January 4, 2014,

I have been a complete emotional wreck ever since I found out that Damien wants to fight me for custody of Carter. Part of me wants to believe that it's because he's a changed person and wants to be a father to Carter; but I know in my moyo that that isn't the truth! Never in 1 million years did I think Damien would do something like this!

I had spent all morning in my bedroom and had not come downstairs in days! Kyle came upstairs and sat down inayofuata to me on the bed. He asked "are wewe okay? I've never seen wewe cry so much before!" I alisema "I won't be okay until this whole Damien thing is over with! Carter's five years old and still thinks that you're his father! I was hoping it would stay that way for a long time! I don't want him to face the reality of who his father really is! Damien isn't the kind of father that Carter can be proud of! Damien is an alcoholic player who takes advantage of any girl that he sees and he is living in some chick's basement! I don't want Carter exposed to all of that; especially because he understands so much zaidi now than he did before!" Kyle alisema "I hate that we even have to deal with this right now! If Damien really wanted to spend time with Carter he should have started five years zamani when he was born!" I alisema "this just sucks and that's all that there is to it!" Kyle alisema "I do know one thing though; wewe need to get out of this room because you're depressing yourself even zaidi kwa being alone and crying! Carter's been asking me why wewe haven't seen him in a few days! I told him that wewe didn't feel good and that wewe would come down eventually! I promise wewe that if wewe go downstairs wewe will feel better!" I wiped tears off of my eyes and kissed Kyle. I alisema "I suppose I should go down there."

Kyle and I walked downstairs and into the living room. Carter turned around and jumped up from the spot where he was sitting on the floor as soon as he saw me. He ran up to me and gave me a huge hug. I knelt down in front of him and he looked at how red my eyes were from the nonstop crying I had been doing. He asked "are wewe okay mommy? Were wewe crying?" I alisema "no; I wasn't crying." He asked "how come wewe weren't coming out of your room? How come daddy had to bring chakula up to wewe and make wewe eat?" I alisema "I was just busy working on stuff for my job buddy. I needed to be up there because it's quiet and I can think better. Daddy brought the chakula up to me because I didn't want to stop working at all; but I promise that I'm going to be down here during the siku from now on." Carter alisema "you missed my first siku of kindergarten! I was so sad; I thought wewe were at least going to be there when daddy picked me up!" I alisema "I know buddy; I'm sorry! I promise I'll drop wewe off all kwa myself tomorrow." Carter got all excited and alisema "I can't wait for wewe to meet my teacher and friends!" I alisema "I only missed one siku of wewe going to school and I promise I won't miss any more!" He gave me a kiss and alisema "I'm so happy that wewe finally came out of your bedroom mommy! I missed you!"

January 5, 2014,

Carter sat in the living room watching TV and eating a bowl of cereal as I tried to wake up kwa drinking my usual Starbucks coffee that Kyle picked up for me like he does every morning. I put some hair gel in Carter's hair to spike his little fauxhawk and helped him tie his shoes. He ran over and gave Kyle a hug as he grabbed his SpongeBob backpack.

I drove him to school and helped him climb down the high step that is in my truck. Before I could stop him, Carter bolted inside the elementary school and I chased after him. He alisema "come on mommy; I want to onyesha wewe my classroom!" I alisema "you have to hang on because I have to sign wewe in at the office so they know you're here." He grabbed my hand and we walked into the main office of the school. As we stood there waiting in line, I was not at all prepared for everything that was about to happen.

As we reached the counter I signed my signature on a paper that was attached to a clipboard and a mother standing inayofuata to me asked "are wewe Alanna Jackson?" I passed the clipboard back to the secretary and alisema "yeah." She immediately asked "will wewe sign my daughters iPod? She's a huge shabiki of yours!" I took the pen that was sitting on juu of the clipboard and signed the rubber iPod case with my signature. She alisema "thank wewe so much AJ! My daughter is going to freak out when I give this to her when I picked her up later!" I alisema "no problem; I'm glad I could make her happy."

I grabbed Carter's hand again and we walked out into the hallway. He alisema as he pulled away "there's my classroom mommy!" I followed him inside the room that was covered with shapes all over the wall. He ran up to a woman who didn't look much older than I am and alisema "hi miss Lauren!" She bent down in front of him and alisema "hi Carter; I thought wewe weren't coming to school today!" He alisema "no; I was! Mommy just was running late this morning!" She alisema "okay; go put your backpack in your cubby and I'm going to start mduara, duara time in about 10 minutes."

I smiled as Carter ran up to a boy and sat down inayofuata to him. The teacher finally made eye contact with me and alisema "oh my gosh; I didn't realize that wewe are Carter's mother!" I alisema "yeah; I am. I thought my husband would've told wewe that." She alisema "he told me that your name is Alanna; but I guess I didn't make the connection between your first name and Carter's last name! I really had no idea it was wewe AJ!" I alisema "alright; Carter seems to be all set; so I'll pick him up here at the end of the day." She asked "if wewe want to wewe can stay and observe the class?" I alisema "oh no; I couldn't impose! I'll be back to pick him up at 3 o'clock."

As I walked out of the room, I noticed a sign on the door that alisema "parents not permitted to stay for zaidi than five dakika after class has begun." I wrinkled my eyebrows and walked out of the room.

I arrived back at Neverland 15 dakika later and walked through the front door. I put my keys on the counter juu and went into the living room. As I sat down on the couch, Kyle asked "how do wewe like Carter's school babe?" I alisema "Carter seems to upendo it and it looks like he's already starting to make Marafiki with the other kids. Something weird happened with the teacher though." Kyle flipped through the TV channels and asked "what happened?" I alisema "as soon as the teacher figured out that I am a celebrity she started to act all weird! She even asked me if I wanted to stay for the siku and watch her teach the class! When I was leaving the classroom I saw a sign on the door that alisema that the parents aren't allowed to stay in the classroom for zaidi than five dakika after the teacher starts teaching!" Kyle alisema "that is weird for her to offer to let wewe do something that's against the rules." I alisema "I think she's giving me special treatment because I'm famous! What people don't understand is that I'm just a normal person like everyone else and I don't want Carter to be spoiled kwa the teacher just because I'm a celebrity!" Kyle alisema "now I understand why your dad wanted to homeschool wewe guys when he was alive because imagine how wewe would've been treated just because he is Michael Jackson! I alisema "I wonder if I made the wrong decision kwa letting Carter go to a normal school! Maybe I should just start homeschooling him instead." Kyle alisema "you can't take him out of school now! He loves it there!" I alisema "I guess you're right; I just hope all the teachers treat him just like a normal kid because that's what he is! He doesn't need zaidi attention than the other kids get from the teacher just because I'm Alanna Jackson!"

