I was. She said they talked and she found out where they lived. She said that daddy came home drunk and maybe high one day and started knocking her around the place. She said she couldn’t take it so that’s when she went and asked that little couple if they could keep me that summer. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. She said that couple wanted to keep me and raise me as their own child, if she was willing to let them have me. Mamma said in her journal no way was she going to give her baby away no matter what Jack thought and felt about me but I did stay with them longer than she intended.

I was so touched when mamma asked me to forgive her for everything I felt she had done to me and the things that she had done, for her seeming to not want to raise me and thinking that she didn’t love me. In that journal she said but oh! Minnie you’ll never know how much I do love you because you’re my baby. I carried you inside of me and nobody else. She said the day she called grandma to take me to live with her in Detroit she knew she couldn’t take care of me anymore because she and Jack was just in too deep with drugs and alcohol and she almost couldn’t function to take care of herself. She said that grandma was her only choice and she knew my being with her there would be hope for me. Mamma said daddy had warned her to keep grandma out of their lives and if she didn’t what he was going to do to her. Mamma said she had become so afraid of daddy. She believed he would actually try to hurt her or do something worse. She said, and Minnie, my baby, you know what worse could mean. Jack probably would have tried to kill me and I didn’t want to take that chance of loosing my life that way and with you there with us. Right now though I don’t have much of a life but at least I am still alive. I want to live Minnie to see you grow up. She said I want you to know I wanted your grandma and my mamma to take you back to Detroit away from me and Jack and this mess we’re in because it’s no place for you right now. Mamma said baby one day I’m going to get myself sober and back together again because I want you back in my life. Minnie I just can’t do it right now, but one day I’m going to find the strength somewhere, you’ll see. Please have faith for me, for your mamma, please.

Mamma told me how grandma never wanted her to marry daddy because she didn’t think he was good enough for her. Mamma said and it turned out Minnie that your daddy is not, mamma was right. Mamma said, these days I don’t like Jack myself and I don’t like me very much either for falling into this trap with him. Minnie I can’t blame your daddy for it all because I’m partly to blame too. I’m to blame for not taking care of myself. I started drinking with your daddy when I first met him and look what it’s come to. I know you don’t know because grandma would never tell you this, but we fought, your grandma and me, we had big arguments before I married Jack. She never liked him. I believe she despised him, so when I married Jack we left Detroit and ended up in Mississippi across the road from Mark and Marian. Your daddy and I eloped you know and I think that broke your grandma’s heart in a way because I didn’t have the wedding she would have wanted for me. Minnie your grandma would never in a life time bad mouth me to you no matter what I did. She loves me Minnie, but I have always felt she never forgave me for marrying Jack and leaving home and not finishing my education.

I was floored as I continued to read mamma’s journal. She said Minnie I hate to tell you this but it’s the truth. I know Mark and Marian loves you and I know they’re happy Nellie has a little friend her own age to play with, so I’m just going to say it. Marian acts like she’s better than I am. She acts like she really don’t like, me at all but she does act civil towards me at least. Minnie she always seem to, have her nose up in the air like I’m beneath her. She acts like I’m dirty dirt she’s walking on and she’s creamy milk chocolate that everybody loves. Minnie I can’t stand Marian. I know I could never be her friend.

I couldn’t believe mamma said that about Mamma Marian. Mamma Marian would never have shunned mamma, and I know if Mamma Marian knew mamma felt that way she would have gone out of her way to be friendlier to her. I know Mamma Marian thought they didn’t want to be bothered because of the life she and daddy was living. They wouldn’t let anybody get close enough to them to be friendly. I remember all the times Daddy Mark and Mamma Marian tried to invite mamma and daddy over. They wouldn’t come over to see their own child, me. That life of theirs was their own fault that’s for sure, even though I know they both got caught up and it all went too far and before they knew it, it was too late. I felt so sorry for mamma, about how her life went. I’m not sure how I felt about daddy. Looking back I do wish that mamma could have been here with us still and maybe daddy too if he would have been a real daddy, the kind that he should have been, loving mamma as his wife and me as his daughter. If so I wish that he could have been here too. That way I would have been able to know him as well as mamma, but they’re gone now and there is no chance of that.

