A Courted Affair Read online

  “Daniel, I can see from your eyes that you don’t love Gwendoline that much, but you should not get someone else, a woman, be imprisoned just because you were not happy with Gwendoline. Do I make sense?”

  “Yeah. How can I get out of this?”

  Sandra, my mother, released a deep breath. “Here’s the key for you to get away” she said as she handed me an envelope. She kissed me on the cheek and went out.

  I immediately tore the side of the envelope, and in there were pictures of Gwendoline and a guy, kissing. One picture was outside of a hotel. The other one was in the office, and the third one was in the car. I knew what my mom was up to and that she knows how she would take advantage of them. I can sense the pressure between mom and my wife, as I entered the kitchen.

  “Are done with your breakfast?” I asked my mom.

  “Yes, honey. Your dad is on his way while Gwendoline’s parents are over there with the Emerson’s. Deidra and Juddson are stuck in traffic, so please, let’s set the table.

  “I can help you.” Gwendoline chimed.

  “I was asking Daniel, hon?”

  Gwendoline just nodded.

  God, this is why I love my mother.

  When the table was ready, I sat and observed my mom bossing Gwendoline around. She loved every bit of it.

  “Daniel, will you please get the door for Deidra and Juddson?

  And so I went to greet my siblings.

  “ Hi Daniel!” Deidra ran in and hugged me.

  Juddson smiled and put his arm around me, “Hello, brother!”

  “Hey kiddos.” Mom added.

  “ We are turning 18 in a couple of days!” Deidra bounced with excitement.

  “We need to discuss something with you.” My sister said.

  My brother added, “It’s more of someone, instead.”

  “Alright, then. So let’s go to the barn.

  I led them outside.

  “So, what’s this all about?

  “ Della was with a guy at the movies yesterday.” Judd said quietly as if that would make it less painful to hear.

  “Oh, we are not together anymore, it’s no longer my business.” As the world left my mouth, I realized how untrue they were.

  “But, we know that you love her.” Deidra said, placing a loving hand on my shoulder.

  “ Yes, so we asked her to have breakfast with us.” Judd smiled.

  “Oh, that’s impossible.

  Meanwhile at Della’s

  “Easy, Della” said Deacon.

  “Right, honey. Calm down.” Connor added.

  “How am I supposed to do that? I’ll be going to his and his wife’s house.” Della said.

  “Just call me or Connor if something happens, alright?” Deacon assured her.

  “Alright.”

  Everyone except Della was already at Daniel’s house. When the door rang, Daniel walked to the door to get her. She was so gorgeous in dark skinny jeans. He was wearing a khaki sweater with a turquoise scarf, and tan boots.

  “Hello.” He stuttered.

  “Hi, Daniel.” I smiled coyly.

  “You look great.”

  Della turned red and hugged Daniel.

  “I missed you so much.”

  Della smiled with her head in his chest, “Me too.”

  Daniel let her in but she said “I can’t because your wife as well as her family is there”

  “But, please meet my family.”

  Della agreed and walked in nervously.

  Daniel introduced her to his parents. Della was also greeted by Daniel’s siblings, and they exchanged pleasantries until it was time for Della to go, as she needs to look for a job

  But, Sandra excused herself.

  “Excuse us. Daniel, come with me and Della.” She also let Deidra send Gwendoline in.

  Sandra began, “I would like to what this deal all about, Gwendoline.”

  “Daniel told me about Della. I told him that I need him to help me since my family needs the money. If he helped me, we can get divorced, and he could have Duke.”

  “ And in the meantime, you destroy Della?”

  “It’s getting out of control, Mom.”

  “Okay. Gwendoline, you call your lawyer tomorrow, and tell him to drop the case and get a divorce, instead. Else, I will go the media and tell that about your affair with a married man, Cal.”

  Suddenly, Caroline Brent entered the door.

  “What are you saying to Gwendoline? And why is this lady here?”

  “Caroline, where are your manners? You know that her name is Della, so use it. Also, Gwendoline and Daniel won’t push through with the case. They will get a divorce, instead.”

  “No, they shouldn’t as they are the perfect match.”

  “They are like a tiger and a lion.”

  “Daniel, remember that I can ruin you in a second.” Caroline threatened.

  “If you’re going to mess up with him, I will let you pay. I’m not afraid to use my gun.” Sandra defended her son.

  “Gwendoline, dear, we have to go.”

  “ Okay, Mom.

  Chapter 5

  The word “peace” is always heard but Daniel has never understood the true meaning of it until that morning after he got a divorce. He glanced at Della while she was walking to the bathroom. She really is a perfect package.

