by Kayla Carson
“I could tell. You were glowing baby girl.”
“Call her that again, and I'll make your right eye match the left.” Owen said with a smile.
“It doesn't matter what I call her. You, and I both know that you're only a temporary distraction. Especially now that she's having my baby.”
“About that.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “I know that you switched my birth control pills for placebos.”
“I don't know what-”
“Before you try to deny it, I've seen a doctor. He's confirmed that they aren't real, and all it took was a call to the pharmacy in Raleigh to learn that there were no prescriptions in my name. I made another call to my physician's office, you know the one that gave you the free samples? Turns out they aren't allowed to hand those kinds of things out without regular appointments.”
I may have bluffed a bit about the phone calls I'd made, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. I knew he wouldn't bother checking my story, and I could tell by the look on his face that he knew he was backed into a corner.
“We were engaged.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Why does it matter? You wanted a baby anyway. I was just trying to speed up the process.”
“It matters because you took my choice away! It matters because it's my body, and only I should have a say of what I put into it.”
“You're not happy then?”
“I'm happy about the baby, yes. But I'm angry as hell that you're it's father.”
“You'd rather it be this guy?” Derek laughed. “What's he got to offer you that I don't?”
“Love.” I said simply. “Real, honest, love.”
“Everyone has secrets, Ronnie. It's only a matter of time before all of his come out.”
“I only wanted you to know that I know. I don't want anything from you, and honestly I could care less if you're in this baby's life or not.”
“It's my baby, Ronnie. Of course I'm going to be in it's life.”
Owen stood from the table abruptly, and walked towards the door before pulling it open.
“You can leave now.” He said.
“Is that what you want?” Derek asked me.
“Yes.” I said with conviction.
He stood, pushing his chair in before stopping just in front of me. He got down onto his knees and placed his hand over my stomach. Goosebumps instantly covered my skin, but not the good kind. The creepy kind. The kind you get when you see a shadow in a dark alley.
“Daddy can't wait to meet you.” He said.
“That's enough.” Owen said, as he came to grab Derek by the back of his shirt collar.
He lifted him to his feet almost effortlessly, and released him. Derek quickly adjusted his shirt, and stood a little straighter.
“You'll both be hearing from my lawyer.”
“About what?” I asked, as I left the table as well.
“My new found brother and I have some unfinished business to handle when it comes to our father's will. And you and I baby girl? We've got a custody fight on our hands.”
“Custody!” I practically yelled. “I'm barely two months pregnant, and you want to talk about sharing custody?”
“Not sharing. Full. If you don't want to marry me and make our family whole like my dad wanted us to be, I'll make sure you never see that child again.”
“Get the fuck out!” Owen seethed. “I won't tell you again.”
Without another word Derek walked out of the open door, and Owen slammed it roughly behind him. When he turned to face me I had tears in my eyes, and he quickly made up the distance between us. When he pulled me into his arms I let myself go. I let the events of the entire day pour out of me, and he was right there holding me steady.
I was overwhelmed with everything I'd just heard. Not only did Derek not give a shit about switching my pills, but now he was threatening to take my baby? A baby he purposely conceived without my knowledge. There had to be some kind of law against that, right? If Derek wanted to play hardball, then I was going to fight fire with fire.
TWENTY-ONE
IT HAD BEEN TWO DAYS since my conversation with Derek, and it was also Mister Foster's funeral. Owen had basically moved in. He didn't want to go back to his dad's place, and his only other option was to find an apartment of his own. Neither one of us felt like being alone right now, so it made perfect sense to me. Morgan didn't seem to mind either, so for now things were working out.
Owen had already showered, and changed while I was still trying to make myself look presentable. I found the most modest black dress that I owned, and put on a pair of matching heels. I tried to tame my hair, but wound up twisting it into a sleek bun instead. Morning sickness decided to rear it's ugly head today of all days, but I was really trying my best to hold it together.
When I finally made my way into the kitchen to find Owen, he was casually leaning against the counter. He wore a pair of black fitted slacks, and a crisp white shirt. His tie hung around his neck, and there was a black leather jacket on the back of one of the chairs.
I couldn't help but smile. Of course he'd choose a leather jacket opposed to a tailored one. I approached him then, carefully tying and adjusting his tie for him. He pulled me into his arms when I'd finished, and rested his chin on the top of my head.
“Are you sure you're up for this today?” He asked.
“I'm fine. Morgan ran to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.”
“Derek will probably be there.”
“Unfortunately, Derek is a part of our lives forever now.”
“Don't remind me.”
I pulled away from him, looking up into his eyes.
“Are you sure you're up for this?” I teased, shooting my brow up in question.
He leaned down to press his lips to mine.
“As long as I have you, I will be.”
“Gag me with a spoon!” Morgan said as she tossed my prescription bag onto the kitchen table.
“She's been saying that a lot lately.” Owen said.
“Right? Maybe she needs to get laid.” I said.
“I'm pretending that I didn't hear that.” She said, before sashaying past us towards her bedroom.
