The view, p.17
The View, page 17
They all stood back, in shock, to learn that Hudson’s Karli Fitzgerald was actually Michael’s Karli Sanders. Hudson rubbed his head and plopped down on the sofa. Michael stood and looked at Karli. His heart was literally breaking. Karli trembled in fear, tears streaming down her face, at the realization that her new man and her husband knew each other and she’d been caught.
“Karli,” Michael whimpered, tears streaming down his face too. “Baby, please tell me that this isn’t true. Tell me that you haven’t been having an affair with Hudson. Please.”
Karli wailed, in pain. She’d lied to Michael and told him that she was living out of a hotel, because she couldn’t bear to tell him that she was with another man. She’d figured she would wait until the divorce was final and then would make it appear as if she’d simply moved on. She had had no idea that the two men knew each other or that her chickens would soon come home to roost.
Looking up at him, with tears still running down her face, she admitted the truth by saying only, “Michael, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Karli,” he said, cradling her face. “Please. Don’t do this to us. Baby. This is me. Four years, Karli. I’m not perfect, but you know I love you. You walked down that aisle with me. You married me. We vowed to be together. Us. Please tell me this is not happening.”
Hudson stood. “No. I love her, and you’re not—”
Michael moved to rush Hudson, and Karli pushed him back. Michael pointed at him. “You shut your mouth. I’ll rip your fucking head off. Going after other people’s wives! She is my wife, and I will not let you take what’s mine.”
Hudson squared up and undid his cuff links. “Oh, you must’ve forgotten. I get down for mine, too, and like it or not, dude, she’s not yours anymore.”
They both charged each other, and Karli was stuck in between the two men she loved. She forced them apart with all the strength she could muster. In literally an instant, she’d turned longtime friends into lifetime enemies. The only reason they hadn’t really gotten loose was that they were acutely aware that they might hurt Karli, and neither one of them wanted that. Their love for her outweighed their hatred of each other.
“Please! Stop this,” Karli yelled. She turned to Hudson. “Please let me handle this.”
Hudson stepped back, staring at Michael with malice in his eyes. He went over and sat on the sofa and drank a swig of his Henny, never taking his eyes off Michael and Karli.
“How long, Karli?” Michael asked in a teary voice. “Hmm? How long?”
Karli faced him with sorrowful eyes. “Five months.”
Michael stumbled back a few steps. He wasn’t prepared to hear that not only had his wife been having an affair, but she also had a full-blown relationship with his ex-friend. “Five months?” he asked, realizing that their affair must have begun not long after he disrespected her, and his eyes closed as fresh tears rushed out. “I knew something wasn’t right with this shit,” he muttered, shaking his head. “You were that angry with me that you would defile our bed, break our vows, and leave our marriage?”
“I was hurt,” she yelled, in pain.
“And so was I!” he screamed back at her. He pointed at her. “I’m your husband, Karli. How do you think I felt finding out that you didn’t even want to have my baby? Then you didn’t even tell me that you were on birth control.”
Karli shook her head as the dam opened and fresh, hot tears and sweat poured out uncontrollably. “I apologized for that. I tried. I begged you to forgive me. I came to you. I pleaded with you. I begged you to talk to me. I begged you to make our marriage work. I begged you to love me again. And every time, Michael—every single time—you tossed me and my feelings to the side, as if I meant nothing,” she yelled as he held his head down in shame. “When you did forgive me, it was only because of what you did to me in return, so that I could forgive you. You never listened to me. Never cared about what I had to say or how I felt. And don’t even pretend like you weren’t here to ‘hook up’ with a woman. Seems to me you were pretty content to move on yourself!”
Pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath. Then she continued. “Hudson was not intentional. We found each other. I was hurting, and he helped me not hurt. He was there for me. He loved me. Me! For who I was and what I wanted, and not some fake façade of who he wanted me to be to him.”
