Before You

"Mr. Drake, Ms. Danville is on line one." "Thanks, Maci" responded Jonathon. "Hey, Gloria! How are you today? I didn't think I would hear from you so soon. Have you and your client decided to take the plea deal? I mean, clearly that's the best choice in this matter. I'm sure you would agree." After a strong sigh and a short pause, Gloria spoke. "Jonathon, dear, please don't flatter yourself. That sorry ass plea deal you gave my client definitely was not even worth looking at! Let's be clear here, you and I both know that you have no evidence and that so-called witness, well, hopefully he can show up. After all, as we speak, he is currently trying to post bail for that lame stunt he pulled on last night". Silence rested between the both. Gloria quipped, "Oh, my, John dear, you're silent. Oh, wow. You hadn't heard. Why, you didn't know! So, allow me. Well, dear, your one and only witness is in the county jail in hopes of making bail!" With a hint of joy in her voice, Gloria continued. "Call me with a much better deal for my client and maybe then we'll talk. Good day!" With madness wrapped up in a glass of disappointment disguised as Brandy in his hand, Johnathon stared out of his 20th floor office window.

As he continued to fill up with much discuss from the conversation he held with Ms. Danville, he noticed a red sports car pulling up to the Drake Law Firm Building. There it was, the same vehicle that arrives the same time twice a week weekly. Stepping out was a woman, blonde. She was about 5 ft 5, petite, with the look of beauty, and the confidence to go with it. Each week, Tuesday at 12 noon and Thursday, no later than 2 pm, the vehicle arrives in front of the Drake Law Firm. This is where she rushes to the front desk only to be escorted to.....

"Mr. Drake, Ms. Nuray is hear to see you". "Thanks, Maci. Send her in." The door opens and in walks Shelby Nuray. Shelby and Johnathon met a year ago at a yacht party being held by one of his associates. Shelby and Johnathon have been hot and heavy ever since. Hugs and kisses filled the office as John filled his hands with Shelby. "Shelby, you are a tad early. This is quite a surprise! What gives?" Shelby flashed her famous smile and with a wink of her baby blues. She noted that today was their anniversary. Two years in the making! With all of the focus on the upcoming case, Johnathon didn't remember. "Oh, John, don't tell me you forgot?! How could you? We just spoke of this last week at dinner!" Johnathon seemed so out of sorts. He tried not to show his forgetfulness. "Ah, I-I was thinking, thinking that -that maybe we would fly down to the Keys for the weekend. What'd you think about that?" "I would love to!" Shelby responded. "However, I hope you decide to show up this time."

Johnathon's face turned from Shelby to the open window as he took notice of a commotion down by the little red sports car. There was a brunette motioning to the doorman about the car. She was certainly frantic! Waving her long arms that matched her model lean height and figure. Toby, the doorman finally let her through and the entire building went into a tizzy! Maci began calling Johnathon, "She's here! She's on her way up! Hurry, get Shelby outta there!" Suddenly the office door flew open!

"Johnathon! Johnathon!" called Tabitha. "What in the hell do you think you're doing?" With great frustration she fumed, "You haven't EVEN STOPPED this torrid affair after expressing to me you would! You've continued to disrespect me, our children, let alone this joke of a marriage! Really, Johnathon?! How dare you continue (pointing to Shelby) with this garbage relationship and expect me to still stand as your wife?!" Johnathon quietly turned to Shelby and then he turned and looked at Tabitha and with great silence he walked over to his desk and sat. He sat still as the night. The ladies looked at one another and then back at Johnathon as if they were waiting on instructions. Johnathon looked up from his desk and spoke softly, "You are so right, Tab. You are so right. You do not deserve this treatment and I do not deserve you. I am so sorry for the heartache I have caused you. No more. I can't pretend anymore. We aren't okay and we haven't been for awhile." Tabitha turned and locked eyes on Shelby. Gritting her teeth, she bellowed "This is all your fault! You stole my happiness! You stole my heart! You stole my love! You took all of my joy and buried it under a rock somewhere hidden from me for eternity. I pray that your world comes to a halt. That it stops and suffocates as you have caused mine to do." Johnathon intervenes and reminds Tabitha that their love for one another had ended a long time ago. He reminds her of issues they had prior to Shelby entering his life. Their lives. He tells Tabitha that he knew, she knew, they knew that this day was coming and now they needed to face it and allow it all to play out quickly and not let it linger. Johnathon added that he wanted to try and make sure that this would not affect the kids. Although, deep down he knew it would. Hence his reason for staying as long as he did. Tabitha turned with her head high and walked out the door.

Once Tabitha reached the elevator and exited, she noticed a man standing to the left of her. She turned to face him and realized it was Chase Cannon, the private investigator she had hired to follow Johnathon and Shelby. She pulled an envelope from her Birkin bag and handed it to him. She then uttered "This is the last and final payment. Thank you for all of your help." As she turned to walk away, Chase called to her "Tabitha, why are you sad? You knew deep in your heart this was the game plan. You already knew what he was up to. You knew for months that he wasn't true to you. So, answer me, please. Why are you sad?" Tabitha, with tears in her eyes, whispered,"It hurts not to be loved". Chase walked over to her and escorted her out the door to his car as Johnathon Drake watched from the 20th floor. He wasn't sure as to who this was holding his soon to be ex-wife so closely, but whomever it was, Johnathon didn't like the way it made him feel.

Months passed and then a year and Johnathon and Tabitha had avoided one another completely. There were no 'chance' meetings for the nannies were always present to hand off or receive the children when Johnathon's visitation was happening. Tabitha and Johnathon felt it was easier that way. Therefore their children would not see any raw behavior between mom and dad.

Johnathon and Shelby's relationship blossomed into a marriage that John is certainly not happy with. Shelby is now having an affair on him. Well, so he suspects.

As far as Tabitha Drake, no allow me to correct, Tabitha Cannon. She found love, true love. A love that has given her joy everyday along with a brand new addition to her family, a son, Chase, Jr. 'C.J.' and Tabitha has definitely reached her goal of mastering a connection to a man that loves her for her.

Sitting out in the back yard watching the sunset, holding her new baby boy as Chase plays catch with her older two, Tabitha thinks back on her life. She remembers the heartache she felt as a kid after her mother died. She remembered of the pain she felt all those years in a loveless marriage, and now she's remembering the phone call she made to the Cannon Connection Investigators which led to a moving and caring relationship that's filled with enough love and joy to go around the moon and back again. Tabitha sat and thought to herself, before you, Chase, I was lost. Before you, I was in need. And now because of you, I'm free.