Free CheckMate (Play At Your Own Risk) by Tiece Mickens Page B

was that you couldn’t.” Will dropped his head. He could no longer look into his wife’s eyes since he saw the pain in them from his honesty.
    “I know, baby,” said Nancy. She continued to cry. “I am so sorry for that. I love our daughter with all my heart, but couldn’t get over the fact she would be the only child I would ever have and that you could have more children if you wanted to without me. I do want you to know that I feel bad. Over the years, you’ve had a lot of affairs with other women, but you never ever had a child on us and that means everything to me. I love you so much for that. I can’t express how much.” Nancy looked over at Will as the tears begin to fall from his eyes. He got up and walked around the table, then bent down in front of her and took both her hands and held them tight.
    “Please, know that I’ve never meant to hurt you over the years. I love you and our daughter so much. Nan, I really do. I don’t mean to hurt you now, but I gotta tell you something that’s very important and it can’t wait any longer.” Will squeezed Nancy’s hands even tighter. “Ebony is pregnant.” Nancy looked at Will in shock with a blank expression on her face. She was at a loss for words.
     
    Night fell as Candy and Mona pulled up to the Touch of Class, laughing and talking to each other.
    “I knew it was going to be mad thick out here,” Candy said, enjoying the sights.
    “Hell yeah! We’re going to have some fun tonight.” Mona smiled as she watched the long line of people waiting to enter. “Candy, I just love that diamond necklace and bracelet your daddy bought you. That shit is shining bright as hell.”
    “ Thanks, honey. When I got home it was wrapped in a little gift box and sitting on my bed. My dad wasn’t home so I could thank him and my mom was packing her bags. She said that she was going to stay with my Aunt Linda for the weekend. She hugged me and told me that she loved me, and to have a nice time for my birthday. Can you believe it? She actually left me home for the weekend by myself, because no telling where daddy is at. She needed that break, though. She’s been so stressed out lately. I’m glad to see that she’s getting out of the house now. Hey, Mo, ain’t that Monty’s car parked over there?”
    “Yep, it sure is. I should have known if he was coming out, he’d be here early because he likes to get the best table in VIP.”
    “He likes the darker corners with his mysterious ass.” Candy laughed. “I can’t wait to see him. It’s been a good while. It almost feels like I’m away at school since I hardly ever see him now with his busy ass.”
    “It does kinda feel like that because your mama done had you on lock down for the past few weeks. I know we talk on the phone and shit, but I miss you coming over every day like you used to. I just be chilling out now and I mostly stay in the crib. I ain’t got time for them crazy ass project chicks from around the way. You know they don’t like me because I’m considered the new chick on the block, even though I done been there almost four years now.”
    “That’s some crazy shit, Mo. That goes to show you that those hood rat bitches been in them same projects since they were babies and that’s a damn shame. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes, people have to live in places that they can afford and having a roof over your head is better than not having one at all, especially if you have children. But, I don’t think they should live off the system their whole lives. They gotta get some kind of motivation and business about themselves at some point in time,” Candy said before she pulled out a sack of weed. “You don’t need no more friends, anyway, because I got your back.”
    “Gurl, what you got there? I kn ow that ain’t no weed, is it?”
    “It sure is. I figured we may as well do the damn thang tonight, gurl. I’m eighteen, baby!” Candy screamed really loud. She pulled out a swisher sweet and