borne book 5

8/3/2019 Borne Book 5

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Borne HasToo Many

LivesBy Tyler Harris


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This book is dedicated to my brother; Justin who never lets anything gets in his way


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Contents

New York

Charles

Frank

Kate

Hope

Promotion

The Army

Infidelity

Custody Battle

Forward


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Chapter 1

New York

My name is Jason Andrew Smith, but everyone calls me Borne. When I was

younger I had an obsession with the character, Jason Bourne. I was obsessed with both

the books and movies. Ever since then the nickname, Borne stuck.

I live in a condo in New York. I live there with my girlfriend, Hope Hope and my

best friend since middle school, Nick Torres. We all have been living together for three

years. I really like New York and when I was in high school I would take my moms car

and go touring the city with my friends. We would pick up girls and stay out late until

early next morning.

My mom used to get on my case about that. Not only because someone could

snatch me, but she also may need the car the following morning. Ive done this a number

of times. A few times, mom has threatened to take my driving privileges of her car away

because of that.

However she never did and I continued using her car until I got my own. Ive had

it for a while and now dont have to worry about using my moms car. I can also stay out

as late as I want now that I am living on my own. I like having that freedom, with the

exception of rent and paying the car off.

However I could manage it with the job that I work. I work in a retail store and

the position I have there is front-end manager at the customer service desk. I have been

working there a long time and it has served me well. Ive had other jobs before, but that is

the one I had the longest.


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Even though I am a front-end manager, I only work at the retail store part time.

But thats okay because since Hope, Nick and I all have jobs, we pay the rent three ways

each. Hope works as a waitress at a caf and Nick works as a mechanic in an auto shop.

Nick loves working with cars and has been since he was twelve.

He took auto shop in high school. He also showed me how to do a couple of

things. He even helped me choose out my car. I like cars too, but not as much as Nick.

Im also glad that I work part time at my job because I also go to school. I go to a

community college and I am majoring in criminal justice. I chose that field because it has

always been my dream to become a federal officer. Once I finish college and get that job,

I plan on leaving the retail store for good.

At that time I can get a better place to live. Not that there is anything wrong of

where I currently live. Speaking of living situations, I actually dont come from New

York. I was really born and raised in New Jersey. Ive been there most of my life, but I

never had a permanent address because my family and me were always moving all over

the place.

Its not a bad state to live in, but its expensive. Overall its okay with me.

However even though I like New Jersey, I moved to New York for a number of reasons.

Hope and Nick also come from New Jersey, but Nick has lived in New York longer than

me and Hope.

He moved there shortly after he graduated high school. Anyway I used to live in

New Jersey with my mom and sister, Vanessa. We lived together for years until I moved

to New York. I stayed in New Jersey until my first year of college was over.


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Afterwards I moved away with Hope and transferred colleges. But even though I

now reside in New York, I still travel back and forth to New Jersey due to a couple of

things. Four years ago I got my ex girlfriend, Kate Welsh pregnant. This happened during

our senior year of high school.

She told me later that year when she found out. At that time Kate and I were

broken up and I began seeing Hope. However since Kate was pregnant with my child I

supported her until the end, but still continued dating Hope. Kate gave birth to a girl and

we both named her, Regina.

After Regina was born, we both went our separate ways. Although when Kate is

busy, I often helped to watch Regina. I still do in fact it is one of the reasons that I travel

back and forth from New York to New Jersey. Regina mainly stays with Kate, but I get

her on weekends because of Kates busy hours.

Every Friday night I would drive to New Jersey and pick her up. She would stay

with me until the weekend was over. Then I would take her home that Monday.

Sometimes I would take the train if there was something wrong with my car. I also go

back and forth between the two states to visit my former household.

I go there to check up on things with my mom and Vanessa. My mom tells me

things that have been happening, but Vanessa is the one who really gives me the scoop on

things. Shes been helping mom around the house since I moved. I prefer seeing them

face-to-face though despite what they say.

I go back to my moms house not just to see how she and Vanessa are doing; I do

it for something else as well. Its because theres someone else living in my house. This

person is the root cause of me moving to New York. I still resent him to this very day.


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Chapter 2

Charles

There was a root cause for me to be moving from New Jersey to New York. It

was because of a person living in my former household. This person was my stepfather,

Charles Bishop. I cant stand that guy.

Charles married my mom three years ago. At that time I was still living in the

house. Charles and mom have known each other for a long time. They met sometime

after mom got her commercial drivers license.

He works for the same cab company as mom, only she had worked there longer

than he has. Prior to this Charles use to have two businesses. He had his own restaurant in

Georgia which had some of the best food you could dream of. The appetizers will fill you

up in a second.

You wont be able to start or finish the main course. The dessert is so exquisite

you wouldnt think it came from this country. It was so successful that Charles decided to

keep it open for twenty four hours a day. In a short span of time the restaurant gained five

stars.

It was known as the best restaurant in the state of Georgia. However years later

Charles and his business partners went bankrupt. He shut the restaurant down after New

Years Eve. He then worked at a gas station for two years after this.

During that time he developed another business idea for a jazz club. It opened

during the summer and had a different set of musicians who came every night. It also had

a bar which served both soft and alcoholic drinks. There was even a space for dancing.


