Three months later…
In sin city everyone has a past and everyone has secrets—secrets they wish not to tell. Some secrets are best left unsaid. Some say the truth can set you free, but the truth living inside of me is killing me…
I look at the test that sits on the edge of my bathroom sink. The timer dings and I am afraid to look. Deep breaths Brandi, no matter what this test says you are going to be okay. There it is, the one plus sign that is killing me. I am pregnant. Everything in me tells me that fate is not this cruel. An image flashes through my mind of my brother’s favorite poster ‘History repeats itself because motherfuckers don’t listen.’
How do I tell Royce? How do I say to the man I love, “I’m pregnant and I’m sorry a part of me is scared that this baby could belong to the man you hate…the man I fear…the man that murdered my brother? Parker, Kline and Elizabeth haunt my dreams. Every night the memories come to me in my dreams, and every night I wake up screaming his name—Kline. I miss my brother more and more with every passing day. I did manage to keep my promise to Kline though. After Royce sold his house and I cleaned out my apartment I left sin city.
I married Royce two weeks ago, and we are now living in LA. He got a really good job working for a security firm, and I am set to start nursing school next semester. I never imagined that I would marry Royce after everything that has happened, but he has been my anchor. He really does love me.
Royce has an investor and is working towards starting his own gym, for kids as part of the foundation he started for Kline. I love the idea and support him fully in what he wants to do.
I have to travel back to Vegas this week. Parker Garrett is being sentenced. Royce and my attorneys have told me that I don’t have to be there, but I need to see him put away with my own eyes. I ended up not testifying at the trial. My testimony wasn’t needed. Parker plead guilty by reason of insanity. Before we moved I would get weird deliveries of gift baskets. I know Parker was behind them. Thankfully now that we have moved they have stopped. The baskets contained things for a baby. I don’t know how Parker knew before I did that I am pregnant.
His connections run deep and I am afraid I will never be free of him. I can only pray to God that this baby belongs to my husband.
Did Parker plan for this to happen—the baby? I think back to the one night we had sex, and I remember what he said. He said that the condom broke.
My breakfast comes up, and I empty my shame into the toilet. I can’t have his baby. But what if the baby is my husbands? I know how badly Royce wants a family. I know I need to tell him, but I want to go to the doctor, and find out how far I am before I make any decisions.
I clean myself up, put the evidence of my secret back in the grocery bag taking it out to the dumpster at the back of our building. Royce will be home soon and I don’t want him worrying about me more than he already does.
**
Royce
I walk into the kitchen and watch my wife—my world as she hums to herself while she prepares dinner. The past few months have been hard, but I think she is finally getting to a good place. I can’t wait to get through this week so we can put Vegas and Parker Garrett behind us. I am ready to move forward with my life with my beautiful wife. Brandi has been through a lot, but she is strong.
I keep trying to persuade her to talk to someone about her dreams, but she insists that they are getting better. I am hoping that once Parker is sentenced she will feel safe and be able to let go of her hurt. I know she will never get over losing Kline, and I don’t expect her to. I just want her to be happy. One day I hope I can add to my tattoos—I want to start a family, but only once I know my wife is ready for it. I still can’t believe she actually married me. She was so dead set against it before.
We have talked a great deal; about Elizabeth. I don’t know why, but Brandi seems fixated on her. I blame it on this trial. Bran says she wishes there was something we could do to
bring Elizabeth justice. I told her by Parker going away for what he did to Kline, he kind of is paying for taking her life. I hurt for Elizabeth, but now my hurt is different. I no longer hurt for the woman I lost, but I am sad for the life Elizabeth never got to live. It makes me sad that she will never be a mother. But I can’t focus on what was or could have been. I have to concentrate on the now, and right now I am going to enjoy dinner with my wife.
**
Parker
I get to see her this week. My attorney has told me she will be here. My presents haven’t been getting delivered to her anymore. I don’t know where she has gone to, but I will find her. I hope she is taking care of our baby. I can’t wait to see her glowing from the pregnancy. I can’t wait to see her again—Elizabeth. I know she will come back to me. I know she still loves me, she doesn’t have to be here for my sentencing, but I know she will. I know she misses me and wants to see me too.
She walks into the courtroom, he cheeks flushed, glowing with our baby growing inside of her. She’s even more beautiful than I remember. God, I just want to hold her in my arms. I wish I could have one night with her before I am sent away.
I’ve bargained for a plea deal. The sooner I get out of here, the sooner I get to be with my love again. We will get to have the family we always wanted.
I can’t wait to slip my ring on her finger and make her mine forever.
**
I hate that Royce isn’t able to go to Las Vegas with me for the hearing. He just started his new job and we can’t afford for him to take the time off. I know he worries about me, but I will be okay. Parker is in custody; he can’t hurt me today. My mom and Charlie are picking me up at the airport and then we are driving straight to the courthouse. I am nervous about being in the same room with Parker, but I owe it to Kline to be there. And a part of me feels I need to be there for Royce on Elizabeth’s behalf. I know she isn't getting the justice her and her baby deserve, but it is something. Besides, Parker has to live with knowing that he took the lives of three beautiful souls.
Tomorrow I am seeing my old doctor to find out once and for all if I am really pregnant and how far along I am. I could have found a new doctor in LA, but if I go while I am in Vegas I don’t have to talk to Royce about it, yet. It is killing me to keep this secret from him, we finally talked everything out. He knows everything about me, and I know everything about him, except this. Royce drives me to the airport and we say our goodbyes at the drop off. He has made me promise to call him or text him almost every hour on the hour that we are apart.
I know he worries that Parker is going to try something, but I think he is finally leaving me alone, now that I am no longer receiving his creepy gifts.
**
“Charlie, mom, you guys look good. Thank you so much for picking me up and for going with me. I know that this is a nightmare we are all ready to be done with.”
Charlie actually hugs me. “I miss you and that smart mouth kid. Your mom and me wish you would come home more often.” That is the nicest thing he has ever said to me.