January 9, 2014,

I was in the studio working on my new album kwa myself without Frank there because he was busy for the siku and I was able to get a lot of work done without him critiquing everything that I sang. I stopped after about four hours of nonstop recording to have the sandwich, sandwichi that I had picked up earlier this morning.

As I sat down to start eating I noticed a rundown car pulled up in front of the recording studio. As soon as the person got out of the car I recognized who it was. Damien walked up to the door and knocked on it a few times. I was debating whether au not to answer it; but eventually I reluctantly opened the door. He asked "what's up AJ?" I asked "who the hell told wewe that I was at the recording studio?" He alisema "I called your manager and he told me because he recognized my name when I told him who I was." I alisema "I really don't have anything to say to you!" He alisema "I decided to come here a few weeks early; so I wouldn't have to worry about missing the court date. I can't wait to see Carter! How is the little guy?" I alisema with irritation in my voice "he's not so little anymore!" Damien asked "isn't he like three years old now?" I rolled my eyes and alisema sarcastically "isn't that just great? wewe don't even know how old your son is!" He asked "how old is he?" I alisema "five!" He alisema "I can't wait until I get visitation with him. I miss him!"

I alisema "quit uigizaji like wewe care! I know wewe don't care about him and wewe are just trying to squeeze as much money from me as wewe can! Don't think for a sekunde that I'm going to take it easy on wewe when we're in the courthouse before that judge! I'm going to expose wewe for everything that wewe really are!" He alisema "good luck with that AJ! The judge always feels bad when a son doesn't have a father in his life!" I alisema arrogantly "Carter does have a father in his life and he is a whole hell of a lot better father than wewe would ever be!" He alisema "I don't really like the fact that wewe have your boyfriend around our son without my permission!" I alisema "he's not my boyfriend; he is my husband and how do wewe expect me to ask your permission if you're never around? You're such a jerk and I can already tell that wewe haven't grown up at all since the last time I saw you!" He alisema "okay; I'm going to leave because I want to save all the good fighting for when I kick your punda in court!" I alisema "we'll see about that when the siku comes!"

Immediately after Damien left the recording studio, I got in my truck and drove back to the ranch. I went inside and upstairs to the bedroom. I sat down on the kitanda inayofuata to Kyle and he asked "how did work go today?" I raised my eyebrows and alisema with a smirk on my face "you'll never guess who I saw today!" He asked "who?" I alisema "Damien!" He alisema "Damien; what is he doing here in California so soon? The court tarehe isn't for three zaidi weeks!" I alisema "I know; he alisema that he was coming out here ahead of time to make sure that he didn't miss the court date!" Kyle laughed and asked "how hard is it for Damien to make sure he’s here in time for court?" I alisema "I imagine it will be pretty damn hard for him because I can guarantee wewe he is going to get hammered drunk the night before the court tarehe and have a hangover when and if he decides to onyesha up!" Kyle said" he seems like a real jerk!" I alisema as I laughed "he was uigizaji all cocky and started complaining about how I should have asked him for his permission before I let wewe around Carter!"

Kyle and I both looked at each other and burst out laughing. Kyle alisema "that's the most ridiculous load of crap I have ever heard in my life! The guy who drinks all siku long and has a different girlfriend every two weeks is going to complain about me being around his son!" I alisema "trust me babe; I was thinking the same thing! I should probably warn wewe ahead of time that Damien is probably going to make fun of your British accent just to get a reaction out of you! He doesn't have a lot to go on to plead his case to the judge; so he'll take whatever he can get that's going to make him look better than us!" Kyle alisema "don't worry AJ; he doesn't scare me!"

February 19, 2014,

Kyle and I pulled up in front of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse dressed in business suits and I took a deep breath. Kyle put his hand on my shoulder and alisema "everything is going to be fine babe!" We got out of the truck and walked up to my lawyer Kenny. I held Kyle's hand as we walked inside and saw Damien sitting on a bench outside the courtroom wearing a casual T-shirt and baggy jeans with his underwear showing. I shook my head in disbelief and Kyle was thinking the exact same thing as me.

Damien's court appointed lawyer talked with Kenny for about 10 dakika before we were allowed to enter the courtroom. Kyle sat down inayofuata to me at the meza, jedwali opposite of Damien's meza, jedwali and our lawyer opened his briefcase. My hands started sweating vigorously as I held onto Kyle's hand and he whispered "everything's going to be okay babe." Kyle's eyes met with Damien's as they saw each other for the first time. Damien snarled his upper lip at Kyle and Kyle just looked away as he shook his head in disbelief.

A male judge sat down behind the podium and hit his gavel on it. The bailiff read aloud "judge Marion Jones presiding over the case of Damien Adam Hayes versus Alanna Michael Jackson in a custody hearing for the child hereby stated as Carter Shawn Jackson. wewe may proceed." Judge Marion alisema "okay; I would like to begin with an opening statement and/or maswali kwa Mr. Hayes's lawyer for any parties involved. Damien's lawyer alisema "thank wewe Your Honor."

