“Why do they have to wait until someone is physically hurt to put an end to this stuff? Hell, they ought to be persecuting him, because he caused me to go into premature labor and deliver our boys early. He endangered their health as well as mine!"She jumped up and started to walk to the door, but she only got a few steps before Benjamin pulled her back to him. "Where are you going?" "To beat the ever-loving fucking hell out of him! I have had enough of this shit, this needs to end, now." "Sweetie," Benjamin hushed her, and his hand went to her head. He pushed her hair back and made her look him in the eyes. "Calm down, love, and let me deal with this. Don't you worry; he's not getting away with anything." She shook her head in frustration, and let out a growl before breaking down and crying in Benjamin's arms. He held her to him as her inner voice repeated the same thing over and over again. ‘Come on, Pandora. Pull yourself together, he only wins if you let him break you.’ She
"Momma will change you while Daddy gets your bottle ready, okay?" Benjamin's eyes flashed to her and she nodded, smiling as he handed her Jack. "I can't believe you are hungry again, you were just fed not too long ago, little man," she commented to him. She changed Jack's diaper and just as she finished, Benjamin walked in with a bottle. "Come to Daddy," he cooed, grinning as he sat down next to Pandora. She placed Jack in his arms and laid her head on Benjamin's shoulder. She relaxed, watching him talk gently to Jack as he fed the baby. "You make this look so easy," she said, feeling a little jealous at how easy Benjamin was adapting to everything. "I have had years of experience with babies," Benjamin replied with a wink. Micheal started to cry, making Pandora hum. She kissed Benjamin's lips and stood up to get him. Once he was changed, she took her breast out so that she could feed him. "Oh, breast alert," Milton hissed, spinning around so that his back was to Pandora. "And
She shook her head, knowing that she came close to losing him. "I love you, too," she sobbed. "I love you, and need you more than I have ever needed anyone, and that scares the shit out of me," she told him truthfully. He opened his arms and she moved to him. They both held each other close. "Are you sure you want to marry me and be my husband?" Benjamin tilted his head down and she looked up at him. "We're already married, sweetheart. The only question is do we—you—want to do it again, and do it right this time in front of our family and friends?" She nodded at him, making him grin. "Not good enough, you have to verbally say it." "Yes, I want to marry you again and do it right this time," Pandora replied firmly and his grin got even bigger. "Yes," he hissed before kissing her. "So, we'll recite our vows again on our anniversary then, now we just have to get it all booked." "Yes, my wedding's going to be that day again," she said, stopping and biting her lip. "The same day as m
"You worked many hours, and your brain may have been too tired or just didn't want to see or accept that everyone was right about him. Add that to the daily verbal abuse and it fits. He was sly and always made it seem as if he was trying to help you.” “I have seen many men and women in the same situation. Some people just know how to play the game. And I'll bet that up until finding the two of them in a compromising position, Derrik had gotten his way in everything in your marriage and your wants had been pushed to the side." Milton raised his eyebrow but Pandora nodded, knowing he was right. She had to accept her responsibility for Derrik's behavior towards her. After all, she allowed and even encouraged it. "So when you didn't give in to his demands during the divorce, it sent him down the path to making you regret it. Only he made mistakes, he's not as smart as he thinks he is. He will pay the price, for everything he has done. The District Attorney is filing charges and intends
"I know, Momma," Derrik said, sounding like a little boy. "Hey," Ron called, kissing the side of Pandora’s head. "See that, she just lets him kiss her and does nothing! That just proves that she's sleeping with them all like you think. I bet she's lying and is just saying that doctor is her partner so the judge will look kindly toward her." "Who let the dog out?" Ron asked loudly. Miriam huffed and glared at them. "Ron," Milton said in a warning tone. "Not here." Miriam gave Ron a big smile, showing her teeth because she felt she had won something with her little show. "Preston v Leonard," the court clerk called. Benjamin growled a little but took Pandora’s hand and led her into the courtroom. The Judge that granted the restraining order walked in. His eyes flickered to Derrik and stayed there as the case was read by the court clerk. Once they were told to be seated, Mr. Hill remained standing. "Your honor, may counsel approach the bench?" "Yes," the judge stated as both Hill
"We have proof those babies are Mr. Preston's," Derrik’s attorney stated. "Now, you look here!" Miriam yelled, standing up. "He was drunk and she raped him. He was ashamed and embarrassed about it so he lied." "Mrs. Preston, you were warned and are now in direct contempt of court and have gained yourself thirty days in county lock up and a fine of five thousand dollars. Bailiff, remove her!" Miriam's mouth just opened and closed as she was put in handcuffs and led away. The room was silent, and Derrik looked as if he had seen a ghost. "Your Honor, Detective Milton Banks is present with a bench warrant for Mr. Preston due to breaking the restraining order," the bailiff stated from the door and Milton entered the courtroom. Milton walked up to the bench and handed the paperwork to the judge. The judge read it over and looked at Derrik’s attorney. "Since you and your client are both here, I'll allow you to have fifteen minutes of conference time, and we will hear your client's defe
Pandora yawned when the alarm went off. She reached out and looked at the display to see that it was seven before she clicked off the buzzer. "Go back to sleep, love," Benjamin whispered but she shook her head. "No, I want to make you a good breakfast before you leave for your first day back to work," she told him as she got out of bed, wishing the past eight weeks hadn’t gone so fast. When she got to the kitchen, she started to cook bacon and pancakes. Not long after she began things, she heard Jack crying through the baby monitor. Pandora sighed and switched off the stove before going to get him. "Good morning, Jack," she grinned as she picked him up. She set about changing his diaper before sitting down to feed him. She got him fed and settled back down, and started to head for the kitchen. She barely made it to the door, when Micheal started to fuss. "Come on, my sweet little man," she said, picking her up. Again, she changed a diaper and sat down to feed the baby. As he was
It only took Benjamin a few minutes to come back to the table. He had a tray with their drinks and what looked like a couple of desserts. Pandora dug out the sandwiches she packed, and he set out the drinks. "I'm sorry that I didn't pack that much, I just wanted to have lunch with you." "This is perfect and really, you couldn't have carried more than this anyway, along with the boys and their diaper bag. Besides, they had some yummy desserts up there, and the cafeteria always has milk which is good for you right now." She smiled at him. "Next time you want to do this, pack whatever you want and call me. I will come out to the car and help you," Benjamin said, making her look at him. She smiled at him because he was always thinking of her as well as the boys. "How have they been today?" he asked, taking a bite of his sandwich. "They've been okay, but I think they are missing you— I know I am." "I'm missing all of you, too, so much," he confessed and leaned over to kiss her. Just