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The club was called Jazzing and Jumping. The music was good, but the real

money earner was the bar. People mainly came for the drinks. Jazzing and Jumping also

held some special events such as contests with the prizes being either a free trip or drink.

Jazzing and Jumping was successful for a good five years.

It went bankrupt due to the economy and Charles business partners withdrew

their support. Charles shut down Jazzing and Jumping during the winter. Afterwards

Charles worked at a radio station for a few years. He later applied for his commercial

drivers license and got a job as a cab driver.

It was during this time that he met my mom. He got his commercial drivers

license a year after she got hers and was hired as a cab driver March of that year. Since

then Charles has been a good friend of moms. He jokes around with her a lot and rarely

talked about serious things.

Charles married mom when I was taking summer courses for my first year in

college. He was even at my high school graduation. He told me and Vanessa before he

proposed to her which he did shortly afterwards. They got married in August at my

moms cousins house in Maryland.

Vanessa accompanied them, but wasnt happy about mom marrying Charles.

However she kept her feelings to herself and supported what everyone else approved.

Charles seemed like a caring person and someone you could share things with. Hes also

very knowledgeable and knows a number of historical things.

However when he talks, he often goes into a monologue. With all this

intelligence, its hard to believe this man has never written a book. Some qualities from


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his defunct businesses still survive such as his cooking. His cooking is so divine; youll

feel like youre eating at a five star restaurant straight from home.

And although most of me and my family dont care for it, the jazz music he plays

is very good. Ask him and he can tell you the name of every single artist in that music

field. With those qualities you would think he was the perfect man for mom. As well as

the fact that theyve known each other for years.

However as soon as he married her, Charles true colors came out. We found out

that he has control issues and often tells me and Vanessa that well follow his rules as

long as were under his roof or we dont need to be there. He highly states that he is the

man of the house and it is his job to make sure that we are safe. It is also his job to make

sure that we do what were supposing to.

He claims the house were living in is all his when mom paid for it more than he

did. There are even times when he doesnt pay the rent. Some man of the house. Vanessa

and I often rebuke him and take no consideration into what he says.

This causes many arguments. He is also directly hurtful. At one point he told

Vanessa and me that we dont have a father and he was our only father. This wasnt true

at all.

He even stated how vulnerable Vanessa was since she was a girl. Clearly this man

is stuck in the nineteenth century. Charles also has some abuse issues. Before he married

our mom, Charles had a wife before.

He also had some children with her. Twin boys whom used to come over our

house almost every weekend. Their marriage ended mainly because of him. He got too

demanding and threw stuff around when she wouldnt listen to him.


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He also threw her against the wall a couple of times. During a later argument he

went too far and committed assault on her by throwing her down the stairs. Charles was

arrested and faced a jail sentence. His wife visited him in jail, but only to tell him that she

was having their marriage annulled.

The only contact they have now is through their two sons. Although I heard that

she is planning to keep the children away from him for good. Charles never laid a hand

on my mother, but he came close during a big argument. Someone threatened to kill his

brother and Charles was very upset about it.

He was also upset that mom got a new car without his involvement and me being

a co partner for the plan was the icing on the cake. He told her that I wasnt her husband

and that he shouldve been there to help her get a car and not me. When she contradicted

him, Charles lost his temper. The argument heated up when mom walked a way from

him.

He called after her, but she ignored him. He got so angry that he threw a dish rack

on the floor right in front of his sons and Vanessa. I told him off and so did Vanessa. I

told him that I dont care what was happing with him, he doesnt touch my mom.

I also said if he causes a scene like he did that night I will kill him. And speaking

of which I actually was plotting to have him beaten up. But I backed out and decided that

it wasnt worth my time. After that day everybody in the family except mom hated

Charles.

However that wasnt my last confrontation with him. I had to drive somewhere

with him to get something for mom and he got on my case about not being respectful to

mom by not forgiving him. I told him he didnt deserve it and called him a bunch of


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names including degrading him and his family. When we got in the house he tried to talk

me down and touched me on the shoulder.

I told him not to touch me and pushed his arm away. He came to me again when I

slammed the door in his face. He opened it and tried to come after me. Mom who was

nearby got in between us and stopped the fight.

Afterwards Charles left for a couple of days and I decided it was the last straw for

me and was time to move out. I filed for a transfer and luckily my friend Nick had a

cousin who leased condos. He gave us a two bedroom place and I and Hope moved away

to New York. Mom thinks I left to be with Hope, but Vanessa and the rest of the family

knew the real reason.

Charles even tried to have restrictions put on me to prevent me from coming to

the house, but mom wouldnt allow him. Despite this mom stayed with Charles believing

its best to work out issues rather than run away from them. I often come by the house to

check up on things and Vanessa gives me updates. But I only come when Charles isnt

around.

Even so Im counting on the day when mom kicks him to the curb. But that

wasnt the only scumbag in my moms life. There was also my real father.


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Chapter 3

Frank

Dr. Frank Park was me and Vanessas biological father. He met my mom when

she was doing accounting before she became a cab driver. They met when she had a

problem with her foot and she had to have bunion surgery. He was one of the surgeons

who did the work on her and made sure she had proper treatment.

Frank was there for her every step of the way. He even called to make sure that

she was all right. When her foot had healed, he asked her out to dinner. They had their

first date at Charlie Browns.