When I talked to grandma about mamma’s journal she asked me how I felt about it all. I told her that I understand mamma better now and that I wished that she was still alive here with us. Grandma said Minnie so do I baby, so do I. Grandma said Minnie I knew in my heart when I gave you that journal that whatever Cylia had to say to you, you could handle it now. I told grandma she was right because I could and I realize that all of it is just a part of my life and life goes on. I told her sometimes we wish things could have gone a different way when they don’t go in the direction that we think they should have and we can’t change every thing. I realize that. Grandma said Minnie I’m so proud of you baby and your grandma loves you. Before we finished our conversation grandma said now you put that thing away somewhere for safe keeping. I said I love you too grandma.

I knew Mamma Marian would be a whole other issue if I told her about mamma not liking her. I knew she would be upset about the whole thing, since mamma was dead and she couldn’t talk to her and smooth things over. I told Mamma Marian about how much mamma said she loved me and how her words in the journal was so kind like a mother should love her daughter. Mamma Marian let me know that she knew mamma loved me, she just had her share of problems and couldn’t voice or show it very well. Mamma Marian said but Minnie I could always tell, there was a look in her eyes when ever there was something concerning you, the times I was able to talk to her face to face that is. Mamma Marian said I could see it Minnie, mothers know. All I could say was, for real Mamma Marian. She said Minnie, for real. Mamma Marian asked me if the journal was too upsetting for me to read. I let her know that it wasn’t, she said I’m happy Minnie and I was praying for you that when ever you opened it you would be able to get through it and have peace about it. I thanked Mamma Marian and told her I was fine and that I do have peace about everything that mamma wrote to me.

That Nellie! I wanted to beat her up and blister her up good. She had visited me one weekend in Baltimore. I let her read the journal. She started reading out loud saying, Minnie when I saw you growing into a wonderful beautiful baby so many days I looked into your daddy’s eyes and felt a million hurts and regrets wishing that my life, our lives could be better. Especially I hated so much letting you go here and there to live with other people, even mother when you were with her. I missed your little sweet face so much. I wanted to raise you Minnie. I know it was my job and not for any body else to do. You are my child, I carried you not them. I felt all the pain not them. I sorrowed over you more than them because you are my heart not theirs. I’m not saying, that mother, Marian and Mark don’t love you and the little couple you stayed with, Mr. and Mrs. Sumner didn’t care for you because they did Minnie. You are my heart and I always carried you in my heart whether with me or not. Nellie said Minnie that’s so sweet. When Nellie read that mamma didn’t like Mamma Marian she said oh! Minnie did you tell mamma this? I said of course not, Mamma Marian don’t, need to hear that, it’s over, past and gone and she can’t apologize to mamma, she’s dead Nellie. Nellie said Minnie it’s sad that your mamma thought that she didn’t have but one friend in the whole world before she passed and that was Mr. Baines on Nims Road, that’s sad Minnie. Minnie you know mamma and daddy tried to be their friends but they wouldn’t let them. I said yeah I know Nellie but what’s done is done. We can’t change that. Nellie you know grandma said Mr. Baines has called her a few times and they’ve had good conversations. She said Minnie no, are, you kidding me. I said it’s true Nellie. She respects him a lot because he showed mamma such kindness before she died. When Nellie finished reading the journal she said Minnie your mamma really did love you, that’s, so great, and all these years I thought she was an awful woman because of how she treated you, or rather how it seemed but we see now because your daddy was something else. She didn’t have a life worth living mostly because of him. Minnie like she said, I know she shared some of the blame too but most of their troubles were his fault. Imagine him saying, you wasn’t his child, I can see how that made your mamma feel, that’s awful. He started off making her feel so alone, low and lost. Minnie your mamma was so alone over there thinking nobody cared about her and thinking Ms. Jackson really hated Mr. Jack, she didn’t feel she could go to her either and with those threats coming from him she was too afraid to, but Minnie one thing she knew to do was to get you away from there. That alone said she loved you and wanted to protect you. I said Nellie you’re right, I saw that myself and I’m at peace concerning mamma and daddy and I understand things so much clearer now than I ever did because of that journal. That journal was therapy for me all over again. Nellie said, so Minnie you don’t have any lingering thoughts, questions or bad feelings about your mamma and daddy now at all? I said no Nellie I don’t, I feel satisfied now about all of it.

