Keep Left

I stayed in the States for a month or so while Jacob traveled back to Paris. I was out making a junk food run when I ran into Lilith. I was browsing the snack cake aisle.

“Someone has a sweet tooth. I heard about your son and I am sorry for your loss”

I turned to look meeting a disgruntled Lilith. To make matters worse, Kev and his new girlfriend of the season were entering the aisle.

“I don’t need your sympathy, but thank you.”

I didn’t want my junk food anymore. I felt Kev staring at me. I felt disgusted by it as well. His girlfriend spoke harshly to Lilith as I was walking away.

“Oh look babe, it’s your worthless ex. Even the rich lady didn’t want to be near her. Why are you here? You can’t afford to buy anything! That’s why Kev is getting custody of your son!”

“He’s not taking my son! So go find another needle to fall on!”

“You got some mouth for a homeless lady. Where you going to house him?”

I overheard everything she said to Lilith. I hadn’t bothered to listen to Raith gossip about them, but I hated that she was going to lose her kid. I walked back over and pretended to have given her time to deal with them two.

“Lil, you said two minutes. Now it’s time to go! You’re going to make us late for the apartment! I just wanted some snack cakes to curve my pregnancy cravings, you’re making me mad now!”

“I-I’m sorry C-Chloe”

“Can you just grab a handful of them all and let’s go”

“Sure-“

“Chloe your pregnant? Again?”

“Yes, Kev! My fiancé and I have been quite busy. I see you allowed your flousy to talk to the mother of your kid like she was nothing. You’re still the same dick I didn’t sit on! You threatened to take away her kid too? After you took her assistant to bed? Wow! If he did that to his wife what do you think he’ll do to you? Oh and by the way, I gave Lil my townhouse since my fiancé is moving us! She does have a place to call home. We are headed to see it now. See the guys in black? They’re our escort, so if I give the signal they’ll break you and this busted Barbie in half. Don’t speak to my friend like that again or I’ll kick your ass pregnant or not!”

“Chloe, I just wanted to give you my condolences for your son and uncle Mike.”

“What does that have to do with you letting her speak to Lilith like that? You could’ve said all that and muzzled your bitch! Apologize or I just might kick your ass anyways!”

“I-I’m sorry Lilith, tell your friend here to calm down. I was only joking”

“Chloe you don’t have to stick up for me. I know I crossed you and I’m appreciative that you even would.”

“So what you slept with Kev. Can’t you see he’ll sleep with anything? Isn’t this your assistant?”

“Yeah”

“Okay no apology needed. Grab what you came for and let’s go.”

“I-“

“Just grab it and come on before my bladder starts becoming a problem.”

She picked up a few items, mainly things for a kid. I grabbed bread milk cereal sandwich meat and a bunch of things that didn’t require too much work to fix. I paid for our things and told my detail, Lilith was joining us. I gave them my old apartment, the townhouse address. When we arrived Lilith asked if I lived there

“I use to Lily. This is your new home. You and-“

“Ryan. My son name is Ryan Kevin.”

“That’s pretty. I hope he looks like you”

“He does!”

We laughed together. She wanted to decline my offer, but I held her gaze that said more than we spoke.

“Lily, forget about our past. I was hurt, but I would never leave you and your kid to struggle. This townhouse is paid for. It has three bedrooms. Make it your home. My gift to my nephew I’ve never met and missed out on also groceries and a fresh start for he and his mom.”

“Why are you doing this Chloe?”

“Because we were friends once and I remember telling you that I always had you. So that means if I have it, so do you. You don’t ever have to risk stealing food for your kid. We won’t ever be friends like we were, but I’d still be your friend when you were in need. I don’t need to know the story. All the appliances and furniture are paid for. When you get situated you can do as you please. It’s one less thing for you to worry about.”

“Thank you Chloe. Ryan and I had no where to go. My mom was watching him while I came to get food. She is barely helping me, but she will watch Ryan for me.”

“Here is the number for a colleague who’s looking to hire someone in your career field. Give her a call. She will test you out and see if you fit into her environment. I know you will exceed her expectations. House, job and I’m sure you need a car. My Audi A5 is parked in the garage. It’s yours, I’ll sign it over. Now you have a car. What else do you need?”