At first she was reluctant to go out with him since she had just gotten out of a

previous bad relationship. But she later decided that it was time to move on and was

willing to give Frank a chance. Mom enjoyed Frank better than her previous boyfriend

and was impressed to hear how Frank became a surgeon. He started medical school at a

business college and finished at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

He first worked at a hospital in Connecticut and then he transferred to New

Jersey. Things seemed to be good between mom and Frank until she got pregnant with

me. Frank didnt react to the news well. In fact he blamed everything on mom even

though he was partly responsible.

As a result mom went through the pregnancy alone. She had me on the night of

New Years Day. A friend of hers helped her out until she was cleared to go back to

work. She spent most of that year working two jobs to take care of me afterwards.


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She also fought Frank for child support. Yeah thats right. Not only did he not

want to be apart of my life, he also didnt want to pay my child support. However even

though he left my mom to raise me alone she wasnt going to let him get away with that.

She took him to court that spring demanding to get the money she rightfully

deserved. He tried to be slick and find a loop hole, but it didnt work and my mom won

the case. Since then Frank has been giving my mom the money she needed. He later felt

guilty for what he put her through and tried to win her back.

After several failed attempts she finally gave in and they reconciled that fall of

October. Shortly afterwards mom got pregnant with Vanessa. This time Frank supported

my mom all the way. Vanessa was born next year.

Frank paid her child support, but he also wanted to do something else. He wanted

to take full custody of Vanessa. Frank wanted to do this for two reasons. He wanted to do

a better job than he did when I was born.

He also wanted to make things easier on my mom. However for some reason

mom retaliated and wanted to keep both me and Vanessa with her. I had later learned that

it was because Frank had some anger issues, and she was afraid what might happen if he

really lost his temper. He was going to try to get Vanessa to live with even if it meant

blackmailing my mom.

An example of this was done when he threatened to stop paying child support for

Vanessa unless mom agrees to let her live with him. Mom still refused and Frank stop

making for Vanessa. So as you know my mom took him to court again. Again he tried to

get away with it, but my mom won and got the money she rightfully deserved.


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This time there was no reconciliation. Even if he tired my mom would be smart

enough not to give him another chance. Frank officially called it quits with mom. Other

than paying child support he wanted nothing to do with her, me or Vanessa.

From that point on the only part we saw of Frank was his money. The last thing

my mom said to him before he completely abandoned her was this. Jason and Vanessa

are going to ask where their father is someday and when they do Im going to tell them

this. Your father did everything to make sure that he wasnt apart of your life and then

when the issues with the money were resolved he walked out on you for good.

And she did too, to both me and Vanessa, using those exact words. She told us

this when we were twelve and eleven. Because of that neither me nor Vanessa wanted

nothing to do with Frank either. I dont care if he showed up anywhere out of the blue.

I dont have anything to say to him. Thats probably why Charles said that we

dont have a father. This could be true in one sense and false in another. While I did in

fact have a father anyone that asks me about the subject, I say that I have no father.

And that didnt just go for Frank; it went for Charles as well. Id rather have just

a mother than have either of those two be my father. However besides the drama with my

family, I also have drama with my relationships.


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Chapter 4

Kate

Before Regina was born Kate Welsh and I had a long history together. We met

when I moved out and transferred schools. During this time we both were in eighth grade.

We as most people do started out as friends.

As our friendship grew, we became attracted to each other and eventually became

a couple. We went on our first date at Friendlys, but all we got were drinks and spent

more time talking than ordering. Friday nights were our movie nights. I had a lot of fun

with Kate and everyone thought that she was the love of my life.

They often teased us and said that we were soul mates. However like every couple

we had our share of problems. She wasnt always straight up with me when she said she

had other plans to do something else. Or if something went wrong.

I told her multiple times that she could trust, but she didnt believe me. I told her

that if she couldnt trust me then I couldnt be with her. We broke up in May. Anytime

we saw each other, we just glanced and said nothing.

Later she approached me and said that she had a history of boyfriends that werent

honest with her. They often lied about not cheating on her or what they were doing when

she wasnt around them. However she shouldve known that I wasnt that guy. She said

that I was the most honest guy she ever dated.

She promised to work on her trust issues if I took her back. I told her that I needed

some time to think about that. She said to take as much time as I need. At the time I was


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seeing another girl named Leslie. We had a lot of fun together, but I didnt enjoy her as

much as I did with Kate.

I wanted to end things with Leslie and get back with Kate. But I couldnt just end

things like that with Leslie, since she was very sensitive. So I got back with Kate but still

secretly continued seeing Leslie. The thing was I lied to Kate and told her that I ended

things with Leslie.

But due to her history of guys cheating on her, Kate was able to tell if I was

cheating or not. She found out the truth along with Leslie. Kate told me that she thought

that I was the one person I could trust. The one person that I thought was good.

But she was wrong and said that I was on different than any guy shes dated. She

told me to have a nice life and that she never wanted to see me again. I felt like such a

douche bag. I spent most of the summer trying to win her back, but it didnt work.

I then decided to try and be her friend again. She reluctantly agreed to be my

friend. We remained friends for most of the school year and then got back together in

June. That month we promised to be honest with each other no matter what.