I laughed, leaving Owen's arms so that I could take one of my pills. With any luck, they'd work long enough for me to make it through the funeral. I'd already thrown up once in the presence of Mister Foster, and I didn't want to do it again. Especially today. Owen was going to need me, and I had a feeling that I was going to need him just as much.
Since I didn't exactly know my way around New York yet, I let Owen drive. The funeral home was only half an hour away, but it felt like the drive took much longer. Probably because neither one of us were looking forward to getting there.
When we pulled into the large parking lot, there were already a few cars there. One of them was Derek's. I reached over to grab Owen's hand, and he squeezed mine back in understanding. I only hoped that everything would go smoothly today. If Derek was any type of man he would keep to himself, and let Owen mourn his father in peace.
My arm was looped in his as we walked into the funeral home. We were greeted immediately by the housekeeper who let us in the house on our last visit. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her cheeks were tear stained. It was clear that she and Mister Foster were close. She pulled Owen in for a hug and whispered something into his ear, before giving me a warm smile.
I was curious, but I let it go for now. After hanging our jackets, we made our way into the viewing room. Thankfully, it was empty so Owen and I were able to approach the casket on our own. Mister Foster looked like he was sleeping. He wore a navy suit, with a matching patterned tie, and his white hair was styled perfectly.
Owen placed his hand over his dad's, and sniffled. I rubbed my own hand up and down his back in a show of support.
“I'm sorry, dad.” Owen whispered. “I'm sorry that I was never the son you wanted me to be.”
“Owen.” I said softly, but he shook his head.
“I
shouldn't have left.” He sighed, as he lifted his hand away. “I could have worked for him during the day, and wrote music at night. It didn't have to be so black and white.”
“You can't go back now.” I reasoned. “All we can do now is move forward.”
“Well if it isn't my brother slash baby's step father.” Derek said, as he came to stand beside Owen. “Glad you could make it. It's only been what? Five years since you've seen the old man?”
“What do you know?” Owen seethed, still facing the coffin. “You've only just met him.”
“I met him last year.” He said, reaching in to put his hand on Mister Edwards'.
“Bullshit. He told us that you knew nothing.”
If anyone were watching from behind, they'd see three people having a conversation by the coffin. But if they could see the faces of the men who were having it, they'd soon realize just how bad things were about to become.
“Owen. This isn't the place.” I silently pleaded, praying that he would walk away with me.
He laid his hand on the small of my back, and led me towards the front row of chairs without a backwards glance. I let out a breath that I wasn't even aware I was holding as the two of us took our seats. My hand was in his, resting in his lap and the housekeeper came to sit on the other side of him.
Owen leaned over to kiss her leathery cheek, and I smiled. Maybe he'd tell me more about her when we were alone again. I watched as Derek shook hands, and introduced himself as Mister Foster's long lost son. Of course, he left out the part about being illegitimate. Also the part about Mister Foster wanting nothing to do with him until recently.
People were eating it up. Falling for his sob story about how he only wished he had more time with his father. Thank God my prescription was working, because between the bullshit coming out of Derek's mouth, and my morning sickness I don't think I'd make it five minutes into the service.
After twenty minutes or so, Mister Foster's lawyer came into the room. He shook Owen's hand, before making his way up to the podium. In loo of a pastor, Mister Foster asked that his lawyer conducted the service. They were long time friends, and he was one of the only people that Mister Foster had actually trusted.
“Thank you all for being here today.” He started, addressing the room. “Edward was a man of dignity, and honor. He valued his family, and business above all else. His dream was for his business to live on through the next generation. Everything Edward did was calculated. He had a reason for everything. Including asking me to speak today. He wouldn't want us to mourn him. Instead, he'd want us to honor him. We can do that by being there for each other, and doing our best to put our families first every day.”
Owen scoffed, and I squeezed his hand. I knew he was getting angry, and it was only making Derek happier. It was like he was feeding off of Owen's discomfort and heartbreak, and I hated him for it. Thirty minutes later, the lawyer had finally finished his long winded eulogy. We watched as row after row, people came up to say goodbye. Soon it was only Derek, Owen, and I left in the room.
I stood with Owen, but turned to face Derek.
“Please. Can you just give him a minute? If I ever meant anything to you just... one minute.”
“Sure baby girl.” He said, taking his pointer finger and swiping it under my chin. “I'll see you both at the luncheon.”
Thankfully, Owen was too distracted by his father to notice the gesture. So when Derek walked away, I let him. I didn't make a scene, or slap him like I wanted to. I just sat back down, and waited. I knew that saying goodbye to someone you love is never easy, but it was especially hard for Owen. I think he was starting to blame himself for the lack of communication between the two of them. The truth is it takes two people to maintain a healthy relationship of any kind, but I knew he wasn't ready to hear that.
I tried not to listen as Owen spoke to his father, but I was only a few feet away. I found my own tears falling as he told him how much he loved him, and apologized over and over again. It broke my heart to know that he was feeling this way, and I wished now more than ever that this baby was his. Maybe then we would have had a chance at keeping the business. It wouldn't make things perfect, but maybe it would make him feel a little less guilty.
