you didn't get hit by stray drive-by bullets. We had bars over the windows so we didn't get robbed. It was just the way of life to use drugs, rob and cheat anyone you could," she continued to explain with intermediate cough, "my dad was a heavy user. I begged him to stop but he never would, he couldn't get the help he needed." She continued while wiping tears away from her face, "One day I came home after school, he was sitting in his lazy chair with the T.V. on. I called for him but there was no answer when I walked around the chair to get his attention he was dead. He was still tied off and had a needle in his arm." Tears continued to stream down her face, "The only way I could survive is to sell myself or drugs, and I hung out with the wrong people. And now here I am." Her eyes turned blood shot red as she continued to cry.
"Jeez, sorry that's rough." I comforted her. "It will be alright now, I will take care of you." Kissing her forehead I laid her down on the bed to give her that needed fix.
Chapter Fourteen
It was a typical bright sunny tropical Florida day, 97 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Rachael needed some new clothes for our new life. I wanted to take her over to Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. The top designers of the world had locations lining the street. She was wearing 'street clothes' and really didn't match the general fashion on the Avenue.
People were staring at us, "They are all staring at me, can't we just go to the mall?" She asks in discomfort.
"They're staring at me, don't worry about it. Let's have a good time."
We approached Venzi's, they are known for their elegant lingerie and sleek dresses. My phone began to buzz in my pocket, giving it a quick glance I see Benjamin on the caller I.D.
"Babe, I got to take this. Go inside and find something you like." She walked into Venzi's and I picked the phone up with haste as I walked quickly around the corner. "Hey Ben, how are you guys?" I genuinely asked.
"We are good dad, but I ran into a bit of an issue. I gambled all my money away, those dice can be rough." He joked to try and lighten the mood.
"Yeah, and? Just ask your mother for some." I said with a condescending tone.
"Dad, she's a wreck. She hasn't left her room the whole cruise. She thinks your leaving us behind, abandoning us. But I know you are." Benjamin noted in a strict confident tone.
"What do you mean you know I am?" Anger started to fill my voice, how he could he make such a cruel accusation.
"Dad--cut the shit. My friend saw you and some blonde hair chick walking down the street holding hands. He sent me a picture so don't deny it."
My heart sank, my chest began to ache in pain. What did I do? What a terrible role model I am for my kids.
He continued to inform "I am not going to tell mom so don't worry. But if you don't soon, I will," he threatened.
"I will son, I will." I confessed. "I just have a lot going on in my head, a lot of issues to work out in my own mind."
"I still need that money Dad." He insisted.
"I kind of feel blackmailed right this second. I will wire the money over right now. I'll see you soon." I hung the phone up in defeat.
I quickly opened the bank app on my phone to wire money over to Benjamin. In my peripheral vision I see Rachael on the sidewalk looking around trying to find me.
The damsel in distress look she had snapped me right back out of my regretful trance. "How could you not find anything you like?" I stated in a sarcastic manner.
"Those bitches in there wouldn't help me, they said I was shopping in the wrong class." She ranted in disbelief.
"Well forget about them, there are plenty of other shops here." Hesitating for a second, "No, let's go back in. Who helped you?"
"The chubby brunette lady." She said in disgust.
I swung the door open as if I owned the place. "You over there. Come here." I beckoned the brunette over to me. "Why did you insult this lady?" My eyes piercing right through her.
"Well look
"Jeez, sorry that's rough." I comforted her. "It will be alright now, I will take care of you." Kissing her forehead I laid her down on the bed to give her that needed fix.
Chapter Fourteen
It was a typical bright sunny tropical Florida day, 97 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Rachael needed some new clothes for our new life. I wanted to take her over to Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. The top designers of the world had locations lining the street. She was wearing 'street clothes' and really didn't match the general fashion on the Avenue.
People were staring at us, "They are all staring at me, can't we just go to the mall?" She asks in discomfort.
"They're staring at me, don't worry about it. Let's have a good time."
We approached Venzi's, they are known for their elegant lingerie and sleek dresses. My phone began to buzz in my pocket, giving it a quick glance I see Benjamin on the caller I.D.
"Babe, I got to take this. Go inside and find something you like." She walked into Venzi's and I picked the phone up with haste as I walked quickly around the corner. "Hey Ben, how are you guys?" I genuinely asked.
"We are good dad, but I ran into a bit of an issue. I gambled all my money away, those dice can be rough." He joked to try and lighten the mood.
"Yeah, and? Just ask your mother for some." I said with a condescending tone.
"Dad, she's a wreck. She hasn't left her room the whole cruise. She thinks your leaving us behind, abandoning us. But I know you are." Benjamin noted in a strict confident tone.
"What do you mean you know I am?" Anger started to fill my voice, how he could he make such a cruel accusation.
"Dad--cut the shit. My friend saw you and some blonde hair chick walking down the street holding hands. He sent me a picture so don't deny it."
My heart sank, my chest began to ache in pain. What did I do? What a terrible role model I am for my kids.
He continued to inform "I am not going to tell mom so don't worry. But if you don't soon, I will," he threatened.
"I will son, I will." I confessed. "I just have a lot going on in my head, a lot of issues to work out in my own mind."
"I still need that money Dad." He insisted.
"I kind of feel blackmailed right this second. I will wire the money over right now. I'll see you soon." I hung the phone up in defeat.
I quickly opened the bank app on my phone to wire money over to Benjamin. In my peripheral vision I see Rachael on the sidewalk looking around trying to find me.
The damsel in distress look she had snapped me right back out of my regretful trance. "How could you not find anything you like?" I stated in a sarcastic manner.
"Those bitches in there wouldn't help me, they said I was shopping in the wrong class." She ranted in disbelief.
"Well forget about them, there are plenty of other shops here." Hesitating for a second, "No, let's go back in. Who helped you?"
"The chubby brunette lady." She said in disgust.
I swung the door open as if I owned the place. "You over there. Come here." I beckoned the brunette over to me. "Why did you insult this lady?" My eyes piercing right through her.
"Well look
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