My Rock

A/N: The book you are reading includes some sexual content and scenes. While minor violent scenes are mentioned, the use of strong adult language is present.

If these offend you, please refrain from reading.

Thank you

There are many times I question things. Life, moments in time, you know? Things.

But I was never more unprepared or questioned life more than the way my life went in 2008. I was shaken to the core, taken off my feet, and swept up in a whirlwind of events that changed my entire life.

****

Manny was my dream husband. Had I ever imagined him to be my husband or that he would be an amazing, doting father and life partner? Nope. But he was and he was my everything.

He was my complete opposite. Where I was the loud, outgoing, popular girl, Manny was the quiet loner who avoided people like me in high school. Hence when we got together, I had no clue who he was.

However, he stole my heart and with all the heartbreaks I’ve had, he came in on that white horse and whisked me away. He was just downright amazing.

From his traits to his looks, he was the whole package. He was tall at five-eleven and had the surfer boy meets runway kind of body. Everything about him could turn me on. From his light brown eyes to his narrow nose down to his irresistible ‘V’ he had me hook, line, and sinker.

Manny and I got together in late 2000 and fell in love. He put smiles on my face at every chance and his tendency to keep in there drew me in like a moth to a flame. Not eleven months later, we had our first child, Lilly.

We soon had three children in four years and were living a normal life and a simple happily ever after.

******

Nathan was younger by three years and we were close. His sister was my best friend from elementary and when in my teenage years, their family adopted me after my parents neglected to recognize me as a living human being.

If someone asked his sister who he was, she’d always reply he was my brother, not hers. And we’d done the same.

I watched him grow up. He was a punchy little kid, who didn’t know when to stop. He always held his shoulders high and his chin higher, never letting anyone talk to him disrespectfully.

As he got older, in his high school years his cockiness only heightened. From the endless girls in his life to the countless fights, he was always needing supervision and I was the only one who ran to the rescue.

As we got older, we all had our own little families, hobbies, and lives to live, but we always stayed connected and always stayed close.

****

2008

“I gotta run. I’ll be late for work.” Manny placed a kiss on the back of my neck and I giggled, “did you grab the lunch I prepared?” I stretched and yawned, “I put your bank card back in your wallet, and don’t forget, your daughter has a recital tonight.”

He chuckled as he laced his work boots on, “done, okay, and will be there. I love you.” I shouted I love you at his retreating body and rolled over, not a hundred percent ready to start my day.

I am a stay-at-home mom. Not by choice really but with Manny working full time and us having three kids in four years it became hard for me to find time to work, so for now homemaker it is.

“Mommy, tan I haff seero?” I picked my youngest up and smothered him with kisses. Nathaniel or Natey was four years old and a total momma’s boy but looked exactly like his daddy. From the eyes to the lips, he was all Manny.

“Yes, you can baby. Where’s William?” Nate shrugs, “in da woom.” I placed him in his booster chair and poured him a bowl of cereal and went off to wake William and Lilly.

“Hey buddy, time to wake up. C’mon.” William, or Willy for short, he’s my second born and hates mornings so every day it’s a battle to get him up and ready for school. At five years old, he was as stubborn as a horse and had no problem telling you how he felt.

“No, I don’t want to.” I sigh and decide to give him another ten minutes as it is early and make my way to our daughter's room.

“Morning baby, it’s time to get up. Natey is having cereal, you want eggs and sausage?” Lilly my gem rolled over with a smile, “morning mommy, yes please.” I make my way back to the kitchen to find my Natey chin deep in his cereal. “Oh, Lord.”

He’s already made a mess so there wasn’t any reason to stop him now.

My phone rang and I scurry to pick it up, “Morning Mace.”

“Hey I need a favor, Nate got into with his old lady, he got arrested and she’s I don’t know, but I got his son, can you watch him for a couple of hours? My mom says she’ll try to get out of work because I couldn’t.”

I rolled my eyes, “is he ever going to grow the hell up?” Mace laughed, “yeah one can only hope. Maybe one day, but that day is not today.”

“Yeah, bring him over. He can keep Natey busy.” She laughed, “you’ll regret naming him after my brother, I’m telling you.” I laughed with her, “I didn’t name him after him.”

“Whatever, I’ll be over in the next half hour.” We bid each other goodbye and I go and fix up the play area for them.

Nate’s son, Rylan, was only a year old, cute as a button, and a total cruise kid, so watching him was a walk in the park. “Natey, Ry-Ry is coming. Want to help mommy get the toys for him?” He didn’t hesitate in helping and was super excited to have a play partner.

“Okay, so his public defender says Nate will be released after court as bails bond said they’ll help him out. But who knows when that will be? But Mom got to work till twelve then she’ll pick him up. If ‘too emotional to tend to my son,’ comes by, no, don’t give him to her. She’s-blah. She’s going to use him as a bargaining chip with Nate.” She rolled her eyes, “C’mon Cass, mom’s gotta go.”

Her daughter, Cassie, was six and a quiet little girl. “Thanks for the breakfast, I’ll fill you in later. Love you and thank you, you’re a lifesaver.”

