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Also by Daaimah S. Poole
DIAMOND PLAYGIRLS
ALL I WANT IS EVERYTHING
EX-GIRL TO THE NEXT GIRL
GOT A MAN
WHAT’S REAL
YO YO LOVE
Published by Dafina Books
A RICH MAN’S BABY
DAAIMAH S. POOLE
KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com
Contents
Acknowledgments
Prologue: Tanisha Butler
Chapter 1: Tanisha
Chapter 2: Adrienne Sheppard
Chapter 3: Dionne Matthews
Chapter 4: Tanisha
Chapter 5: Adrienne
Chapter 6: Dionne
Chapter 7: Adrienne
Chapter 8: Adrienne
Chapter 9: Adrienne
Chapter 10: Tanisha
Chapter 11: Adrienne
Chapter 12: Dionne
Chapter 13: Adrienne
Chapter 14: Tanisha
Chapter 15: Dionne
Chapter 16: Adrienne
Chapter 17: Adrienne
Chapter 18: Tanisha
Chapter 19: Adrienne
Chapter 20: Dionne
Chapter 21: Adrienne
Chapter 22: Dionne
Chapter 23: Tanisha
Chapter 24: Adrienne
Chapter 25: Adrienne
Chapter 26: Tanisha
Chapter 27: Adrienne
Chapter 28: Dionne
Chapter 29: Adrienne
Chapter 30: Tanisha
Chapter 31: Adrienne
Chapter 32: Dionne
Chapter 33: Tanisha
Chapter 34: Adrienne
Chapter 35: Tanisha
Chapter 36: Dionne
Chapter 37: Adrienne
Chapter 38: Tanisha
Chapter 39: Adrienne
Chapter 40: Adrienne
Chapter 41: Tanisha
Chapter 42: Tanisha
Chapter 43: Tanisha
Chapter 44: Adrienne
Chapter 45: Tanisha
Chapter 46: Dionne
Chapter 47:Tanisha
Chapter 48: Dionne
Chapter 49: Adrienne
Chapter 50: Tanisha
Chapter 51: Tanisha
Chapter 52: Dionne
Chapter 53:Dionne
Chapter 54: Adrienne
Chapter 55: Dionne
Chapter 56: Tanisha
Chapter 57: Dionne
Chapter 58: Adrienne
Chapter 59: Dionne
Chapter 60: Tanisha
Chapter 61: Adrienne
Chapter 62: Dionne
Chapter 63: Tanisha
Chapter 64: Adrienne
Chapter 65: Adrienne
Chapter 66: Tanisha
Chapter 67: Dionne
Chapter 68: Tanisha
Chapter 69:Adrienne
Chapter 70: Dionne
Chapter 71: Adrienne
Chapter 72: Dionne
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To Allah for making this and all things possible, and giving me the ability to turn words into stories.
Thank you to my children Hamid and Ahsan Poole, my mother Robin Dandridge, father Auzzie Poole, and stepmother Pulcheria Ricks-Poole. My sisters Daaiyah, Najah, and Nadirah Goldstein.
Special thanks to all my family and friends. Keep spreading the word. Thanks to my Uncle Julius for always being supportive and telling people about your niece. Thanks to my two grandmothers Dolores Dandridge and Mary-Ellen Hickson.
My readers: Thank you for reading and purchasing my books. I appreciate your comments and e-mails. Book number six; OMG. Stay in touch! www.DSPbooks.com, myspace.com/DSPbooks, or e-mail me at [email protected].
Many thanks to my agents Karen E. Quinones Miller and Liza Dawson. Thanks to Tamika Wilson, Gina Dellior, Candice Dow, and Karen Thomas for all that you have done and will do.
Special thanks to Nati and Andy of African World Book Distributors, Zina McDowell, Camille Miller, and Aida Allen. Thanks to Rocawear staff Aleesha Smalls, Adaku Okpi, and Jameel Spencer.
Thanks to all of the Kensington Publishing staff, Audrey LeFehr, and Walter Zacharius.
Prologue
Tanisha Butler
Tyrone entered our bedroom happy and preparing for our weekly sex. Little did he know that was not going to happen. Our bedroom furniture was a hard oak set with mirrors attached to the back. The television set was on a stand with dozens of DVDs lined up against it. I just stared at them.
“You want to watch a movie?” he asked as he climbed into bed and took off the rest of his clothes. We had just come in from bowling and I was tired of him and his old-ass friends. I looked over at the fat roll on the back of his brown neck and shook my head. I knew tonight was the night I was going to tell him.
“No, Ty. I’ve been thinking a lot, and I’m just not happy with us anymore. I think you should move out.”
He didn’t see it coming at all. He slid back out of the bed, stood up, and stared at me.
“You serious, huh?” he said as he turned to study my face some more.
“I want you to get your own place and you can get Kierra on the weekend.”
“You really leavin’ me?”
I nodded my head yes. “I need to grow. I’m tired. This is not working anymore.”
“This is marriage. We supposed to work it out before we talk about wanting a divorce.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I thought about it. I’ve been thinking about it for years. I don’t want to be married anymore. If you don’t leave, I will take the kids and I’ll leave,” I said as I grabbed a pillow and blanket off the bed and stood by the door. I was prepared to spend the night on the sofa. At that point,