This is an excerpt from "Mending a Broken Heart" by g.britton-Johnson.
“Amanda, come on, you know why I came over here, my boy is at the station,” Galen said as he entered the spacious kitchen of the Gavin household. Galen had been Hampton’s main man since he and Amanda moved to Dallas a few months ago for Hampton to jump start his radio career.
“Galen, I don’t want Hampton to find out, this has to be the last time you visit like this. I’ve go too much to loose, especially with our daughter Astin being only 3. I keep telling you that I love Hampton.” Amanda said as Galen planted heated kisses all over her face and neck.
“Amanda, I believe you love him, but you know as well as I do, that you only married him because you got pregnant. You know we were about to get it on, but you insisted on having a family with him. That’s fine, but you know that you and I really should be together,” Galen said as he was dropping his pants to his ankles as he was about to enter Amanda as she had her dress up to her waist. She leaned on the kitchen table and wrapped her legs around Galen as they made passionate love to each other.
Hampton got off work two hours early that day to come home to get ready for the Community Citizenship Banquet which he was to receive a community service award that evening for starting the local Boys Mentoring Group. The radio station was using previous show recordings to complete the remainder of his time on the air.
Hampton called Amanda to see if she was picking up Astin to get her ready for this evening as well, but her cell went directly to voice mail. He hung up and continued home. He’d call again when he got home.
Hampton turned down the street toward his modest two story house in suburbia Dallas, he noticed Galen’s car in the driveway. He thought, ‘oh, my boy is going this evening as well.’
As Hampton reached the kitchen door, he heard sounds that didn’t sound like casual conversation between Galen and Amanda. Hampton opened the door and stepped in to see Galen, his line fraternity brother, and his wife strictly fucking. Hampton stood there as Amanda looked up at him and said, “Hampton!” Then she immediately started pushing Galen away from her. Tears filled her eyes as she saw the anger and hurt in Hampton’s eyes. Galen turned around and looked at Hampton as well. Galen said, “Hampton, man…” But before he could finish his sentence, Hampton held up his hand for Galen to stop the lie he was about to tell. Hampton said calmly, “Just leave, just leave,” as he walked out of the kitchen into the family room and sat down. Galen looked at Amanda and left. Amanda stood there scared to death. Finally she walked into the family room and said almost in a whisper, “Hampton, I’m sorry.” Hampton just shook his head as he stared at the blank plasma TV screen over the fireplace, “No you aren’t. You’re just sorry you got caught.” He got up and went upstairs. As he walked upstairs toward their bedroom, he said, “Go get Astin, and ask Mrs. Norris to keep her tonight. I’ve got the Banquet to attend. You can just stay with Galen if you’d like. I don’t want you there,” and he slammed the door.
Within two months Hampton filed for divorce. Amanda went to where Hampton was staying in a condo his show producer had purchased but wasn’t using. She brought Astin with her, hoping using Astin would change his mind. She knocked on the door. Hampton opened the door to see Amanda standing holding Astin in her arms. Astin said, “Daddy!” with a joyous smile and reached for him. He reached for her and hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. He said as he turned and left Amanda outside, “Hey baby, how are you?”
“Fine, Daddy, when are you coming home?” Astin asked.
Hampton turned and looked at Amanda who had entered by now. He knew she had refused to sign the divorce papers and she was using Astin to get him to change his mind. He said looking at Amanda, “Baby, I won’t be. But I want you to know that I love you with all my heart. Okay.”
“Okay daddy.” Astin said laying her head on her dad’s shoulder.
Amanda said sitting on the sofa beside Hampton, “I thought you’d want to see her. I mean I know you saw her last weekend, but I thought you’d like to see her today as well.”
Hampton looked at Amanda, he thought, what was he thinking when he thought he’d fallen in love with her, or was it falling in lust with her. Yes, Amanda was beautiful, she had honey colored smooth skin with Hershey chocolate eyes and a shapely figure, even after having Astin, she still was fine. Maybe he should have waited and not married her when she got pregnant, something told him to wait, but he refused to bring a child into this world without a father. He had to be there. He had a supportive father, he felt obligated to do the same for his child. And eventually, he really did start to care deeply for Amanda, but apparently, that was just one sided. He had a problem and he had a solution and he knew what he needed to do to fix it; that was the stance he was taking.
