Parker's Island

by Kimberly Schwartzmiller

  “He’s here. His car’s over there. Come on, let’s go,” I said in a panic.

  I followed the sounds out behind the house and I saw Brian standing over Chad with a look I had never seen. He was going to kill him. I could see it in his face. He was determined to beat the life out of him and I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to stop him.

  Chad was leaning up against an outbuilding. He was bleeding from his mouth or nose, or both. I couldn’t tell, as it all had blended together. Brian was standing over him, his hands clenched into white fists. Chad looked over at me then, and stared at my belly. “Hey, Delaney. It’s been a long time. What six or seven months now, right?” he leered at me. I realized he must have had a death wish to say that to me in front of the man who was completely out of his mind with rage.

  Brian was on him then. I grabbed his arm, but he shook it off. “BRIAN please don’t! PLEASE!” I yelled.

  “Go home, Delaney!” he yelled, never taking his eyes off of his prey.

  “Please, Brian. You’re better than this. You’re not him!” I was crying now, convinced that the man I still cared for so deeply was going to kill my attacker before my very eyes. “I can’t watch you do this! I can’t!” I yelled, crying now.

  “Then you’d better leave!” he roared, and reached down to pick Chad up so he could beat him down again.

  “Brian, this isn’t you! You’re not like him. Please!” I begged, sobbing.

  “You need to go home, Delaney.”

  “Stop it, right now! You did it, okay? You beat the hell out of him. Do you really feel any better, now?”

  “I’m getting there!” he said, breathing hard, and started to get that look in his eyes again.

  “Brian, please don’t do this. Please, for me? Please,” I pleaded.

  “You better listen to your girlfriend. Oh yeah, she left you for Logan. You got any other boyfriends I need to watch out for, or is two your limit?” Chad spat at me.

  “Are you really that stupid or do you just have a death wish?” I asked Chad.

  “I liked you better when you couldn’t talk,” he grinned, a bloody smile.

  That was it. That was all it took. Brian reached out and slammed his head into the pavement. I wasn’t sure Chad was even breathing, but he was stronger than I thought and I heard him moan and roll over.

  “Brian please, I love you, don’t do this,” I begged.

  “He’s going to pay.”

  “He has. He’s trying to push your buttons. He wants you to do this for some reason, don’t you see it?”

  “I don’t care!”

  “Yes, you do. You care about me and you care about Molly. If you do this, then you’re no better than him. Please, for me and Molly? For your parents, for all of us?”

  “Brian, you’ll end up in jail. How will you protect Delaney if you’re in jail?” Hailey asked, obviously having seen enough damage done to the young man she used to care so much about, who was also the father of the baby she was carrying.

  “You two need to leave.”

  He didn’t stop, he didn’t see me. In fact, he looked straight through me. I didn’t know what to do. He was pulling Chad up by his arm and Chad was obviously unable to fight back any longer, as he could barely stand from the beating he had already taken. Brian pulled his arm back to hit him again, and I did the only thing I could think of to stop him; I stepped in front of him, pushed Chad back and I kissed Brian. I could feel the anger in him, but I could sense the confusion from my kiss. He was breathing hard and fast, partly from anger and partly from the exertion of the fight. He pulled back and looked at me, “Delaney?” he said and pulled me back to him and kissed me hard. I let him kiss me until the anger was gone, and then finally, I felt the Brian I knew come back to the surface.

  He pulled back finally and asked me, “Why did you do that?”

  “You wouldn’t listen to me. I didn’t know any other way to stop you,” I said, my mouth still numb from his rough kiss.

  “I didn’t protect you,” he said with such agony in his eyes.

  “You didn’t know. No one knew. You were there for me Brian, later, when I needed you. Don’t you know that I would have just given up if it hadn’t been for you? You saved me, you did. Now please, just take me home,” I begged, crying, afraid he’d go after Chad again.

  He looked over at the lifeless lump on the ground and then over at Hailey. “I’m sorry, Hailey.”

  “I’m not. He deserved it. He hurt us both. Delaney, I don’t think you should drive. Actually, I don’t think you can drive. Do you want me to take your mom’s car home for you and you can go with Brian?”

  “Yes, thank you. I’ll meet you both out front in a few minutes, okay?”

  “Why in a few minutes?” Brian asked.

  “I have a few things I need to say to…him.” Brian shook his head no. “I don’t think he’s in any condition to hurt me. Please Brian, I’ll be right there. You’re the one that told me I had to face this before I could begin to heal. I need to do this.”

  “I don’t want to leave you with him,” Brian said.

  “What can he do, Brian? He can barely lift his head.”

  He looked down at Chad and realized I was right. “Call me if you need me. I won’t be far.”

  “I know,” I said.

  I turned back to Chad and said, “Why?”

  “What do you mean, why? Why what?” he asked while spitting out blood.

  “Why did you do that to me?”

  “You were the hottest girl in school. You should have gone to the party with me!”

  “You raped me because I wouldn’t go out with you?”

  “I didn’t rape you. Trust me, you may not remember it, but you enjoyed it,” he grinned that awful bloody smile.

