I started crying and nodded. He stood up and took me in his arms. I couldn't believe it was happening. The first time I ever saw him I thought I had not chance of even talking to him and here I was, engaged to him now.

We set the date six months away and planned to not tell the press. The next morning he left. We said our goodbyes, but I wasn't sad because we
were getting married and he'd come back for me.

The next three weeks I planned a lot. I went to work and back. Everything just felt so good. I put Kat and Turn in a play group so they'd make other
friends. While they were still over at Cherie's house I went out and got the mail. There was an unmarked letter that only had my name and address on it. I smiled thinking how maybe Nick had sent it for my birthday, but knew he didn't because it wasn't his handwriting. I looked myself over. I was getting chubbier and starting to show.

"I'll tell him today," I decided rubbing my stomach. I opened the letter and
something fell on my lap. I quickly read the small piece of paper folded up.

"Ali, Nick's been cheating on you. Everybody knows. He's making a fool of
you. Look at the picture I sent."

I looked at the picture that had been sent to me and burst out crying. Nick and some brunette were kissing and he had his hand up her shirt. I cried
until my phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked sounding more sad and depressed than ever.

"Baby, what's wrong?" I heard his gentle voice.

"I'm sick," I lied. Hey if he can lie, so can I.

"I just wanted to call and say I love you," he was such a good actor.

"No you don't," I said and hung up. What else what I suppose to do? Who
was I to love now? Am I just prone to guys who are already taken or do they seek me out?

"Shit!" Nick yelled and slammed the phone down.

"What's wrong sweety?" Laney asked playing with his hair.

"I think she knows," he sighed and kissed her.

"Nick, she was bound to find out. She's not stupid," Brian said with his
eyes glued to the TV.

"Yeah, and now I can have you all to myself," Laney said tugging at Nick's shirt.

"Lane, I'm not in the mood," he pushed her away.

"Nick she's forgiven you for everything you've ever done," Brian started.

"So, she'll forgive me for this?" he asked hopeful.

"That was not what I was getting at. She thought you loved her. That's why she forgave you, but now she knows you don't care. You've lost her man. And even thought you're my best friends, I'm so thankful she found out," Brian explained.

"I'm leaving tonight before she leaves for good," Nick said walking out.

"Fucker," Laney muttered after he left.

"No, I believe that's you," Brian said angrily leaving to his own room.

I started packing everything up around three. At 4 the kids came home. I
had all our stuff packed. During those three weeks Nick had movers move in all his stuff and all mine was put in storage, so it wasn't that hard to pack.

"Kids?" I called.

"Why do we have to leave?" Turn asked climbing into my arms.

"Because Nick doesn't want us anymore. He found another family he'd
rather be with, but no worries. I'll find you guys a new home," I told him.

He looked about like he was going to cry. I heard a sniff from down below.

"Was it because I splashed him in the pool?" Kat asked crying. I picked her up too.

"It was because I didn't love him enough," I told both of them, "I'm sorry guys, it was m fault." I heard a car come up in the driveway. It was a taxi,
"Both of you go to your rooms and hide. Don't say a word," I said sternly to both of them. They nodded and ran off. I went to my room and packed a few more things.

"ALI!" I heard Nick call. I couldn't breath anymore, "Ali!" he called again. He ran through the house panicked. He knew I was still there, my car was
there. Then he found me, "We have to talk," he said softly. I grabbed our bags and slung them over my shoulders. I walked past him knocking the picture off the dresser.

"Who took this?" he thought picking it up, "Ali don't leave," he said following me through the house.

"Kids, c'mon, its time to leave," I yelled. They hurried and got in the car. Nick followed them.

"Guys c'mon, tell your mom to talk to me," he begged. Kat ripped off her
necklace and through it at him, "Turn?" He slowly took his necklace off and handed it to him.

"You made mommy, Kat and me cry. And on mommy's birthday? I hate
you!" Turn yelled at him.

"Turn," Nick started but he slapped him (It didn't hurt him, but it shocked him that Turn would try that), "What did you just do?"

"I hit you with my hand dumbass," he replied. I walked out to the car to
save my kids from Nick's bad behavior habits.

"Your son just hit and swore at me," Nick said to me as I packed the trunk up.

"Yeah, that's right, he's MY son. Well ya know what? He heard that from
you. He watched that MTV News 1515 over and over again just to see you and as for the hitting, maybe he saw you hit someone sometime. After all, I've had that experience before," I said sadly. I got in the drivers seat and started the car up. I took my rings and handed them to him.

"Al," he started, but I drove off. I wasn't about to let him hurt me or my kids again, "Happy Birthday," he whispered.

Four years later

"Mommy, can we get oreos?" Hunter tugged at my skirt.

"Sure, go pick some up," I smiled down at him. He ran back with a huge
box in hand. I picked him up and we headed for the fruits and vegetables
section.

"Where's Turn and Kat?" he asked.

"They're working. You remember, right? They're going to be singers?" I
asked.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot!" he laughed, "Can I go look the lobsters?"

"Yeah," I grinned as he ran off. I saw a tall man approaching at the
lobsters too. I picked up a bag of grapes and looked back to see the man and Hunter talking. He had short blonde hair and looked to be in his mid to late 20s. I couldn't see his face. His back was turned toward me. I turned around and went back to my shopping. I was picking out the best Florida oranges there.

"Mommy, I made a new friend," I heard Hunter say proudly. I turned around and dropped my shopping basket out of shock, "His name is Nick."