Chapter 1
Chapter one
Running
Tiffany
Noah grabs for the spoon of sweet potato baby food. I chuckle as my greedy son eagerly tries to get more of the tasty new food.
“Wait until I tell your daddy how much you’re enjoying these sweet potatoes.” The moment the words are out of my mouth, a sharp pain hits my chest.
It’s been four days since I snuck out of the mansion I shared with my husband. At the time, I did not know where I was going. All I knew was that I needed to get away. I honestly wasn’t sure if Nico would hurt me. Hell, I don’t even know the man.
I used to think of the whirlwind relationship I had with him as something beautiful.
I had visions of telling my children how I met him by chance and how our paths had continued to cross.
I was going to tell them it was fate and true love how we ended up together.
But all that was a lie. The beautiful love story I thought was written for us was all a fantasy.
Even though finding out Nico killed my ex, Marcus hurt, it was finding out that he killed the image I had of us that hurt worse. He broke my trust, and I don’t know if I can ever be with him again.
“Little man is loving those sweet potatoes,” James says behind me.
When I left my home that afternoon, I knew I was very limited in where I could go.
Mira was completely out of the question.
That would’ve been the first place my husband would search.
My father’s place was also not a suitable spot.
Not only was he on a two-week singles cruise, but it would also be the second place Nico would’ve checked.
My only other option was the one place I knew he wouldn’t ever think to find me. My mother’s house.
Using the end of his bib, I wipe Noah’s mouth. He moves his head away, giving me the little frown that is so much like his father it causes that pain in my chest to rear up again.
“He seems to like these much better than he did the green beans I introduced last week.”
James, my mother’s latest victim, I mean husband, takes his seat at the table beside us.
His cup of black coffee in his hand. James isn’t as rich as my mother’s other ex-husbands.
He works in the corporate world. Don’t get me wrong, the man makes great money and lives in a huge home in a gated community, but he doesn’t have millionaire status like my mother would prefer.
“I read an article last night that said making baby food from scratch is much better for the baby. I can run by the farmer’s market and get a bag of sweet potatoes. All you need is a blender.”
This is why I adored James. He knew nothing about babies until Noah and I showed up. Now, he spends his free time researching everything he can about them.
I chuckle as I feed Noah another spoonful of the baby food.
“When we were home, the chef and I would make his food from scratch.” I say, tickling my baby’s belly. “But that requires a lot of work, and I didn’t want to hold up your kitchen doing that. Plus, this baby food is just as good and safe for babies.”
James waves me off. “Tiffany, I told you, you and Noah are family. My home is your home.”
I smile at the older black man. His kind eyes have been a needed welcome in this house. My temporary phone vibrates against the table. I quickly pick it up and scan the message from Mira.
When I left the house, I left my phone behind.
The moment we made it official; Nico bought me the latest smartphone and put it on his plan.
I imagine he could’ve used my phone to track my location.
When I got here, I picked up one of those pay as you go cell phones from the local superstore.
The only person who has the number is my best friend.
Bestie: Your hubby called again. He’s down to three times a day now.
Me: You didn’t tell him anything, did you?
Bestie: What can I tell him? I don’t even know where you are.
Still the best decision I made. I kept everyone in the dark about my location. It’s clear Nico has no qualms about killing anyone to get what he wants. Mira not knowing my location was to protect her.
Me: He’ll stop calling soon.
Bestie: If you say so.
Placing my phone back down on the table, I continue to feed Noah.
My thoughts immediately go to my husband.
I won’t lie as if there aren’t times where I’m tempted to call Nico.
I spent a year in the happiest and purest relationship that I’ve ever been in.
Yes, it was all fake, but my heart doesn’t yet know that.
Every time my heart tries to convince me to reach out to my husband, I remind myself of that horrible video.
“Let me guess, your husband called again?” James asks cautiously.
I told him and my mother that my husband and I had a fight, and I needed time away from him. I didn’t tell them about the video, why I’m running, or who exactly I’m running from.
“Yes,” I reply, going back to feeding my baby. “Mira says he’s down to three times a day now.”
James is silent for a moment, but I know he has more to say. He clears his throat.
“You should at least speak to him. Let him know that you and his son are safe. If my wife and baby left without contact, I’d be worried sick.”
I understood what James was saying. I can only imagine how upset Nico is. We haven’t spent a night apart from each other since we got married. Even when he has to go out of the country for business, Noah and I go with him. This must be tough.
Oh the hell well.
“I’ll speak with him soon. I still need time right now.” The pain I still feel every time he’s brought up tells me I’m not ready to speak to or confront him.
“Exactly how much time are you thinking?” my mother asks as she walks into the kitchen. “Our home isn’t really equipped for a baby.”
For as comfortable and welcome as James has made me, my mother has done the opposite. I hear stories of women saying they were born to be a mother or how much they love being a mother. That trait completely skipped Evelyn Peters. I don’t think my mother even likes people, let alone children.
I stand, scooting my chair back from the table, and then clean the little mess I made while feeding my baby.
“As I said, this is only temporary, Evelyn.”
“Your mother is just joking,” James chuckles. “We have plenty of space for you and Noah. And whatever we don’t have we can get.”
Poor James. He and Evelyn have been married for only two years. He doesn’t yet know that she’s a selfish bitch who only cares about herself. Like all the others, he will find out soon enough.
“Darling, shouldn’t you be leaving?” Mother comes over to the coffee dispenser beside me to make her coffee.
“You’re right,” James replies behind me.
I turn in time to see him stand from the table. He ruffles my son’s curls, causing Noah to laugh. “Papa will see you tonight, little man.”
I smile as I watch their interaction. James walks over to my mother and leans down to give her a kiss.
She turns her face at the last minute, causing his kiss to land on her cheek instead of lips he was aiming for.