  I wanted to slap him, strangle him, do something, but the vision of Brian hitting him reminded me that it wouldn’t change anything. “I never gave myself to you. You took what you wanted. If that makes you feel like a man, then I’m sorry for you,” I said and turned to walk away.

  “That’s my baby, isn’t it?” he asked smugly.

  I stopped, turned to him and said, “No. She’s mine; mine and Logan’s.”

  I didn’t know why I said it, but I needed to hurt him and I guess I wanted it to be true.

  “Logan Barnett ruined my life! Do you know that?” he spat.

  “No Chad, you did,” I said, and headed back to the car.

  Brian opened the passenger door for me and I stepped in. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I will be…I hope.”

  We didn’t say anything on the way to my house. Hailey followed in my mom’s car and she parked it in the driveway for me.

  “Thank you, Hailey,” I said as she handed me back the keys.

  “Hailey, I’m sorry about…everything,” Brian said.

  “Don’t be. It’s not your fault. He deserved it. I just wish I had two great guys to protect my virtue. You’re one lucky girl, Delaney.”

  I looked up at Brian and said, “I know. Don’t give up, Hailey. He’s out there for you somewhere.”

  She smiled and started to walk away.

  “Wait, I’ll give you a ride,” Brian said. “I’ll be right back, Delaney.”

  “No, it’s only a few blocks. I want to walk,” she smiled and headed down the street.

  I turned to Brian and noticed that he had blood on his shirt and hands. “Come inside with me for a few minutes. You need to clean up before your mom and Molly see you.”

  “I should just go.”

  “Brian, please,” I said, reaching out to take his hand.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Would you stop, please? None of this was your fault.”

  “I wish I’d known. I wish it didn’t happen.”

  “I know. Me too, but it did. It’s time to move forward now, for both of us.”

  I cleaned up the cuts on his hands and tried to wash the blood from his shirt, but it wasn’t coming off. “I guess you�
�ll have to change when you get home. I’m sure your mom and Molly are worried about you.”

  “I’m not too sure I’m ready to see Molly right now,” he said, looking very guilty.

  “Why?”

  “I’m going to have to tell her that I kissed you.”

  “But I kissed you. You don’t have to tell her anything.”

  “Yes I do. And I did kiss you. I knew what I was doing. I wanted to kiss you. I want to kiss you right now.”

  “Brian, don’t do this. You’ve tortured yourself enough. Just let it go,” I said, knowing full well he would tell her.

  “Delaney, I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Me too, and I’m sorry about how I left things and that you had to live with thinking that Logan was the father. I didn’t know what to do, but I hated myself for hurting you.”

  “Can I ask you something…something that’s really none of my business?”

  “Yes, I’m through lying. You can ask me anything.”

  “Earlier today you told me that you hadn’t slept with Logan.”

  “It’s true. Please believe that.”

  “I believe you, but you’ve been living with him…all this time, so…?”

  “Do you really want to know the answer to that question?” I asked, reaching up to touch his cheek.

  “Yes. I need to know.”

  “Brian, I don’t want to hurt you. I swear that I was completely faithful to you while we were together.”

  “I guess I have my answer.”

  “I love him, Brian, but I swear I loved you, too. I still do. The night that we were alone at your house…it was you that I was with, not Logan. I was so happy; until I saw….Chad’s face…it just terrified me.”

  “So…you don’t see his face anymore?”

  “No, not for a while now.”

  “I’m glad that Logan made you happy, and I’m glad he could erase the image.”

  “You made me happy, too. Please believe that. I couldn’t have made it through that nightmare without you.”

  “But I couldn’t erase Chad’s image from your mind.”

  “I wasn’t ready.”

  “I wasn’t Logan.”

  “Brian, what you and I had was real. I swear it.”

  “I know you loved me, but I always knew you’d end up with Logan. I knew it. It wasn’t really a surprise.”

  “But I didn’t end up with him,” I said, sadly.

  “You will. He’ll come for you and you’ll go with him. That’s how it’s meant to be.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “Can I ask you for one thing?”

  “Anything,” I said, never dreaming of what his request would be.

  “Since I already have to tell Molly that I kissed you, may I have one more? I know it’s wrong, but we never really did get to say goodbye.”

  “Brian, I....yes, I think we both deserve that.” He kissed me then, tenderly, like our first kiss. It was bittersweet and we both had tears in our eyes when we pulled away. “I love you, Delaney. I always will. I have to go. I have to beg Molly for forgiveness now.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not,” he said and headed to the door. He opened the door and added, “Don’t let him go, Delaney. Trust me, it hurts. It hurts more than you can imagine.”

  “I know,” I whispered, and he was gone.

  Molly came by the house later and offered to give me a ride to the bus station. My mom wasn’t happy, but she agreed to let Molly take me anyway. “Delaney, honey, please take care of yourself. And call me, every day,” my mom said.

  “I will. I love you, Mom. I’ll be back. Remember; please don’t tell Logan where I am.”

  “Logan, that’s his name? I should have known,” she said, slowly shaking her head.

  “What does that mean?”

  “You used to call for him in your sleep. Even after you were serious with Brian, you’d call for Logan.”