  “Hon, would you mind if I will take Duke to school?” Della offered.

  “Go for it, honey.”

  Unlike Gwendoline, Della loved taking Duke to school.

  I knocked on the bathroom and she let me in. “We are going to Deacon’s and Connor’s tonight; they invited us for dinner” Della told Daniel.

  “What about Duke?”

  “He can go with us since Connor is also bringer his sister.” Della answered. She stepped out of the bathroom and took a towel.

  “Okay, great!”

  “Deacon doesn’t want to talk about his folks. He wants to be complemented especially his voice, while Connor also wants to be complemented but doesn’t want to be questioned about his hair.” Della warned him.

  “How about of being gay?”

  “You can ask them anything. They are cool with it.”

  “I’m just making sure that I don’t offend them.” Daniel explained. “I also would like to ask you if you want to move in.”

  “Yes.”

  “Cool. I’m going to call the movers.”

  Daniel then, walked out of the bathroom and embraced Della. Daniel kissed her and said “I love, Del.”

  “I love you, Daniel”

  Daniel then let go of her and walked as Della and Duke left.

  Gwendoline parked her car to meet Caroline at Karl’s. The memories that she and Daniel had shared in this bakeshop flashed back and were playing in her mind. She can still recall the first time that they shared cupcakes, until the day that she learned that he was just bribed by her parents to marry her.

  Both Gwendoline and Caroline strolled to the back side of the bakeshop and then started out on a plan.

  Caroline: We are going to hit him by making it look like we kidnapped Duke. Then, if he wants to take Duke, he should take you as well.

  “No, mom. I don’t like him, and Daniel would be dead if we took Duke.

  Caroline: That’s right.

  “Mom, I don’t want him. Did you hear me?

  Caroline: I know but you should. You are nothing without him.

  “Mom, stop it, please.

  “I won’t. Look at you now. You have become beautiful and lovely. You are no longer fat and unattractive. Without Daniel, you will become like your old self again. Remember Nadine and Bern? Where are they now? They already left you, and Daniel and Duke as well. You should do what I tell you if you want them to stay.” Caroline said.

  “ Okay.”

  Daniel felt as if he has known Deacon and Connor long before. They were talking about how Deacon and Della met. Everyone was laughing when Deacon told them that Della was the only other fashion forward student at
the school they were in.

  Deacon asked Daniel if they can talk outside, so Daniel got up. When both of them were already outside, Deacon stared at him and said “At first, I didn’t remember the name, but you were one of the guys at school who watched when I was beaten.

  “ I’m sorry, Deacon.”

  Chapter 6

  Daniel gazed as Duke was going to school. Daniel found a new meaning of love when Duke was born, that he can confidently say that he loved him more than anything else. He didn’t send him to daycare no matter how Gwendoline begged, because Daniel and his siblings didn’t go to daycare. Deacon called as Daniel pulled off and was on his way to the office.

  “Hello, Deacon”

  “Do you know what time will Della be coming over to pick up the clothes?” asked Deacon.

  “At 3 o’clock, when Duke gets out.”

  “Have you told her?” asked Deacon.

  “I will tell her about it later” said Duke.

  “Fine. It will get worse if you won’t tell her at once” explained Deacon.

  “Is this blackmail?” Daniel asked.

  “I’m just telling you a fact” answered Deacon.

  “Okay, I will discuss it with tonight.”

  “Great,” said Deacon and then hang up.

  Daniel’s phone rang again, and this time, it was someone from Oak Ridge Elementary school.

  “Mr. Evans, we’d like to inform you that Duke Evans didn’t come to school today”, said the school secretary.

  “What? That’s impossible. I personally took him there. I was there when he went there.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Evans but we believe that he was kidnapped.”

  Chapter 7

  It has been over a month since Duke has been gone, and we are still searching, and it’s even worse since there are no suspects and Gwendoline has completely gone. This time, it’s only Della who keeps me sane, but with my secret with Deacon, she may be leaving me.

  My mother gave me a plate of waffles, and bacon, and eggs. She convinced me that Duke is going to be okay. I pushed the plate as I wasn’t hungry at all. And I would feel guilty of the thought that Duke may not have been eating.

  The phone rang which was answered by mom. She gave the receiver to me. It was from the OPD missing persons division. “We have been informed and we believe that Gwendoline is involved in the kidnapping of your son. We have replayed the security camera of Oak Ridge school and a black car was spotted at the back parking lot. The license was under Gwendoline. I will call you again later.”