He walked over to our meza, jedwali and asked "have wewe been supportive in creating a healthy father-son relationship between Carter and Damien?" I looked at my lawyer to make sure it was okay to answer and alisema "all I can do is try and I tried for a long time!" He asked "what sort of things did wewe try in terms of supporting that relationship between the two of them?" I alisema "the one time he did onyesha up I tried to get him involved in caring for our son." The lawyer asked "and how did that experience go? Please try to answer without criticizing Damien's character." I looked at my lawyer confused and he alisema "your honor that swali is impossible to answer due to the fact that the child's father was never interested in bonding with his son in any way." Damien's lawyer asked "okay then; what is your current relationship like with Damien at this very moment?" I said" I've only seen him a total of three times since Carter has been born." He alisema "I understand that wewe and Damien had several sexual encounters after the time of the child's birth; is this true?" I sarcastically smiled as I shook my head in disbelief and alisema "that is a complete and utter lie!" Damien's lawyer asked "so what you're telling me is that wewe and Damien never had relations after the child's conception?" I quickly glanced over at Damien and alisema "we did once; the siku after Carter's first birthday." The judge alisema "these maswali are completely irrelevant to the matter of custody; songesha on Sir!"

Damien's lawyer asked "is it true that wewe yourself have a past filled with underage drinking?" I reluctantly alisema "yes sir." He asked "when was the last time wewe consumed any alcohol?" I had to think about it for a dakika because it was so long zamani and alisema "if I'm remembering correctly the summer of 2008." He asked "have wewe had any altercations with the police since the child has been alive?" I alisema "I don't know what wewe consider an altercation with the police; but I do get the occasional speeding ticket." He asked "have wewe been charged with these speeding tickets while Carter is in the vehicle?" I alisema "I would never go over the speed with Carter in the car Sir!" He asked "is it true that wewe have since gotten married?" I alisema "yes sir." Damien's lawyer looked over at Kyle and asked "do wewe feel that wewe and Alanna have created a healthy environment for her son to be growing up in?" Kyle alisema "yes sir." He asked "do wewe feel like wewe and Alanna model a healthy relationship between the two of wewe in front of Carter?" Kyle alisema "very healthy Sir!" Damien's lawyer alisema "that's all the maswali I have for them Your Honor; wewe may continue."

My lawyer began to interrogate Damien starting with asking "is it true that wewe abandoned Alanna and your unborn child without even giving any notice?" Damien responded "yeah; but I had my reasons for doing that!" My lawyer asked "what would be your reasoning for that? How do wewe justify leaving a 14-year-old girl who just found out she was pregnant to fend for herself?" Damien alisema arrogantly "she wasn't completely on her own! She had Michael there for help and my mother would visit from time to time!" The lawyer asked "is it true that wewe had problems with underage drinking as well?" Damien alisema "I have in the past; but I attend Alcoholics Anonymous on a weekly basis currently."

I looked over at Kyle and whispered "oh that is such ng'ombe crap!" Kyle whispered back "let him say whatever he wants to say because in the end he is only making it harder on himself!" My lawyer asked "how come wewe have not paid a single penny for any of Carter's necessities since he has been alive?" Damien responded "AJ makes millions of dollars; so I didn't think it really mattered!" The lawyer responded "just because she makes millions of dollars doesn't mean that wewe shouldn't be held accountable for your responsibilities to your son!" Damien alisema "yeah well; I don't agree with the fact that AJ's boyfriend au husband au whatever the hell he is to her is allowed to be around Carter without my consent!"

I raised my hand and the judge allowed me to see what I was going to say. I alisema "I apologize your honor; but Damien doesn't deserve the right to have his opinion heard! I'm not trying to glorify Kyle because he is imperfect just like everyone else on this earth; but he does everything that Damien should be au should have been doing this entire time! He watches him all siku long for me while I'm at work! He picks Carter up and drops him off at school most days because I am unable to due to my work schedule! Kyle pretty much single-handedly taught Carter how to use the toilet; including waking up at night with him! Damien; if wewe want to criticize someone's parenting go ahead and pick on me instead of Kyle because he's willing to do everything and anything for Carter and I wish I could say the same thing for you; but I can't!"

The judge alisema "here's what I'm going to do, we're going to do a trial weekend with Carter and Damien together! In order for that to happen, Damien needs to be held accountable for paying some sort of child support! If after the weekend is over and Damien still has not paid any sort of child support then he will be forced to serve four months in jail and all his parental rights will be terminated; am I understood Mr. Hayes?" Damien shook his head in agreement and Judge Marion alisema "courts adjourned!"

As we were walking out of the courthouse and over to the truck, we noticed that Damien's car was parked right inayofuata to us. I opened up the truck door as Damien walked to his car and alisema "I'm one step closer to 50-50 custody AJ; which means you'll have to pay me child support just like I'll have to pay you!" Kyle alisema under his breath "just shut up!" Damien alisema as he puffed out his chest trying to act tough "what did wewe say wewe British butt kisser?" I looked at Kyle as I gently pushed him into the truck and alisema "don't listen to him babe! He's just doing that to get a reaction out of you!"

I hurried to start the truck and I stuck my middle finger out the window at Damien as we drove off. As we started our half-hour journey back to Neverland where Prince was babysitting Carter for us I started to tear up. Kyle asked "why do wewe look like you're about to cry babe?" I alisema "I just realized that Damien's going to have Carter all kwa himself for an entire weekend! In a way; Damien is getting what he wanted this entire time!" Kyle alisema "I highly doubt that after this first visit with Carter that we'll have to worry about Damien anymore!" I alisema as I grabbed Kyle’s hand "it made me so mad when Damien wanted to complain about wewe being around Carter! I couldn't hold my tongue any longer! I just had to say something! If it wasn't for you; I wouldn't have millions and millions of dollars for Damien to try to squeeze out of me! Don't get me wrong; I upendo Carter to death! I just don’t understand why I had to lose my virginity to such an immature deadbeat dad! Sometimes I just wish that I would've gotten pregnant with your baby and have Carter be yours because I know wewe wouldn't leave me! I mean; any guy who wants to deal with all this drama every siku for the rest of his life all for a kid that isn't even his must have some real balls!" Kyle chuckled and alisema "it's so worth it because every siku I get to hear Carter say 'daddy; I upendo you! Daddy; am I your good boy! Daddy; will wewe fix my toy for me? Daddy; I want to be just like wewe when I grow up and be the best daddy in the whole wide world!" I started crying even harder and asked "Carter really says all that stuff to you?" Kyle alisema "oh yeah; when he was a little over three he used to follow me around wearing his fake tool ukanda and tried to copy what I was fixing!" I grabbed Kyle's hand and alisema "I know that Damien's going to screw up this one weekend taking care of Carter on his own; so I can't wait until he is out of our lives for good!" Kyle laughed and I asked "what's so funny?" Kyle alisema "I kind of wish that Damien didn't wait until Carter was five to do this whole weekend alone taking care of him because it would've been funny to send him with Carter when he was a baby! We would've had some really funny stuff to laugh at imagining Damien waking up every 15 dakika like wewe had to! Damien's going to have a pretty easy weekend with Carter because all he has to do is sit him in front of the TV that entire time!"