Meet Macey, my fast-talking, fast-paced, speak what-the hell is on her mind, successful business owner best friend. If there is one thing about her to know is that if you ever come across her wrong, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been friends, she’ll cut you off without a fucking care and we shared the same views hence why we've remained friends for eighteen years.

“Go. I got him. I’ll call Ma, and tell her to just work her shift. Lilly has a recital later at four, but I can take him too if I need so don’t worry about it.” She pulls me in and kisses my cheek, “thanks.”

****

Text Message:

Nathan: “Hey, thnx 4 watching Rylan. Just got out of court. I gtg to the bail bonds then check in w/ domestic counseling. I’ll p/u Ry when dun.”

Me: “No rush. He’s good. SYL.”

****

Manny came barreling in, rushing to get ready for our daughter's recital and I laughed. “What happened?” He began stripping just as I put Rylan down and eyed him, “why’s he here?”

“Nate. Do I need to say more?” Manny rolled his eyes and ran to the shower. “We’re probably babysitting through the night. All I got from Mace was Nate, he got arrested and the mother is a piece of work. She had to work and so did mom. Tomorrow will be the same so, I volunteered to keep him. Sorry I didn’t forewarn you.”

He got out and I blushed as he only had a towel rapping him and his delicious V beckoned me with ferocity. “Mrs. Harrison?” I chuckled, picked up the baby, and left him to get ready, afraid I’d pounce on him.

We arrived at the recital just in time. The place was packed and Lilly was an absolute rock star. “Mommy, did you see me do the twirl and the splits?” Manny laughed as he held Natey and commended her on her awesome performance.

She soaked up the attention and her excitement was through the roof. We stopped for some fast food and not soon after we were heading home.

“Well, I guess we don’t have to babysit overnight,” I say as we pull in and see Nathan making himself home in my house. “Why did we give him a key again?” I shake my head in question, “because he’s like a child and he knows here he won’t be judged.” I softly elbowed Manny and he shook his head.

“Hey, can I help?” Nathan came running out and grabbed his sleeping son. “Wow, he usually doesn’t sleep so heavily, what did you do, dose him up?” I give him an eye roll and throw his son's bag at him, “it’s called full tummy, a full active day, a good bath, and warm love.”

Manny chuckled and came over to grab the bags I was trying to grab while Lilly and Willy took off into the house. “Thanks, babe.”

We make our way in and I pull the sofa bed out, “you’re staying right?” He nods, “yeah sorry. Talia’s is a no-go. She put a restraining order on me. Then, there’s my sister, I can’t deal with Macey’s mouth right now. And mom will only drill into me too, so yeah.”

I shake my head, “oh you think I have nothing to say, oh boy you have no idea.” He put his son down and I helped cover him and he smiles, “Thanks.”

“Beer?” He nodded and we took ourselves to the kitchen where Manny had already opened a beer and started to pull out snacks for the kids. “Lil, Willie, last snack for the night. Come get it.”

They came barreling through and Nate cringed, “what? What happened?” I asked, waiting for something big to happen. When a minute or two passed, he went towards the living room and came back with a confused face.

“Seriously, did you dose him up? He’s usually a light sleeper. He’s always tossing and turning and crickets wake him up.” I shook my head, “as I said, he had an active day. Running around chasing bubbles is the oldest trick in the book.”

Manny placed a kiss on my head and Nate watched the intimate gesture. There was a look in his eyes and I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I swear I saw jealousy.

“So, spill. From the beginning. What the hell happened?” He sighed while running his hands down his face. “I honestly don’t even know. After work yesterday I went to Lee’s bar and grill for a couple of drinks with the guys. When I got home, she was flipping the hell out. I tried to avoid her, ignore her, I even tried to leave but she wouldn’t let me. She threw shit at me and went to swing at me and my fucking reflexes kicked in and I pushed her away. She fell, hitting her head on the fish tank, and yeah.” His eyes were filled with sadness and I walked over and hugged him.

“You just had to end up with her huh? Out of all the girls, her?” He huffed out a soft laugh, “well I wanted another one, but could never find the courage.” I sighed and let him go. “So, what’s the plan now? You can stay here until you find your way, but she is not allowed here.”

Talia was his on-and-off girlfriend from when they were in high school. She was what I called the queen of drama. She was pretty, no doubt about that, but her attitude and shit were always too much.

“Oh, she knows you don’t like her, so she won’t show up. That’s why I told Mace to bring Ry here.” We finished our first beer and Manny opened another round.

We talked and laughed and by the time we knew it was midnight. “Shit, I gotta get some sleep, I start work at seven.” Manny pulled me to him and kissed me, “don’t forget, we’ve got a toddler who wakes up at the ass crack of dawn, go easy.”

I peck his lips, “yeah, one more and I’ll see you in bed.” He gave me a sly smile and I giggled like a star-struck lunatic.

“Nate, hope you get your shit straight, but you're always welcomed, brother.” He shook Nate's hand and disappeared.