I can kind of understand how 11 year old Ophelia could fall for Raymond: he seemed like a kind man who took in her and her mom, helped them out, paid her "special" attention (winking, smiling when Margie wasn't looking). I can see a puppy dog crush forming there. But the fact that 35 year old Ophelia can't be with any other man, has lost her son and is strangely alright with her mother disowning her all because of her obsession with Raymond shows just how much therapy she needs...therapy that she should have gotten before she decided to involve a baby in this mess.  

Raymond really should have known better. No matter how adult she looked, in her mind she was still eleven and should not have acted on it. I wouldn't be too upset he had set Ophelia and her mother up somewhere and watched her from afar until she was of age. But he pressed it even after she initially said no. He continued to manipulated their lives even after they left his home. No amount of his suffering is going to be good enough for me. 

I only hope that Ophelia is able to work things out with Bennie and her mother at some point. 

It could be my headache right now, but I'm not seeing any part of Ophelia's plan that made one lick of sense. Not one. And now another child is going to suffer. >_< I know you say she's not insane, but I'm wondering how much of Ophela's mind matured past age 12. Hopefully the possibility of losing her son again will be the kick she needs to get serious help.

As for Kevin and Bobbie. *eye roll* When you let your third leg pick your partners, you deserve whatever you get.

This was an unexpected surprise. You made my Monday.....thank you, Brenda.

I'm sorry, but I can't bring myself to find too much sympathy for Ophelia. This is a situation of her own making. Now she has an invalid husband, baby on the way and no family support.....maybe from Abigail, but I'm thinking Bennie is her priority right now. I was hoping that she wouldn't be pregnant because this really is an awful situation to bring a baby into. Maybe now that she has seen all that she has lost and realizes that she is going to have to a lot of work to get it back, she will get some counseling and be serious about it. It seemed to me that she was just doing it because Bennie made her. 

I cannot fault Bennie for his anger right now. Ophelia promised him that there would be no secrets and she lied. Not only that, but she chose her revenge plot over Bennie. How is Bennie supposed to trust her now?....or wonder if she is really trying to get to know him or smooth things over for Raymond? I think Bennie just needs some time right now to calm himself down. I doubt seriously he will cut Ophelia out of his life completely. He has a good heart and won't abandon his baby sister or brother....especially with parents like Raymond and Ophelia. As for Bennie's relationship with Keisha, I love it. I love the slow build. Not every college student is a bedhopper. I just hope Kevin has enough sense to drop that thing he is dating. 

I know it's wrong, but I do get a giddy little thrill at Raymond's suffering. I know it has to suck being trapped in your own body like that, but I can't think of it happening to a nicer person.  

Great update as usual, Brenda. I hope the next isn't too far off.

Thanks for the update.

I am glad Ophelia has had a change of heart and she needs to get some help.

Bennie is a good son... he has a lot to learn.  Him and Keisha are a good match.

Yikes all around. My goodness it is official Ophelia has lost her mind. I am speechless at what she said to The Rapist because no matter how much she wants to justify their relationship it was rape. I understand why Bennie is so disappointed in her because I am too. As for Kevin's racist harlot my goodness what an idiot. Clearly Kevin isn't to bright all he saw was tits...idiot.

Bennie has a right to be mad at his biological mom, but forgiving her should not be an issue. If he wants to grow he has to forgive. Yes, Ophelia should not have followed thru on her revenge plan, but she did. I do not think she was choosing Raymond over Bennie. She loves her child; what she was doing was trying to get back at Raymond for taking Bennie and not keeping his promise he made when she was a child, which in itself is quite disturbing. But that aside, she still loves Raymond and would you not know that Raymond loves her too, which is crazy to me, but that is how it reads. Okay fine, Ophelia is a grown woman now she had the chance to shut Raymond down, but she didn't; she says she only wanted revenge, but it's deeper than that, Ophelia wanted Raymond period and her being angry at him for taking Bennie set the revenge plan into effect for her to finally have him.

She is reliving out the fantasy she wanted when she was young, but did not think it would bite her in the butt like it's doing. She has to know that Bennie is like her and Raymond, he will not forgive them easily if at all. As I said, Bennie should be upset, but he has to know that his mom and his dad has a problem and thru their twisted love, but love, nonetheless, they love him. He has to come to terms with his biological parents. I did not say he has to like it, but once he cools off, he should respect them. I felt bad for Ophelia when Bennie told her off, but she had to know she had it coming. Bennie specifically almost begged her not to marry or do anything with Raymond, and Ophelia went along and did it anyway mostly because she wanted to, revenge aside. She thought she could have it all, her son and Raymond, but how Bennie was created, I do not know how she could think that her son would want anything to do with Raymond. I do not care how much Ophelia says she wanted it. Raymond was old enough to be her father.

