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ask her brother that, but when she opened her mouth nothing came out.
    â€œY’all can have this life,” he mumbled.
    â€œI hate that you’re leaving upset.”
    He took a deep breath before turning to face her. “Look, Sis. It is what is. I’ve been begging Mama to leave for years and she won’t. If she doesn’t care about what he does to her, I can’t make her. I just know if I ever get married, and I doubt I will, given the sterling example that has been set for me, you won’t have to worry about me treating my wife the way Dad treats Mom. His cheating makes me sick to my stomach.”
    Lauren wanted to come to her father’s defense, but she simply reiterated, “He loves her, though.”
    Julian rolled his eyes at her naïveté. “Whatever.”
    â€œI’m gonna miss you,” Lauren said.
    His stance softened. “I’m gonna miss you, too. I really am. And I don’t mean to be snapping at you.” He shook his head. “But I’m telling you, you’d better find you a college far, far away because, a baby and fighting parents? That does not make for a happy home.”
    For a minute, she thought her brother might be right. But then she had a flash—what if the baby was just what her father needed to let his outside girlfriends go? Yeah, that would be great. Lauren decided she would say a special prayer that her little brother or sister would change her father, and hence, change all of their lives.

T here was no love like the loving Vernon Robinson gave. Once again, her husband had loved her to oblivion and beyond.
    â€œYou want some water or a beer?” Joyce said as she climbed out of bed. The moon’s rays beamed into the bedroom as if they were putting an exclamation point on their lovemaking. They had weathered some serious storms, but these last few months had made Joyce optimistic that they were back on the right track. The only thing Joyce hated was that Julian had yet to come around. He was off in basic training and had only called once in the month since he’d been gone. Joyce remained hopeful that he’d accept the baby. And she couldn’t wait to tell him how loving and attentive Vernon had been. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe this baby would save their marriage.
    Vernon smacked her bare behind as she reached down to grab her robe. “Just some water, babe, because I need to stay hydrated for round two.”
    Joyce slipped her robe on, then leaned down, planted another kiss on her husband’s lips, and made her way into the kitchen. Lauren was fast asleep on the sofa in the living room, her lean teenage body covered from head to toe by the down blanket. A videotape was still playing in the recorder. Joycepushed the off button on the remote, cutting off both the TV and the VCR.
    Joyce had just grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator when the house phone rang. She wondered who would be calling so late. But she picked up the phone and said, “Hello?”
    No one answered.
    â€œHello,” Joyce repeated.
    Finally, a female voice said, “Is Vernon there?”
    Joyce’s breath caught in her throat. “Umm, may I ask who’s calling?”
    â€œI need to speak with Vernon,” she said, this time with much more attitude.
    â€œExcuse me,” Joyce said, “may I ask who’s calling?” Her whole body had grown tense by now.
    â€œI need to speak with Vernon.” The caller now enunciated each word.
    Joyce enunciated right back. “And I need to know who the hell wants to speak with my husband.”
    She huffed, like Joyce was the one calling her house at two in the morning. “It is very important that I speak with him.”
    â€œIf you can’t tell me who you are, or what you want, you won’t be speaking to anyone on this line.”
    â€œPut him on the phone!” she screamed.
    â€œBitch, please.” Joyce slammed the phone on