Chapter 5

Trying to be happy

I got home that day, feeling extremely happy of what I had done. Brad immediately questioned me when I had gotten home.

"Where were you?" he snapped. I smiled and explained everything. He slapped his forehead and shook his head.

"What?" I asked. He just tossed his hand at me and went into the bedroom. I plopped on the couch and closed my eyes.

The phone had rang, and I had reached over to answer it, finding out that it was Ryan, my newest stepfather.

"How did you get my phone number?" I snapped once I had realized that it was him.

"I know things. I want you to come over and explain what this is all about!" he roared.

"No, I was just there. And I'm not explaining to you. Let your wife do that!" He growled angrily.

"Please," he pleaded. I sighed.

"Fine. I'll be right over." I slammed the phone down and walked into the bedroom.

"What's wrong?" Brad immediately asked. I sighed and fell down on the bed next to him.

"I have to go to my mother's house and talk to Ryan," I said softly.

"Then I'll go with you." I shrugged.

"That's fine," I said, sighing. Brad took my hand.

"You know, you don't have to go."

"The quicker I do this, the quicker I get it over with." He kissed my forehead.

"Let's go then," he said and helped me up. I changed my clothes and somberly walked out of the house.

"Finally, it didn't take you long enough," Ryan said sarcastically and smirked. I darkened my eyes at him and sat down. "I see you brought your boyfriend along with you."

"I bring him everywhere. Can't leave the house without him," I retorted. He smirked again.

"Start talking," he commanded, sitting back in a light purple velvet chair.

"What about?" I asked, folding my hands across my chest. He darkened his eyes.

"About today, about yesterday, whatever. Just start talking about your Mother. What made her get arrested?" I laughed.

"Ryan, you are a stupid man," I said, pitifully shaking my head. "My mother was also stupid. She fell in love, supposedly, but then broke her first marriage to my father," I started. He nodded.

"She became a selfish woman after that, I think there was something in the water. But anyway, she soon fell in love with another man. Zach, her 2 ex husband. She moved into that big rich house of his, and things were turning out just like the brady bunch. But Zach and she divorced, being the selfish woman that she was, and she left without a trace, before leaving, she told me that Rick Lawrence wasn't my father.

"After that, Zach got really weird and he seduced and raped me. Yes, raped," I said when he had cringed. "He locked me in his room for months, and I finally escaped. The reason my mother was arrested because she planned with Zach for all of this to happen." I stood up. "I think that's the only explanation you deserve."

"So that's it?" he asked, standing up. I grunted.

"Yes, that's it," I hissed. "What? Did you want the gory details?" His eyes darkened.

"Well, if you've got some wild idea that will happen between us, don't even think about it. I'm not some kind of sick freak," he said arrogantly.

"Yeah, that's what I thought when I met Zach," I muttered, turning to him. "Can I go now?"

"No, you can't go now. I'm having you stay for dinner. We still need to talk some more. I need to get to know my stepdaughter."

"I'm not your stepdaughter," I snapped at him. "As far as I am concerned, Victoria ... whatever her last name is now, is no longer my mother." He rolled his eyes.

"Stop being an idiot, and stay." He left the room for dinner preparations.

"He's such an ass," I mumbled, and Brad threw a reassuring arm around my shoulder.

"Just don't listen to him," he said and kissed my cheek. I sighed and sat down at the table, closing my eyes and pressing my two fingers together on the bridge of my nose. Ryan came back in.

"Dinner's ready," he announced, and I stood up and walked into the dining room. I sat down at the long table and put my elbows on the top.

"Didn't you have any manners?" Ryan asked.

"My mother took those. What are they again?" I asked. He sighed, shaking his head and sitting down. The maid brought out the dinner, and we ate silently. I heard my cellphone ring in the lounge, and raced towards it, answering it quickly.

"Hello?" I asked breathlessly.

"Miss Lawrence?" Lydia Becker asked.

"Yes, Lydia? I'm in the middle of dinner," I said, sitting down.

"I'm sorry, but this is very important?"

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's about the house. Zachary has made a request that you move in as soon as possible." My heart leaped into my throat. No, no, no! My brain screamed. which was beginning to pound.

"No," I managed to say.

"But why?"

"Do you know what happened in that house!" I screamed.

"Relax Skye. Look, why don't you come to my office after your dinner. I'm staying after just for you, so you should be there."

"Fine, whatever," I said angrily and tossed the phone in my purse after hanging up. Brad heard my scream.