But it didnt go that way as set and done. More lies and misunderstandings on

both parts caused trouble in our relationship. There was one time where one of her ex

boyfriends was staying with her family. I was always suspecting that Kate was cheating

on me with him.

She told me she wasnt, but for some reason I didnt believe her. Then when I

thought I caught a disease from a one night stand I had previously, I was scared. I didnt

know what the results were yet, but I thought they were negative. I didnt want to put

Kates life at risk so I broke up with her.


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I lied and told her that I still had feelings for an ex girlfriend. She was so upset

that she went and slept with her ex boyfriend. When my results turned out negative I

went and told Kate the truth. She took me back, but didnt tell me what she did with her

ex boyfriend.

I soon found out him though. I dumped Kate and didnt talk to her for days. We

got back together again later. However various things like this kept happening and we

repeatedly broke up and got back together.

Although together or not I was always there for Kate she needed something from

me or just needed someone to talk to. No matter what it was, I was there for her. During

our senior year we both realized that we were bad for each other as a couple. We ended

our relationship for good at the beginning of the school year.

Shortly afterwards I began seeing Hope. Then later that year Kate told me that she

was pregnant with my child. At first I thought it was a ploy to win me back, but then later

I learned that it was true. I was shocked and angry and didnt know what to do.

My moms story about my father reminded me of how I dont want to do what he

did. So I supported Kate throughout her pregnancy, but still continued seeing Hope.

Regina was born during the second semester of high school. After high school ended,

Kate and I went our separate ways for good.

Kate went to business school and now works for AT&T. And even though we

ended things along time ago, we still bond. But only through Regina. Try telling that to

Hope though.


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Chapter 5

Hope

I met Hope when we were both working in retail together. At the time I was a

front end manager and she was a cashier. I liked talking to her and she was so funny. She

was someone good to joke with.

Especially when I was in a bad mood. Her cheery personality really knows how to

turn the frown upside. I got know Hope more working along side her. For some reason

she was attracted to a lot of African and Italian guys.

Ironically I was a mixture of both races (though most people consider me black).

And yes she was attracted to me. But although she was attracted to me, I wasnt

interested in her. This wasnt only because I was still seeing Kate, though it was the main

one.

Hope just wasnt the type of girl I wanted to go out with. Well at that time

anyway. Even I duly told her so when she asked me out on a date one time. She wanted

to have me though.

I telling her that I have a girlfriend didnt stop her one bit. She constantly pursued

me any chance she got. However I always turned her down. We stayed good friends and

co workers despite all of this.

Then when Kate and I broke up for good, Hope made her move again. This time I

succumbed to Hopes flirtiest ways and went on a date with her. We actually had a lot of

fun together. I discovered an adventurous side of her that I never knew existed.


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At first she seemed like this ditzy mousy girl. Now shes like a party animal that

breaks loose at night. There were certain qualities that she liked about me too. Other than

the fact that I was the races she was mostly attracted to, she also liked my straight up

attitude.

During this time my relationship with Hope wasnt as messy as it was with Kate.

Then the latter got pregnant. Hope was upset at first when she found out. She though I

was going to go back to Kate.

I told her that Kate and I arent going to see each other anymore. However I also

said that I was going to support Kate through out her pregnancy. Despite that I told Hope

that I was going to stay with her. She reluctantly accepted this.

She was still upset though when I didnt have much time for her. But she said that

she trusted me. Hope was relieved when Kate finally had the baby. She thought that now

things were going to go back to the way they were.

However even though the baby was born and Kates parents helped to watch her,

I was still there. I helped Kate out anytime that she needed me. That made Hope jealous.

Although she said that she trusted me, the way that I go out of my way for Kate makes

Hope think something is still there. She still has the same feelings now.

She knows the only reason I go back to Kates house is for Regina. But because

of my history with Kate, shes scared that someday Im going go back to New Jersey.

Then Im going to get back together with Kate, live with her and Regina as a big happy

family. I told her several times that it was never going to happen, but she still has her

suspicions.


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But my history with Kate was only one of Hopes problems. Hope also had some

issues in her own household. Hope lived in a big house and comes from a big family as

well. It is really weird. They all have Hs in their names.

Her father is named Howard and her mother, Helen. Her siblings are named

Helga, Howard Jr., Holly, Heidi, Harold, Henry, Hailey, Herbert, Hubert, Herman and

Helena. I call them the H family. Some of these were stepsiblings while others were half

siblings.

Her real father died of lung cancer shortly after Hope was born. Her stepfather

was the only father she ever known. Hope doesnt get along with him though because of

his controlling ways. And strangely she gets along with her stepsiblings than she does

with her real ones.

Hope has been trying to get away from her house for a while. She even ran away a

few times. So when I accepted a job transfer to New York and get away from Charles at

the same time, she decided to join me. However unlike me she couldnt transfer stores

and instead took a position as a waitress at a caf in New York.

Hope also went to college for nursing, but dropped out when she wasnt sure

college was for her. Also despite escaping our households and being together, Hope and I

spend most of our time arguing. This was due to both of us working long hours away

from each other. As well as Hope still reeling over my history with Kate.

There was also the fact that Hope was needy and depends on me too much in

order to do things. But after we had a long talk, Hope decided to start meeting new

people and find ways to do stuff when Im not around. However aside from the issues

with my households, and relationships, I also have issues in my work life.