February 22, 2014,

Kyle whispered in my ear as I stared at Carter watching TV "Damien's going to be here in a half saa to pick up Carter for the weekend! wewe still haven't told Carter that I'm not his father and that his real father is going to be picking him up any minute! wewe have to tell him AJ!" I alisema "I know I do Kyle; but this is going to be hard for me! That's why I waited so long!"

I walked into the living room and alisema "Carter; I need to talk to wewe about something buddy!" He asked "what's wrong mommy?" I alisema "you know that daddy loves wewe very much; but he's not your real daddy." Carter asked "what do wewe mean he is not my real daddy?" I couldn't even respond to him as I stared blankly into his eyes. Kyle alisema "mommy had another boyfriend before she met me and he's your daddy Carter." I alisema "he's coming to pick wewe up in a few dakika and you're going to spend the weekend with him." Carter alisema as a car pulled up in front of the gate "you're going with me; aren't wewe mommy?" I alisema "I'm not Carter."

Kyle opened the door as Carter jumped into my arms and grabbed onto me with a death grip. I hugged him and carried him outside to the driveway with Kyle walking behind me. I slowly walked up to Damien who was sitting in his car with a police officer standing inayofuata to him outside the car. Carter cried hysterically into my shoulder and Damien got out of the car. I alisema as I continuously patted Carter's back "did wewe really need to have the police officer here Damien?" Damien alisema as he mocked to me "I wanted to make sure that wewe went through with giving him to me because this is court ordered and if wewe didn't let me take him from wewe it would be against the law!"

I alisema "okay Carter; Damien's going to take wewe for the weekend now." Carter protested at the juu of his lungs "NO; MOMMY I DON'T WANT TO GO!!! PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME!!!” I alisema as I started to tear up while desperately trying to hold it together so Carter wasn't scared zaidi than he already was "I have to!!!" The police officer alisema "you need to hurry up Mrs. Jackson because I have places that I need to be!"

As I tried passing Carter from my arms to Damien's, Kyle reluctantly had to pry Carter's fingers from around my neck and Damien buckled him into the car seat. Carter screamed "PLEASE SAVE ME DADDY!!!" Damien looked Carter in his eyes and alisema sternly "stop calling him that! He's not your daddy; I am!" I could see the look of pure terror in Carter's eyes as he immediately alisema "I'm sorry." Kyle alisema as he leaned into the car window "I swear to God if anything happens to him; your punda is mine!!!" Damien just rolled up to his window and followed behind the police officer in the cop car.

I immediately fell to my knees and started crying hysterically. Kyle grabbed onto me and started crying into my shoulder. I alisema in between sobs "I can't do this every weekend! There's just no way!!! Carter wanted me to go with him and I can't believe that he is going to be alone with Damien without any supervision for an entire weekend! CARTER DOESN'T EVEN KNOW DAMIEN!!!" I tried desperately to stand up; but my nerves wouldn't let me. Kyle literally had to carry me inside because if he didn't I would've been out there crying all night long on the driveway!

Kyle sat down on the kitanda as I sat on his lap and cried into my hands. Kyle alisema with tears in his eyes "he wanted me to rescue him and I have to admit that if the police officer wasn't standing right there I would have!" Kyle moved the back of my shati down and alisema "there are marks on your back from Carter digging his fingernails into your skin!!!" I alisema "that doesn't surprise me! He was holding on to me for dear life!!!" Kyle alisema as he wiped the tears that were streaming down his face "this is going to be the longest weekend ever babe!!!" I alisema "I want Carter to come back now!" Kyle alisema "I do too!"

February 24, 2014,

I alisema out loud "Damien better hurry up and get here because I've been waiting all weekend to see my son!" Kyle held my hand as Damien pulled up in front of the house. I ran up to the car and without saying a word to Damien, I took Carter out of the car. Damien looked at Carter and smiled before getting a serious expression on his face. He stared at Carter and sternly alisema "don't forget what I said!" With that, Damien sped off down the road and I ran towards Kyle with the biggest smile on my face. Kyle alisema as we walked inside the house "mommy and me missed wewe so much Carter!" I kissed Carter's cheek and asked "did wewe have fun?" Carter looked at me as his body physically shook in my arms. I asked with a confused look on my face "what's wrong Carter?"

Before I could get an answer from him, I felt something warm running down my leg and wrinkled my eyebrows. Kyle alisema "ummm look babe!!!" I looked down at the ground to see that I was standing in a yellow puddle. Carter immediately burst out crying and alisema "I'M SO SORRY MOMMY!!!" I alisema sympathetically "it's alright Carter! I'm not mad at you! We'll just change your clothes because wewe need to take a bath anyway!!!"

The three of us went up to Kyle and I’s bedroom. Kyle started the water in the bathtub in our bedroom's bathroom and I quickly took off my baggy jeans. I changed into a pair of pajama pants. Kyle alisema "okay Carter; you're all set! Mommy and I will come back in a few dakika to wash your hair."

