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,