On 11 September 2021, at 4:45 pm.
Katherine Glover was driving with her newborn daughter to KO Supermarket. As she approached a red light, she eased her foot off the accelerator. Katherine's cellphone began to buzz. She gazed at it for a while before she could pick it up, It was an unknown caller,
Katherine declined the call and proceeded to drive onto Lewis Lane St. She fixated on the rearview mirror, watching her daughter Mila sleep peacefully in the baby seat, Katherine smiled with quiet joy, then shifted her attention back to the road. Katherine's cellphone buzzed again, and this time, curiosity got the better of her. She picked it up and answered.
"Hello.", Katherine answered cautiously.
"Hey Kathy, it's Antonio.", Antonio responded.
"[Gasp] Hey Antonio, how're you doing?", Katherine asked shockingly.
"[Sighs] I'm alright, just a bit bored, how about you?", Antonio asked.
"I'm doing great, just heading to KO so i can purchase a few items.", Katherine replied.
"[Clears throat] Hey, Kathy. Can we talk? Just for a minute...", Antonio asked quietly, a hint of sorrow in his voice.
"Yeah sure, talk I'm all ears.", Katherine stated.
"I think it'd be better if we talked face-to-face, instead of talking over the phone.", Antonio said softly.
"It would, but I'm not in the neighborhood right now.", Katherine replied devastatingly.
"Not a problem since I'm in funky Town, we could meet up at KO parking lot.", Antonio suggested.
"OK no problem, what time should we meet up?", Katherine asked.
"Asap!", Antonio responded hastily.
"OK--sure, I'll see you soon.", Katherine replied generously. Katherine dropped the call and continued to travel to KO supermarket.
Ten minutes later, Katherine finally reached the entrance of KO's parking lot. She slowly drove around, scanning for an open spot. Suddenly, Mila woke up and immediately began to cry,
"(Oh no, I have to sort Mila out quickly.)", Katherine thought to herself. Katherine finally found a spot to park. She turned off the engine, stepped out of the driver's seat, and moved to the backseat to comfort Mila. Reaching into her daughter's backpack, she pulled out the prepared baby bottle and gently fed her, soothing Mila as she drank.
As Katherine cradled her child, her cellphone began to buzz from the front seat. It was just out of reach. She glanced at it but chose not to pick it up. Instead, she let it ring, allowing the call to go to voicemail as she focused on nurturing her daughter.
"Hey Kathy, I'm in the parking lot...could you please pick up the phone?", this message was played through voicemail as Katherine was still nurturing Mila, suddenly by surprise...[*THUMP*] a hand struck the back window of Katherine's car,
"[Gasps] What the hell!", Katherine yelped. Antonio appeared at the window with a smile on his face,
"[Laughing] Man, you should've seen the look on your face.", Antonio teased.
"That's not funny! You're so childish.", Katherine snapped angrily.
"Yeah, yeah, you gonna' let me in?", Antonio asked. Katherine unlocked the door and let Antonio into the car. His eyes softened as he looked at Mila, dozing off peacefully in Katherine's arms.
"Kathy, you're an amazing mother.", Antonio said softly.
"Really?...sometimes I feel like I'm a bad person.", Katherine stated.
"No, you're not. You're the best woman I've ever met. Your joy, your love, your peaceful spirit - and your beauty - they're all contagious. It's like breathing you in. I can't imagine my life without you.", Antonio said earnestly. Katherine sat there, mesmerized, as tears quietly rolled down her cheeks,
"Don't cry, I'm here if you need someone to talk to.?", he uttered in her ear softly.
"I'm sorry... it's been a while since anyone made me feel seen.", Katherine replied with a blissful smile.
"Doesn't Stephen praise you once in a while?", Antonio asked her.
"Our relationship doesn't feel the same anymore. It almost feels like we are both invisible to each other, but he is my husband, and I can't betray him.", Katherine confessed to Antonio.
