by Emily Camp
It took her a minute to realize where she was, the light walls, the hard mattress, Garrett. “What’s going on?”
Garrett turned toward Bree, slowly. “Sorry about that. I was hoping we didn’t wake you.”
“We?”
“My self-righteous older brother.”
“Declan was here?” Bree patted her hair as if it wasn’t too late that they were caught in bed together, even though this time they really weren’t doing anything.
Garrett nodded then stared back at his hands. “He thinks he’s all holy and some crap because he’s a chaplain in the service and he waited until he was married. Whatever.”
This made Bree’s stomach turn, either that or the baby anyway. Just one more person who was going to be disappointed in them when it all came out. “Is everyone going to hate us when they find out?”
“What? Bree, no,” Garrett pulled his arms around her, though this time it was little comfort. “It’s not their life. It’s ours and, honestly, we’re adults now, so it’s not anyone’s business.”
“But it is. We claim to be Christians with morals and values and now we’ve done what everyone expected us to do. I mean, really your parents monitored us like hawks until just recently.”
“Now they trust us.”
“Their trust is misplaced.”
“Like I said, we can get married soon, as soon as they let me out of here, and then we can pretend it happened after.”
“And cover up one lie with another?” Bree stood up.
The door swung open. She was thankful she was out of bed.
“Good morning, how are you feeling?” The nurse came pushing in a cart.
“Better,” Garrett scratched the back of his head.
“That’s good.” The perky nurse stopped right in front of him. “Are you in pain or anything?”
“A little. Not much … maybe a three.”
“Should have the results back soon.” The nurse wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Garrett’s bicep.
“Good then I can go home.”
“Let’s hope so.” Bree leaned forward and when she had Garrett’s attention she said, “I’m going to go get something to eat.”
“Okay,” he tilted his face up and puckered out his lips. Bree felt awkward kissing him in front of the nurse, even it if was just a peck. She felt her face flush and she looked at the ground before heading out the door.
She reached for the phone in her pocket to check to see if she’d missed any calls during the few hours of sleep she did get. Texts from Carly, Parker, Maggie. The usual. At least there weren’t any from Robin, that made her feel better. She hated leaving Bailey with them all night. Not that she didn’t think she’d be taken care of, she just didn’t want to feel like she was taking advantage of them. Bailey was her baby and her responsibility. And Garrett. Her heart broke when she thought about it. Was he going to be okay? She needed him now more than she ever wanted to admit.
She opened the first text. Maggie complaining about Parker. The next one was Parker complaining about Maggie and, the third, was Carly asking about Garrett. At least her best friend had her priorities straight.
Bree started to text Carly back when she heard, “Bree,” behind her. She turned and Declan jogged toward her. “Sorry if Garrett and I woke you up.”
“You didn’t,” she said, although technically he did when he slammed the door, but she didn’t want him feeling bad.
“I don’t like fighting with Garrett, but I just want him to do better, you know?”
Guilt hit her gut and she nodded, keeping her stride toward the cafeteria. Declan fell into step beside her.
“Congratulations, by the way.”
She looked up at him, wide-eyed. Certainly, Garrett didn’t tell him about the baby, he definitely wouldn’t be that casual about it.
“You finally said yes,” he shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Yeah, right, thanks.” Bree tucked her hair behind her ear.
“How’s he doing anyway? We really didn’t get a chance to talk about his health.”
“He seems better this morning, but we still don’t have the results back.”
Bree never knew what to say around Declan. He always seemed so perfect and Bree was always a mess, “How are the twins?”
“Logan started crawling. Landon seems content to let everyone else move him around,” he laughed. “The boy’s got the right idea.”
Bree chuckled, but as she did, her stomach turned. She looked from right to left before she covered her mouth and hurried toward the nearest restroom.
She didn’t even have time to care about what Declan would think, before she spewed out what little contents she had in her stomach. She felt a little bit better afterward. She stood at the sink and splashed cold water on her face. How was she going to go out there and face Declan now?
Her reflection made her cringe. Her hair was a mess, her clothes all wrinkly, and dark circles were around her eyes. Forget makeup, she cried that off long ago. Her skin was pale and she looked like a zombie. She kind of felt like one, too.
Bree was not surprised to see Declan outside the bathroom, leaning against the wall, his phone in his hand and face pointed toward it, which he tilted up when she walked out. One eyebrow was quirked up and his lips twisted the same.
Bree pointed toward the door, “I’m not feeling … well.”
“Do you need a ride home? Maybe you shouldn’t be around Garrett if you’re sick.”
She waved a hand in the air, “It was probably something I ate.” Though she didn’t feel like eating now, she kept moving toward the cafeteria. She was determined to pretend everything was okay. But when they got closer and the smell of food floated down the hall, she booked it to another restroom.
This time as soon as she came out, Declan asked her, “Are you pregnant?”
“Oh so, the minute a girl is sick, she’s automatically pregnant?” Bree perched her hand on her hip, though she probably could’ve thrown up again.
