#8 :: Not Everything Is Shared

12) STEPHANIE

"So your sister knew about the other woman?"

"You know, that's a good question. I never asked. I just got my back up about some guy getting my sister pregnant twice and not stepping up to the plate. All now I can't see him." I shook my head and kind of felt relieved that Malcom affair was just that and there was no children involved.

"So what she going to do?" Jessica asked.

"Well...we are selling the house..." Alex cut her again.

"WAIT!! Not THE house? Not THE FAMILY HOME?" Alex screeched.

"Yeah babe. It's going. That way Nat can get her own place and I can get the money from the house because I do need it. Especially now Miss Natty wants us to go halves on a house for our mother." Tasha said rolling her eyes. We all looked at her with an insane stare.

"Don't be looking at me like that!! It's not me its Natty. Even after me and her sat and spoke about EVERYTHING, even though she has witnessed that witch try to turn her son against her she still wants us to put this woman in her own house so then we can be done with her. Me personally I don't owe the bitch shit. If it wasn't for the fact that Nat has a child and one on the way I would NOT be helping with any of the money I get. I reckon with the money I get I can start up my franchise with two more buildings." Tasha said.

"That's good you know! And if you ever need a new accountant just come my way." Alex said winking at her.

"I may just take you up on that!" Tasha winked back. "So...there you go. Me and my sister are good me and my mother are not and soon I will have my house back to myself. Right. Alex. Spill. You been smiling like a Cheshire Cat. Your statuses on whatsapp are too happy and you been posting pictures on Instagram way more than you usually do...so...who is he?" Tasha asked. Jessica and I stared at Alex.

"Damn. You're good." Alex laughed.

"Oh I know." Tasha laughed back.

"Well there is nothing to tell really. I met a guy he has a son. His own business. And we went out to eat once. But we talk every day. He's really nice and he doesn't pressure me he is just happy to get to know me." She said with a fat smile.

"Heffer!! You like him" Jessica said throwing a cushion at Alex.

"I do not!! I like his company!!" Alex answered back.

"Well after all these years I think she's finally over Ryan." I said. Alex rolled her eyes at me.

"I was over Ryan a long time ago. I just never felt the need to talk to anyone else." She responded.

"Well if this current situation makes you happy. I'm happy for you." Tasha spoke up. She then turned to me. "What about you? Anything we should know?"

"Well seeing as you asked. I am finally going on my cruise. Hopefully for the beginning of the new year." I said boastfully.

"Oh well look at you!!" Tasha said.

"Girl I am happy for you. At least one of us that can have some happiness within our relationship." Jess said making us all stare at her.

"What's wrong Jess?" Alex asked her. Jess sighed.

"What's right more like. Me and Sonny argue every day. Fight all the time. The fool gave Jasmine a prawn sandwich which she is allergic to and she had an allergic reaction. Then to top it off I caught him fucking some bitch in my house in my bed. Oh and let's not forget that I am pregnant." She said and took off the oversized hoodie she had on the whole time. Indeed she was pregnant. We all sat there speechless.

"Well at least I'm not the only one getting cheated on." I said and laughed. Then it was my turn for everyone to look at me in shock.

"Wait. Hold on. This is all too much to take in." Alex said.

"She's right. Jess, you first then we're gonna get to you Steph!" Tasha said looking at me. Jess sighed again.

"Yeah. I am pregnant. I can't hide it much longer. When I found out the doctor said I was six weeks. I wasn't showing but as soon as I had that appointment I have started growing. Plus I know Tasha was bursting to say something so I knew I had to come clean sooner or later."

"YOU KNEW?" Both me and Alex screeched at Tasha.

"Don't be screaming at me!! Wasn't my place to say. I did want to though, but I stuck to my word. What I didn't know about was the continuation of fights and the cheating and him almost killing Jasmine! You know I love Zack and Jasmine as if they were my own. I will hurt Sonny." Tasha hyped up.

"Calm down. I am going to leave." Jess said and we all smirked. Jess ain't leaving Sonny. We know it, he knows it and she knows it.

"No, seriously. This is why I asked for the job. I need a steady income just so I can show that I am working hopefully that way I will be able to get my own place."

"You have your own place already. That is your house Jess NOT Sonny's." Alex told her.

"I know I know but I just need a fresh start." She said with her head down. Tasha turned to me.

"Now you, spill." I sighed. Imagine I was only trying to take the heat off of Jess but I ended up putting it on me.

"Okay so maybe I exaggerated it. I thought Malcolm was having an affair. He had been distant and hadn't been taken care of business. But we spoke and he told me I had nothing to worry about. Then he booked this cruise trip. If he was cheating we wouldn't be going for six weeks." I told them some bits true some bits a lie.

"Mmmmm..." Tasha said.

"Malcolm seems like a nice guy definitely someone who wouldn't cheat. Maybe this time away is what you guys need." Alex spoke up. I nodded my head and changed the subject. For the next couple of hours we all just laughed and reminisced.

When we all decided to leave I walked with Tasha to her car and waited for Alex to drive and for Jess to close the door.

"Hey, Tasha. We need to talk about the time you came to mine in tears."

"Oh that? That was nothing. I was missing my dad. I'm sorry. I even went to see him after I left yours." She said. I looked at her and had a feeling not everything she said was true. For a start she left in the evening and the cemetery would have been closed by then. I left it though because I could tell she was not going to tell me why she was REALLY crying.

"Hmmm. Okay. If you are sure." I said and we hugged and got in our cars and drove off.

Just like Tasha says, when we are ready we will come to her. I just hoped she would do the same.

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