When Nellie left after our weekend together I took that journal and put it behind some books on the top shelf of my bedroom closet. I didn’t believe there would be any other time that I would need to read it again. I would always have the memories from that journal that mamma left for me locked away in my mind.

One week later Nellie called me to let me know that she told Mamma Marian about mamma saying that she always acted like she thought she was better than she was, that she always had her nose up in the air, that she acted like mamma was dirt and Mamma Marian was creamy milk chocolate. Nellie told me that Mamma Marian busted out and started crying over the phone and said she wished she had known that Cylia Faye felt that way about her. If she had known she would have gone out of her way to befriend her whether Jack was around or not. Nellie did tell me though that she told Mamma Marian that I didn’t want to tell her that because I knew it would be upsetting to her and I didn’t think it was necessary since mamma was gone. Nellie told me that Mamma Marian said she was glad to know this about mamma even though it was upsetting to her.

I talked to Mamma Marian two days later. She said Minnie I always felt so sorry for your mamma over there. I knew she was just so unhappy and miserable, but she would never let me get close enough to try to be a friend to her and I just didn’t know she had that opinion of me. I never knew she thought that way about me and I hate that but don’t worry Minnie, I’m ok with it. I’m glad Nellie told me. Now don’t you be upset at Nellie because she told me. I said I’m still going to get her Mamma Marian. Mamma Marian said Minnie it’s your journal but Cylia Faye and Jack had an impact on all of our lives, but how Cylia Faye felt about me I should have known that because I knew her and I’m happy she left that journal here for you because you understand your mamma’s life better. You know now what she was going through and how much she loved you and didn’t want to see you harmed or hurt in any way. Minnie she never meant for any of her life to go the way that it did. Sometimes people just loose control of their lives and can’t snap back. I said Mamma Marian I know and I fully understand. Before Mamma Marian and I finished our conversation she said again Minnie don’t you worry about me now, I’m ok, don’t worry about what Cylia Faye said about me, and know that it will never stop the fact that Mark and I love you just like you’re our own. Mamma Marian laughed, she said well you are ours I just didn’t carry you like I carried Nellie. I told Mamma Marian that I loved her and Daddy Mark very much, and that I really have no doubt about the fact that they both love me too. Then we both said good night.

CHAPTER TWO

Malcolm Forbes

With his phone up to his ear Malcolm said I’m getting a little tired of this, every time I call I’m getting the same old tune from you, and that tune is wearing out. Renae listen to me, if I can’t see my kids when I want to, one day you’re going to have to look up and consider the promise I’ve made to you broken, null and void, and you best believe that. People that you don’t want to know about your little life right now are going to find out. I should have never let you have full custody in the first place, but we both know I wouldn’t have been able to take care of them at that time like I would have needed to with my career just getting started and all, then he said what did you say Renae? No, I’m not giving you any more money today. I just gave you three thousand dollars three weeks ago besides what I’m ordered to pay you. You just tell me how much does two eight year olds need? You don’t have a mortgage I pay that too, to make sure my girls have a roof over their heads. If you need some more money Renae you need to tell your boss to give you a raise. Malcolm listened as Renae kept talking on the other end of the phone. He said you know what I don’t care if you’re busy. I’ve worked hard all week long. It’s Saturday morning and I’m going to see my children Renae, and if I can’t see my children today, and I do mean today, everybody is going to know about your ass and that’s a promise because I’m tired of going back and forth with this and with your mess. I’ve been going through this long enough. Renae said on the other end of the line, Malcolm don’t you threaten me! He said it’s not a threat Renae it’s a promise and I will do it. Malcolm hung up his phone. He picked up his jacket from the chair where he was sitting. He grabbed his keys and headed out of the door.

Malcolm thought to himself while he was driving on his way across town ten miles away to see his twin girls. He said to himself, Renae think I’m playing with her. I put my own reputation on the line for her, letting everybody think I’m the bad guy here, that I’m the one who screwed up our marriage after only one whole year after our twins were born. Everybody thinks I’m the prick when it was Renae. I tried to hold our marriage together for as long as I could for our babies, sake and somewhat for myself because I loved her still, but I couldn’t. Renae couldn’t change for me. Looking back and remembering somehow I knew I couldn’t win, that I was loosing the fight trying to love her into something that she wasn’t. I should have known more about her from the beginning, but I was so blinded by love. The only good thing I can say about that ex wife of mine is that she did let me know after our divorce is that I was so loving to her that she thought I could actually change her ways and that she wanted to change for me and the girls so we could be a family, but knowing deep down what she really was those feelings were stronger than what we could ever have together, so I knew I had to get over what I thought about it all and real quick.

