“Walk. Don’t run,” Pamela scolded as little Carl ran straight to Latonya.

Latonya picked their son up and hugged him close. She planted kisses on his face. “Mommy missed you today. Were you a good boy?”

“Yep!” little Carl answered.

“Yes,” Latonya murmured, and her voice cracked a little.

Carlton got a sudden flash of his son going through the same confused childhood he’d gone through, watching as his mother kissed and hugged and spent time with men who weren’t his father. She took him with her when she ran off until the last time when he was fifteen and he refused to go with her. He wasn’t going to let his son go through the same thing. If Latonya wanted to be with Weatherby and other men, she wasn’t going to take his son with her. He refused to allow his son to grow up the way he did.

“Pamela, take my son upstairs, please.” Carlton walked over to Latonya and took little Carl out of her hands. She moved for a second as if she was going to try to hold on to little Carl, but she let him go.

Pamela glanced nervously from Carlton to Latonya and took little Carl from Carlton when Latonya nodded. “We’ll be upstairs in the playroom until dinner, then,” Pamela said.

“I want my mommy now!” little Carl yelled.

“No, no. Let’s show mommy and daddy we can be a big boy and they will come up and get you later,” Pamela soothed as she walked away with their son.

Latonya watched them climb the stairs and Carlton watched her. She appeared to really care about their child, but Carlton knew from experience appearances were deceiving. His own mother had cried and fought each time she left, demanding that her child come with her. Then as soon as they were on their way she would wipe away her false tears and ignore him for her many lovers.

Latonya turned to him and took a deep breath. “Carlton, I don’t know what you think you saw. Or what your grandfather has told you. But I am not having an affair with Jeff Weatherby. We had lunch today. That’s all. It’s not what you think, Carlton.” She started to walk away.

It’s not what you think, Carlton! Those were the exact words his mother said every time his father found proof of a new lover! Carlton grabbed her and yanked her back. “Don’t you dare walk away from me! Tell me, did you spend the afternoon in his bed?”

Trying to snatch her arm away from his grasp, she snapped, “Let go of me. I told you I had lunch with Jeff! That’s it. I am not having an affair. He had an allergic reaction and I stayed with him in the emergency room until his mother arrived. They used peanut oil to fry his sweet-potato fries. He’s allergic to peanuts. All of this is easy enough for you to check! But if you really think that I’m having some kind of an affair, then that’s your problem.”

“No. Actually, it’s your problem. I want you out of here, Latonya. I want you out of my house.”

“You’re kicking us out?” A shocked look came across her face, and then just like that her face went hard and indignant.

“No. Just you. My son stays here.” He let go of her arm.

She rubbed her arm and took a nervous step backward.

“I’m not leaving my baby, Carlton. I can’t leave him. I won’t leave him. You can’t do this to me.” Shocked, she widened her eyes and patted her chest.

“You should have thought of that before you decided to bed Weatherby.” He bit the words out. Carlton knew what he saw, and more important, he’d seen it all before.

“I haven’t slept with Jeff. We’re friends. I would never jeopardize our relationship like that. Our family means too much to me, Carlton.” Her voice pleaded and her eyes joined in as tears started to pool in them.

“What’s all this yelling and carrying on about?” Jillian came walking into the room drying her wet hands on her apron.

“Jillian, would you please go and pack up some of Latonya’s things. She’s leaving. We’ll send the rest of her things later.”

Latonya narrowed her eyes. “I am not leaving here without my child!”

“You are not taking my son with you. And you are leaving. Jillian, please pack—”

“I don’t want any part of this! If you want to throw your wife out on the street, you let that be on your conscience,” Jillian snapped.

Carlton turned and glared at Jillian. “Fine, then leave us alone.”

“Jillian, help me talk some sense into him! Carlton, I didn’t have an affair. I’m not having an affair! Why won’t you believe me?”

“Carlton, listen to her. What are you—” Jillian started.

“Save it, Jillian. I know what I saw. Grandfather saw the same thing. He warned me. If you won’t do your job and pack up her things then just leave us alone!”

“Your grandfather is lying! He hates me. He always has and you know it,” Latonya hissed.

“Get out, Tonya! Save your theatrics. You can’t play me anymore.” Carlton couldn’t stand to look at her. He didn’t trust himself not to fold.

“I’m not playing you. Why are you doing this?” Reaching out to touch his arm, she stumbled when he moved out of her grasp. “You won’t even listen to me. You’ve made up your mind and you won’t listen. Can’t we work this out like adults?” When Carlton didn’t respond, her voice soon turned threatening. “I’m not leaving here without my child.”

She took off up the stairs and he took off behind her, stopping her just as she got to the door of little Carl’s playroom. Grabbing her arm, he dragged her down toward their bedroom.

Latonya planted her feet and struggled the entire way. He had no idea she was so strong. She dug one of her heels into his shin and he almost had to let her go. He was sure she broke skin with the pointy stiletto. But there was no way he was going to let her leave the house with his child.

“Let me go, Carlton. You can’t do this.” She kicked and struggled, but he continued to pull her along. Her flying arms and legs landed on him sharply. But he didn’t let the pain from her hits stop him. The pain in his heart was much worse.

Throwing her on the bed, he snapped, “Get your things and get out, Latonya. I’m not playing. I won’t be responsible for my actions if you try to take my son out of here.”

Tears streamed down her face and she breathed in soft, shuddering pants. It broke his heart to see her like that. Then the vision of Weatherby’s hand on hers followed by an even more troubling image of her spending the afternoon in Weatherby’s bed made his heart turn cold even as angry heat covered his flesh.

“Carlton, I didn’t do what you are accusing me of. I would never do that. Don’t do this.” Her sobbing made his heart wrench.

He wished he could take her word for it. But Grandfather’s words and what he saw with his own eyes canceled out her pleas.

Her eyes narrowed and she leaped off the bed, heading for the door. He caught her.

“Let go of me! I’m getting my child!” Her nails dug into his hands, slicing into his skin, and he let her go.

She snatched the door open while he inspected the angry red marks on his hand.

Carlton took off down the hall and caught her before she made it to little Carl’s playroom. He dragged her back down the stairs.

Latonya reached out and grabbed on to the railing on the way down. Her grip was so tight he had a difficult time pulling her down the stairs.

“I want you out of here. If you ever come within a mile of my son, you’ll live to regret it. I’ll have him out of the country faster than you could imagine. Stay away from us!” He grabbed her jacket and purse as he passed the sitting room, and when he threw her out the door, he threw them after her.

Momentarily stunned, she lifted herself from the ground.

“Goodbye, Latonya.” He slammed the door and leaned against it. His face wet, he realized tears were falling from his eyes.

Chapter 15

Latonya used her old key to enter her grandmother’s home. She didn’t know where else to go, what to do or whom to turn to. Touching her stomach, she hoped that her struggles with Carlton hadn’t done any harm to the baby. She would have a checkup as soon as possible. Right after she found herself a good lawyer. She didn’t intend to lose either one of her children.

As soon as she walked in the door, Cicely stepped in front of her.