Simply Complicated (12 page)

When Ken nervously entered his son’s room he stood helplessly and stared at Kenneth’s little body hooked up to a machine.

“We had to give him oxygen and an IV,” said the nurse, “but he will be okay.”

“When will he be discharged?” he asked.

“In a few days but I understand he is scheduled to go into foster care.”

“Do you know the number to the agency that is handling his case? I’m his father and I want to get custody of him,” he said.

The nurse wrote a number from his file, “Here’s the information that was given to us. I believe they can help you.”

Ken kissed his son and then headed back to work. He called the Department of Human Services and told them who he was. They explained if his name is on the baby’s birth certificate that there was a good chance he could get custody of him.

Meanwhile, Monica found his letter on the dining room table. As she read it carefully, she started crying profusely. Words could not describe the pain she was feeling.

Fortunately, she did not have to work and had already taken Marci to daycare. When she read the part about the baby, she almost fell to the floor. She had to catch herself because she did not want to hurt her unborn child.

She felt alone and betrayed.
How could he do this to me? To us? I tried to be a good wife and keep things exciting. Am I not beautiful enough? Should I have tried harder to make him happy?

Maybe it is my weight, perhaps I put on too many pounds? It must have been something I did or didn’t do that drove him into the arms of another woman.

With these thoughts spinning through her head, Monica began blaming herself for his indiscretion. She did not know what to do. She called her parents and told them everything. They insisted that she and Marci come and stay with them for a little while or at least until she wanted to talk to Ken.

She packed their belongings and left a note for Ken telling him that she read his letter and she had to leave.

Ken, words cannot express the pain and betrayal I am feeling right now. I have tried my best to ensure that our marriage would last. I never would have imagined that we would be at this place.

Marci and I will be staying at my parents’ house for a few weeks until you have a chance to get some of your things and move out. I would appreciate it if you didn’t call me. When I’m ready to talk I will call you.

After leaving the note she put their things in the car and drove to her parents’ house, not knowing what the future had in store for her marriage.

Ken was scared to come home. He tried calling first to see if Monica was there and if she would answer. When there was no answer, he drove to the house to get some of his belongings.

When he went inside he could tell that no one was there. He went upstairs to shower and change his clothes. Afterwards he went into the kitchen to get something to eat. That’s when he saw Monica’s note on the counter.

As Ken began reading her note his eyes filled up with tears. Knowing his wife, he knew she was in pain. He knew someone would get hurt but he was really hoping it would not be her.

A week passed and she still had not returned home nor had she made any contact with Ken. He was able to speak with Marci whenever he called but Monica was not ready to talk to him.

Although he missed her and desperately wanted to talk to her, he respected her wishes and was more than willing to follow whatever rules she had in place. He didn’t want to lose his family.

In the meantime, Susan was discharged from the psychiatric ward and sent to prison. She was officially charged with Attempted First Degree Murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and endangering the welfare of a child.

While in prison she was placed on suicide watch. She was completely devastated. She had not planned any of this. All she wanted was to fall in love, get married, and start a family.

Prison proved to be very difficult for her. She had never been arrested nor had any trouble with the law before this. When she tried to kill herself and the baby with the pills, she was hoping it would be successful. She didn’t think about what would happen if they survived.

After being in prison for four months her attorney was able to get a plea deal for her with the Prosecutor’s Office. Since the baby did not die and she had documentation from the Psychiatric Hospital that she was suffering from Post-Partum Depression in addition to being Clinically Depressed, she was given a sentence of ten years in prison with no early release.

She lost her parental rights and could never make any attempts to see the baby. She accepted this offer knowing that if she went to trial she could possibly get the maximum of thirty years if found guilty.

Ken learned of her fate when the Department of Human Services granted him full custody of his son. He never imagined that an affair could turn so deadly and deeply regretted Susan’s imprisonment.

He began raising little Kenneth on his own. He moved out of the house that he shared with Monica and found a three-bedroom apartment closer to downtown Chicago.

Monica and Marci moved back into their home nearly two weeks after Ken told her of his affair. She and Ken started conversing when she was about eight months pregnant. Although she could not forgive him for his affair, she didn’t want to deny him the opportunity to see his child being born.

One afternoon while visiting with her parents, she started to go into labor. Her father called Ken and told him to meet them at the hospital. He was excited that she kept her word and was allowing him to be at the delivery.

Although they had spoken, they had not seen each other since he moved out. Whenever he wanted to see Marci, he had to pick her up from her grandparents’ home.

When he arrived to the hospital, Marci was in the waiting area; she immediately ran and jumped into his arms. “Daddy, daddy,” she yelled, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He squeezed her very tightly, “Hey, baby girl. You look prettier than ever.”

“Mommy is about to have a baby. I hope it’s a boy. I really want a little brother,” she said as a big smile came across her face.

“I know, baby. That is why I’m here. Go back to Granddad. I need to go and see Mommy,” he said, putting her down.

Marci ran back to the waiting room where her granddad was sitting. Ken waved hello to him, then went into Monica’s private room. He entered and hugged his mother-in-law.

The doctor began examining Monica, “Let’s take a look and see how far you have dilated. How do you feel?” Dr. Jackson asked.

“I feel better since I received the epidural. I just want to hurry and have this baby,” she said with a light chuckle.