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Chapter 6

Promotion

As a manager of a retail store at the front end desk I have a big responsibility. I

have to deal with a lot of phone calls. Whether its paging other departments, employees

or managers. Sometimes its the other way around.

The calls also come from customers. They either want to know whether an item is

in stock or not. Also if any positions for jobs in the store are available. I also deal with

customers returning items.

I have to make sure everything on the returned product is in order as well as the

customer having their receipts. Once those things are checked I print out a new receipt

and make them sign their names. Afterwards I give the customers their money and then

move on to the next thing. Speaking of which I also count the money in the registers at

the desk to make sure the right amount is there.

However even though I do work at the front end desk, there are times when I have

to work elsewhere. I help out putting back the returns the store often gets. I work at the

cash register sometimes. Amongst a lot of other things.

The job can be stressful at times, but I dont have to break my back as much as

the other employees. Whom I also have interesting relationships with. I got along with

most of them, but a few got to me. Like this lady named Tina who was always crabby

towards everybody.


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Even when you ask a simple question. If you ask her something like wheres the

restroom. Shell respond the same place its always been. Of course youd know that if

you werent too busy sniffing your crack.

Many people who work there dont like her one bit. There were also some people

working against me. This one guy named Wilfred Higgins wanted to get me fired. He

was slow at his work and didnt pay attention when I was teaching him how to work the

front end desk with me.

He pulled the switch on me and said to my boss that I didnt show him how to do

things right. He even stole money from the register and tried to frame me for it. But he

was found out and fired due to cameras being all over the store. I had a number of people

like this.

Most of them were either stupid or jealous of my good work ethic. Thats because

I take my duties very seriously. There are times I have to come in even when Im not

scheduled to work. I manage to do this and balance my life outside of work as well.

Ive been doing this since I started working in the retail store so that helps the

balance. A friend hooked me up with the job when I was sixteen. I started out as a

cashier. Eventually I was promoted and worked my way up into becoming a front end

manager.

I still cant believe that I managed to stay there for six years. Sometimes its like a

ghost town in the retail store. During the holidays or summertime it gets really hectic.

The periods in a retail store are different from other jobs that are mainstream.

There are times when the store wont be as busy for months. This causes hours to

be cut to one or two days a week. During these slow periods there are usually more


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employees in the store than customers. Another reason for the cuts is so the retail store

cant pay you the benefits of working as a full time employee.

The reason they keep so many employees is that if youre fired or leave, its easy

to replace you. For this reason I also have a second job. As well as the fact that I have to

pay rent, college and child support. Im also a delivery man for a pizza place.

I applied and got the job a year after I moved to New York. I have flexible hours

so I can manage delivering pizza and working in the retail store. However I wouldnt

have to balance both with this offer my boss was giving me. He was offering me a

positron where I would be working full time.

I could also be making more money than I currently am. However it would also

mean that I would have to put college on hold. So while I wanted this great opportunity, I

also wanted to become a federal officer. I told my boss told me think about the job offer.

I then told my friends and family all about it, who voiced their opinions. Some

said I should finish college. Others said I should take the job offer. My mom told me that

I had to do what was best for me.

I took her advice and finally made a decision. I decided not to take the offer

because even though I would be making good money, I dont want to be working in the

retail store for the rest of my life. I also decided to expand my options more by joining

the army.


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Chapter 7

The Army

The reason I decided to join the army was not only to expand my options more.

It would also lead me closer to my goal of becoming a federal officer. Due to this I was

going to put my job at the retail store on hold and quit my job at the pizza place. Just like

the job offer, I told everyone about this as well.

As always they each had different opinions. The only one who supported my

decision was my best friend, Nick. Everyone else was against. My mom since she was

against fighting and killing people in general. Shes afraid that I will be killed, and that I

dont know what Im getting myself into.

She thinks that I really didnt think this through. Vanessa thought that the pressure

of living on my own, working two jobs, going to college and raising a child all together

finally got to me. She thinks all this made me lose it so much that I decided to join the

army. Also like mom, she worried that I will be killed.

Even Charles tried to talk me out of it. I didnt care about opinion. Kate was

against it since she needed me to take Regina on the weekends. She was also wondering

how she was going to get the money from me while I was away. Hope was against it

since thats a long time that Ill be away from her.

Hope is doing her own thing now, and though we fought often when we were

together, she likes having me around. Its still lonely to her, even with Nick in our house.

However she respected my decision. I knew no one (with the exception of Nick) was

happy about the decision I have made.


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But they were just going to have to live with it. I made up my mind and Im going

to stick to my choice. I understood everyones feelings; however they were just going to

have to be supportive. I also wasnt going to walk away from everyone without

discussing my strategies with them.

These things were ways to cope with my regular duties only without me actually

being around. I actually had plans to join the army when I was younger. I just didnt tell

anybody. I planned it since I was fourteen.

Some of the signs were there. No one saw them though. I was always getting

things army related. Whether itd be clothes or souvenirs.

Everyone probably thought they were for show and design patterns. As you know

now they werent. I thought about doing this as soon as I graduated high school. But then

I moved up in the retail store and also Regina was born.

For that reason I put going into the army aside and decided to do college instead.