As Kyle walked into the bedroom I watched as Carter walked into the bathroom shaking with his pants completely soaked and shut the door. Kyle sat down inayofuata to me on the edge of the kitanda and alisema "that was surprising!" I alisema "yeah; I know! Carter hasn't peed in his pants since he was three!!!" Even if he did have an accident; he would've never gone all over me!" Kyle alisema "I wonder why he keeps shaking so badly!"

I opened the bathroom door and walked inside with Kyle behind me. Carter continued to shake as I knelt down in front of the tub to wash his hair. The sekunde I touched Carter's head he flinched and I asked "what's wrong sweetheart? Why are wewe shaking like that Carter?" He alisema something that completely confused me "you can hit me if wewe want to mommy! I shouldn't have had an accident!" I alisema "no; I'm not going to hit you! Where would wewe come up with such a crazy idea like that from Carter? I've never ever hit wewe before and I never ever would hit you; ever!!!!!!!!" I heard Kyle whisper "that son of a bitch; I'm going to fucking kick his ass!!!"

I looked at Kyle with a puzzled expression on my face and asked "what the heck are wewe talking about and why haven't wewe blinked your eyes in the last five minutes? What are wewe staring at Kyle?" Kyle had rage in his eyes like wewe wouldn't believe as he pointed at Carter's back. I leaned backwards and couldn't believe my eyes as I saw an almost a perfect outline of a hand print in red on Carter's back!!! I asked severely concerned "Carter; did Damien hit you?" Carter uncontrollably shook and stuttered as he alisema "I – I – I'm not supposed to say anything!!!" I alisema "I'm going to kill Damien!!!"

After Carter got dressed he alisema "I think Damien still has my bag of clothes with him in his car mommy!" I alisema calmly as I pulled the covers back on his kitanda "that's okay; we'll get them!" He climbed into kitanda and I covered him up before lying down inayofuata to him. Kyle came in and knelt down on the side of the bed. I asked "Carter; why did Damien hit you?" Carter alisema "I told wewe that I can't say anything!" I asked "why not?" He responded "because Damien alisema if I ever told anyone that he would kill both wewe and daddy when you're sleeping!!!!!" I alisema "he won't kill us Carter; I promise!!!" Kyle alisema as he held onto Kyle's hand "I won't let that happen Carter; but wewe need to tell us why Damien hit you!" Carter alisema "he was uigizaji really weird because he was drinking this drink and he tripped over me because I was playing with my race cars on the floor! He was yelling bad words at me and then hit me because I wasn't moving out of the way fast enough!"

My moyo broke into 1 million pieces as I tried to imagine how terrified Carter must've been! I shook my head in disgust and kissed the juu of Carter's head. I asked "can I ask wewe something Carter?" He alisema "yeah mommy." I asked "did wewe wet your pants because wewe thought daddy and I would hit you?" Carter alisema "mostly that's why; but Damien didn't let me go to the bathroom before we left the hotel to come back here and kwa the time we got into the house I couldn't hold it anymore! I really am sorry mommy!" I alisema "you don't have to be sorry Carter! It wasn't your fault! When wewe have to go wewe have too! Kyle alisema as he stroked Carter's fingers "yeah; it's no big deal buddy! I actually thought it was pretty funny that wewe peed all over mommy!" Carter started cracking up and Kyle alisema "we want wewe to know that neither mommy nor I would ever hurt wewe like Damien did!" I alisema "I promise wewe that we will NEVER hit wewe Carter; no matter what wewe do!!!"

We could hear the noise of the doorbell ringing from downstairs and I turned the volume up on Carter's TV to muffle any noise just in case it was Damien downstairs! I shut Carter's bedroom door as Kyle bolted down the steps after looking out the window. I chased after him after seeing that Damien was the one ringing the doorbell.

I ran past Kyle and swung open the door. Damien was about to pass me Carter's backpack full of clothes when I pulled him inside and pushed him to the ground. Damien asked arrogantly "what the fuck is your problem?" I alisema "don't act like wewe don't know!" Damien whispered "oh; that little snitch! He wasn't supposed to say anything!" I alisema "HE'S FREAKING FIVE YEARS OLD DAMIEN!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" He alisema "what's wrong with me? What about what's wrong with wewe AJ? You're the one overreacting and being a bitch, kahaba for no reason!" Kyle shouted at the juu of his lungs "WHAT THE HELL DID wewe JUST CALL HER?" Damien alisema arrogantly as he smiled "you heard me right! AJ is just some bitch, kahaba that I screwed around with once and that's all she'll ever be to me!" I alisema as I threw my hands up in the air "oh my God Damien! I'm the mother of your son and all wewe can call me is a bitch!" Kyle alisema "CALL HER THAT AGAIN AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!!" Damien asked "why? What are wewe going to do about it?"

I gave Kyle a look of carelessness as I alisema "go right ahead babe; I'm not going to stop you!" Before Damien even had time to react, Kyle decked him in the side of his face so hard that when he fell his head went right through the drywall. I laughed harder than I had ever laughed before as Damien looked up at Kyle as if he was a scared puppy dog! Kyle asked as he looked down at Damien "would wewe like some zaidi because there's plenty zaidi where that came from?" Damien rapidly shook his head in disapproval and Kyle alisema "I'm giving wewe until the count of three to get the hell out of this house before I change my mind; one, two –!"

I fell to the ground in hysterical laughter as Damien stumbled out of the house and down the mitaani, mtaa holding his head. Kyle shut the door and alisema "I don't think we'll have to worry about him for a long time babe!" Kyle helped me off the ground and I alisema while still trying to catch my breath "you freaking scared the crap out of him Kyle! That was the most hilarious thing I have ever seen in my life! The look on his face was priceless! I wish I had my camera with me!" Kyle alisema "he obviously doesn't have any respect for women if he talks to them like that! I wasn't about to let him stand here and call wewe a bitch, kahaba over and over again! He doesn't treat wewe like he should because wewe are the mother of his son! Now that that's over with, let's go upstairs and watch TV with OUR son!"

