Chapter 3
"Jeff, hurry up or we're going to be late. I'm taking the kids over to Lindsay's." called Cyndi from the living room. They were going to see a fertility doctorto see why they cannot seem to have a baby. The tests had been done and they were going to get the results.
"Both of you are fine. You just need to be patient and not so anxious." The doctor informed them. After they left, they had a long talk and decided to wait on having kids and concentrate on Alllison and Kris.
The next week was Cyndi's sixteenth birthday. She went to get her driver's license. The next day she took Allison and Kris shopping. At the department store, Cyndi had to use the restroom so she made Allison and Kris promice to wait on the bench for her right outside the door. When she came out, both children were gone!! Cyndi panicked and called for security. The searched for an hour and finally they had to call Jeff. Cyndi was scared that Jeff would blame her and make a scene. They did not locate the kids and finally at eleven that night, they told Cyndi and Jeff to go home. When they arrived, Jeff flew off the handle.
"Cyndi, why did you take my kids shopping? I should never had married you!! First you can't carry a child and now you can't keep up with the one's you do have!" He slapped her across the face. "My babies are out who knows where because of you. You're nothing but an immature baby yourself!" Cyndi stood there crying while he ranted and slapped her. Finally, he grew tired and went to bed. Cyndi slept on the couch.
For the next two months, Cyndi slept on the couch and Jeff took out his frusterations on her. Lyndsay came over every day to help Cyndi. She suspected that Jeff hit her, but did not say anything. Finally, the police called to inform them that they had found Allison and Kris in Austraulia with Danielle. Cyndi made Jeff a romantic dinner and told him the good news. They had to pick up the kids at the airport at ten-thirty that night so Jeff carried Cyndi upstairs.
At ten they were up and dressed. As soon as Allison and Kris jumped off the plane, Jeff ran to them and picked Kris up. Cyndi was huggingAllison. They never did locate Danielle.
One day, two weeks later, Angela knocked on the door. Angela explained that she had run away from home and could she stay with them. Cyndi said she would have to ask Jeff. She got Angela to babysit while they went out to dinner so she could ask him. Luckily, Jeff was in a good mood adn agreed immediatly.
The next day, Angela helped her take care of the kids while she ran errands. That night, Jeff came home in a bad mood. Angela took the kids to the park while they argued. When she came home, Cyndi was in bed and Jeff was gone. The next morning, Angela noticed Cyndi's black eye. Cyndi kept changing the subject whenever Angela would ask about it.
One night, Jeff came home and announced that he was taking his vacation that week. The next day, Cyndi left the kids with Jeff and Angela so she could go to the grocery store. When she came home, she found the shock of her life, she found her best friend and her husband on the couch with the kids in the same room watching television.
Cynthia was furious!!! They didn't even notice when she took Allison and Kris out of the house. She put Kris in his carseat adn drove away with tears in her eyes. She drove for an hour to a small town on the outskirts. Taking what little money she had, she rented a cheap motel room. Allison kept asking questions about her father and Angela but Cyndi kept changing the subject. They managed to stay for three days in the motel before she ran out of money. Desperate, she took the kids and drove to her parents house. Unfortunately, they slammed the door in her face. Later that night, she got in touch with Tonya. She explained her story to her and her parents, and they agreed to let her and the kids stay with them. Cyndi shared a room with Tonya and the kids stayed in the guest room.
A week later, Cyndi got a job. She worked as a waitress from nine to five. Tonya's mother watched Kris during the day and Allison in the afternoon until Cyndi got off work.
Two weeks later, the police knocked on the door and arrested Cyndi for kidnapping. They snapped handcuffs on her wrists and took the children. She spent that night in jail. The next day she had a lawyer come and speak to her. He had a court date set for two days away. They let her go back to Tonya's house on bail to stay until court.
At the hearing, Cyndi got Tonya and her parents on her side, while Jeff had Angela. The judge announced her guilty and once again, handcuffs were placed on her wrists. During visitation, Tonya told her that her parents had found out what happened, but felt she got what she deserved.