But now with the way my life is and the way the economy is spiraling, I did some

rethinking. I decided that it was time for me to bring my plans to join the army back to

the forefront. And I knew from the start that no one was going to be happy with my

choice.

I mean Im being trained to kill people. Who would support that? They were just

going to have to respect my decision though. But still I wasnt just going to leave them in

the cold.

As I said earlier I had strategies for them to go by while Im away. I told Hope

and Nick that Ill give the last of my paycheck from both jobs to contribute to the rent. I


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told Kate that shell still get her child support from me. I also told her that shell get help

with Regina on the weekends.

Hope and Nick will watch her when theyre not too busy. Or my mom and

Vanessa will help out when their available. I also told Hope that Ill call and write to her

whenever I can. I even mentioned that she could visit me whenever Im at the base.

I told everyone else Ill call and write to them as well. Afterwards I left for basic

training. I left for two months and a half. I came back briefly for a couple of weeks.

I then left again for another four months. Eventually I came back for good with

occasional calls. Now Im officially grounded in the army. I have a part time commitment

with it for the next eight years.

When I did come back almost permanently, I discovered how much has changed

since I was gone. I now work less hours and have more time for school. Im still at the

front end desk, but Im no longer a manager. I also have another position in the retail

store working for security.

Being demoted from manager didnt shock me in the least bit. Hope and Kate did

though. Theyre now good friends. Apparently they bonded while Hope watched Regina

for Kate.

I learned from Hope that there were times when she went to Kates house and

watched Regina there. Aside from them I learned something that was going on in my old

household. Something from Vanessa. It wasnt good new at all.


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Chapter 8

Infidelity

When I came back from basic training, I expected things to be different. But I also

wanted things to be found, while I was away. I wanted things to be okay at both my

current and former household. It went okay at my current household so I didnt worry

about that one.

However that wasnt the case with my former household. I stopped by there after

I came home only to receive some bad news. It wasnt from mom though as likes keeping

negative things from me and Vanessa. It was from Vanessa herself.

As I said before she is a nosy person. This time Vanessa really dug up some dirt.

She told me that it was something about Charles. Vanessa told me that one day she was

going downstairs to use the computer when she overheard Charles talking on the phone.

Charles has a loud mouth. So loud that you can hear him across the room.

Anyway she overheard him talking on the phone to his former business partner, Dana. He

was talking to her about another business scheme they were both planning.

Charles has been planning this scheme for a while. Even before he married mom.

However hes also been up to something else as well. He told Dana that once the new

business starts hes going to marry her.

Then when the business really takes off he was going to divorce our mom.

Vanessa listening over the upstairs hallway could not believe what she heard. Charles

Bishop was two timing our mom. Not only that but he was freeloading off of her until his

new business venture started.


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Vanessa told mom this, but she didnt believe her. That was because she knows

that Vanessa never liked Charles. She believed it was another attempt to get rid of him.

Vanessa had even tried to sabotage the marriage.

I did too when I used to live in the house. However no matter what we said and

did, mom still stayed with Charles. Afterwards we eventually just sat back and let mom

do what she wants. However with what going on now, we couldnt just sit back.

We werent going to let him take advantage of our mom. We were going to

expose that bastard for who he really was. I asked Vanessa if Charles children still come

by. When she said they did, I decided to start from there.

I asked them if they normally stay with their mother. When they told me they did

I also asked for the address. To throw off their suspicion, I told them that I needed to

know just in case their father wanted me to get them. I also reminded that were family

now and we need to stick together.

They gave me the information I needed. I then paid a visit to their moms and

Charles ex wifes house. Her name was Sherry. I did this while Charles and his children

were still at my moms house.

She let me in after I told her who I was. I asked why she and Charles separated. I

already knew why based on what mom and Charles told me, but I wanted to hear it from

her perspective. She told me that he assaulted and beat her up a couple of times.

They separated for a period of time before she officially annulled their marriage.

He abused her during their argument. They were mainly about Sherrys suspicions about

Charles business partner Dana. Sherry didnt trust her and accused Dana of making a

past at Charles.


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Sherry also suspected that Charles might be having an affair with Dana, due to the

way that he loses his guard around attractive women. Charles denied it each time and told

Sherry to let it go. But she didnt and the more she pressed him the more he lost his

temper and hit her. I said to Sherry that her suspicions were right all along.

I told her all about how Charles was starting another business with Dana and how

he was cheating on my mom with her. I also told Sherry about what he planned to do as

soon as the business took off. Sherry sympathized with me and told me that she felt sorry

for my mom. She also told me that she knew that Charles was no good.

Especially with some new information she found. She told me that none of the

businesses he formed were legal. Charles has been stealing money from his own family

and other places to fund them. However somehow he managed to cover his tracks each

time.

Also his name was even Charles Bishop. It was really Oscar Ford. An

acquaintance of his had got an ID of a deceased person whom he closely resembled. He

did this keep the police from tracking the person behind the embezzlements.

I got all the information I needed. I thanked Sherry for her time and then headed

back my moms way. When I got there I told my mom everything Sherry said. My mom

spoke to her to confirm it and then she confronted Charles.

He of course tried to deny it, but my mom showed him his ID with his real name.

Charles then confessed and begged mom to forgive him. He said he only hid it from her

because he was trying to become a better person, but he keeps falling into his same ruts.