  I wanted to hurt her but on second thoughts, I need to be here when Duke comes home. But Gwendoline should pay for this.

  Chapter 8

  “What? She did?” Della yelled.

  “It’s because of her that Duke isn’t here.”

  “So what are we going to do?” Della asked

  “I really don’t know. I just need him to come home. I’m afraid that she hurts him or didn’t feed him.”

  “We are going to find, honey,” she said as she went away.

  The phone rang. It was curt on the other line. Daniel thought that he will be blackmailing him but Deacon said that it is about Duke.

  “Gwendoline’s mom and dad are on this as well. I heard them talking about it this morning.”

  Daniel’s family arrived and they discussed as to what they need to do.

  While they were discussing, a waiter showed up and gave Daniel a tray with a scrambled egg and a note. The note says:

  Daniel, you don’t want your son looking like this, right?

  Daniel got up. “She hasn’t seen shit yet!” Then, he walked out.

  Chapter 9

  He has been too emotional since he received that note. Gwendoline will do no harm to their son, but he is unsure about Caroline.

  Daniel checked around, “are you looking for me?” I turned around and saw Caroline.

  I went to the corner table where she was seated. “I just want my son back.”

  “Calm down. If you want your son back, then you have to remarry Gwendoline. As simple as that. Or else, you are going to see how a scrambled love looks like.” Caroline threatened.

  “Why don’t you let us live happily? Gwendoline is happy with Cal, and I am with Della. Can you just let it be?”

  Caroline gazed at the window, and I looked at to where she does. There, in a black jeep, was Duke who was held by…Deacon.

  I got up and head out of the door but before I could do it, the vehicle already went away.

  “Caroline is playing us” I announced.

  “How do you mean by that?” Della asked a bit startled.

  Daniel explained that Deacon is involved. Della couldn’t believe it because Deacon was so nice.

  “Daniel, can I we talk for a minute?” It was Deacon.

  We walked to the corner table where Caroline and I spoke earlier.

  “I just want to let you know that I’m on your side. I just need to convince her mom to trust me.”

  “Alright. So, is there anything else?”

  He handed me those papers that are known to be Caroline’s plans.

  I returned to the table where my family was, looking through at the papers.

  Then, I started to play back those times that I was with Duke. I am frightened as to what will happen next, as what is shown on the plan. “She’s going to kill him.”

  Chapter 10

  I was so helpless. I think of myself as a failure.

  “You are not, Daniel” Della comforted me. “Everything will be fine soon.”

  I yelled and got up, “Are you serious? Duke will get killed in less than 48 hours! Should I have known that these things would happen, I shouldn’t have done anything.”

  Della was now showing a sense of guilty.

  “I…I’m sorry, I have no regrets loving you.” He assured her but Della was still unsure.

  “You just won’t understand how it feels to have a child and you are on the verge of losing him.” I continued.

  “Let me share you something, Daniel. I haven’t told anyone about this. I was 17 then when I got pregnant.” She was already in tears.

  “I had to force deliver the baby. She only lived for 2 days, and I was so helpless then. I felt that I was a failure because I couldn’t take care of her.” She continued.

  She’d said that she doesn’t want me to see him as she sees herself, that’s why she didn’t tell me about this. Della released a deep breath, and assured me that we are going to find a way to get Duke back.

  Later on that Daniele day

  Della Point of View

  We were seated at the dining room with Caroline and Gwendoline. Caroline would let him remarry her daughter tomorrow morning.

  “Alright, then. I will.” Daniel agreed.

  Caroline looks delighted but Gwendoline was displeased.

  I did not expect this to happen. I would have to leave for Daniel to be remarried. I excused myself to get my things as I got up and went to the bedroom.

  “I didn’t want any of this to happen.” Gwendoline said, with a hurt expression printed on her face. “I love Cal and we are now engaged. We were even looking for houses to move in to.”

  Gwendoline added that Cal got upset with the situation.

  “I’m very sorry about this Della, to your family and to Daniel.” Gwendoline apologized, in a soft voice.

  “So why don’t you just let us know where Duke is?”

  “He is currently in Toledo.” Gwendoline said and went out beside me.

  “Oh my God!” she whispered.

  Then, I saw my love with blood.

  Chapter 11

  “Hello, 911. This is Della Dotson. My boyfriend was shot and is unconscious now.”

  “Okay, we have someone sent out to your address.”

  I hung up the phone and asked Gwendoline if Daniel is still breathing. Gwendoline nodded.