  “I love him. I’ve always loved him.”

  “Is this the same young man that had you faking migraines?”

  I almost laughed at how transparent I was. “You saw right through me, too. Yes, he’s always been the one. I did love Brian, Mom. I still love him, but Logan…” I sighed

  “Logan…?”

  “Logan has my heart. He is completely irresistible to me. One look into those eyes, one touch of his hand and I’m gone. That’s why I have to leave. I can’t resist him. I will follow him, I know it. And I love him enough to know that I can’t be responsible for him losing everything. It will tear us apart anyway, and I couldn’t bear to have him hate me for it. Please don’t tell him where I am. I’m begging you.”

  “There’s obviously more to the story, Delaney. I know you said he’s married, but something’s not right. What will he lose, other than a wife he obviously doesn’t love, if you stay together?”

  “His home, his island, his trust fund – everything his mother ever left him.”

  “He has an island?” she asked, looking shocked.

  “Yes. He owns Parker’s Island.”

  “Wow, he must be very wealthy.”

  “Yes. And I won’t let him lose it all for me.”

  “What about his wife?”

  “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Just believe me when I tell you that she will destroy him if I’m in the picture. Now, I have to go. I’ll call you. I promise.”

  She hugged me and as I headed to Molly’s car, my mother said, “You know, honey, there’s a lot more to life than money and the things it can buy.”

  “Don’t tell him…” I said, knowing where my mom was heading. I had made up my mind and I was determined to stick to the plan.

  I got into Molly’s car, and wondered if she was going to confront me about the kisses that Brian and I had shared. Never one for beating around the bush, she didn’t disappoint me. She jumped right in, head first.

  “Delaney, you’re my best friend, you always have been. I love you, but if you ever kiss Brian again, we’re through.”

  “Fair enough, I just didn’t know how…”

  “I know. He told me.”

  “Of course he did.”

  “He doesn’t feel the need to lie to me,” she said, still sounding angry at me.

  “I couldn’t face it, Molly. I thought if I pretended it didn’t happen then I could forget. Be honest with me now, would you have let it go, if you knew?”

  “Hell no! I would have killed the son of a bitch!”

  “My point, exactly!”

  “Okay. I get it. Will you tell me now?”

  “Brian didn’t tell you who…”

  “No, he told me to ask you.”

  “Of course. He seems to think the more I talk about it, the sooner I can put it behind me. He’s forgetting about my constant reminder, however…” I said, rubbing my belly.

  “You’re avoiding my question.”

  “I know.”

  “Delaney…”

  “Chad! It was Chad, okay. Are you happy now?” I said, tired of fighting.

  “Why would I be happy that Chad raped you?”

  “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “I hope Brian beat the hell out of him!”

  “He did, trust me!”

  “I’m happy that his life was screwed up, then. Serves him right!”

  “I really am lucky to have two such wonderful men looking out for me.”

  “Logan did that?” she turned to me and grinned.

  “Yes.”

  “I always did like him!” she said, and we both laughed.

  “Molly, promise me you’ll let this go, now. Chad has been punished. Please leave it alone.”

  “Yeah, right!”

  “MOLLY!” I snapped.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll let it go,” she said, but I didn’t believe a word of it.

  “I really screwed everything up, didn’t I?”

  “No. None of this was your fault.”

  “I really hurt Brian.
That’s the worst part. I even managed to screw up his scholarship. Why didn’t he go?”

  “He said it wouldn’t be the same without you,” she said sadly.

  “I’m so glad you were there for him.”

  We drove for a few more minutes and then she finally asked me about Logan. “So, you were really living with Logan all this time, just the two of you?”

  “Yes,” I said wearily, afraid of what was next.

  “So?”

  “So, what?”

  “Did you ever get dessert?” she asked, grinning.

  “Let’s just say we did a lot of…jogging,” I said, remembering how blissful it was being wrapped in those arms.

  “Jogging? I really don’t get you at all. How could you jog with that belly?”

  “It was kind of a joke between us,” I said, getting flushed just thinking about it.

  “How long before you go back to him?” she asked.

  “I’m not going back,” I said with much more conviction than I felt.

  “Yes you will. Something tells me you’re not ready to give up…jogging with Logan,” she said, seeing right through me.

  “I have to.”

  “Um, just so I’m clear on this; jogging is a metaphor for sex, right?”

  “Yes, Molly. Logan and I were…together,” I said.

  “So, was he everything you thought he would be?”

  “No. He was so much more,” I said, the tears starting once again.

  “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just really don’t understand why you left him. If you both love…”

  “Molly, I don’t want to talk about this anymore!” I said, leaving no doubt that I was at my wits end.

  “Okay, I’m dropping it.”

  “Thank you. So, I’m really happy for you and Brian.”

  “Thanks. I really do love him.”

  “I know. I can see it in your eyes. This really isn’t like you. So, is he everything you thought he’d be?” I asked, somewhat embarrassed, but curious, nonetheless.

  “I don’t know. We haven’t been together, yet,” she said.

  “Why?” I asked, shocked.

  “I need to be sure.”