Read Online Damsels in Distress by Nikita Lynnette Nichols - Free Book Online Page B

fire alarm just to get out of class early.’ That’s something you shouldn’t feel the need to tell your husband. But ‘Honey, in my sophomore year of high school I had an illegal abortion. I don’t know if it did any damage but it’s something you should know.’ The abortion part of your history is something you’re supposed to share with the man who asked you to become his wife.”
    Celeste was distraught. She wanted to reach out and hug Anthony but thought better of it. She wiped more tears from her eyes. “Honey, you’re right. I should’ve told you but I was afraid.”
    Anthony’s voice rose. “Afraid of what, telling me the truth?”
    â€œI was afraid that if you knew my secret you’d leave me.”
    Anthony looked to the ceiling and exhaled loudly then looked at Celeste. “When God told me that you were my wife, He didn’t say that you came with children. I’m not the type of man who would leave a woman I love just because she’s barren. If you are barren, I would still love you ’til death do us part. But what about the vows we took, Celeste? What about being honest and trustworthy? What about that? Huh?”
    Celeste saw three Anthonys through her tears. “I’m so sorry, Tony. Please forgive me.”
    â€œWhat else have you been lying about?” he asked. “What else have you been keeping from me? What else don’t I know? How many secrets do you have?”
    Celeste took a step toward Anthony. “There’s nothing else, Tony. I swear.”
    He moved backward to keep Celeste from touching him. “You really expect for me to believe you?”
    Sniff, sniff. “There’s nothing else, Tony. I promise.” Sniff, sniff.
    Anthony shrugged his shoulders. “How can I trust you? Put yourself in my shoes, Celeste. How would it make you feel if I had failed to tell you I had a vasectomy before I met you? Yet, I marry you and let you believe that everything was in working order. And for six years we’re trying to get pregnant but can’t and I know I’m the reason. But I didn’t tell you because I thought you wouldn’t marry me. I’m just hoping and praying the procedure I had done would reverse itself. Wouldn’t you feel six years of countless doctors visits were a waste of your time? Wouldn’t you be hurt and disappointed that I wasn’t open and honest with you from the beginning?”
    Again Celeste reached out for him and Anthony stepped backward, this time raising his hands in the air. He yelled at her, “Don’t touch me! You are a liar and a manipulator.” He grabbed his car keys from the cocktail table and walked to the front door.
    Celeste ran after him. “Where are you going, Tony? Please don’t leave like this. Don’t leave me, Tony, please.” Celeste grabbed him by the elbow.
    He pushed her into the wall and gritted his teeth. “I said don’t touch me.” Anthony walked out the front door and slammed it behind him. The force almost shattered every window in the living room.
    Celeste fell to her knees crying after him. “Tony, Tony, Tony. Come back. Baby, please come back. I’m so sorry. Oh God. I’m so sorry.”
    Celeste sat with her back against the front door. She was all alone. Whenever she and Anthony argued, she would call Portia and Ginger and the three of them would gather around Portia’s kitchen table and eat chocolate cake, chocolate candy bars, and chocolate ice cream. They would kick up their heels, unbutton their pants, and rotate the chocolate around the table as Celeste vented. Then the next morning like clockwork Portia and Ginger would call Celeste and yell at her for making them gain five pounds in one night.
    But for the first time in Celeste’s six-year marriage, she didn’t have Anthony, Ginger, or Portia. And there wasn’t any edible chocolate in her house, not