Malcolm thought here I am, thirty four years old and my life seems like it’s been one big mess since my divorce seven years ago. I’m tired of bed hopping with all of these women and not being interested in any of them except for what I’m after at the time. Now Minnie she’s another story. I’m interested in her but I’m afraid I’ve really screwed things up with her from that first time and I haven’t smoothed that over with her yet. She’s afraid to let me come near her now. She, just don’t know that I’m just as afraid to trust her too but I really like Minnie Miles and I want to get to know her better if she’ll let me.

When Malcolm reached Renae’s home he rang the door bell. When Renae didn’t open the door right away he was wondering why it was taking her so long. Once inside Malcolm said I can see why it took you so long to open the door to let me in. I can see that you are busy, then he said hello Bobbie, or should I say Bob since you always look like the manly type and I’m sure you’re playing the man role and all. I suppose that’s what Renae was attracted to, the manly side of you. While Bobbie sat there looking at him, he said to tell you the truth there is nothing womanly about you, not that I can see. Bobbie started to say something to Malcolm but Renae cut her off and said, don’t say anything to him Bobbie save your breath, it’s just going to be an argument and we don’t need that, then she said Malcolm you go on up stairs and see the girls and don’t keep them too long because we have to have breakfast in a little while, and then will you please leave!! And, leave us alone.

When Malcolm was ready to leave, at the top of the stairs his twins said bye, bye daddy we’ll see you later ok. Malcolm said for sure you will. I love you two, and I’ll see you soon.

At the door on his way out Malcolm said Renae let me tell you something, the girls are not just yours they’re mine too, and another thing they’re more my responsibility now than yours because you’re not really responsible at all and looking at this we all know that don’t we.

When Malcolm turned and stepped out to leave, Renae slammed the door as hard as she could at his back.

Instead of going in the direction of his home Malcolm went in another direction, heading toward Minnie’s place. When he parked in her driveway he took his phone and called her. When Minnie answered, he said Minnie how, are you? She said I’m fine Malcolm. What do you want? He said I want to come over and see you if you’ll let me. Minnie said well I don’t want to let you Malcolm, and just when are you going to stop trying? I don’t want to see you, and I wish I could avoid you at work too ok, and I’m hanging up my phone now Malcolm, good bye, go away. Malcolm said no, no, Minnie wait please, I’m outside in your driveway, parked right here beside your car. When Minnie looked out of her bedroom window facing her driveway she couldn’t believe it, he really was sitting there in his car talking to her. Malcolm said are you going to let me in now, I really need to talk to you Minnie. Minnie said well since you’re already here, I’ll talk to you this time and only this time Malcolm, so don’t make this a habit. You can come on in I’m opening the door now.

As soon as Malcolm was right inside the door Minnie started in on him. She said well what does Mr. cheap-o and don’t know how to be gentle or passionate to a woman want this morning any how? Malcolm you know that one time we were together you didn’t show me a thing and that really hurt me. I don’t know why I felt so bad but I did, then she said I take that back, yes I do too, for one thing I expected more. Malcolm it seemed as if I knew more than you did, that is it seemed that way. You’re the one that’s been married before, not me. Malcolm you knew I was inexperienced and you know what that means too and I still am. While Malcolm stood there listening to Minnie she said and let’s not even talk about you not even wanting to treat me to a decent meal after all that nothing doing. Malcolm said are you angry with me? Minnie said do I have to answer that question for you Malcolm. Have you been listening to me? Malcolm said ok Minnie, granted I deserve all of that from you and more, but Minnie please, this morning I already feel bad enough.

Minnie looked at Malcolm’s face it was flushed. She said Malcolm, what’s wrong are you ok? Malcolm said yeah, I suppose I am. Minnie said what does suppose I am mean? He said I’ve just been thinking about my life a lot lately, about what a mess it is. Minnie said, come on and let’s sit down. When they were both seated on her sofa Minnie said Malcolm I just never thought about you having problems, you never show it or rather you don’t act like you do. Malcolm said, well Minnie, surprise! I really do have problems and they affect my whole life and right now I’m not handling them very well, well I haven’t been handling them very well for quite a while now.