February 25, 2014,

Carter has been stuck to me like glue since Damien dropped him off yesterday. He doesn't want to be alone no matter what. We were eating chajio, chakula cha jioni and Carter didn't seem like his usual self. He has hardly touched his chakula and he asked "is Damien going to come pick me up this coming weekend mommy?" I alisema "he's supposed to." Carter alisema with a worried expression on his face "I don't want to go with him again!" I alisema "don't worry Carter; I'm not going to let him take you!" Carter asked "isn't it against the law for wewe to keep me from going with Damien? Won't wewe get in trouble?" I alisema "I don't care if I get in trouble Carter! I'm not going to risk wewe going over there unsupervised and being hit again! I don't think Damien is going to onyesha up; but if he does then I'm going with wewe Carter!"

Kyle alisema "I highly doubt that he will actually onyesha up after what I did to him yesterday!" I alisema "I think it's ridiculous that he even wants to have Carter on the weekends because wewe and I both know that Damien isn't spending time with him! It's really a waste of my time with Carter because I don't get to spend a lot of time with him either!”

March 2, 2014,

Carter was waiting for Damien to pick him up for the weekend and I had my bags packed because I had fully planned to go with them for safety reasons. An saa and a half past and Damien still hadn't arrived and we figured that he wasn't going to onyesha up because of the huge fight that happened last weekend.

I was upstairs in the bedroom watching TV with Kyle went I noticed Damien quickly drive up to the mailbox outside the gate and drop something inside. He sped off without even getting out of his car and I alisema "I wonder what he dropped in the mailbox Kyle." Kyle responded "I'll go check; be right back." I watched out the window as Kyle went down and outside to the mailbox.

After grabbing the small white envelope, he made his way back up to our bedroom and passed me what he had retrieved. I was really reluctant to open the envelope because it's usually something bad inside. I pulled out what appeared to be a letter written in Damien's terrible handwriting. I read aloud so Kyle could hear "I obviously can't handle wewe and how bitchy wewe are AJ! I don't know what wewe want from me! One dakika wewe want me to be there for Carter and the inayofuata dakika wewe don't! I'm done with wewe and your games and have decided to be very selfless! I went to the courthouse and signed a document that terminated all of my parental rights to Carter as his father. I hope you're happy and I want wewe to know that every kid deserves to be smacked around every once in a while! I don't feel bad about hitting Carter at all and I never will! At least, now wewe know where I stand! The only thing I want from wewe now is to keep in contact with my mother because she would be totally devastated if wewe cut Carter out of her life! I don't upendo him; but she does and it wouldn't be fair to her! I hope wewe have a good life with that meathead husband of yours! PS, it was always about the money! I told wewe that I didn't care about Carter from the very beginning! Say whatever wewe want about me because I obviously don't care what wewe think about my ability to be a good father! I never wanted to be a father and according to the legal termination of my parental rights I'm not a father!"

I alisema "well; I guess we don't have to worry about Damien anymore!" Kyle alisema "he is such an idiot; I mean seriously? He is still trying to justify why he hit Carter! At least he admitted that all he was trying to do was get money from wewe and that he never intended to have a good relationship with Carter!"

March 21, 2014,

Frank leaned over my shoulder as we went on to iTunes.com to see the results of how my new album "footprints of my father" is selling. I smiled as I alisema "I'm number one on the iTunes juu 10! I beat Bieber; even after all this time has gone by!" Frank high-fived me and alisema "I bet wewe already know what I'm thinking!" I alisema "I really don't want to go on tour right now! It was hard enough leaving Carter the first time! Now I'll have to leave Kyle and Carter here! Just when I thought everything was going to calm down; this happens! I still have plenty of money coming in from merchandise sales!" Frank alisema "yeah; but it's nowhere near as much as wewe earn when you're on tour! I'm telling wewe that wewe will make double the cash wewe made with your last tour! That was your debut album and people want zaidi from wewe apparently! I think wewe should really consider it because wewe don't want to start losing fans! Alright; well I have to head out. I'll call wewe in a couple of days to hear what wewe decided to do! If I were wewe I would do it! It would be a really good financial investment for wewe and your family because wewe have to remember that you're not only doing this for yourself anymore! This is your job and your way of providing for your family! You're the only income; so it's all on your shoulders! It's up to wewe to make sure that Kyle, Carter, and wewe are able to keep up the lifestyle you've become accustomed to! wewe think you're living the perfect life right now; but wait until $30,000 feels like nothing because wewe make so much money! I'm telling wewe that going on tour in the near future is one of the best decisions that wewe could possibly make! No pressure; just sleep on it kid and I'll give wewe a call in a few days!"

After Frank left, Kyle came downstairs and alisema "hey AJ!" I said" I need to talk to wewe about something." He alisema "that's good because I needed to talk to wewe about something too; wewe go first!" I alisema "Frank thinks it's a good idea that I go on tour again to bring in tons of cash. I kind of want to; but I really don't want to travel all over the world!" Kyle alisema "I think wewe should go on tour! It will be good for wewe because you've been on mommy duty for a little over three years! wewe kind of disappeared out of the public eye! I don't want people to forget who wewe are because I know how much wewe upendo being a musician! That's been your dream and I don't want wewe to give up on it! I don't care what it takes! I'll be here to watch Carter that entire time that you’re away on tour! Your happiness is the most important thing to me AJ! I just want wewe to go out there and find wewe again because I think you're starting to lose yourself as a person! It's okay that wewe need a break! You're losing your identity as a person! wewe do too much for everyone else and not enough for yourself! It's time to start taking care of you! I've got Carter handled; there's no reason to worry about him!" I asked "are wewe sure about this because if wewe are I'm going to call Frank right now and tell him to start booking tamasha dates?" Kyle alisema "yes AJ; don't worry about us!"

After calling Frank and telling him to start setting up plans for my inayofuata tour, I asked Kyle "what did wewe want to talk to me about?" He alisema "never mind babe." I alisema "no; just tell me! I want to know!" He alisema "since I can't get wewe pregnant naturally; I was thinking we could think about adopting a child." I thought about it for a few dakika before saying "that doesn't actually sound like that bad of an idea! I think Carter would like to have a little brother au sister. If wewe want to go ahead and start looking into the paperwork and stuff that goes along with adoption; wewe can. It'll give wewe something to do while Carter is at school and I'm away on tour." Kyle alisema "I heard that there's a lot of paperwork to fill out; so it could take up to eight months before adoption agencies can start matching us with available kids."

