Rivers End Chapter Six
Brandon and Guya, VENICE
Brandon spoke on Guya's behalf at her arraignment. He was a cop but he loved her first and foremost. He didn't believe she deserved to go to prison. She was in tears as she stood for the decision. Brandon reached out and squeezed her hand for moral support. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath until she heard the relief in Brandon's voice and the outrage in her niece and nephew's…the judge had decided there wasn't enough evidence for a trial…she wasn't being charged. She fell into Brandon's open arms and cried.
"I told you baby…I told you you'd be okay."
"Because of you…only because of you…"
"I'd do anything for you…anything at all…because I love you that much."
"I love you too," she said between tears. He put his arm around her as they walked out of the courtroom. She had trouble seeing the pain in Gina and Owen's eyes but she felt like she deserved it. Brandon didn't.
"I understand that you're upset," he said. "But are you really going to let a mistake that she made cancel out all the good? She's your family for God's sake…she's been there for you through it all…be there for her."
They didn't say anything further. He took her home and took care of her. They made love on the kitchen table after he fed her ice cream.
"You're so good to me Brandon. You're so good. Why do you love me like this when it's the last thing I deserve?"
"I love you because you're you…and because you DO deserve it…all of it…I wouldn't change anything about you…your flaws just make you more human…"
"I'm not sure how I'm supposed to do this…all of this is foreign to me…I was never the woman that men fought for…I was the one they left behind."
"You never will be again…Because I will never leave you…and I'm never going to stop trying to convince you to marry me…because I would be proud to call you my wife…let the world judge if they want to…I don't give a shit…I LOVE YOU…Guya, Jane, whoever you want to call yourself…that's all that matters…"
"What if I'm terrible at it…what if I don't know how to do the marriage thing Brandon…I couldn't stand it if I hurt you…"
"We can learn together baby…we can…please….there's nothing I want more then to marry you and call you my wife…If you want to do something for me…take my ring and say that you'll marry me some day…can you at least do that?"
"Okay…okay Brandon…I'll marry you…If you really know what you're getting yourself into and you still want to marry me then…then okay."
He kissed her fiercely as he twirled her around in his arms. "I love you so much. I'm going to make you so happy."
"I love you too…and you already do," she said, as he slipped the engagement ring on her finger and carried her up to their bedroom to celebrate