Chapter 8.5
December 16, 1994
Brenda heard a knock on the door and got up to get it. Expecting a neighbor wanting a babysitter or sugar or something. She wasn't though, expecting one of her brother's best friends to be at her door. He was all blond hair and blue eyes staring down at her smiling like an idiot to see his old friend again.
"Steve! What are you doing here?" Brenda exclaimed. She stood aside so that he could come in and hug her; she hoped to God that he wouldn't notice her swollen stomach.
"I got your address from Brandon and I was travelling, and I thought I'd stop by and see an old friend." He said, putting distance between them and looking her over. His eyes lingered on her belly for a moment before looking up at her. "Brenda."
"Yes Steve, I'm pregnant. Please, please don't tell anyone."
"Is this why Dylan came back? Does he know?"
Brenda rolled her eyes, "No, he doesn't know…and Steve, the baby isn't his." She could feel the tears coming into her eyes, "I was raped."
Steve's face hardened, "The son of a bit-"
"Steve. Don't, it's done. It's over with and I don't want to relive it."
Steve looked down at the girl who might as well have been his little sister. He saw pain in her eyes, and something else, though he couldn't figure it out. He sat down on the couch with her and wrapped her in his arms, afraid to let her go. "Bren. Please tell me what happened. I want to help you. I promise I won't tell a sole."
Brenda took a deep breath.
"It was back in August, I had a late rehearsal that night and didn't get off until a little after mid night. I'd always hated walking home at night and it was starting to get cold out and I wanted to get home. So I took the short cut through the alley. Usually, Dylan would come meet me and we would walk home together because I hated walking in downtown London by myself, but he had been gone for a couple weeks by then. I turned on my flashlight and started walking down the alley, and I was just about home when he grabbed me and put something over my mouth to keep me quiet. He whispered in my ear that if I called the cops he'd find me and kill me, and then he raped me, and he beat me until I was almost unconscious and then he left me. I could barely walk, but I made it home and I locked the doors and I made myself forget what happened."
"He got you pregnant didn't he?" Steve asked her, wiping the tears from her face.
"I didn't know it at first. I thought the baby was Dylan's, until I went to the doctor and then I knew. I knew that it wasn't his."
"What can I do?" Steve asked her, genuinely concerned for her, "Do you want me to talk to Brandon or Dylan? Wait, isn't there a play going on? I thought you had a contract with them?"
"They found out I was pregnant. I had to give them notice that we were trying to get pregnant or that was a chance that I could be so they could come up with something to hide it and find a replacement for when I went on maternity leave."
"So they fired you?"
"Yea, it was in my contract."
"I'll help you. How much do you need? Do you have your bills paid yet? Do you need food, new clothes, what-"
Brenda cut him off again, and laughed a little when he huffed at her. "Would you let me finish a sentence?"
"I have enough money in my saving to last until I figure something out."
"Then let me help you Bren. I'll need a place to stay while I'm here on business. I can help you figure things out, if you let me stay here."
"I do have an extra bedroom."
Steve smiled at her, "Then it's settled. Now, I'm hungry. Where can I get some grub in this place?"
January 9th 1995
"That asshole!"
"Steve he's my dad!"
"That's my point Brenda! He treated you like shit! He didn't even let you explain. I've got half a mind to fly out tonight and give the bastard a piece of my mind."
Brenda put a hand on his arm. "Steve don't, please."
"What about Dylan?"
"Dylan isn't an option at all."
"You're brother?"
"If my dad's already told him then he's out too."
"What about Nat? Bren, he would never turn you away!"
Brenda looked down at her hands; she was ashamed to have to ask for help from anyone.
"I don't know Steve."
"Brenda, you can't keep living like this. I mean, I can keep sending you money and coming to visit and make sure you're okay, but you can't hide yourself in London for the rest of your life."
"Okay, I'll talk to Nat."
"Good, you'll fly home with me, stay and mine and Janet's place, see baby Maddie, and then I'll take you to go see Nat."
Brenda smiled at him, even though she and Steve had had all their differences and fights, but she knew now that he was one of her truest friends and he'd do anything for her.
"Steve, you've done enough. I'll stay with you and Janet until I talk to Nat, but if it's okay I'd like to go see Nat alone."
Steve hugged her and nodded his head, very happy that he'd finally talked her into going back to the states.