The realization of what she was saying hit Michael like a ton of bricks. He replayed all the times she’d tried to tell him what was on her mind or to restore their marriage and he’d cut her off and dismissed her feelings. He felt horrible, realizing that in many ways he’d pushed her directly into Hudson’s arms. Bryson and even his dad had tried to warn him, and he didn’t heed the message. Michael glanced up at her and palmed her face between his hands.
“Karli,” he said softly, staring deeply into her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for what I did to us, for what I did to you. It’s clear to me now, and I’m begging you now, just like you begged me. Don’t let our story end here. Not like this. I will spend every waking moment proving myself to you. Just don’t end our marriage. Four years. That has to mean something. We have to mean something. He may know your body, but I know you. The Karli on the inside. The way you think. Your dreams. Your aspirations. Your fears. Your heart. I know you.”
Hudson sniffed and pinched the bridge of his nose before sitting back, with his drink in his hand. He was pissed and was growing tired of witnessing Michael’s efforts to woo his woman back. But out of respect for who he and Michael were to each other literally fifteen minutes ago, and for Karli, he kept his emotions at bay. However, this violin moment was going to have to end soon, before he lost it.
“Come home to me, Karli. Come home with me, please,” Michael begged.
Karli was sincerely torn, for more reasons than one. She loved Michael for who he was to her, for the marriage they had once shared, for the friend he was to her, and for the love he’d given her over the years. Yet she loved Hudson. She loved him for who he was to her now, for the friendship they shared, for their business relationship, for the freedom and acceptance he gave her, and for the love they now shared. She loved them equally, but for separate reasons. And she didn’t know with whom she shared a particular blessing.
She pointed to one of the chairs. “Please have a seat, Michael. I have something that, ironically, I need to share with both of you, and we’re all going to need to sit down.”
Begrudgingly, Michael sat in the chair opposite Hudson. Karli took a seat at the far end of the sofa that Hudson currently occupied.
“This is difficult for me. Right now, I need for all of us to be amicable and cordial. My life has assuredly been flipped upside down, and as selfish as this sounds, I need both of you,” Karli told them.
“What’s wrong, baby?” they both asked simultaneously, staring at her with concern.
She rubbed her forehead. “Jesus. This is a mess,” she said slowly before taking a deep breath. Then she continued. “I went to the doctor today because I’ve been sick for the past week.”
“Baby, why didn’t you tell me?” Hudson asked, reaching for her hand.
“I thought it was a virus or the flu or something. I was going to go back to work, but I felt so bad, and then the news was weighing on me,” she said, grabbing each man’s hand. Shaking her head, she added, “I can’t believe this all started, because I didn’t want children, and now here we are.” She gazed at each man. “I am pregnant, and I don’t know who the father is. The doctor said that my due date is in September, which means that I got pregnant in December, and in December I was with both of you intimately and unprotected. So one of you is this baby’s father, and I’m not sure who it is.”
Immediately, Michael jumped up, in a rage. “All these years I’ve wanted a baby with you, and you tell me that I can’t even be happy about it, because there’s a possibility it could be his?” he ranted, in disbelief. “Did you stop your birth control?”
Karli shook her head. “No. It just happened.”
Shaking his head in disgust, Michael scoffed. “The weather just happens, Karli. This happened because you chose to step out on our marriage.”
Hudson stood up. “Calm down. This situation is stressful enough. I’m not going to let you berate her, and you’re damn sure not going to put my baby’s life in danger by stressing out Karli.”
“Your baby?” Michael seethed. “You ballsy muthafucka! News flash. This baby could be mine, and if it is, you can kiss Karli good-bye, because my wife and kid are coming home with me. You will have no part in raising my child.”
“Like I’d let you raise mine!” Hudson spewed. “You can’t even treat the mother right!”
“At least I’m man enough to get my own woman, homeboy!”
“Enough!” Karli yelled. “I’m wrong. You’re wrong. Hudson’s wrong. We’re all wrong. Maybe not equally, but we all had a hand in this. I haven’t even had time to process the fact that I am pregnant, and you two are acting like animals! I didn’t want to bring a child into this world before I was ready, and now the situation is far worse,” she cried, leaning back in her seat.