"Kathy, love is a two-way street. If your husband's not showing you affection, you shouldn't let that hold you back from finding someone who will. You deserve to be loved completely.", Antonio responded adoringly.
Katherine decided to put Mila back slowly on her baby seat, Antonio then carried Mila's baby seat and left her on the front passenger seat.
Katherine reached out, gripping Antonio's collar with a trembling hand. Her breath hitched as she pulled him closer, their faces inches apart.
Antonio's lips curled into a slight grin. He leaned in, but paused, searching her eyes as if silently asking for permission.
Katherine closed the distance. Her palm pressed gently against his cheek, and their lips met-soft at first, then desperate, aching.
The air in the car grew thick with heat and guilt. Antonio slid his hand under her coat, fingers brushing her side like he was memorizing the shape of her. Katherine unfastened the buttons on his red polo one by one, her heartbeat drumming in her ears.
Their hands moved like they'd done this a thousand times-like this was the only time. He lifted her onto his lap, her body trembling with anticipation and shame.
"Wait." Antonio whispered, his voice hoarse. "Are you sure about this?"
She paused-just for a moment.
"We're already here." she said softly, almost breathlessly. "Don't ruin it.", she said cunningly.
She guided his hand, and he responded without hesitation, his touch both cautious and possessive. The line between passion and regret blurred, and for a moment, the world outside grew distant from her mind, the fogged-up windows disappeared.
Stephen Glover stood quiet and vigilant in front of the sliding kitchen door that opened to the backyard. He stared outside, his gaze fixed, though his mind was empty. Then, a faint sound of a baby crying broke the silence. Without thinking twice, he turned and rushed toward the staircase leading to the second floor. He climbed the steps quickly and turned left down the hallway. When he reached Akirá's bedroom, he stepped inside and walked straight to the cot,
"Hey don't worry, daddy's here Akirá.", He said as he was picking Akirá up. Stephen gently kissed his son's forehead and continued soothing Akirá with soft whispers,
"[Sniffs] Akirá...did you mess yourself?", Stephen asked euphoniously. ("I have to change him."), Stephen thought to himself, He took Akirá to the changing table and gently laid him down. Stephen began changing his diaper and cleaning him up with care. Once finished, he helped Akirá into a fresh set of clothes and lifted him with his right arm. The two exited the room and made their way downstairs. In the kitchen, Stephen opened the fridge and selected the baby's bottle. Akirá wriggled with excitement in his father's arms, desperately trying to snatch the bottle as they stepped into the living room.
"Hey relax...I'm going to give you just now.", Stephen said happily. He sat down on the one-seater with Akirá, cradling him gently in his arms as he continued to feed him. With his free hand, he picked up the TV remote, turned on the television, and switched to a sports channel. As the screen lit up, his teenage daughter came walking down the stairs. She headed into the kitchen and casually grabbed an apple from the fruit stand.,
"Afternoon Tokyo...", Stephen greeted her, but Tokyo ignored him as she was walking towards the entrance door,
"Wow... so you're just going to ignore your father?", he said, hurt evident in his tone.
"Afternoon Dad, how are you?", Tokyo asked sarcastically.
"I'm good, thanks for asking. Anyways...where are you going?", Stephen curiously asked.
"I'm going to my friends house.", Tokyo stated.
"Tell me that's not a boyfriend's house.", he said, eyes narrowing with worry.
"DAD!", she clamored embarrassingly.
"What?...you're only 16 years old, and I can't allow my daughter to visit a horny rabbit!", Stephen said confidently.
"First of all, Ew...gross!, second of all, I'm turning 18 in 5 months, and third, I'm going to visit Abigail.", Tokyo stated pityingly.
"OK...just don't do anything illegal, capiche?", He said politely.
"OK, I'll be back by 11 pm.", Tokyo stated.
"Yeah, you better be, I don't want your mother to argue with me.", Stephen said dreadfully as Tokyo made her way out through the door, Stephen dialed Katherine, but her cellphone went through voicemail.