Declan held his hands, palm up. “No, I just remember how Miley was. I didn’t think … but Garrett was really defensive this morning.”
Now she wasn’t just feeling guilty for hiding it, she was downright lying about it and he was going to find out anyway, “You’re right.”
“What?”
“I’m pregnant,” she held her chin high and started toward the cafeteria again.
“Whoa, wait, what?” He grabbed her elbow.
She swung around, keeping her face solid and her eyes right on him. “We’re getting married.”
“I know,” Declan ran his hand over his head. “But … do my mom and dad know?”
She shook her head and despite trying to stay strong, tears burned her eyes and spilled over her lashes.
“Please … don’t cry. I … I didn’t. How?”
“You know how,” she sniffled.
“You guys haven’t been talking for weeks.” he looked up at the ceiling and his eyes widened as if a light bulb just lit up in his brain. “That’s what happened.”
“You win the prize. We slept together. Things got awkward. Then I found out I was pregnant and here we are,” Bree made a sweeping motion over her stomach.
“You guys have to tell my parents.”
“No. They can’t know. Please.” Though she knew it was only a matter of time before they found out, she wasn’t ready for it yet.
“I won’t tell them, but don’t you think they’re going to find out?”
“Maybe.” Suddenly Garrett’s idea of getting married fast so no one knew sounded like a good plan, “Depends on when we get married.”
“You know that’s not right.”
Now she was beginning to see why Garrett got so irritated with him. “But it will be okay.”
“If you come clean, yeah. Not if you keep covering up your lies and a marriage built on a lie is not a good foundation.”
Bree held a hand to her head. “No offense, but I really don’t need a preach
er right now. I’ve got a lot of other things going on.”
“Okay.” Declan surprised her with how quickly he agreed. But one more person knowing only meant that much easier for the secret to get out.
****
Bailey crawled over Garrett’s lap and nestled in the bed on the other side of him.
“So that’s good news,” his mom said. She sat straight up in the seat Bree had been in the night before.
Shortly after Bree left, the doctor came in. It was a contusion, though that only meant he had to take it easy a little longer and they were going to keep him for observation a least another day. It was looking like football season was over for him this year. Even if he was better by the time the season was over, he’d miss too many practices. He didn’t think that was good news.
His mom just arrived with Bailey, who was more than excited to see him. As she squealed, “Daddy,” and reached for him, he had to admit that did make his day brighter.
“I mean it’s still serious, but a least you’re doing better than you were yesterday,” his mom said as Bailey grabbed his thumb and yanked. It always amazed him the little things that entertained her.
“I’m praying I can still play football this year.”
“Let’s not worry about football right now. Concentrate on getting better. For Bailey,” she looked down at Bailey, who was still playing with Garrett’s hand as she talked away like it was listening to her, giving new meaning to the phrase, ‘talk to the hand.’ “And for Bree.”
As if Bree heard her name, she came pushing in the room. “He knows,” she motioned toward Declan, who scowled at Garrett.
“Knows what?” His mom turned, and upon seeing her, Bree’s face paled.
“Mommy,” Bailey pointed her bitty finger at her.
Bree’s brown eyes were bigger than normal as she looked at Garrett.
“That we’re engaged?” Garrett spoke slowly, even though he’d already told Declan earlier.
Bree’s shoulders sagged, but she threw on a forced smile, “Yeah.”
He was too concerned about the save to be upset about Declan knowing. He waved Bree toward him and she made her way over and sat on the side of the bed. Her body tensed when he put his arm around her.
“Mommy, Gramma, Daddy, Uncle D,” Bailey chattered.
“Yes, we’re all here,” his mom leaned over and pinched Bailey’s cheek.
Declan looked down at his phone when Garrett tried to plead with his eyes not to tell them. “I better go. I have some work to do.”
“Thanks for stopping by,” his mom said.
“Yeah, it’s been …”
Garrett narrowed his eyes at his brother.
“Enlightening.” Declan turned to his mom, who looked at him like he was talking out of his mind, “See you later.”
“Bye Uncle D,” Bailey waved.
Robin pointed toward the door, “Did he seem weird to you?”
Garrett shrugged, “He always seems weird to me.”
“Garrett,” Robin gasped.
“What?” Garrett laughed, but it wasn’t lost on him, Bree didn’t find it funny.
Bree stayed quiet beside him, watching her hands.
When his cell phone went off, he wasn’t surprised to see it was his brother, sending him a text. You need to tell mom. Before anyone could see, Garrett deleted the text.
Garrett planned on telling his mom. She would find out eventually, but today wasn’t that day.
Chapter 22
“She’s moving out, going back to Mindy.” Parker ran his hand over his head then held his arm out, “Why?”
Bree tucked her feet under her on his sofa. She came over to ask her brother to give her away; she hadn’t spoken to her dad since she told him she was pregnant with Bailey. Now she found herself stuck in the middle of Parker and Maggie once again.
“Maybe you’re being a little too strict?”
Parker put a hand to his chest and his jaw fell open. “Me? I’m just … I’m just trying to protect her.”
