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The maternity room was filled with the type of love and energy that only a newborn can bring. The doctor quickly swaddled the bundle of joy, and attempted to place him back in Eden’s arms, but Jermaine intercepted.

Jermaine cried as loud as his son. This was the moment he’d been waiting for his entire life. For years, he tried to fill the emptiness that he felt with different women. Every self-gratifying moment, no matter how temporary, was done to fill a void. For the first time ever, as he looked at his son, he felt complete.

“Thank you, God for blessing me with a second chance. Eden, thank you. Thank you for making me a father,” Jermaine cried as he kissed Eden’s forehead.

His elation filled Eden with pride.

“You did it Sis. Jermaine, he looks just like you,” Eve said as she stared at her nephew. She smiled warmly. She wanted to give Jason a son, but due to the botched abortion, having another child was not something she’d ever be able to do .

“Yeah, he looks just like you. But he’s not yours,”

Eve gasped.

Jermaine’s spine stiffened. He knew that he hadn’t heard what he thought he had.

“Very funny Eden. He looks exactly like me. That pain has you delirious,” Jermaine chuckled as he continued to rock his son.

“Picture it, Kenmore Correctional System, 2025,” Eden began, sounding like the character Sophia Petrillo from The Golden Girls.

“I told you I had a business trip, but I actually just rented a car and took the three-hour drive to meet Inmate #307625 Jerry Shelton. His mugshot did him no justice. That man is fine. I told him that I was an attorney that wanted to revisit his case, but he’s smart, and he knew I was lying.

So, I got straight to the point and told him I was married to you and that I was specifically there to fuck him. Did you know some prison systems allow conjugal visits even if you’re not married?

Well, they do. Jerry didn’t care that I was his daughter-in-law. I can honestly say, I understand why his wife put up with so much. That man’s dick was magnificent.

Did you know that if you identify as an attorney, that some prison’s won’t search your briefcase? Kenmore Correctional System sure didn’t. Did you know the website Adam and Eve sells a penis molding kit? You can make an exact replica of any man’s anatomy.

That dildo you’ve been sliding in and out of me, it’s Big Jerry’s replica. So, to make a long story short, Little JJ here belongs to your daddy. That’s why you all look alike. You missed your brother, so I replaced the one that you lost. I’m your mama now, nigga,” Eden said proudly.

Eve couldn’t speak. She looked at Jermaine and saw that he too looked horrified. In her wildest dreams she would’ve never thought that this is what Eden had up her sleeve.

“What are you saying, Edy? What?”

“You heard me,”

“Are you telling me that you had this child for the man that killed my mother? ”

“Yep!” Eden said jovially. The look of abject horror on Jermaine’s face made this pregnancy worth it.

Jermaine was frantic.

“You don’t mean that? Why would you say that?”

“I said it because it’s true. It’s men like you that I can’t stand. You unhealed, broken, bitter, daddy issue having ass niggas. You walk around like you got your shit together the whole time you’re damaged and destroyed. Its men like you that latch on to good women and destroy everything good about her. You didn’t appreciate what you had, so meet the bad side of a good woman,” Eden smiled.

Jermaine could feel his world crashing. After losing his job, the only bright spot in his life was Eden’s pregnancy. The knowledge that she had carried a child for his father, the man that murdered his mother, the man that ruined his life, made him see red.

“You rotten bitch!” Jermaine screamed as he tossed the swaddled newborn like a football towards Eden’s head .

Screams erupted in the small delivery room as Eve and the doctor scrambled to catch the airborne child.

“You son of a dead bitch!” Eden screamed as she tried to get up to catch her child.

It was at this moment that she realized what her mother said was true. To protect your child, you would do anything. The fact that she had just pushed him out and was somewhat weak didn’t register to her when she thought she had to save his life.

“Call Security! Get the police in here now!” The doctor screamed as she cradled the newborn as if he were her son.

Pure pandemonium broke out as Jermaine tried to kick Eden out of the bed. Raising his foot for the second time, Jermaine dropped to the ground when the prongs from the officer’s taser dug into his back.