Michael and Hudson eyed each other, in shock.
“So, what? What are you saying?” Michael asked. “Please don’t tell me that you’re thinking about not having this baby. You’ve already left me. Please don’t take away my child.”
Hudson kneeled in front of her. “Karli, I know you’re scared, but the baby is here. I’m not prepared, either, but when I see you and think of the possibility of you carrying our baby, there’s no greater joy.”
Karli wiped her eyes. She hadn’t even had time to get her own thoughts together about this pregnancy. They were all finding out together. Of course, both men would want the baby, especially now, when they both were laying claim to her. A baby wasn’t enough to make her leave or stay with either man, and her main concern was whether she was ready to be a mommy. How could she bring a child into this world with such turmoil in her life? Before she could even process that information, she had to face the reality of her extramarital affair head-on.
“I don’t know what I want or what I plan to do right now,” she answered, looking at both men. “All I know is that this . . .” She pointed at herself and at them. “This can’t be healthy for either one of us,” she said as she gently rubbed her hand across her belly. The reality of her pregnancy was finally beginning to sink in.
Michael nodded. “Fine. Get your purse and your phone, because you’re coming home with me.”
“Over my dead body!” Hudson yelled.
“I can arrange that too,” Michael growled. Karli put her hands in the air, and Michael looked at her. “What? I refuse to allow this child, who could be my seed, to grow inside you while you’re living in this house. It’s not happening.”
“And my seed isn’t living in your house,” Hudson retorted.
Swallowing hard, Karli turned to Hudson. “I’m going to the hotel.” When he went to protest, she shook her head. “It’s not fair to either of you, and I need peace in my life. You don’t want me there, and he doesn’t want me here, and I need both of you, so I’m going. You’ll remain in your house, and Michael will remain in his, until I make a decision.” She shook her head. “I don’t even know who the father is.”
“Oh, we can schedule a paternity test now, and we’ll know within a month, so then we can get this shit over and done with. The sooner we can sort this shit out, the sooner you and my baby can come home!” Michael yelled.
Hudson shook his head. “That should be Karli’s decision.” He looked over at Karli. “Baby, what do you want to do?”
“Ain’t this a bitch!” Michael scoffed, in disbelief, and glared at Karli. “So he’s voicing opinions on your behalf now? I can’t believe this!”
Sighing, Karli shook her head. “Michael, he’s right. It’s my decision, and I haven’t decided what I want to do. For now, I need my space. I need to think so that I can make a well-informed decision for the baby and myself.”
Karli looked up at both men. Hudson readily agreed, and Michael huffed, then reluctantly nodded his agreement. He was too distraught to fight this battle.
“I’m agreeing to this only because you’re not staying in his house while you’re pregnant. But we still have unfinished business about our marriage. Then what about afterward? Where will you be then? Who will you choose?” Michael said.
Karli shook her head. “One battle at a time, please. I can’t think.”
Michael huffed and shook his head. “Fine, but you and lover boy are restricted from having relations while you’re knocked up. If this child is mine, I don’t want his soldiers marching on my baby’s body.” He went to find his keys and realized he didn’t have his car. “You brought me to this damned place.” He pointed at Hudson.
Karli sighed. “Use my car. I’ll have the driver bring me by to get it tomorrow.”
Michael smirked. “Irreconcilable differences, huh? These seven months can’t fly by fast enough.”
Karli and Hudson walked Michael to the garage, where he opened the door to Karli’s car, jumped in, backed out, and spun away like a bat out of hell.
Hudson pulled her close. “I’m so sorry about all this, but I’m here for you and our baby.”
“Thank you.” She hugged him back. “I better pack up. Michael will flip if I don’t keep my word.”
Hudson kissed her forehead and watched as she went upstairs to pack up her belongings. He pulled out the ring box he’d had hidden in his pocket and tossed it in his hand, hoping and wondering if that proposal would actually ever happen.