Bree propped her elbow on the arm of the sofa. “There is such a thing as overprotective.”
“You know how much Mindy loves this.” He paced in front of his window, shaking his head.
Bree was sure their mother was in all her glory now after Parker fought to get Maggie and Bryson out of her custody a couple years ago.
“And Bryson, he’s been asking about it, too, you know? Not because he hates me like Maggie does, but because he misses Mindy. She’s always sugary-sweet during her visitations, always bringing him basketball cards or candy.”
Part of Bree hurt hearing this; though she knew how her mom was, she was still her mom. She never remembered her doing anything like that for her, even though that wasn’t much. Usually, when she visited, Bree was treated more like a free babysitter than a child she cared about.
“You could’ve let Maggie date, given her a curfew.”
He looked at her, his brown eyes wide, “That won’t keep boys from getting what they want.”
“You need to calm down. She told me a couple days ago she wanted to move in with mom. I tried to talk her out of it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I tried, but I had so much of my own going on.”
He glanced at her stomach then wrinkled his nose. “Right. My point exactly.”
She sat up straighter, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Garrett not only knocked you up once, but twice.”
Bree took in a gulp of air, her heart rate sped up. “I came over to tell you we’re getting married.”
“It’s about time.”
She stood, avoiding eye contact with him, “I was going to ask you to give me away, but forget it.” The door seemed too far away now, even though it was only a few feet. She had to get away from him. She knew he would take the pregnancy bad, but she didn’t know he’d be such a jerk.
“Bree, wait,” Parker’s voice was much softer and sounded more like the brother she knew and loved. She stopped with her hand on the door knob.
“I’m sorry. It’s just …,” he sighed. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to raise a teenager. I’m only 21.” He rubbed the back of his neck and Bree could relate; though she wasn’t the one with Maggie and Bryson, she’d always felt responsible for them. “My point is, I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
Bree turned toward him.
“The truth is, I’m proud of you, Bree. You’re a great mom and, though I may have wigged the other day, I think you’ll be all right. Garrett’s a good guy.”
“Thanks,” Bree blinked up at him. She still had a hard time getting used to hearing someone was proud of her when all she seemed to do was mess up. At least he knew her latest mistake and could still say he was proud.
“I’m … if you still want me to after all this, I’ll give you away.”
“I do want you to. You’re the most important person in my family. Sometimes I feel like you’re the only family I have.”
“You have Maggie and Bryson and, even though the Lights aren’t blood, you know you have them.”
And yes, she did think of Garrett’s parents as her parents sometimes, but it wasn’t the same. Maybe she’d feel different once she was actually part of the family by marriage. “Thanks.”
Parker rubbed the back of his neck and frowned, “I’ve been dumping all our problems on you and I haven’t even asked about Garrett.”
“Hopefully he gets to come home today.” She planned on heading to the hospital right after meeting with Parker. Last night when she left, Garrett tried to talk her out of it. The doctor just wanted to keep him another night for observation, but if all went well, he’d be home soon.
He hadn’t called yet. She hoped it was just because he was resting or busy being released.
The door swung open with a thud, and Bree turned her attention to Maggie storming in, her bright red hair up in a springy knot. She flared her nostrils at Parker and pursed her lips befo
re glaring at Bree, “You’re on his side now?”
“I didn’t know there was a side. I told you the other day that I thought you’d be better off here.”
“You don’t know everything, do you?” Maggie stomped toward her bedroom, as she slid her phone out of her pocket.
Bree looked toward Parker, who held his hands up, “She’s like this all the time.”
That wasn’t something Bree was willing to accept; she followed Maggie and pushed into her room right behind her.
“Hey,” Maggie twisted around, the same scowl that was on her face in the living room still there.
“What’s your deal?”
“My deal,” she tossed her head back and forth, “is my so-called brother out there thinking he’s my dad.” Her phone buzzed and she tilted her face toward it.
Without thinking, Bree swiped the phone out of her hand and threw it. It bounced off the wall and clattered to the ground. She wasn’t sure if it was still in one piece or not.
“What was that for?”
“Parker is trying,” Bree shouted pointing toward the door.
Maggie’s eyes watered and her pale cheeks turned pink, “Why are you talking his side?” Her voice came out a shriek and Bree hoped the neighbors couldn’t hear.
“I’m not on either side. I see both sides, but you’re too focused on yourself that you can’t even see what he does for you.”
“What he does for me?” Maggie held a hand to her chest. “I’m a prisoner here.”
“I’ve never been to a prison before, but I’m pretty sure they don’t have smart phones.” Parker’s voice boomed from behind Bree. Even though she was shouting as well, she knew Parker joining in didn’t help matters any.
“Why do you guys hate me?” Maggie didn’t have an indoor voice when she wasn’t upset, so now it was ear piercing.
“We d-“
Maggie covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shook with sobs, “I just want mom. A girl needs her mom.”
Bree bit back her own tears now. She needed a mom, too, but unfortunately Mindy couldn’t be considered a mom.
“She left the guy that beat her and she’s trying now. Why can’t you see that?”