“You’re being charged with child abuse, harm to a minor under the age of 12 years old, child neglect etc,” Jermaine was in a catatonic state. He didn’t hear what the officer stated.

It had been two days since his arrest, and he still couldn’t believe this was his life. Yes, he had made a few mistakes within his marriage, but he never thought Eden was capable of this level of brutality.

Jermaine sat in his cell in disbelief. The drab gray walls matched his mood perfectly. In his life, he had never once seen the inside of a jail cell. In addition to calling the police when his mom was murdered, his only other interaction with the police was a speeding ticket he received while in college. He was not his father. He never thought he’d be in jail for assaulting his wife and child.

“Not my child. My brother,”

The word brother played in Jermaine’s head on a loop.

Brother, brother, brother, brother.

Without warning, vomit erupted from Jermaine’s mouth like hot lava. Never had a simple noun made him so sick. For years, he craved the companionship of a sibling. He longed for the day that he could say, “I am my brother’s keeper.” But he never expected to receive a brother like this.

The faux images of his wife on her hands and knees, on her side, on her back, bent over a prison table with his father, the man that murdered his entire family in front of him, made him sick .

The thought of Jerry Shelton releasing his murderous seeds into Eden’s ovulating womb made another round of sickness rush from his mouth. It came so quickly that he had no time to make it to the stainless-steel bowl. He hadn’t eaten in days, yet chunks of the remnants of his days old, digested food coated the front of his stained shirt.

“What is that smell? Let’s go, Shelton. Someone saw fit to post bail for your baby launching ass,” The officer chuckled as if Jermaine’s heartache, embarrassment and family dynamic was the funniest thing in the world. It was as though he was desensitized to human suffering.

“Who posted my bail?”

“It sure wasn’t your wife or little brother,” The Officer advised. That line was so funny to him that he slapped his knee.

“I see I’m the butt of the department’s jokes,”

“Aye man, I’m just yanking your chain. You’re an attorney so you know how we cops get. We joke about everything because nine times out of ten, we’ve experienced whatever it is that you’re going through. The rumor mill says you started this whole family swap. I guess it’s true what they say,”

“Oh yeah. What’s that? ”

“It ain’t no fun when the rabbits’ got the gun,”

Jermaine didn’t respond. Instead, he gritted his teeth.

“The young fella wearing the Florida Gators shirt posted your bail,” The officer added. “Be safe out there Mr. Shelton, it’s obvious that you’re not built for this side of the law.”

Jermaine knew he was right. It had only been two days in the county lock up. It felt like he had done a ten-year bid.

Malcolm’s jaw hit the floor when Jermaine rounded the corner. He had spent a few weekends in jail and never had he come out looking or smelling the way Jermaine did.

Malcolm gagged.

“I’ll sit in the backseat, roll down the windows, and take me home,”

“You don’t have to tell me twice. How are you feeling man?”

Jermaine stared out the window. There was no need to answer that question.

Malcolm was glad that he didn’t. He wasn’t accustomed to asking other men how they were feeling. He also didn’t know what to say if he responded. This situation was truly taboo. Anything he said would be cliché.

Jermaine didn’t respond.

“Man, I know this may sound crazy. But do you think you could forgive Eden?”

Jermaine’s bloodshot eyes shot daggers at Malcolm.

“Forgive her? Hell no I can’t forgive that cutthroat bitch. I told her what Jerry did and she went looking for his ass. I didn’t even tell her where he was locked up. She purposely looked my father up to fuck him! I can’t forgive no shit like that,”

“Ok, you did the same thing. You started the cutthroat shit. Let’s not act like you hadn’t gotten Envy pregnant a few times. We’ve all heard the saying hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. We’ve known Eden since college, she didn’t have a ruthless bone in her body. The difference between you and Eden is you paid to get rid of your indiscretions, and she had hers to throw in your face. She matched your energy, and you can’t handle it,”

Pain ripped through Jermaine’s core. He knew his friend was right. If he hadn’t had the funds to correct his mistakes, he and Envy would have at least three children.

Instead of telling Malcolm the true thoughts in his head, he switched the topic. He’d discuss his actual plans with his wife.