There is no way Bennie can understand that, heck I can't understand it, but it is what it is. Raymond and Ophelia does have love between them, but the ultimate is the deed that was done when she was a child. If Ophelia as a grown woman has come to terms with it, who am I to judge, but looking at it from the outside, it looks pretty bad. That aside, Ophelia does need to talk to someone, if not a therapist, someone, anyone. Hell she can talk to Abigail if not Abigail she needs to tear Raymonds ears up since he can't really respond that good now. He needs to know the mindset he instilled in her. She has already told him some things. Her and Raymond need to talk. If they are going to stay married, which I believe they both want to, they need to lay everything out on the table. I could be wrong, but I think this aneurism may have changed Raymond. I do not even want to talk about Ophelia being pregnant, but if she is her and Raymonds sh*t has to be together. Ophelia is not a victim anymore. If they are going to bring a child into the world together they have to be on one mind and one accord, lol! Past sins aside, they have to get it together for this child and for Bennie even though he is grown.

The thing that gets me is that both Raymond and Ophelia wanted another child together, both for different reasons, but in the end those reasons collide and they look the same. This is one heck of a love story between Raymond and Ophelia and it will be interesting to see how things proceed with Bennie and Keisha. As always, great update Brenda! I loved it. More please!!!!!

I knew that as soon Bobbie said spooks that she was racists ho!!!  I don't like Kevin either drop him like a bad habit Bennie.  Ophelia is officially on my bad side and she should be involuntarily committed into an mental instutitution.  Ophelia deserves to loose Bennie and she thinks that she's pregnant what a mess!!  Ophelia is jumping up and down as well as stomping on my last nerve!!

Brenda, why was this chapter so short?  So awesome as usual.

I do not think that Bennie's reactions towards Ophelia's marriage is extreme at all. She lied to him and in some ways, she did choose Raymond and her stupid revenge over him. So I think Bennie not giving her forgiveness is right. Ophelia was totally selfish. And to be honest her revenge was stupid and did not make any sense at all. Ophelia needs help. What Raymond did to her is  disturbing and wrong. Raymond was a GROWN man back then. He knew that what he was doing was wrong but yet he didn't care at all. Even if she did like him, she was still a child. I'm getting tired of both Ophelia and Raymond trying to make excuses for their illegal affair that that they had. Its like they are trying to justify their affair saying that they "liked" each other instead of looking at the reality. They both just can't see to admit that what they had was wrong. Whether Raymond wants to admit it or not, he was a pedophile. A honest man would know how wrong it is for sleeping with a 11 year old. And even if she had the body of a grown woman, if he was truly interested in her and "love" her as he claims, he would have at least waited until she was 18 and not 11!!!!!!

What makes it even more disturbing is the fact that Ophelia continued to go to him every night and he had no problem continue having sex with her. Ophelia really needs some therapy. Maybe she is in love with him, but she needs to realize that even though she thinks that she loved him and liked what he did to her back then, it was still very wrong and that it is considered rape. Ophelia really annoys me. I'm even started to think that she may even be retarded. She didn't allow any other man to touch her because she considered it to be wrong, but a man who had clearly taken advantage of her when she was a little girl she has no problem accepting? You would think that now that she is a grown woman with a little more experience of life, that she would know better. But at the same time its kind of obvious that she still has her 11 year old mind. Because then she would know that no matter how much in love she was with Raymond, that what he did was wrong. Instead she keeps making excuses. Both Raymond and Ophelia are sick. Bennie is right, they both deserve each other.

Brenda your writting skills and the way you can tell a story just leaves me speechless! Not only is this story outside of the box its very well thought out! This chapter was off the hook! What Beenie said to Ophelia was sad to read but very on point, she did choose her revenge over him and wasnt truthful about her real feelings for Raymond! Yet what she said to Raymond had me cracking up! Love the indroduction of Bobbie nice little twist to this story! Man What is going to through Kevins head reagarding what Beenie said about being black. So cant wait for more. Great job thank you for sharing.

Oh, this chapter made my heart hurt. Brenda you are so talented to be able to draw so many emotions from your readers. I kind of knew Ophelia's plan would backfire in her face but I think her mother and Bennie's reactions are kind of extreme. I understand Ophelia lied to them but let's face it, Margie was a freakin' drug addict who was an unfit mother for the first half of Ophelia's life. It's clear she once chose drugs over his child and she more than anyone should know about getting second chances. As far as Bennie, I understand his hurt and he has every right to be angry but Ophelia still clearly needs help. She made a really poor choice in going forth with her plan for revenge but it's been three months, I hope he finds it in his heart to forgive her and becomes her Teddy again. I hope he can look upon her as a mother. Ophelia is an adult in some ways, but she's still quite child like when it comes to men. As for Raymond, not sure what to think of him. Please please please, let Teddy forgive Ophelia, she's been through so much. Plus, I hope she is now more open to therapy. 

As for Bobbie, she's a piece of work. Hopefully Kevin isn't as big a tool as she is and dumps that trick like yesterday's garbage.  Nice chapter!!

Such a great update...will Raymond make it...I hope so he brings so much to the story...

WOW! That came from left field. There is no way Raymond can be dead. He has not suffered nearly enough in my book......hopefully yours too. I know Ophelia wants her revenge, but I hope it doesn't cost her Bennie or her new friends in Abigail and Jacob. Your stories always keep me guessing, Brenda, and this time is no different. I can't until next week. I have a feeling it's all going to hit the fan.

Keep up the great work.