Love, Honor, and Betray by Roby, Lawson (ebook reader ink txt) 📕

up the walkway. Sherang the doorbell, watched the beautiful wooden door open, and then burst into tears.

“Sweetie, oh my goodness,” Janine said, pulling her inside and hugging her. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything.” Charlotte sobbed. “Just everything.”

“Honey, let’s go sit down,” Janine said and then she went into the powder room. Charlotte took a seat on the family room sofa.When Janine returned with a few pieces of tissue, she sat down next to her.

“Thanks, girl,” Charlotte said. “And I’m so sorry for coming over here like this.”

“No need to apologize at all. I’m glad you called me.”

“I hate burdening you with my problems, but I really needed to talk to someone. I really have to figure out what to do aboutthis.”

“Well, what is it exactly?”

Charlotte wiped more tears and sniffled. “It’s Curtina.”

“Is she okay?”

“Huh!” Charlotte said, suddenly no longer feeling quite as sad or like she wanted to cry. “That little brat couldn’t be better.”

Janine looked at Charlotte, and Charlotte could tell how taken aback she was. She was astonished to hear Charlotte speakingso negatively about her stepdaughter.

“J, I just can’t do this anymore. I can’t pretend like I love that child when I hate the ground she walks on. I hate the factthat she was ever born, I hate that ugly name her mother gave her, I hate everything about her.”

Janine looked baffled.

“I know this all comes as a surprise, but, J, I have felt like this from day one. And it’s never gotten better.”

“Gosh, girl. I guess I don’t even know what to say.”

“I’m sure. Especially since I led you and everyone else around me to believe that I was fine with Curtina. But the only reasonI did that was because I knew if I didn’t pretend to be okay with her, it would cause serious problems between Curtis andme. And I didn’t want that.”

“I’m so sorry” was all Janine said.

“Not more than I am. And what I can’t get over is the fact that Curtis is choosing that child over me. He told me she’s notgoing anywhere, and I’m so disappointed in him.”

“Maybe you just need more time.”

“No, I’ve had all the time I need. She’s been around for a little over two years now, and if anything, I dislike her morethan ever. So what I need Curtis to do is wake up. What I need is for him to realize that we will never be happy again untilthis issue is resolved.”

Janine sighed.

“And I’ll tell you something else, J. I’m so tired of having all these problems with Curtis. I mean, every time we try andwork past one thing, there’s always the next thing staring us straight in our faces. And I just don’t want to keep livinglike that. We’ve now been together for ten years, but very few of those years have been completely happy and peaceful. I knowI’ve caused some of our problems, too, but this thing with Curtina is the worst because Curtis has basically told me to takeit or leave it. And he’s not backing down.”

“Regardless, I still believe you guys can work this out. Especially since I know how much Curtis really loves you and howmuch you really love him. And that’s what’s important.”

“That’s what used to be important, but now I’m not so sure.”

“Maybe as more time passes, you won’t feel so betrayed and upset about this.”

“No, I’ll never be okay with having that child around me. And while there was a time when I thought maybe I had forgiven Curtis,now I know for sure that I haven’t. I can’t forgive him because Curtina is a constant, daily reminder of Tabitha and the affairCurtis had with her.”

Janine rested both her hands on top of Charlotte’s. “I just hate hearing this, girl. I hate seeing you so upset.”

“I hate it, too, but it is what it is.” Charlotte took a deep breath. “But enough about me and my craziness. What’s goingon with you? And where’s my precious little Bethany?” Bethany was Charlotte and Curtis’s baby goddaughter, who was now approachingher first birthday.

“She’s fine and sleeping away. You wanna look in on her?”

“Yes, definitely,” she said, and they both started toward the stairway.

Janine and Carl’s home was breathtaking. Very few people knew how to put together furniture and accessories the way Janinedid. The dining room was elegant and spacious, and the living room was just as lovely. Charlotte had always admired how beautifullydecorated all four bedrooms were, too, which they were now passing on the upper level. When they arrived in front of Bethany’snursery, Janine eased open the door and they tiptoed in.

Charlotte smiled at how gorgeous and innocent her goddaughter looked. Bethany was a pure doll, and with all that Charlottewas going through and with as much as she missed her little Marissa, she wanted to scoop Bethany up and take her home withher. She wanted to keep her for days, weeks, and possibly even months, just so some of her pain would go away. She wantedher own little girl to love, nurture, and care for. So, actually, maybe that was it. Maybe it was time she considered theidea of getting pregnant again.

After Charlotte leaned into the crib and kissed Bethany on the cheek, she and Janine went back downstairs.

“Can I get you something?” Janine asked.

“No, I’m fine. We ate over at Aunt Emma’s,” Charlotte said, sitting back down.

“We went out because Carl is sort of on this new trip about me doing too much around the house and not taking out enough timefor myself.”

“You are so lucky to have a man like Carl. Someone who loves and respects you and who always seems to put your needs beforehis.”

“Carl really is wonderful, and I thank God for him all the time, but so is Curtis. I know the two of you have been througha lot, but you do mean the world to Curtis. That much I’m sure of.”

“I used to think that, too, but now I really don’t know.”

“What you guys need is a nice long weekend away at some resort. Some time with just