Chapter 4
Two months after she was arrested, Jeff came to visit her. He tried to apologize but she just asked to have him removed. He claimed that he had kicked Angela out and that he could get her out of jail, but she just kept refusing to talk to him.
A month later, Cynthia appealed and got out of jail. She moved back in with Tonya and her family. She was seventeen and a half years old and already she felt like her life was ruined. Just two weeks after she got out, Jeff began stalking her. SHe began receiving phone calls and flowers from him. Everytime she would go to work, he would "stop in" for a visit.
This continued for two months. Finally Cyndi agreed to talk to him. They met at the place where Jeff proposed to her. He brought her a dozen roses and they sat and talked for hours.
"Cyndi, I know that I have hurt you, both physically and emotionally. I'm into counceling now and I love you. Every since you've been gone, my life is not the same. I don't expect you to believe that I have changed, but would you at least try. Please come home to us. Allison and Kris mess you so much and so do I. Please give me a second chance?" Jeff begged.
"Jeff, your right about the pain you've put me through. I really need to think about this. I call you tomorrow. I do want you to know, that even after all that we've been through, I do still love you." They stood up and embraced each other. Jeff took her back to Tonya's.
That night Tonya and Cyndi had a long talk themselves. Tonya tried to talk her out of it, but Cyndi was going back.
Kris was in kindergarten now so Cyndi could continue working, part time now. Things were going great in the beginning, but Jeff soon began to change back to his old ways. She becan to feel as if things had never changed.
Every day was harder and longer than the one before. Cyndi began thinking seriously about leaving for good. All Jeff did was yell at her everytime she didn't do something just as soon as he asked. She had no children of her own to tie her down so she began stashing money away to save for a divorce. She told Tonya of her plans and asked if she could stay with her after she had saved up the money.
It took her over seven months to save up enough money. She planned on leaving the day after her eighteenth birthday. The day before Jeff had arranged for his parents to watch the kids so he could take her out. They went out to dinner and to a movie. Then they returned home where the house had been decorated with balloons and roses. Soft music filled the air as Jeff led her into the house. They sat down on the couch. Cyndi was planning on telling him she was leaving tomorrow, but now she didn't have the heart.
"Cyndi, I love you so much. I am so very sorry for the way I treat you sometimes. You don't deserve it." Jeff said as she lay in his arms.
"Jeff, I know you love me, but I think maybe we should go see a therapist together to help you control your temper."
"Cynthia, I do not need help controlling my temper. sometimes you act just like a child and that's why I have to treat you like one." He pushed her off the couch and ran down the hall.
"You're the one that acts like a child!! Everytime something doesn't go your way, you lose your temper and then run off. Well, this time I'm running. I'm leaving you, and I'm not coming back!" She ran into the room and started packing.
"Cyndi, if you leave me, you cannot come back. I'm not going to play your little games."
"This is not a game. I'm leaving you Jeffrey Cantrell. I've been planning this for months!" She called Tonya who came to pick her up. She let out a sigh of relief as Tonya pulled away from the house.
The next morning, Cyndi went to speak to a laywer about a divorce. Tonya's parents let her stay until she could get back on her feet but she had another idea. That night she began a letter.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I know you don't want anything to do with me anymore and i don't blame you, but I have to say a few things. First and most important, I love you. these past three years have not been easy for me. This morning, I finally came to my senses and filed for divorce from Jeff. I only wish that I had listened to you when you tried to warn me. I don't blame you for not ever speaking to me again. I went against everything you taught me because I thought I was in love and that Jeff loved me, but all he wanted was a live in babysitter, among other things. I said it before and i'll say it again, I love you and I know you don't want to hear from me, but I had to let you know how I am doing. I will be staying at Tonya's house with her and her family.
Love,
Cynthia
She addressed the letter and dropped it in the mailbox. Three days later there was a knock on Tonya's door. It was her mother! She wanted Cyndi to move back home. Her room was exactly like it was on the day she left. The first thing she saw was her wall with "Cynthia Loves Phillip" on it.