Malcolm said Minnie I want you to know I’m really sorry about everything, about how I’ve made you feel toward me. Minnie sat there in silence and looked at Malcolm. Malcolm said I’ll love to make it up to you if you’ll let me because your experience with me so far Minnie, that’s not me, not the Malcolm you should know and deserve to know. I’m really not that way, not the way that you think I am. Minnie I really want to come clean with you. Minnie said you want to come clean with me. What do you mean Malcolm and why? Malcolm said I want to come clean with you I want you to get to know me because I would really like for us to become friends. Minnie I really want to get to know you better and I would love for you to know me better. Minnie I want to correct my wrong foot that I started off with, with you, if you would be willing to let me do that.

Malcolm said Minnie you seem so different from any woman that I’ve ever met before. Minnie said and you’re right Malcolm, there is only one me and I doubt if there is another one out there. Malcolm said I haven’t met any woman from Mississippi before. You said you were from Mississippi, right?

Malcolm said you don’t have any deep dark secrets do you Minnie? Minnie said no, I don’t, do you? But of course Malcolm there are things in my past that I’m not proud of, but nothing I’ve done. None of it was my fault. Malcolm said oh thank goodness, you scared me for a minute there. Minnie said so tell me, what’s going on with you? What’s bothering you?

Malcolm said I don’t even know where to begin but I know there is no way I can sugar coat this to make it anything but what it is, and let me tell you it’s not black and white or shaded either. It was in living color then and it still is. Minnie said what is it Malcolm? He said Renae, that’s my ex wife’s name. Her name is Renae. Minnie said I’m glad to know that Malcolm, that her name is Renae, all this time I only knew you have an ex wife and two girls, you never told me anything else, not even their names. Malcolm said my two girls names are Callie and Carol. Minnie they’re eight year old twins. Minnie said twins, ha.

Malcolm said Minnie, Renae, she’s a lesbian and she has full custody of our girls. Minnie couldn’t believe what she had heard Malcolm say. He said she’s always been a lesbian. When we were married she was and even before then. I use to wonder why she always stared at the same sex so hard and never at men so constant like she did women. Minnie when I would ask her sometimes she would always have some story about their outfit looking really great on them, how pretty it was or maybe their hair style was really bumping, anything to throw me off. Minnie I was in love with her and I couldn’t see it then not at first. She did tell me after our divorce that she thought I could change her because I was so loving, and she married me because she wanted to change, but her feelings for the same sex was just too strong and that over rode anything that we could ever share together. Minnie said Malcolm how sad.

Malcolm said anyway after the girls were born we were intimate less and less and it was not because I didn’t want to be. Renae seemed to never want to. I couldn’t force her and there was never anything good enough that I could do to make her want to, no matter what I did to try and make her want to, so I eventually stopped trying so hard, hoping maybe she would come around but that never happened. I let her have full custody of our girls because my career was just getting started, so we agreed that she should have custody and I would be able to see them when ever I wanted to. We both agreed to that without any problem, but sometimes now since the girls are a little older Renae like to act up about my seeing them when ever I want to.

Malcolm said this morning when I went to see them she didn’t want me to come over. When I got there I found out why. Her girl friend Bobbie was there. Minnie said Bobbie ha, she has a name suitable for a girl or a boy. Malcolm said yeah, and I call her Bob. Malcolm laughed, he said that makes her so mad Minnie, she really wants to cuss me out.

He said after the girls were born and in that same year. One day I had forgotten something that I needed for work, so I looped back around and headed back toward home. Minnie when I opened the door what I saw right there in our living room on our couch I could have killed both of them if I had, had a gun in my hand. Minnie she was making love with another woman and believe me, it was all in living color. How could I fight that? It was no need, our marriage was over. What I saw brought me to my knees and then I ran. Minnie when I regained collection of my mind again I found out that I was in my car driving almost one hundred miles an hour, and driving where I didn’t know. All I knew was that I wanted to get away from there as quick as I could without looking back. Minnie when I managed to stop in the middle of somewhere all I did was cry because all of my will was gone, had just left me and everything that I believed in from my upbringing I stopped living it because I just couldn’t any more. That scene with Renae and her lover did that to me. I know we have choices in life to make Minnie but