His brow pinches slightly when he leans up, but he doesn’t make a comment.
When he comes over to me, he gives me a quick side hug.
“And do not stop at any stores on your way home, Mr. James. Noah doesn’t need any more toys.” I wag my finger playfully at him.
His puppy dog frown has me laughing. He holds up a hand as if he’s making a pledge.
“I will not go out of my way.” He promises. “But if there is one on the way, I can’t be held accountable.”
I shake my head as he scurries out of the kitchen. Making my way over to Noah, I take a wipe from his pack and clean his face and hands. The moment the house alarm alerts us that James has left, my mother speaks.
“I’ve never met a lazier and more wasteful man.”
This has been an everyday thing. The moment James leaves the house, she starts complaining. He’s either lazy, wasteful, bothersome, needy or childish. All of her complaints are bullshit by the way.
“He doesn’t want to do anything but work and come home. Ronald used to love going out of the country. He’d take me to parties and business brunches. I can’t get James to even go to corporate events if he isn’t obligated to go.”
Rolling my eyes, I pull a laugh from my baby boy. “Not everyone wants to be seen, Evelyn. James enjoys being home and spending time with you.”
She should be happy the man even wants to be in her presence. The others figured out early on that she’s about as pleasant as a thong made from sandpaper.
She scoffs. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. All the times I’ve tried to teach you the correct way of life, you never listened. Now you go off and marry some broke nobody and have to run to me of all people for comfort.”
Evelyn doesn’t know anything about Nico, not even his name. She does not know I’m married to a literal billionaire. For one, it’s none of her business, but also, she never took the time to ask me anything about my husband. Hell, she barely even looks at her grandson.
“I think James is nice, and from what I’ve noticed, he seems like one of the only husbands that you might not have to worry about cheating on you.”
Four out of the five ex-husbands she’s had since she left Daddy has cheated on her. Not that she cared. Mother isn’t in this for love. She’s in it for the money. As long as she can still blow half of her husband’s salary on her jewelry and clothes, she doesn’t care where he sticks his dick.
Her gaze narrows at me. I take Noah out of his new highchair. He rubs his eyes, letting me know it’s time for his morning nap.
“That’s your problem,” she sneers. “You’re still young and dumb. Is that why you’re running? Did your husband cheat on you?”
I don’t speak. It’s not like she cares or will help. If I told her Nico was beating my ass, she would still tell me to go back to him because I can’t stay here.
She continues. “At least Marcus knew how to be discreet. And he wouldn’t have knocked you up with some child. One thing that boy and I could agree on was children was not for us.” She says this so casually as if her child isn’t staring her in the face.
I rock Noah in my arms as he lays his head on my shoulder. “Despite me being here and no longer with Marcus, you of all people have no right to talk to me about him or his cheating.”
She stares at me for a moment as if she’s confused. Leaning her back against the kitchen counter, she takes a sip of her coffee.
“Are you still upset about that little incident? Seriously, Tiffany, that was years ago.”
Her dismissing such a major part of my life as little, pisses me off.
“Not everything can be so easily dismissed and forgotten, Evelyn. I know that’s your specialty.”
She watches me over the rim of her coffee cup.
For most of my life, I’ve craved that mother-daughter bond.
The one I’ve witnessed between my best friend Mira and her mom.
I don’t think I will ever not desire that connection, but every year that passes I realize more and more that I’ll never receive it from my mother.
Finally breaking the stare off, she shrugs. “You still think I owe you something, little girl. My only requirement was to bring you into the world. I did my part. Grow up, Tiffany.”
“I did,” I snap. “I just happened to do it while you were running from your responsibilities, so you missed it.”
She chuckles, tossing her long weave over her shoulders.
“Is that supposed to hurt me? Was that you putting me in my place?” She turns and places her coffee mug down on the counter behind her before turning to face me with her arms folded across her fake chest. The twins were a gift from husband number two.
“I was drowning in that tiny house with a needy toddler and a man that couldn’t afford to take me to the movies, let alone out of the country. I left for my sanity, and I will not apologize for it.”
“Let’s be honest, sanity has been running from you for a very long time. You’ve yet to gain it.”
She shrugs with a smirk.
I continue on. “And don’t pretend you left because you were suffering some mental breakdown. You left your doting man and child because you are an entitled, spoiled bitch that only cares about herself.”
By now, Noah is fast asleep on my shoulder.
No matter how unhappy or stressed I am, I would never dream of leaving my baby.
I can see if my mother was suffering some kind of mental break.
Postpartum depression is a real thing. However, she didn’t leave because she was sad, she left because she felt entitled to more.
“If I’m such a bitch,” she sneers. “Then you and that baby can get the hell out of my house.”
This time I smile. “Your house?” I chuckle.
“See, here is a lesson I can teach you. Maybe instead of always trying to quickly marry the next big bank account, you should build a better relationship and trust with the man. Maybe then, he’ll put your name on some of the shit he owns, and you’d leave a marriage with more than clothes and jewelry. ”
The smugness from earlier is long gone from her face. Although my mother is good at snagging the next wealthy man, she was never good at securing anything for her future. Every one of her divorces left her with nothing more than a little spending money and a bunch of expensive bullshit.
Which is one reason she’s had to remarry so many times. For all the shit she’s talked about teaching me a lesson, she hasn’t done well learning any of her own.
Turning to go put my son down for his afternoon nap, I make one last statement.
“Until James tells me to leave, I think I’ll stay.”
As I head to my borrowed bedroom, my phone chimes with a text again. I glance down at the screen.
Bestie: He called again. Are you ever going to tell me what he did?
Instead of replying, I stuff the phone down in my pocket. The ache in my chest returns. Why did he have to ruin all that we had built?