Read Open Door Marriage Online
Authors: Naleighna Kai
Open Door Marriage (39 page)
“
Oh, sweetie,
”
Alicia said as she knelt down in front of Tori.
She held her niece
’
s hands in her own.
“
I would do it all over again.
And maybe this time, I would get on that bus and let you have ice cream for breakfast.
”
They chuckled lightly together.
Alicia said,
“
That
’
s why all of this was so hard for me.
I didn
’
t want to do
this to you.
”
“
And that
’
s why it was so easy for me,
”
Tori said.
“
Because I wanted to win.
I wanted to get back at you for not wanting me. For being just like Bernice and my dad.
”
“
Now hold on,
”
Alicia joked.
“
That
’
s going too far.
I
’
m nothing like your mother.
”
Tori smiled.
“
No, you
’
re not.
”
She paused.
“
Daddy left her again.
He and I are sharing an apartment.
”
She nodded.
“
Wow!
That
’
s good.
I hope James will stay away from Bernice this time.
She
’
s his weakness in so many ways.
”
“
I understand weaknesses,
”
Tori said.
“
Dallas was mine.
I knew he was a good man, the right man.
But, I wanted him for all the wrong reasons.
”
Alicia cupped Tori
’
s face in her hands.
“
It takes a very mature, very strong woman to recognize that.
”
“
I think I knew that all the time
,
”
she said, with a wavering smile.
“
Even when I was putting together this ridiculous scheme of an open relationship that would lead to an open marriage.
It just sounds crazy to me now.
”
She sighed.
“
But, I thank you for not hating me for what I tried to do to you and Dallas when I just should
’
ve let him go.
”
Alicia finally stood.
“
It wasn
’
t all your fault.
All three of us could have made better decisions.
”
Tori nodded.
“
And, it all worked out the way it was supposed to, right?
”
Alicia didn
’
t respond.
Tori knew the answer to that.
They stood in an awkward silence for a minute before Alicia
said,
“
Do you want to see the twins?
”
Her smile was instant, but Tori shook her head.
“
You had twins?
”
“
You didn
’
t know?
”
“
No.
I only used the investigator to find out where you lived, though that wasn
’
t hard to do.
I probably could
’
ve found you myself.
”
“
Come on, they
’
re sleeping.
But come meet your cousins.
”
Slowly, Tori shook her head.
“
Would you be upset if I said not this time?
It
’
s just that
...”
“
I understand,
”
Alicia said, not letting Tori continue.
“
It
’
s kind of emotional overload for me today,
”
Tori explained anyway.
“
And I
’
m staying downtown at the Hilton, so maybe I
’
ll give you a call tomorrow?
”
“
That would be great.
And I
’
ll tell Dallas
...”
“
No!
”
Tori exclaimed.
“
I don
’
t want to see him.
I
’
m not ready to see him.
I
’
m sure, he hasn
’
t forgiven me.
”
She paused as if she was waiting for Alicia to tell her that she was wrong.
But Alicia said nothing.
Tori continued,
“
I hope that one day he can.
I hope one day he
’
ll understand.
”
“
Like I said, this wasn
’
t all about you,
”
Alicia told her.
But at the same time, she was relieved that Tori didn
’
t want to see Dallas.
There was no need for any new complications.
Time and distance.
And then, maybe one day
...
“
Okay,
”
Tori exhaled as she
moved across the living room
.
“
Well, I
’
m really glad that I came.
”
“
I am, too.
”
Alicia hooked her arm through Tori
’
s as they walked to the door.
“
Thank you for being in my life,
”
Tori said before she wrapped her aunt into a hug.
Alicia kissed her cheeks before Tori stepped out of the door.
She stood there and watched her niece and even as the car drove away, she stood at the door.
The whole idea of them trying to make it work between the three of them had been asinine from the beginning. But Alicia was grateful that things had worked out like they did. She
’
d finally gotten her happiness. She had children she never thought she could. She knew love she never thought she would.
And maybe one day, she and Tori could really heal.
Alicia smiled as she closed the door.
Author’s Note
Every Woman Needs a Wife. The Pleasure’s All Mine.
Rich Woman’s Fetish. Slaves of Heaven.
Open Door Marriage
I love catchy titles, but I love writing about complicated relationships even more.
But why would I write this type of novel? What influenced me to explore the outcome of three unlikely people entering into an open relationship such as the one in this novel? Because I’ve had a front seat to one that—in my honest opinion—was the most painful intimate relationship that I had ever witnessed in my life. The only person who seemed to benefit was the man—who was not the primary breadwinner. Actually I never saw him slide in a crumb. The women brought home the bacon, the eggs, the grits, and even the plates, utensils and everything else that landed on the table.
It took nearly two decades for me to wise up and realize one basic thing: these folks are grown and you need to mind your business. The women chose to stay for whatever reason, regardless of his inability to maintain them financially; regardless of how unhappy they seemed or how unfair I thought it was. When I stopped seeing the legal wife as the “victim” in all of this, it drastically changed, not only how I perceived her, but also our friendship. Not that I didn’t love her, but when I exercised my right to say “no” it was clear that she hadn’t learned that declaration. But what I also learned about myself is: no matter how much I love someone else, I will always love myself more. Hence, I no longer put band-aids on self-inflicted relationship wounds. Am I saying that Open Marriages can’t work? Absolutely not! What I’m saying is, that it should be something that is fair to everyone involved. If you like it, I love it. If you don’t like, then pack your bags, pull up stakes and make another choice. A choice that’s fair to you. Bottom line.
I hope you enjoyed this novel and will also check out my other ones that are currently available, and the others that will be coming out over the next two years.
All the best,
National bestselling author Naleighna Kai
Naleighna Kai is a Chicago native, is an inspirational speaker, a Mercedes Benz Mentor Award Nominee, the national bestselling author
of Every Woman Needs a Wife, The Pleasure’s All Mine,
and a contributing author to a New York Times bestseller. She self-published her first novels before landing a book deal with an imprint of Simon Schuster and later with mega-powerhouse publisher: Brown Girl
s
Publishing.
Naleighna works for a major international law firm and is the CEO of Macro Marketing Promotions Group, as well as marketing consultant to several national bestselling authors and a publishing consultant to aspiring writers. She is the mother of J. L. Woodson, the NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literature for his book,
Superwoman’s Child: Son of a Single Mother
(www.jlwoodson.com) She is currently working on her next novels,
Rich Woman’s Fetish
and
Slaves of Heaven
.
* * *
visit Naleighna Kai on the web and social media:
www.naleighnakai.com
www.macrompg.com
www.thecavalcadeofauthors.com
and FaceBook and Twitter: NaleighnaKai