Chapter 26
Karli sat in the penthouse, waiting for Catrina’s call. She’d been a mess of tears for the past week. She was so distraught she had to take a week off work to be able to cope with everything that had transpired. Mostly, she wanted time to herself to think and process this crazy, twisted turn of events.
It pained her to the core to know that she’d hurt Michael so deeply. She didn’t hate him. She simply loved Hudson. In fact, she still loved Michael. He’d been her knight in shining armor. He’d whisked her off her feet and made her his wife. She knew that Michael loved and cared for her, but it was his blind love that had pushed her away and into the arms of Hudson. However, the way the situation had panned out was on constant repeat in her mind. As much as she wanted to be with Hudson, she couldn’t lie that the devastation she had caused was creating doubts in her mind.
Could a relationship with Hudson honestly be the right thing if it caused so much pain? Still, how could she let Hudson go? He’d been by her side through it all. He’d put his own feelings and life on pause in exchange for a sliver of her time and a morsel of her love. How much would it hurt him if she left him after all this to go back to a relationship in order to spare Michael’s feelings? Didn’t she owe Michael that much? Didn’t she owe it to him to spare his feelings? But would she honestly be there in the moment, in the relationship with Michael, if she did go back to him?
She refused to ponder these questions anymore at the moment. Her head hurt. She needed a break, because as soon as Catrina arrived, her bestie would most definitely attempt to squeeze every ounce of information out of her, from beginning to end. Therefore, she decided to push aside her thoughts now and air them out with her bestie. She needed someone with a level head and a clear mind to guide her, because as of right now, she was lost.
The sound of her cell phone ringing brought her out of her reverie. She answered the call and gave Catrina the code she needed to access the penthouse floor. A couple of minutes later, Catrina was knocking on the door.
Karli raced to get the door, and when Catrina walked inside, her eyes bulged.
“What in the entire hell? Girl, how the hell did you get this place? Is this yours?” Catrina’s eyes scanned the penthouse and then landed back on Karli. “What is really going on? This is the first time I’ve seen you or talked to you in a couple of weeks, since you slapped divorce papers on Michael. Why are you shutting me out? Why did you let go of your marriage?”
The barrage of questions forced Karli to rub her temples. She went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and retrieved a bottled water, then offered Catrina one. When her friend declined, Karli offered her a seat on the plush sofa and sat in the chair across from her.
“This is a lot to unpack, so I’m going to start from the beginning. I hope I answer all your questions,” Karli said.
Catrina sat back and spread her arms. “Well, I’m definitely all ears.”
After taking a long swig of water, Karli released a deep breath and then began telling Catrina the story of her affair with Hudson and just how she had come to the point of filing for divorce from Michael. She explained how Hudson had become her client, how the affair had started, how she had tried to work it out with Michael, and how Michael’s possessive ways and blind love had pushed her away. She even told Catrina about the threesome with Tya and ultimately how Michael had ended up catching her and Hudson.
Catrina sat there, flabbergasted. She hadn’t even known that her best friend was having an affair, let alone a threesome, or that she was considering giving up her marriage for some random man that no one had ever met or laid eyes on. She was honestly at a loss for words, and it was evident as she sat there, gawking at Karli.
“Well, are you going to say something?” Karli asked after the air seemed to turn stale.
“I don’t know what to say or where to begin.” Catrina tried to wrap her mind around what her bestie had revealed. “Karli, I get the issues you were having with Michael, but you’re giving up on your marriage for some random? Girl, this is your first time out in the pasture during a time you shouldn’t even be grazing. How do you know this man’s sweet dick ain’t fucking up your head to the point you’re fucking up your marriage simply for some hot sex on a platter?”
Karli rolled her eyes. “Excuse me for not being a lover of men, like some people I know—”
Catrina threw up her hand. “Oh, hell no! You don’t get to judge me right now, especially not when I’m not officially committed to any of the men I deal with. Don’t get mad with me because for once in your prim and proper life, you fucked up.”