But mom wasnt hearing it.


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She told Charles that she was filing for divorce and the police were on their way.

Charles infuriated tries to attack my mom, I defended her. Charles and I tussled in the

hallway and wound up tumbling down the stairs. He wound up on top of me and tried to

choke me.

But Vanessa who was nearby smashed a lamp over his head knocking him

unconscious. The police arrived and Charles or should I say Oscar was arrested. He was

going to be in prison for a long time. I was glad that Charles finally got what he deserved.

I was also glad that he was out of the picture for good. Now things came some

what go back to the way they were before Charles came into the light. However just as

things began to look up for me, another bomb was dropped. Kate told that she wanted to

take full custody of Regina.


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Chapter 9

Custody Battle

I really some of my problems would go away with Charles behind bars. Boy was I

wrong. I was just about to celebrate getting rid of the bastard for good when Kate threw

something else my way. She wanted full custody of Regina. When I asked why, she told

me that she wants to raise Regina in a stable family and is now married to Gabriel.

Gabriel was a guy Kate met while she was in college. Theyve been pretty serious

since they met. Ive seen him a couple of times when I dropped Regina back to Kates

house. Kate told me that he proposed when I came to visit from joining the army.

They got married when I left again. After they got married, Kate thought it would

be better for Regina to remain in New Jersey for good. She said she knows Im a good

father, but she thinks that it would be better if Regina had someone who was around the

house often. Kate said I could come to visit her, but Regina will remain in one place.

Kate also said that this would be good on me since I wouldnt have to worry about

traveling back and forth anymore. I told her I dont just come for Regina. Kate says she

knows, but now they wont have to worry about bouncing Regina back and forth so

much. I asked her how long she has been thinking about this.

Kate replies that she wanted to do it for a while. She wanted to do it since she and

Gabriel got into a serious relationship. But she waited until he committed to her. Now

they are permanently linked together, Kate thought that this would be a good time to tell

me.


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Kate says that it will take a load off my plate. I told her that she doesnt know that

half of it. I then asked her did she really think that taking my child away from me would

make things easier. Kate says that shes not taking her away from me.

I told her she was. I said that she was. I said that she was basically making it so

that Im completely out of the picture. Kate asked me do I really want to continue with

the way things are.

Do I really want to keep running back and forth? Do I really want to keep

bouncing Regina around like a volleyball? I told Kate that I want to be apart of my

daughters life. Kate told that I was.

She said I will still be needed to pay child support and like she said before we can

have visits. I told her that it wasnt the same. It was still like ripping my daughter out of

my life.

Kate told me she understands that. She also said that I needed to think about

Regina. I needed to think about her needs opposed to my own. I asked Kate was it selfish

of me still wanting to be involved with my own flesh and blood.

Kate reminded me that Regina was her flesh and blood too. Kate also responded

she didnt think it was selfish wanting to be involved with Reginas life. Kate even knows

what a selfless person I was. But she did think it was selfish I was depriving Regina of

what she could have.

I asked what that was. Kate replied a stable environment. That really made me

mad. I snapped at her saying so youre saying that adapting a child with two parents who

provide evenly is not a stable environment.


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Kate pointed out that my place only has two bedrooms occupied with people. Me

and Hope in one. Nick in the other. She also states that Regina is getting bigger each day.

Eventually shes going to need her own space. I said that I could be ready when

that time comes. Kate wasnt convinced though. She said could I?

Even by going to school, working in retail and going to the army. She also

pointed the fact that I could get shipped to another country and something could happen

to me. Kate went on saying supposed I was gone a long time and she needed me. She

says Hope and my family cant watch Regina all of the time.

Kate continued by saying by her having full custody of Regina, it eliminates the

problem. I still stood my ground saying that I still could provide for Regina even with ten

jobs and being all over the world. I then said but if she wants to take Regina away from

me prepare for a battle. Kate then said she knew it was a mistake talking to me.

I told her it was a mistake trying to gain full custody. We both wound up in court.

I was so mad when I got home I didnt feel like talking to anyone. Hope really needed to

tell me something, but I wasnt in the mood to hear.

Even when she said it was really important I turned a deaf ear. It was me against

Kate and Gabriel. We both discussed our cases on why Regina should or shouldnt be

given full custody of one parent. This went on for a couple of days.

However in the end Kate decided to throw out her claim and continue a joint

custody with me. I was so happy and was finally ready to hear Hopes news. It was

shocking news though. Hope told me that she was pregnant with my child.


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Chapter 10

Forward

I couldnt believe it. After all that trouble I had with Kate, another problem is

throw my way. No matter what there was always something. I had just got done sorting

matter of custody with my daughter, Regina just in time to find out some more great

news.

Hope told me that she was pregnant with my baby. I asked her was she serious.

Hope said that she was not joking. I asked her when did this happen.

Hope said around the time that I came back from the army briefly, before leaving

again for several months. She stated that when were celebrating my welcome back

home, she didnt think neither of them were safe. I demanded to know why she waited

this late to tell me. Hope tells me that I was a way for a long time and she just found out

not too long ago herself.

Hope also said that she did try to tell me, but I was so caught up with Charles and

Kate that I didnt give her a chance. I told her that those situations were just sprung on

me. Hope says and this was sprung on her. I retorted that she had time to deal with it.

