Page 2 of Essence of his Soul

Kelly grunted, folding her arms. “Everyone except one person.”

I raised an eyebrow, a little cautious now. “Like whom?”

The whole vibe shifted. Silence hung in the air like a thick cloud.

I looked between Kelly and Mama, trying to figure out what I’d just stepped into.

“Somebody wanna fill me in?” I asked, frustrated.

Kelly sucked her teeth, her eyes narrowing like she was ready to swing. “How could you treat Essence like that?”

Essence?

Damn, just hearing her name sent a rush of memories through me. Sweet, sexy Essence Monroe. What did any of this have to do with her?

“I haven’t spoken to her since I left,” I said, trying to connect the dots.

Kelly leaned forward, her voice sharp. “Exactly. She told me.” She paused, then pointed at me like she was reading me my rights. “I told you to leave her alone if you weren’t serious. But you did what you always do. You had her, then left her high and dry. And you broke her heart.”

I blinked, completely thrown off. “Broke her heart?” I laughed nervously, pulling out a chair and dropping into it. “Where is all this coming from? What did she tell you?”

Kelly gave me that look she always gave when she was about to share some knowledge. “You seriously don’t know?” she asked, her tone skeptical. “Essence has a son.Yourson.”

My heart stopped.

I leaned back in the chair, feeling like I’d just been hit by a freight train. “A son?” My voice cracked.

Mama stepped forward, eyes serious. “Tyler looks just like you.”

A son. The words knocked the wind out of me. Essence had a son,myson, and I didn’t know?

I dropped my head into my hands, trying to breathe through the confusion, the anger, the betrayal. How could she keep that from me?

I lifted my head, my voice strained. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

Kelly held my gaze momentarily, studying me, maybe looking for a sign that I knew more than I was letting on. But I didn’t.

“I didn’t know,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

Kelly’s voice softened. “You didn’t know?”

“No,” I snapped, my voice laced with frustration. “You think I’d just ignore my own kid? I never wanted a wife, but I wouldn’t walk away from my responsibilities.”

Mama stepped in, her voice calm but firm. “Mark, she said she wrote to you. Several times. But you never responded.”

“I never got any letters!” I barked. “I would’ve been there, no question. When I didn’t hear from her, I thought she moved on.” My heart pounded as I turned to Kelly. “Where is she?”

Kelly sighed, reluctant to speak. “She’s in Dover. But Essence doesn’t want to see you, Mark.”

“Too bad,” I shot back. “Where is she?”

After a long pause, Kelly said quietly, “She teaches at Dover Elementary.”

I was already on my feet, grabbing my jacket. “I’ll be back.”

There was no way I was leaving this alone. Time to find out the truth.

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