“Chloe you’ve given me so much-“

“What else do you need Lily?”

“I couldn’t ask for anything else Chloe, you’ve done enough. Thank you.”

“Here’s $50,000 it’s all I have on me. It’s a gift for your graduation and baby shower I didn’t get an invite to. Spoil my nephew! Lily, I would never see you doing bad and kick you while you were down. Kev didn’t ruin our friendship, you did when you sent them basic ass excuses for why you ended up with him. I needed my friend to listen not explain her relationship with my boyfriend. My number is still the same, I never blocked you. I’ll answer if you call, if you just want to talk. I look forward to hearing about you getting back on your feet and rubbing that shit in his face and the broke Barbie!”

“Thank you Chloe, I don’t deserve your kindness. I let Kev convince me you were jealous of us. I wanted to come to you and explain, but I was blinded.”

“By love, I know! Max was Yanis’ father. He killed our son because he called my fiancé dad.”

“You slept with your bodyguard? How was it?”

“I can’t say since my husband to be is so much better!”

“You naughty Chloe! Oh I missed this. I do want to hear about you and Max! Maybe one day when you’re visiting?”

“I’ll be to visit. Miles is still here. I’ll forewarn Jacob in advance and who knows maybe you can come visit us.”

“I don’t have the means right now, but I hope I could.”

“All you have to do is let us know you want to visit, we’ll arrange the rest. You could bring Ryan too.”

“Thank you again Chloe.”

“Do you have a cell?”

“No, I-“

“Take mine. You need to be able to call people. I’ll get another, but I’ll keep this line on. I’ll tell my lawyer to arrange it in your name. If you need anything else just call Jacob until I get a new phone number. I’ll send it to you when I do. He knows how to reach me.”

“You might want to take your email and stuff off the phone”

“Oh right! Let me log out of everything.”

Once I logged out of everything, I factory reset the phone and gave it back to Lilith with the charger. She congratulated Jacob and I on our baby. I told her only family knew I was expecting. She smiled. She logged into her Facebook and showed me pictures of Ryan. He was adorable. He did look more like her than Kev. I showed her around the townhouse and then we sat and talked while I ate some of the snacks I bought for myself.

The detail helped her put away the groceries I had brought. She cried when she saw all I had gotten. I waited with her while her mom brought Ryan over. She told me I was too kind. I heard her haggling Lilith about 2 grand she owed her.

“Hey Judith”

“Yeah , Chloe bug?”

“Here’s the money that Lily borrowed from you. She lent it for me.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, I wanted something I didn’t need and she was kind enough to borrow money for me”

“That’s funny because she told me you two weren’t friends because she took Kev from you”

“That’s true, but she’s still my friend and I’m glad I ran into her while I was shack shopping.”

“Oh you’re expecting? Congrats. I hope he’s a lot more put together than Kev!”

“He is. He owns his own businesses.”

There was a knock at the door. I looked at Lily who was now the home owner. She got the hint and went to answer the knock.

“Hey Chloe, is this Mr tall dark and handsome your fiancé?”

“Jacob?”

“Hey beautiful! I wanted to surprise you and the guys told me you were still here. I thought we had given this away? Why are you lingering?”

“Well, Jacob this is Lilith Green-Mcdouggs my best friend from high school. She is just my friend now as well fell out about Kev, but I saw she needed her friend back and I was glad to step in. This is her mom Judith and her son Ryan.”

“Hello Ms Green-McDouggs and Judith. Ryan, hello little guy.”

“Hello, Mr Jacob. You’re really tall!”

“Chloe he is out of a magazine! Does he have a brother?”

We both laughed and Jacob answered her question for me.

“I don’t. I’m an only child. I’m sorry. I know Chloe would hook you up if I did. She’s kind like that. Baby are you feeding our baby snack cakes?”

“I was hungry and this is what we wanted”

“If you weren’t so cute, I’d yell at you. Let’s go get some real food! I want our baby to be healthy not battling diabetes out the womb! “

“Are you calling me fat, Jacob?”

“Of course not honey, I don’t have a death wish. A healthier snack is all I’m suggesting!”

“I don’t want a healthy snack! Baby and I wanted snack cakes!”

“Yes my love, I see I upset you! I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you?”

“I don’t know yet!”