April 26, 2014

I ran frantically for my cell phone as it continuously rang playing my Jesse McCartney ring tone. I looked at the caller ID to see that it was Frank and answered the phone kwa saying "hello." He alisema "I just got off the phone with some tour promoters and they told me they want to start the tour on December 29 of this year! Starting in Los Angeles, all around the world and completely global this time! Dubai, Japan, China, Switzerland, just pretty much every significant country wewe can think of!" I alisema "December 29; that's only four days after Christmas! Don't wewe think that's asking too much of me to leave Kyle and Carter right after the holidays?" Frank alisema "I know it's going to be hard for wewe AJ; but just think of how much money you'll make and how extremely lavish your lifestyle will be with all that cash in your pocket! Sometimes in life, wewe have to do things that wewe don't want to do just because that's best for everyone around you! The promoters are dead set on December 29th being the first tamasha of your tour!" I alisema "fine; but only because I don't have any other choice!"

Without even saying goodbye to me, Frank hung up the phone and Kyle asked "what was he so excited about? I could hear him screaming from all the way over here!" I alisema "apparently, he just got done talking with the tamasha promoters and they want me on tour at the end of this year!" He alisema "that sounds awesome AJ! Why don't wewe seem excited?" I alisema "I don't know; I guess I just wasn't expecting Frank to songesha so quickly with getting the tour up and running!" Kyle asked "should we tell Carter that wewe are going to be going on tour again?" I alisema "we will; eventually! I just don't want to upset him right now because I have a feeling that he's not going to like being separated pretty much entirely from me for nine long months! He was only a baby last time I left; so I don't even think he remembers what it's like to not have me there! I sure as hell remember what it was like not being able to be with him every single siku and I'm not looking mbele to it at all!" Kyle alisema "it will be hard on all of us; but it's for the best and I promise that we'll Skype wewe all the time!" I alisema "that will definitely help; but it's not same as being able to hug wewe guys anytime I want to! I just hope that I'm not asking wewe to do too much while I'm away! It's going to be a lot for wewe to handle!" He alisema "don't worry about it AJ; it's not too much for me! Besides, I still have that life-size cardboard cutout of wewe in my closet just in case I get lonely!" I playfully slapped his arm as I alisema "shut up; you're obsessed with that cardboard cutout! I still think that thing is creepy and it better not be standing in the jikoni when I get back!"

October 31, 2014,

Carter alisema "trick-or-treat" as he stood in front of one of the million dollar houses in our neighborhood dressed as the machungwa, chungwa ninja turtle. After getting his candy, I alisema "okay Carter; we're going to go nyumbani now. Daddy and I want to talk to wewe about something on the walk back to the house." I looked at Kyle with a depressed look on my face and he put his hand on my shoulder.

We walked down the mitaani, mtaa and I kicked pebbles with my feet as I looked down at the ground waiting for the right moment. I alisema "Carter; I'm going to be going on tour again." Carter got excited and alisema "I can't wait to go with wewe and daddy all over the world!" I sighed and alisema "you and daddy are going to stay here!" He asked "what do wewe mean mommy? wewe can't leave me here! I need to go with wewe because I'll miss wewe too much!" I alisema "I wish I could take wewe Carter; but I just can't!" He alisema "it's not going to be any fun here with just daddy!" Kyle joked "what am I chopped liver; compared to mommy?" Carter alisema "mommy's zaidi fun than wewe are daddy." I laughed and alisema "he just dissed wewe Kyle!" Kyle joked "I see how it is Carter; mommy is the favorite! I'll have to remember that inayofuata time when wewe want me to help wewe tie your shoes!"

December 20, 2014,

I finished wrapping Carter's krisimasi presents on the kitanda and Kyle came out of the bathroom wearing just his boxers. I looked over and crossed yet another siku off of my calendar. I sighed and alisema "only eight zaidi days left!" Kyle alisema "nine straight months with no sex! I alisema "I have a feeling that I'm not going to be in the mood after tonight because I'll be really depressed! wewe better make tonight count!" He turned on the radio and alisema "trust me; it will be worth it!"

As we lay there with our bodies pressed up against each other, "stay" kwa Rihanna came on the radio station. "I want wewe to stay, stay, I want wewe to stay" blared through the speakers as Kyle pulled away from our passionate make out session. He saw a single tear run down my face and asked "I'm not hurting you; am I?" I alisema "no; I'm fine!" He rolled off of me and alisema "no you're not; you're crying! If I'm hurting wewe then just tell me!" I alisema "you're not hurting me Kyle!" He asked "then why are wewe crying?" I alisema "BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE!" He asked while continuing what he had stopped "then why are you?" I alisema "I don't have a choice! I have to provide for wewe guys because I'm the only income! Besides, I can't let all my mashabiki down! I upendo performing; but I just wish Frank didn't just throw all of this on my lap!" I already have enough pressure as it is; let alone with him criticizing everything I do! I don't want to talk about this anymore because it's going to get me out of the mood! There's nothing we can do about it; it is what it is! Now if wewe don't mind, can we just get back to the upendo because that's all either of us are going to be getting for nine months?"

Afterwards, I rolled over with my back to Kyle and my arms crossed as I slipped my clothes back on. Kyle alisema "I didn't mean to make wewe mad AJ!" I alisema "well; wewe succeeded!" He alisema "we still haven't had our first fight yet and I don't want to start now!" I alisema "then I suggest that wewe leave me alone!" He fastened the buttons on his shati and alisema "fine; if that's what wewe want then I'll leave wewe alone just to avoid getting into a fight with wewe because I want this to be a fight free marriage. I upendo wewe AJ and I'm sorry." I alisema as I rolled back over facing towards him "I can't stay mad at you! The entire time I was facing the other direction I was smiling and trying not to laugh!"

