This I Promise You

Justin woke up to someone pushing on his stomach. His eyes quickly

opened up and saw Tomeeka looking down in his face. "Justin, wake up."

"Why,Meeka?" He coughed to find his voice. "Can you take me to the

Kiddie Farm? Unkle Josh wants to talk to Mommy. The guys can come

too." Justin sat up and pulled her on his lap. "I didn't think you

liked me enough to let me take you." Tomeeka put her little brown

hands on both sides of Justin's face. She smiled and gave him a kiss

on his left cheek, then a big hug."I always liked you, Justin. I wish

Mommy was with you and not Dylan. I don't like him. You and Mommy like

each other so much..." She trailed off looking at Justin's face.

"Justin, why's your face so weird?" Tomeeka said looking at him as he

got up. "I'm happy that you feel good about me. I like you too,

Meeka." Justin turned to her with tears on his face. Tomeeka got

worried as she jumped off the bed and ran to him. "Oh,Justin! I'm

sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry." "I'm happy, sweetheart.

There's to worry about. Now let's get dressed and go eat. We have a

busy day at the Kiddie Farm." "Okay! I'll go wake the guys up!" She

smiled as she ran out the room.

JC walked into the huge grey building. As he entered the elevator, he

started to worry about how he'd act once he saw Denise. When he got to

the sixth floor,JC walked each step as if he was in slow motion until

he got to her office. From the doorway, he watched Denise sit at her

desk and work on some papers. Herleft hand held her head and her right

one stopped writing. It was as if she felt her "brother" standing

there liked they were connected to each other. Denise looked up to

see JC standing at her door. She stood up and turned to face the

window as she started to speak. "Come in, Joshua." JC came in and

closed the door. "I guess you know what's been happening; if you're

here." He stuck his hands in his jean pockets and held his head down.

"Yeah, Justin filled me in last night on what he knew. But I need to

know the whole story, Niecey." JC watched Denise turn around and saw

the round of her stomach. He wondered in amazement, why he or anyone

else didn't notice before. "Well, it started once we were seriously

dating.He was first starting at the computer company he works at.He

was designing this lastest program system, when he started to get

real stressed. He always complained about Meeka and he didn't like the

fact she always talked about you and the guys. I stood up to him when

it came to her. Then he'd get in my face about what I saw as being

strong, he saw as being a bitch." JC felt sick inside as the

conversation went on. "Niecey, you don't -." Denise held up her hand

and stopped him from talking. "Josh, please let me say this while I

have the courage. Okay?" JC leet Denise continue on, while walking to

her. "I met him in college while you guys were getting the group

together. He was so sweet." She sobbed. "A few months ago, he

wanted to have sex. I wasn't in the mood. Tomeeka had been fighting

the stomach flu and I was tired from everything with her. Well he

wouldn't take no for an answer. I told him that I didn't want to and

if I was in thee mood, that would be different. He pushed me, saying

that his parents were right. I was a no good black bitch who wanted

money. He stood up for me and now he felt like a fool." JC's heart

felt like it was being ripped from his chest as he stood in front of

Denise;sobbing out every painful detail. "I pushed him back and that

set him off. He punched me in the jaw and dragged me to the bedroom,

so Tomeeka wouldn't hear. Dylan yanked off my jogging pants and ripped

off my panties. And he- he raped me!"She cried out loud as JC took

her in his arms. Pain was flowing through him. "I found out I'm three

months pregnant a couple days ago." JC finally somehow found the voice

to speak. "Didn't you feel or know you might be?" "With all the beat-

fights andr-ra-o-other things, I just chalked it up to stress.Missing

my cycles and you know that I eat when I 'm stressed Josh.So I thought

I was getting fat from eating too much." She sniffed. "Don't worry,

Niecey. Baby, we'll help you fight. I promise you." He said as they

both cried in each other's arms.