“Well it looks like you’re going to get your wish. I can see the baby’s head,” she said.

Dr. Jackson left the room to get the nurse.

“Hello,” said Ken uncomfortably, not knowing what else to say to his wife.

“Hello. I’m glad you were able to make it. Seems like you made it here just in time,” Monica smiled.

“Thanks for letting me come to see our baby being born. I really appreciate it, Monica. I know you didn’t have to do it. By the way you look as beautiful as ever,” he said, trying to hold back the tears.

“You’re welcome. It wouldn’t seem right if the baby came into the world without both of us being here. After all you are the father and you deserve to be here,” she reached out for his hand.

Before they could finish talking, the doctor and nurse returned to the room to deliver the baby.

“Okay Monica, I’m going to need for you to push when I tell you to. Are you ready to do this?” asked Dr. Jackson.

“Yes,” said Monica.

“Okay the baby’s head is within reach. This is going to be easy and fast. Okay I need for you to give me a big push right now.”

As she was giving a big push Ken was by her side, holding her hand every step of the way. After three pushes, the next sound they heard was that of their baby son crying. Both Monica and Ken joined him.

The doctor gave Ken the scissors to cut the umbilical cord. Once the cord was cut the nurse took the baby over to the table to clean him off, weigh him, and take his footprints. She then gave him to Monica.

They couldn’t stop staring at the baby. The nurse asked for the baby’s name and Monica told her Adam Michael Thomas.

“He looks perfect,” said Monica.

“Yes he does. You did a wonderful job. Can I hold him?” Ken asked, wiping tears from his eyes.

“Sure—here you go,” she handed him the baby.

Ken kissed his son, “Hey little guy. This is your dad. I love you so much. I promise that I will always be here for you no matter what.”

Monica’s father entered the room with Marci to see the baby. Marci was so excited that she had a baby brother. The proud grandfather put his arm around Ken and they began talking about the baby.

After being in the hospital for three days, Monica and the baby came home. It was agreed that her mother would stay with her for a few weeks. Initially Ken was going to come over but when she found out that he had received custody of his other son she decided to ask her mother. She wasn’t ready to deal with the reality of him having another child. He volunteered to keep Marci for a few weeks.

They had not discussed their marriage or what the next steps were for their family. All she wanted to do was to heal after having the baby and take care of their children until she could figure things out.

She had mixed feelings. She still loved Ken and wanted so desperately to take him back but she was still having difficulty dealing with his affair and most of all, the baby. She had spoken to her parents about what happened but she didn’t talk to them about her feelings. She was afraid they wouldn’t understand her desire to stay with Ken.

“Hey baby—how are you feeling? Are you hungry?” asked Monica’s mother.

“I’m fine. I am a little hungry. What did you make for breakfast?” she asked.

“I fixed you an omelet and toast along with a glass of orange juice.”

“Sounds good. Thanks, Mom,” she said.

While her mother went to get her breakfast, Monica decided to nurse the baby. She planned on talking to her mother after breakfast about what to do with her marriage.

“Here is your breakfast, dear. Give me the baby. I’ll hold him while you eat,” said her mother.

“Thanks. I’m glad you’re here. It means a lot having you take care of us,” Monica smiled as she handed her son to his grandmother.

“No problem; that’s what mothers are for. Monica, I want to ask you something. What are you and Ken going to do? I hate to get into your business but you don’t have to raise these two kids by yourself.

“I know he made a huge mistake but you need to find it in your heart to forgive him and put your family back together. He is a good man and he really feels bad about everything,” her mother said.

“I wanted to talk to you about that anyway. I do love him but it’s hard to just let everything go and forget all that has happened. I could probably forgive him and take him back faster if there were not a baby involved.

“If he comes back then we will have to raise the baby together. I’m not sure if I’m strong enough to do that. That’s a lot to ask. He is the one that cheated and yet sometimes I feel like the bad guy. That doesn’t seem right.”

Monica set down her fork and looked her mother in the eye, “I must admit I’m surprised to hear you say you want me to take him back. I thought you and Dad would be angry with me for even considering it,” she said as tears rolled down her face.

“I know it’s going to be hard, but if you really love him and want him back then you will get whatever help you need to put your marriage back together.

“I never told you this but I think now is a good time. Your father had an affair when you were around seven years old. It hurt me to my soul. I never thought I would be able to forgive him. You never knew about it because he never moved out. He did sleep in the guest room for a while until we were able to discuss it.

“We went to marriage counseling and were able to put our marriage back together. I knew he still loved me and that he had made a terrible mistake.

“He promised me that it would never happen again and we have been together now for thirty-five years. Looking back, I’m glad we worked things out because no other man was meant for me. Remember, baby, everyone makes mistakes.

“When you gave your wedding vows you said before God and man that you promise to love and cherish in sickness and in health, for better or worse until death do you part. Right now you are going through a bad situation that became worse with his illegitimate baby. As long as the both of you are willing to work things out then you should consider marriage counseling,” said her mother.

“I can’t believe Daddy had an affair. He is such a great man and you two seem so much in love and so happy with each other. How long did it take for you to get over everything?” Monica asked her mother as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

“It took some time. We went to counseling for about six months and after that it took about a year for us to start putting the pieces back together again,” she said as she rocked the baby to sleep.