Hope says however she was dealing with it alone though. She asked did I think

her and Kate bonded just because Kate needed help with Regina. Hope says she was

helping Kate out with Regina, while at the same time Kate was helping her out with her

pregnancy. I said I couldnt believe Kate went behind my back this way.


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Hope said that I dont own Kate and she was just trying to help. I said she still had

no right. Hope protested what she was supposed to do. I was away and she really needed

someone there.

Nick was there sometimes, but due to his job, there was only so much he could

do. Kate had a more convenient schedule and made it her business to be there. Hope tells

me that temporarily she stayed with her a couple of times in New Jersey until I came

back. Nick worked double shifts to help cover their expenses on the rent in their place.

Hope finished off by saying that I said Kate had no right to help her was a

complete understatement. I wasnt around so Kate was there for her. Hope also added that

she knows her and Kate didnt see eye to eye in the past. But life goes on the past is the

past.

Weve got to move forward. Despite her statement I still put my foot down. I said

that it still doesnt change the fact she and Kate went behind my back. I told Hope that

she waited to the last moment to tell me this.

She didnt give me anytime to deal. Hope says that she was scared and she wasnt

sure how to tell me. She also reminded me that again she was trying to tell me before.

However I was too upset about Kate wanting to take full custody.

Hope said that she was trying to talk to me about it, but I turned a deaf ear to her.

I retorted that the custody thing was just sprung on me, just like this news was. Hope then

asked me so what now. She said she was I going to jump up and run.

I told that I wasnt, but I said that I already had a kid with one woman. I dont

think I need another. Hope then said what I was suggesting, that she have an abortion. I

told her maybe she should look into some adoption options.


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Hope protested and then said that shes keeping the baby whether I wanted to be

involved or not. I reminded her that shes out of work, is living out of the house and has

no back up income so how could she support a child on her own. Hope replied that if I

was going to up and leave her shell manage somehow. I then told her fine do what she

wants.

Hope then said so thats it I was just going to abandon her. I told her that I

couldnt deal with this right now. Afterwards I went to visit Kate. She was surprised

since it wasnt my turn to take Regina yet.

I asked her why she didnt tell me that Hope was pregnant. Kate says she thought

it would be better coming from Hope. Kate then adds that it was one of the reasons she

wanted to take full custody of Regina. She wanted to make it easier on me, because I take

on too much.

I said that she couldve said that before she made the decision to take my daughter

completely away from me. Kate also said that Hope really wanted to tell me, but she was

scared. I said sarcastically that I heard. Kate went on that she was panicking and

contemplating suicide.

She was scared of screwing up the baby. Kate then told hope what she went

through and talked Hope down. She helped to eliminate all the negative thoughts and feel

more comfortable about raising a child. Kate says that she was just as scared when she

was having Regina.

But it was my support that was helping her stay positive. I wasnt there the first

time for Hope so she filled the role. But now I was here and Hope really needed me. I


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then said what about Regina. Kate says that she and Gabriel will work it out with Regina;

I just need to focus on Hope.

I said I dont know about that. Kate then asked me why I make things complicated

on myself than I have to. I stated that I was there from the beginning when Regina was

born. Kate replies that now she has someone to fill that void.

I said that I still wanted to be involved. Kate said I will. I said it wouldnt be the

same. Kate then asked me was the reason I was holding onto to this so much was that I

still had feeling for her. I denied it and said it had to do with Regina.

Kate said that I had Regina with her and we been together a long time and I

supported her through the pregnancy even though I was with Hope. I told her that she

was the first love of my life and seeing Regina all of the time made me think of her. Kate

said that she was flattered, but that was the past and were both in different places now.

Kate adds that just like I saw Regina through her, I could see this new baby

through Hope. Kate said that it was time for me to move forward. I was quiet for a

moment and then said at last I needed some time to think. Kate said that that was okay.

She just reminded me not to think too long.

***

I stayed home at my moms house for a while and told her and Vanessa about the

situation. Vanessa told me to be there for Hope the same way I was there for Kate. My

mom said that I could do this because of the number of things I take on already. I replied

that I wasnt expecting this.


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My mom said that what my father said before leaving for good. She also said that

I have a lot of my father in me. However unlike him I stuck by when someone pregnant

with my child. She said that she knows that Im trying to be better than he was.

She said that I was doing that and sticking with Hope throughout her pregnancy

will increase that. I said that Im not sure what to do. My mom said that my father wasnt

the commitment type. Do I want to follow the suit?

I thought about what my mom said for a while. I thought about what Kate said. I

thought about what Hope was going through. In the end I knew what I had to do.

I went back home and apologized to Hope and told her that I was going to be

there one hundred percent. I then did something else; I got down on one knee and ask

Hope to be my wife. She cried hysterically and said yes. I also decided to let Kate have

full custody of Regina, but I still come to visit now and then.

However now I realize that it was time to let go of the past. My mom and Vanessa

looked out for each other more, so I didnt check on them like I used to. But still at least

come to visit now then. Now I just focus on reaching my goal of becoming a federal

officer and future with Hope.

As well as our future son or daughter. And everyone was right you cant live in

the past. All you could do is move forward and thats what I was going to do.

borne book 5

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