When he finished, the two of us went out to the parking lot to find the housekeeper waiting next to my truck. I gave her a curious look, and she adjusted her blouse in a nervous gesture.
“I'm sorry the two of you haven't been properly introduced.” Owen said, as we approached her.
“Ronnie, this is Carlotta. Carlotta, this is my girlfriend Ronnie.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you.” She said, reaching out to grasp my hand.
I accepted the greeting, and returned her kind smile.
“I don't think that we should talk here.” She said, glancing around the parking lot.
“Is everything alright?” I asked.
“No.” She laughed. “I'm sorry, I laugh when I'm nervous.”
“Why don't you ride to the luncheon with us, Carlotta? Then you can tell me whatever you need to along the way.”
Her eyes darted to me, and then back to Owen as if she was trying to convey something. She did it again, and again until finally I'd had enough.
“Have I done something wrong?” I asked.
“No. Not at all. It's just- well it's personal. Mister Foster wouldn't like me-”
“Carlotta, whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of Ronnie. I trust her.”
He snaked his arm around my waist, and bent down to kiss the top of my head. It brought me back to our conversation about reassurance. I smiled, leaning into him. This man was amazing. Even on one of his darkest days, he was still taking care of my feelings.
“OK.” She said, her voice shaky. “OK.”
I sat in the middle of the bench seat, and when we pulled out onto the road Owen cleared his throat. We were both expecting her to start talking. She was literally freaking out mere seconds ago, but now that she was in a safe space it was like she'd frozen up again.
“Carlotta?” Owen asked.
She started to dig around in her purse, and handed me a flash drive.
“What's this?” I asked.
“When I was cleaning out Mister Foster's office, I found a hidden camera.”
Owen glanced at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road.
“You mean... the person who killed him... there's video footage?”
“It was an old nanny cam he used to use when you were left with a sitter. The feed always went directly to my work email. He told me it was because he didn't trust anyone else with the footage. I never thought anything of it. But when I saw the camera, something told me to check that email address again.”
“And?” I asked, nearly sitting on the edge of my seat.
“Everything is right there, plain as day. He even looked right at the camera.”
“Who?” Owen asked, his own patience wearing thin.
“Derek.”
My mind. Was blown. I had known this man for fifteen years, and not once was I ever afraid of him. Yet in the span of the last six months he'd switched my medication, and if what Carlotta just said was true... he'd also murdered a man. His own father. And for what? The 'family' business? A sense of belonging?
Suddenly my head was spinning, and I felt dizzy. My pulse was racing, and my stomach started cramping. I wrapped my arms around my middle, and hunched over in my seat.
“Unicorn?” Owen asked, rubbing his hand over my back. “Are you alright?”
“I- I think I'm going to be sick.” I said, before I did just that.
I OPENED MY EYES, AND felt something cool on my forehead. I blinked a few times as things started to come into focus. Owen was sitting on a chair beside me, holding a washcloth on my forehead. It was then that I realized we were back at my apartment.
“Owen?” I asked. “What- what happened?”
“I think you had some kind of panic attack. You got sick, and then you had a
hard time breathing. The next thing I knew you'd passed out. I wanted to take you to the hospital, but you wouldn't let me.”
“Right. We were in the truck, and- Derek!” I said, sitting up in a rush.
“Hey, hey, hey.” He soothed, gently laying me back down onto the bed. “Take it easy, alright?”
“How are you so calm right now?”
“Because, Unicorn. We've got him exactly where we want him.”
I shook my head. “But he killed your father. We can't just-”
“We can't what? Give him a taste of his own medicine? He threatened you, Ronnie. And as you've just pointed out he killed my father!”
“If we just take the flash drive to the police-”
“I want to scare him first. After everything he's done I just... I want to make him squirm.”
“Owen, that's not who you are.”
“You don't know the kind of man I am, Ronnie! We barely fucking know each other. Maybe I'm the kind of man who wants revenge. Who needs it. Maybe I'm the kind of guy who wants that son of a bitch to suffer!”
“I don't believe that.” I said as a tear slid down my cheek, and my voice trembled.
“What the hell is going on in here?” Morgan asked, as she burst through my bedroom door. “She's supposed to be resting! What the hell are you doing screaming at her?”
“I- I didn't mean to. I mean I wasn't.” He stammered.
“Take a walk.” Morgan said, crossing her arms over her chest.
“I'm fine. I don't need-”
“Take. A. Walk.” She said again with more force this time.
He stood slowly, and bent down to kiss my forehead.
“I'll be right back, Unicorn.” He whispered. “I love you.”
When he started to walk away, I pulled myself up into a sitting position.
“Owen.” I said, stopping him. “Promise me you won't do anything stupid. I need you. We need you.”
His back was still turned to me, but I saw his shoulders slump.
“I promise.” He said, before opening the door and walking out of it.
“Are you alright?” Morgan asked, as she came to sit down on the bed beside me.