Today was Josiah's birthday.

Clapping and singing sounded through the restaurant as the workers brought a molten cake paired with ice cream to the table where Josiah and his family sat. He shot Grace a look but she was too preoccupied with recording him to notice or care.

"Make a wish," Grace ordered, still recording.

"I wish you'll get that dam- dang phone outta my face." He looked towards his mother, "My bad ma."

Lia only smiled in response, pushing down her dislike for Grace, comforted by the fact that soon all of this would be over.

Faelyn pulled her phone out, "I'll take you guys' picture."

"I still have on work clothes and I look bummy." Grace replied, "You'll never get me on camera."

"I already got you on camera."

Neriah snorted, "That's disgusting."

Josiah ignored his sister, much like he'd been doing for the last few days, and wrapped an arm around Grace, pulling her into his side, "Take it."

Grace's giggling was loud as she tried to break away from his grip, and fellow restaurant-goers smiled at the young happy couple.

But Lia regarded the display with contempt.

"My baby's getting old." Grace sighed, "You're almost 30."

"I'm 25."

Hassan laughed, "That's 5 years from 30."

Once Grace had eaten his cake, they all stood from the table, walking toward the exit. Once they were outside, Grace ran into Josiah's back when he stopped suddenly, looking as if he'd seen a ghost.

Grace nor Faelyn knew who the man was in front of them, but Neriah and Hassan recognized their dad, Lia the father of her children, and Josiah his abuser. Time stood still as Josiah stared at him, wondering not only why he was near his family again, but how Shawn even knew they were at the restaurant.

Shawn's gaze left Josiah and went to the girl standing beside him, a small smile appearing at the similarities she shared with her mother.

"Don't fucking look at her," Josiah said. He meant for his words to come out strong and authoritative, but they didn't sound like that at all.

And it made him angrier.

"I just want to talk," Shawn stated, "I wanna know why people are showing up at my house questioning me about some abuse that supposedly happened."

No one had shown up to his house, this was a plan being executed by Isiah.

Lia wasn't sure how Isiah got Shawn to agree to do what he wanted, but she didn't question it either, just happy everything would be working out. It seemed that she'd never be able to get back the life that Samantha stole from her, so it appeared the only way to get revenge was to take that same happiness from Grace.

She figured Josiah would move on once he went back to school, and she could once again rid herself of any memory pertaining to Samantha and Shawn.

Isiah had also disclosed the same information he'd told Josiah, to Lia. In her eyes, this further proved her point that Grace wasn't right for her son.

Shawn, on the other hand, agreed because Isiah told him of his impending divorce from Samantha, and that meant she would finally be available to him.

In all the years that passed, he'd never found anyone who held a candle to how Samantha made him feel.

Isiah knew that if Josiah thought Grace brought back memories he'd clearly worked hard to escape, there was a high possibility he'd leave her, or at least get mad enough to say something that would make Grace leave.

Putting his daughter back in the home with him.

"Supposed?" Josiah asked incredulously, "Nigga ain't no fuckin' supposed. That shit happened."

"Josiah." Lia called softly, not wanting to see him become so upset.

Shawn looked towards his biological children, "Did I ever hit y'all?"

As Josiah had told Grace, Shawn never touched them, only him and Lia, so he knew what he was doing by phrasing the question that way.

He didn't care to even have this conversation, "Why you here? I told you if you came near my mama again I was gon' kill you bro. That wasn't no empty threat."

"I was more than happy to stay away until like I just said, a lawyer showed up on my doorstep asking about past abuse. On behalf of somebody name Simmons?"

Grace's breath caught in her throat, wondering how her mother could've fucked up this badly. Josiah's hold on her hand loosened, and if she weren't gripping his tightly, the contact would've been broken.

"What?"

"Somebody with the last name Simmons sent a lawyer to my fucking doorstep, asking if I used to beat you. I see you still telling people them lies."

The fact that they were standing in front of a restaurant wasn't lost on Josiah, and that was the only reason he hadn't physically harmed this man.

"So who the fuck is Simmons?" Shawn asked as if he didn't know.

Lia took her cue, pretending to be shocked, "Grace?"

"I-i didn't." She stuttered, "I talked to my mom-."

Josiah laughed, though humor couldn't be found anywhere in it, "Just don't say shit right now Grace."

His attention went back to Shawn who was once again watching Grace, "A misunderstanding. Go back where you came from."

Since this part of the plan was over, Shawn retreated slowly, only turning his back when he felt he'd made it far enough so that Josiah couldn't sneak up behind him.

No one said a word as they all went to their respective cars, Lia the only one not shaken up by what happened since she'd expected it.

Though neither of them would say it out loud, Neriah and Hassan were somewhat saddened by the fact that their father could seek them out when it pertained to bullshit but hadn't checked on their well-being in years.

Josiah wouldn't look at Grace, simply starting the car and going towards their apartment. He hadn't forgotten that she'd booked them a room for tonight, he just didn't care to go to it anymore.

Not wanting to say the wrong thing, Grace didn't say anything until they were inside the apartment and Josiah started looking for a change of clothes.

"Are you going somewhere?"

For the first time in their relationship, Josiah purposefully ignored her, continuing with his task.

Grace began twisting the ring on her finger, "I'm sorry Josiah. I was just trying to help."

She would've been better off being quiet.

The clothes were forgotten as he turned to look at her, "Did I ask for your help?" He demanded, "Did I ask you to go tell someone about the conversation we had in private?"

She opened her mouth to respond but Josiah cut her off, "You think I wanna see him? Have him approach me while I'm with you? Have him even be in the same vicinity as you? Grace I told you I didn't care what the fuck he was doing as long as he stayed away from my family and you still went behind my back and brought him near us."

The other occupants of the apartment were in their rooms pretending not to hear their brother.

Though he'd never spoken about it, Hassan had seen Shawn's wrath against Josiah one day. He felt sick thinking about it, and he wasn't the one being hit in the face with a leather belt.

"I tried for years to push that shit outta my head. Years. Just for you to bring it all back less than a month after I confided in you."

The tears that formed in her eyes weren't because she was trying to make him feel bad for her, it was because she was upset with herself for hurting him.

Grace watched him walk into the bathroom, wondering if she should allow him space like she knew he needed, or be selfish and follow him because that's what she needed.

She went into the bathroom behind him.

And with Grace's hands pressed against the shower wall, Josiah fucked her.

• • •

This time Lia was cleaning when she heard a knock on her apartment door.

She assumed it was Isiah since he'd become a frequent visitor in his quest to restore the balance in the lives of the people around him.

When she opened her door, however, she blinked in surprise.

Because there stood the woman who Lia believed had robbed her of a happily-ever-after:

Samantha Simmons.

______

y'all the adults are fucking nuts in this book. it's usually the kids but chileeeee. the oldheads gone crazy.

idk how many chapters this book will have, i just know there won't be more than 50 & it'll be done before i go back to school this month. *cries in i wanna drop tf out so bad*

thanks for reading 💕