("Why isn't she picking up her phone?"), Stephen thought to himself, "Where's LJ when you need him?[Sigh]", Stephen muttered, regret clear in his tone.
Lucas Glover, Stephen's oldest son, was at a skate park in downtown San El Zorro, skating and performing tricks. Then he spotted Ashley-a short, light-skinned African-American with an oval-shaped face, beautiful green almond eyes, curly brunette Afro hair, and an hourglass figure. Ashley waved at Lucas. As he walked toward her, his friend Joshua threw an arm over his shoulder and started laughing,
"[Laughing] Bro, LJ! You should've seen Brian-dude just collapsed!", Joshua burst out, cracking up.
"Yeah sure...", Lucas replied.
"Why so serious?....oh, you tryn'na hook up with Miss Ashley.?", Joshua said jokingly.
"Shut up bro...I'm just gonna go talk to her.", Lucas responded as he was walking towards her. Joshua stopped walking alongside Lucas,
"Alright bro, just don't choke like last time!", Joshua shouted as he returned to the skate arena,
"Don't choke like last time.?[light giggle]", Ashley said jokingly.
"Don't listen to him, he's a bit crazy sometimes.", Lucas stated.
"So, how've you been?", Lucas asked.
"I've been good. It's just the studies that's making me stress so much.", Ashley said tiredly.
"Tell me about it...", Lucas replied.
"Hey... I was just wondering if maybe you could help me with my studies tonight?", Ashley asked, her voice soft and hopeful.
"I don't know--", Lucas replied.
"Please?...you're the only friend I thought of.", Ashley stated.
"OK..., when should I pull up?", Lucas curiously asked.
"How about 10 pm?", Ashley suggested.
"Alright... I'll see you at 10.", Lucas said, his eyes filled with affection.
"Yeah... I guess you will.", Ashley murmured, turning slowly. "I'll see you later.", as she began to walk away, Lucas stood there stunned struck, not knowing what to do or what to say.
KO SUPERMARKET.
The KO parking lot was completely empty and silent. Katherine laid with her head resting on Antonio's chest as they reclined in the car. Suddenly, Mila began to cry, stirring awake. Katherine jolted awake quickly.
"[Gasp] Oh shit... Antonio, wake up!" Katherine shouted, her voice trembling with urgency.
"Hmm... [yawn] What time is it?", Antonio mumbled sleepily.
"Shit... we really overdid it. It's already 5:15 pm! I have to get home before Stephen starts asking questions.", Katherine said, panic creeping into her voice.
"Damn... I'm sorry, Kathy. I-I messed up. I came to talk about something, but I pushed the situation a bit too far. Please forgive me.", Antonio sincerely apologized as Katherine was rushing to dress herself up.
"Anyways what was it you wanted to talk about?", Katherine asked curiously.
"It's about Stephen...", Antonio replied softly.
"What do you mean?", Katherine asked, with a slight concern upon her face.
"We've been doing this behind his back for a year now, Katherine... and it's eating me alive.", Antonio muttered, clenching his jaw.
"AND!?", Katherine replied devastatingly.
"I think it's about time we tell him about...US...", Antonio said nervously.
"NO!--no way, if we do that, he would leave me.", Katherine replied angrily.
"It's OK I'll just--", Antonio responded adoringly.
"No. It's not okay. Just go. We'll talk tomorrow.", Katherine said sharply.
"But--", Antonio said.
"No buts, okay? I just... I really need to get home right now.", Katherine said, exhaling deeply.
Antonio grabbed his clothes and hopped out of the car, butt naked. Katherine stepped out as well and made her way to the driver's seat. She put the keys in the ignition and started the car. Rolling down the window, she gazed over at Antonio,
"Look, I'm sorry-I don't mean to rush, but I have to get home. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?", Katherine said quickly.
"It's okay, I understand.", Antonio replied.
Katherine shifted into reverse, backing out of the parking spot with a heavy heart. As she turned onto the main road, the weight of her decisions sat beside her in silence.