“Thanks again Chloe and Jacob. Ryan and I won’t ever forget your kindness.”

“No problem Lily! Don’t forget to call me. Babe, I gave Lily my phone so I need a new one.”

“Okay my love. It was nice meeting you Lily. We will let you get settled in.”

We left Lily’s new residence and Jacob took me to Hector’s. He ordered one of everything basically. I could tell if I wasn’t careful, I’d gain a lot of weight this pregnancy. I thanked him for taking me out for real food.

“No problem. Chloe you have to eat. You have our baby in your tummy. Had I not phoned to check on you, you’d still be talking to Lily. Why did you give her $50,000?”

“How did you- why does it matter? We aren’t married yet, so what I do with my money shouldn’t concern you!”

“Baby, I didn’t mean it that way. It just I heard you gave her mom $2,000 as well and I’m trying to make sure they were shaking you down.”

“They weren’t Jacob. Lily was going to steal food at the food mart for her son. Kev and his new girlfriend showed up causing trouble for her. I didn’t want my friend stealing or going through the hard time she is when she has a son. I know how hard it is to try and take care of your child by yourself. If I hadn’t had Olla, I don’t think I could’ve taken care of Yanis as well as I did.”

“Isn’t she the one who slept with your boyfriend? Why would you help her?”

“Because you don’t repay evil with evil. I saw she needed help and I could physically help. You don’t want the townhouse I gave her. Max and I lived there together. Instead of going through selling it, I found a suitable owner.”

“You had a townhouse apartment?”

“Yes. At 16. I want to be open, so you aren’t blindsided by my past.”

“That’s sweet my love, but unless it is going to cause trouble, you don’t have to dig up everything you did before me.”

“I know, I just felt inclined to share. I spent a lot of time there with him. I saw Lily needed someone to talk to so I stayed and we chatted. I was going to order me food. How’d you end up back in the states?”

“I missed my fiancée and our baby”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah!”

We finished off our food and paid. Jacob took me back to the White House. Vice President Todd Keyes and his wife Rosa had taken over presidential duties. I still was allowed my room in the White House and clearance. I was greeted by staff and shown to my room. Jacob accompanied me. He told me he didn’t feel comfortable, so we ended up going to a hotel and getting a suite. He showed me he was the owner through a subsidiary. I congratulated him on breaking through to the US market.

“I love how enthusiastic you are when I tell you about my accomplishments. I feel like the luckiest man in the world.”

“That’s because you are the luckiest man in the world! You’ve accomplished so much in 25 years! Business owner, showed your dad you could come up from poverty. You’re marrying me and we are having a baby, so you’re going to be a father.”

“I’m nervous! I don’t want to mess up Chloe. I don’t want you to feel alone or like you did when you were expecting Yanis. I know it is sudden, but have you decided if you want to get married before you deliver or after?”

“It doesn’t matter to me Jacob. As long as our love grows, the timing does not matter. When do you want to get married?”

“I was ready when I asked you..”

“And now?”

“Still the same”

“Then, let’s get married! I’m getting older not younger. I’m 22 already!”

“What about tomorrow? We can fly home and get married at the consulate?”

“Sure!”

“Yeah? You’ll become my wife tomorrow?”

“Yes, but we have to have a prenup. You keep your assets and I mine should we divorce. My lawyer was working on the paperwork, but I can expedite it and have him send it over.”

“You sure? We are having a baby and though I plan to stay your husband forever, I would want to provide for our child or children if you left me.”

“I don’t plan to leave you, I just want to protect our assets. I wanted to see where your head was.”

“Oh, you were testing me?”

“Yes.”

“Chloe I know you’re one half of the billionaire’s daughters. I only want to keep you happy and I will gladly sign a prenup to keep what I came with. I only want you.”

“Then what’s wrong with getting married on US soil? Why is getting married in France your first thought?”

“You’d be marrying the richest man in France. I’m not sure if I’m the richest man in the US.”

“Okay, Jacob. Let’s make all the news headlines then”

“That sounds good too my love! I can’t wait to announce we are expecting.”

“I don’t want our child in the media, Jacob. I don’t mind telling our families, but the media is a definite no for me.”

“Okay baby. Then how do I explain reappearing with a kid or kids”

“You deal with that when time allows”