AN: This is intended to be a short romance story with multiple characters. It will definitely be a slow burn, so if you was something more tantalizing, please skip this story and chose another one more of your liking.
This chapter contains *NO SEX*. My goal is to write a compelling story that progresses naturally.
Also, all characters in this story are above the age of consent.
I look forward to reading your thoughts, but I will delete any abusive and/or hate-filled comments.
Thank you for reading my work. I truly hope you enjoy it.
IR2R
*****
*****PROLOGUE*****
*****PROLOGUE*****
"Look at them, so peaceful, so adorable." Shia Seales whispered. Her companion agreed. The two toddlers were beautiful. He was bias because, what dad did not think his children were special.
Soon the twins slept deeply. Tyrone James followed his ex-girlfriend back to the front of her house. "Babe, come here," Tyrone whispered.
Shia shoved him away. "Stop Tyrone, I've told you. We will raise the girls and nothing more."
Tyrone sighed, "Shia, I know I messed up, but give me a chance. Come on, you know you want to."
Her older sister walked in and Tyrone stepped back. "Hey Ty, checking on the girls?" She asked. Annette was more than aware of Tyrone's intentions where her younger sister was concerned. Tyrone knew Annette wasn't fond of him. She glared at him, even though her words were innocuous.
Annette remembered when all of this began. Three years ago was when the true strength of her mother and sister was revealed to her. It was a dark and scary time. She came home from class late one night, just as Mom made it home. Shia was crying as she made dinner. Momma froze and Shia sobbed softly. "What is it?" she demanded. It was then that Shia revealed that she was pregnant. She was so scared. Annette simply held her little sister. She stood behind her as she faced their mom.
Mom lashed out. "What? Pregnant? You ...! I've sacrificed for you. I gave up everything for you and your repay me by getting knocked up."
"Momma, calm down." Annette pleaded.
"Shia, Annette, just leave me alone. I need a moment." Harriet whispered. She failed again. First, Annette was hurt by her uncle when she was younger and now Shia had gotten caught up. After everything she had gone through, she still failed her girls. Harriet cried. She knew this would cause her daughter to have a hard life.
Then she remembered her past. She had Annette and ended up in a shelter. She fought to raise her girls and keep them safe. Harriet worked hard, two and sometimes three jobs. Her one, true regret was paying her aunt to watch her girls.
Harriet would never forgive herself for what her oldest daughter endured. It worked out. Even though her aunt, her only family disowned them, she made sure her uncle went to prison.
When Annette turned seven and Shia was five, Harriet managed to get a job for the city. With the amount she was being paid, she could work one job and be home for her children. Harriet vowed that her girls would have a better life than she did.
"Look, Ty, mom will be home soon. You need to go." Shia added.
Tyrone looked at her and stated, "I'm done wasting my time with you." Then he left.
Annette sat with her sister. She didn't say a word. Tyrone James was a waste of space. Shia could do much better. Besides, mom would be home soon, and both girls knew he was checking on her grand-babies.
Shia was silent. She had just turned eighteen. Her daughters would be three in a few weeks. Shia was lucky. She had help. Her mom and sister were her rock. Her mother did not care for Tyrone, but despite that, she insisted that he helped with his daughters.
Harriet walked in and she knew something was wrong. Annette had made dinner, and the babies were asleep.
Before they slept, Shia talked to her mother and sister about Tyrone. Harriet listened, but advised her daughter to be cautious. She did not like that young man. He was rude, spoiled, and mean. When she was around, he tempered his meanness, but Annette had told her how he often spoke to her sister. That was why he could only visit when she or Annette was home. They didn't trust him around Shia and the twins.
Time passed, and Tyrone's demeanor grew worse. He stopped visiting the girls. When he saw Shia, he made sure he insulted her. Shia ignored him for the most part, but when he started denying their girls, she confronted him.
"Ty, stop. Talk to me." Shia yelled at her ex-boyfriend. Tyrone turned around. He looked at the beautiful girl that a part of him hated. Tyrone could admit the truth. He was a waste. Here he was twenty-two, two kids by a girl who had a real shot of making it, and he truly had nothing to offer.
"What, Shia? Look, why don't you go play with your kids. You three are babies." He laughed.
"Tyrone, what are you doing? You told Miss George that the twins are not yours. How could you? You know that's a lie." Shia ranted.
Tyrone stopped moving. "Look, girl I wasn't your first. For all I know you were already pregnant. Those kids don't even look like me. They look Hispanic or something. Go sell your story someplace else. Now, get the fuck out of my face."
Shia gasped. No one had ever spoken to her like this. Everyone warned her about Tyrone, but he never treated her this way before. Stunned, she watched as he walked away laughing with another female under his arm. Shia turned and went to pick up her girls from daycare. Then she caught the bus home. Her sister, Annette was home. As Shia entered, Annette could see something was wrong.