December 29, 2014,

I stood there in my tour bus in front of Neverland and looked around. Kyle alisema "okay Carter; we have to get off the bus now." Carter wrapped his arms around my neck and wouldn't let go when I tried to put him down. He screamed "no mommy; I'M GOING WITH YOU!!!" I alisema "you can't Carter! It's not going to be as fun as wewe think it is being on tour! I'm working all the time and I wouldn't be able to spend time with wewe either way! I promise wewe that I'll get on Skype every siku with wewe guys!" I tried to put him down again and he still refused to let go. I alisema "I could use a little help here Kyle!"

Kyle pried Carter away from me as he continued to scream at the juu of his lungs. He cried as he protested "LET ME GO DADDY! I'M STAYING ON THIS BUS!" Kyle turned his face as Carter continuously flailed his arms all over the place trying to get out of his grip. Kyle alisema "I would hug wewe AJ; but as wewe can see my hands are pretty full at the moment. I whispered in his ear "that's okay; I'll see wewe at the tamasha and I can hug wewe there! Don't forget to drop off wewe know who at my grandmother's!" I kissed Carter who was still relentlessly trying to grab hold of me. As I pulled away he grabbed my hair and I alisema while laughing "OUCH; KYLE HURRY UP AND GET OUT OF HERE BECAUSE HE'S RIPPING THE HAIR OUT OF MY HEAD!"

As we made our way to the arena in the tour bus, Frank asked "are wewe okay kid? wewe look pale!" I wiped the sweat off of my forehead and alisema "yeah; I think it's just nerves! It's been over three years since I've performed on tour!" He alisema "you're just like your dad; once wewe get out on that stage all your nerves will disappear!" I alisema "yeah; you're probably right!"

A half saa before the tamasha starts, I sat backstage on the kitanda with my hand on my forehead. I looked in the mirror to see that I was pale as a ghost and drenched with sweat. Frank asked "are wewe sure you're feeling okay AJ?" I alisema "yeah; I'm fine! I'll get over whatever is going on! It's these stupid nerves getting –."

Before I could finish the sentence, I ran off to the bathroom and violently started throwing up. Frank knocked on the door and alisema "I've never seen wewe this nervous before! Everything is going to be just fine! Your mashabiki upendo wewe and the dedicated mashabiki will always be there; no matter what!" I stood up and walked out of the bathroom as I alisema "you're right Frank; I don't know what's gotten into me! I'm never usually this nervous! It must be because Kyle's going to be here watching me tonight."

There was a knock at the door and Frank alisema "speaking of Kyle; I think he's here!" Frank opened the door and Kyle immediately noticed my appearance. He put his hand on my forehead and alisema "you don't feel warm; but wewe look awful babe!" I laughed it off and alisema "thanks for the compliment!" He alisema "I'm serious AJ! wewe look terrible!" I gently pushed him out of the way and alisema "come on; wewe can sit on the edge of the stage where the backup dancers come in from! You'll be able to see better than anyone else that way! He alisema "I don't think wewe should go out there AJ!" I asked "would wewe just relax; I'm fine! My mashabiki are waiting for me and once I get out there and started imba again my anxiety will go away!"

***30 sekunde before the tamasha entrance***

I sat there in the stage kibaniko, mashine ya kubanika mkate with my hands on my head trying not to think about how bad my stomach was turning. My head continuously pounded with the sound of the loud screaming. I was catapulted onto the stage and that's when I realized something was seriously wrong with me! The room just felt like it was spinning out of control and I fell to the ground with a bang that was heard loud and clear kwa the microphone I wore over my head. The last thing I remember was the thousands of mashabiki letting out gasps as I saw Kyle run to my side.

***

I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Kyle's face. I looked around the room and asked "where are we?" He alisema "in the hospital babe." I asked as I sat up at the edge of the kitanda "what happened?" He alisema "the doctors don't really know yet! They just ran some tests down to the lab! They alisema wewe could have collapsed from dehydration; but then I told them how much stress wewe have been putting on yourself lately! They are pretty sure that that's what caused wewe to pass out!"

A female doctor came into the room and shook my hand. She sat down in a chair and alisema "it seems like the stress you've been under is really affecting your health! That's zaidi than likely what caused wewe to black out. If wewe don't mind, I'm going to ask wewe a few questions." I rubbed my eyes and alisema "go ahead." She asked "have wewe been sleeping okay?" I alisema "yeah; nothing out of the ordinary." She asked "what about eating?" I alisema "just my typical foods that I eat while preparing for my tour." She asked "how far along are you?" I alisema "with the tour; this is the very first concert." She alisema "no, no, not with the tour. How far along are you?" Kyle and I looked at each other in confusion and I alisema "I'm sorry; I don't quite understand what you're asking me." She asked "how far along is the baby?" Kyle and I asked in unison with completely confused looks on our faces "what baby?" She alisema "I'm sorry; I thought wewe knew that you're pregnant!" Kyle laughed and sarcastically alisema "yeah right doctor; stop messing with us! I can't get Alanna pregnant; I'm sterile!"

The doctor passed me a piece of paper and written on it was "pregnancy: positive." I whispered as Kyle continued to laugh because he thought she was joking "the 5% chance." Kyle asked "what did wewe say AJ; sorry I was laughing too hard to hear you?" I alisema "the 5% chance! IT'S THE 5% CHANCE THAT wewe COULD GET ME PREGNANT; that week before krisimasi when I was crying and we almost got into a fight; IT WORKED!!!!" Kyle turned white as a ghost and stuttered as he alisema "wait – we had sex – but – how – it's not supposed to – oh my God!!!" His eyes rolled back in the back of his head and he fell to the ground with a thud.

When he came to, I looked down at him as I held his head and he alisema "I'M GOING TO BE A DAD!!! Is this for real? Is this really happening? ARE wewe REALLY PREGNANT AJ?" I nodded my head and alisema "yes; I really am pregnant! zaidi importantly though, FRANK HAS TO POSTPONE THE TOUR until after the baby is born!"