Two weeks passed and Cyndi got a letter thru Tonya from Jeff advising her that he was signing the divorce paper's. Cyndi also got into counceling and Tonya graduated from high school. That night Tonya took her to a huge graduation party. She loved meeting some of her old friends again. That night she stayed at Tonya's house but woke up four times sick. She thought it was because she had gotten slightly drunk at the party, but she was still sick the next day. Her mother took her to her doctor, who delivered the shocking news.
"Mrs. Cantrell, your pregnant."
"Noooooooo! Not now." Cyndi wailed.
"I thought you and your husband wanted a baby?"
"We're in the middle of a divorce."
"Oh, I'm very sorry. Well maybe this will bring you and your husband back together." Cyndi just looked at him.
Later that afternoon, Cyndi, Tonya, and Angela went to the mall to look at baby things. She and Angela had made up the night of the graduation party and decided to put it behind them. Cyndi wasn't going to make any plans though until after her first trimester, because of her previous miscarriages.
At the mall, Cyndi received the shock of her life. Phillip was there! Angela and Tonya dissappeared mysteriously.
"So, how's married life?" he asked her.
"Actually, I'm in the middle of my divorce. Things just didn't work out. So how are you doing?"
"Fine, but my life is not as exciting as yours. I'm not seeing anyone and I work here in the food court. I'm the assistant manager at Taco Bell."
"That's great Phillip. I'm proud of you."
"Uh, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner tonight?"
"Sure, I would love to."
That night Phillip picked her up at her parents house. She told him all about her miscarriages and that she was now pregnant again. She told him she was planning on raising it alone, and he volunteered to help her if she wanted.
Cyndi made it through the first trimester without any problems and soon after she began planning. SHe bought baby furniture, clothes, and picked out a name. Through the whole thing, Phillip remained by her side. Each day they grew closer, but still remained just friends. Cyndi even thougth he was more excited about the baby than she was.
On January 24, Cynthia went into labor. Phillip was her coach and twelve hours later, she had a son named Jacob Christopher, after her father and uncle. Phillip was so excited.
One day, when Jacob was three months old, Cyndi ran into Jeff at the grocery store.
"Hey Cyndi, who is this?" he asked pointing at Jacob.
"This is my son, Jacob." she said casually, trying not to show her fear.
"Is he mine?"
"No. I'm living with his father now." she said, trembling.
"You're lying to me. That baby is mine. I will see you in court."
Four days later, Cynthia received court papers. Jeff was filing for full custody. In court Cyndi was very upset. Jeff's lawyer made her look bad and even used her kidnapping charge against her. Plus the fact that she didn't inform him she was pregnant counted against her also. The judge came back with the verdict and full custody of Jacob was given to Jeff. Cynthia fell down crying.
For weeks, no one could speak to Cyndi. SHe would sit in Jacob's room and cry for hours.
One day, two months later, Tonya came over with some news.
"Cyn, I just found out that Jeff put all the kids up for adoption and ran off and married some sixteeen year old girl.
"My baby! He took my baby away from me and now he's just giving him away!! Who know's whats happening to him!! She was hysterical.
"Cyndi, don't you see, you can get him back. Your his mother!!"
For over a year, Cynthia and Phillip searched for Jacob. After many dead ends, they finally found the family that had adopted him in Montreal, Canada. Her parents gave them the money to fly to Canada.
At first the couple would not listen to her, but after explaining her story and proving that she was his mother, they reluctantly let her in. After seeing Jacob and how much they loved him, she made one of the hardest decisions of her life. She decided to let the Martins keep Jacob. They could provide for him like she couldn't.
That night, back at the hotel, Cyndi told Phillip about her decision. The next day she returned and asked the Martins to please keep her updated on Jacob.
That night as she and Phillip boared the plane back to the United States. As they flew along, Phillip took her hand, smiling and got down on one knee.
"Cynthia, will you marry me?
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