chapter 14

olivia wanted to talk to her dad about his book. "daddy, is that wahy you stayed away when I was younger? did you really kill mom's brother?" Chris looked at her. "yeah. and I regret ever doing that.  I didn't want you to find out. I wanted to tell you myself. I asked your mom not to tell you because I didn't want you to think of me as a bad man. although I did a very bad thing, I am not a bad person. you see, your uncle killed my cousin. and he went on a rampage killing anybody who would be able to pin him to the murder. I was int he bathroom and heard the shots. your uncle assumed he silenced all the voices. but mine. he forgot about me. as I wrote your mother when I was in jail, I wasn't supposed to be alive. I supposed to die that night with my cousin. so I hatched a plan." she looked mortified. "mom. you used her." he hung his head. "yes. but I never expected her to actually fall for the plan. the more time I spent with her, the more I grew to love her. and baby, I love your mom. then you came along. I guess your mother wanted to surprise me about you. but I was so hell-bent on making the stakes even. I didn't care. your mothers love for me should've stopped me, but it didn't. she didn't know anything." Olivia was crying.  "I am upset with you, but like you told Kendrick,  you spent everyday living with the choices you made. but you got us back." Chris wiped his tears and hers "only by the grace of God and your mother's forgiveness. that's why I liked Kendrick. he was the total opposite of me.  he loves you baby girl." she smiled. "I know daddy." he hugs her. "now,  you on and take care of business." 

olivia was playing chess with Kendrick. "so daddy told me he likes you." Kendrick makes his move. "he did, did he?" she looks at him. "yup. you should feel honored. " he looks her in her eyes. "baby I am not honored. I am blessed he lets me love you." she smiles. "me too."  and the finish playing chess.

kendrick decided to have a bachelor party. he invited his friends and had it at the art gallery. it was fun, he had his friend make the speech and the dancers arrived. one of them was cherry pie. kendrick laughed. and enjoyed himself.