Don Vidal

3 - Will you help me?

Marnie

I called my sister first thing this morning. I need Brooke’s help finding somewhere to stay until I have enough money for a downpayment on a place of my own. I have some savings I managed to hide from Paul, but they are not enough. I need somewhere Paul won’t find me. I can’t let him find me until I have a plan. Because let’s face it, he will find me; men like him never let go easily.

I’m not weak, and I’m not scared of him as much as he thinks I am. Which is probably crazy when he does the things he does to me.

Then again, the fact he beat the shi.t out of me last night in a way that he hadn’t before actually frightened me more than it ever has. I thought he was going to kill me. It didn’t matter how many times I begged him to stop, Paul wouldn’t. I gave up begging because it only made him hurt me worse.

I knew I had to get out of there once he finished with me. There was no way I could take another beating like that, and he would kill me if he found out my secret. So, I waited for him to leave, and I ran.

I don’t even know where I’m supposed to go. I didn’t think that far ahead. All I know is that I can’t risk Paul pounding me like I’m nothing again. I won’t give him that chance again.

I shift uncomfortably in my seat. Brooke agreed to meet me at a coffee shop in town. We meet here once a week since her wedding day. We’d already met earlier this week, so she immediately asked me what the hell Paul had done to me this time. I almost cried, and I am not a crier, but I know she sensed my upset. She promised she’d be here. So here I’ll wait.

I see her walking through the door. She’s beautiful, my sister. Shoulder-length blonde hair, so blonde it’s almost white, and blue eyes that sparkle when she smiles. She’s not very tall, but yet she has long legs. She’s also pregnant with her second child. Six months pregnant. She must be crazy; her son is only ten months old, but she’s glowing. Brooke was born to be a mother, and I am so proud of her.

She spots me and smiles genuinely. Brooke is always happy to see me as I am her. I was never allowed to see her much after I got married; my father wouldn’t allow it; he said I had my own life now, and Brooke wasn’t part of that. I had spent our whole lives protecting Brooke from my father and his constant beatings. As soon as I wasn’t there anymore, his attention turned to her.

I will forever hate myself for what she went through, but I will always be proud of her for finally plucking the courage to be with the man she loves.

Brooke practically skips towards me, her yellow summer dress flowing around her knees, and l see her baby belly showing through.

“Hey, sis. To what do I owe the pleasure twice in one week?” She kisses my cheek, and I wince, hoping she didn’t notice.

She did.

She squints her eyes while taking a seat beside me at the small round table I acquired for us. “Your cheek is bruised, and your lips busted.” She points out the obvious. I guess the makeup I used to hide the bruise on my cheek didn’t work. “We’re also inside. Take your sunglasses off.”

Great.

Slowly, I pull them off my face and look up at her.

“Oh, Marnie,”

“It looks worse than it is.”

“Marnie,” Brooke leans in closer. “You have two black eyes! I dread to think where else you have bruises.”

I lower my eyes. I feel foolish enough without my baby sister giving me a lecture.

“Babe,” She takes my hand in hers, gently squeezing it. “I hate seeing you like this. You’re my sister, and I want the best for you. I’m so scared for you, Marnie. I’m scared that one day soon, I’m going to get a phone call to let me know that he’s finally killed you.”

“I know, that’s why I left him, Brooke.” Her eyes widen in surprise. “I’m serious. I can’t take it anymore. I cannot go back there. You said when I was ready to leave Paul, you’d help me. Please, I need your help now.”

“Of course. Anything.”

“I need a place to stay. Just until I find a place...”

“You can stay with me,” She cuts me off in a hurry with a smile. She squeezes my hand again. “We have room, and I wouldn’t be able to rest if you were anywhere else. I’d just worry that Paul would find you. You’ll be safe with me. Hawk and his club will keep you safe. I promise.”

I smile. Brooke is such a good sister and a good person. “Are you sure Hawk won’t mind?”

“Hawk will be just fine with it. He knows what you mean to me, and that man loves me.” She giggles to herself. He does love Brooke; he loves her more than anything. You only have to look at him to see that.

“Hawk doesn’t want you with Paul either. The only reason he hasn’t beaten the asshole to death is that I asked him not to, and I only asked him not to because you didn’t want that. Besides, Gabriel will love having his aunt Marnie around.”

I smile. I do love that little boy so much.

“Okay, but it’ll only be for a little while.”

“For as long as you need, Marnie. Do you need help collecting your stuff?”

“No,” I shake my head. “Everything I need is in the trunk of my car.”

A decaf tea each later, and we laugh about old times. The few memories we had that were good. Brooke hasn’t mentioned anything about the bruises besides what she said earlier, but I know she’s dying to say something.

It’s all well and good hiding the truth about Paul, but what good has that done for me in the past?

No, I’m done pretending everything is fine. I’m done letting people think I’m happy when I’m not, and I’m done putting everyone else first. It’s time I put myself first for a change.

“Can I ask one more thing of you?”

“Sure, Marnie, what’s up?”

“I’m pregnant.” I’m not one for beating around the bush. I don’t see the point of faffing around when you can get straight to the point.

Brooke’s eyes are so wide, and I know what she’s thinking.

How am I pregnant when my husband can’t have children?

“I’m not going into it right now, Brooke, but obviously, the baby isn’t Paul’s. I slept with someone else a couple of months ago. I’m not proud of myself, but... I don’t know, Brooke.”

“Is this the reason Paul beat you? Because he found out you cheated?”

“No,” I shake my head. “He did that because he’s a dumb f**k. I cheated once. He cheated... I lost count years ago. Look, I slept with a guy on the day of your wedding, and he got me pregnant. It was reckless, but I can’t change it. I won’t feel guilty about it either because I have wanted this for longer than I can remember.” That’s the truth.

I didn’t sleep with Draven Vidal in hopes he’d impregnate me; the thought never entered my head. He was nice to me and made me feel things no one else ever has. I should have known the man would have super sperm to go along with that monster coc.k. I guess I knew deep down when he came inside of me that we’d end up like this.

“I know. Wanna tell me who the father is?”

“Well, that’s what I need your help with.” I shift uncomfortably. Might as well just get on with it. “The man I slept with is Draven. Draven Vidal.”

“What the hell?!”

“I know, okay?” I hiss between my teeth while looking around the coffee shop. People are looking! “I didn’t know who he was, Brooke. You should have introduced me to him the way you did with most of the others there that day.”

Brooke sighs. “I know. I’m sorry I didn’t. I was caught up with my big day.”

I take her hand in mine. “Sweetheart, don’t be sorry. You had every right to enjoy the best day of your life.”

“Was Draven at least good to you? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

I shake my head. “He didn’t hurt me, Brooke. He was nice to me, nothing like I’d heard. No one has ever treated me the way he did that night. Draven treated me like I was worth something. We had an amazing night together,” I smile at the memory. Inappropriate right now, I know.

“Point is, I need you to help me get a meeting with Draven. Because regardless of who he may be, he’s my child’s father, and every child deserves to know both parents. So, will you help me?”

Brooke looks at me for a long moment before nodding her head.

Good, but it needs to be today. I will not wait around.