"What's wrong?" He asked. I shook my head.

"He wants me to move in. But I won't! I won't!" I screamed, shaking my head and pounding my fists against my thighs. He grabbed my wrists.

"Skye! Stop!" he cried. I shook my head and started to cry.

"Why does he want me to move in? After all of the horrible things that had happened to me in that house?" I sobbed. Brad wrapped his arms around me.

"I know darling, I know."

"What the hell is going on in here?" Ryan bellowed as he entered the room. I looked up sharply.

"Our plans have been cut short," I said, wiping away my tears.

"What for?" he demanded.

"Because I have to talk to my lawyer about something," I snapped and gathered my purse. "I'm sorry Ryan, but this is urgent. Goodnight." I turned around and headed out to the car. I heard Ryan grunt and walk back into the dining room.

As we rode to Lydia's office, Brad kept giving me strange looks.

"What?" I finally asked.

"I don't know, but something's definitely changed about you Skye. Lately you've been irritable and mean, and depressed. I haven't seen you smile in such a long time, and you cry almost every day." I looked down as a curtain of my hair fell around my face.

"I'm sorry Brad, but this has been very emotional for me. I know at sometimes that I can be dramatic, but. . . " He grabbed my hand.

"I know. But for just this once, I want to see you smile," he poked my sides, and I twitched and smiled.

"There we go. Now keep that smile on and a positive attitude and you'll get through this." We pulled up to Lydia's office and I got out of the car, my heart thumping. Lydia was sitting at her desk, impatiently, drumming her fingers on her desk. She sat upright when she saw us.

"Sit," she commanded, and we both plopped down in the chairs in front of her desk.

"He's requested that you move into the house immediately," she blurted.

"I know that," I snapped. Brad shot me a warning glance, and I calmed down.

"Why does he want me to move in?"

"I don't know. He contacted his lawyer, who contacted me and told me that he wanted you to reside in the house.

"But don't you know what happened in that house?" I cried.

"Of course Skye. I know what has happened. But it is a beautiful house and it would go to sad waste if it just sat there." I buried my face into my hands and sighed.

"But I just can't!"

"I bet you could," Lydia said. "If you put your past behind you and start over." I shook my head.

"He expects you to move in as soon as possible." I shook my head again.

"Is there anything else?"

"No, you may go now," she said and quickly gathered up her things and walked out of the office, Brad and I trailing after her.

When we got home, I went into my room and collapsed on the bed, not caring to change into my pajamas.

"You should take Lydia's advice," Brad said, helping me undress. I smirked.

"I don't know," I mumbled. He slowly lifted my shirt and stared into my eyes.

"Let's start over tonight."

"What?"

"Let's start over. Pretend that Zach hadn't done anything to do you. Pretend that nothing bad has ever happened." He kissed my neck. I laughed.

"OK Brad. Where to start?" I asked. He smiled.

"Well," he said, cupping my face and kissing me. "We could start here." He reached behind me and unclipped my bra. I arched my neck and felt his lips on my neck.

"Skye," he whispered.

"What about Brian?" He looked up and a slow smile crept onto his lips.

"I love you more." We kissed and he drew my bra away from my body. A shiver went up my spine. Those were the exact words that we had said to each other our first time. I get giggly when I think about it now.

His hands crawled down to my jeans and slowly slid them down my legs and I kicked off my sandals and he lifted my legs up and slid my jeans down. I ran my hands through his hair and ran my hands down his back. He kissed the small of my stomach and slowly pushed me down on the bed. He slowly slid my panties down and shed his own clothes.

Not a single moment did our lips leave each others lips. He was inside of me now, and our movements were synchronized. I clung to him tightly, already falling into a sea of passion. Our peaks came slowly, and when he was spent, he lay beside me, wrapping me in his arms. He brushed my hair out of my face and kissed the tip of my nose. I entwined our fingers together and he kissed the tips of my fingers.

"Goodnight my darling. Tomorrow will be better," he whispered in my ear before we fell asleep.

The aroma of breakfast wafted into my room and woke me up and noticed that Brad wasn't there beside me. I grabbed my robe and slipped it on, trying the cord around my waist and walking into the kitchen. Brad was just sliding eggs on to a plate.

"And it's nor burned," I said, coming up from behind him and hugging him. He turned around and kissed my cheek.

"Sit, eat. This is supposed to be a happy day," he said, and I sat down at the table. We started to eat, making eye contact almost every minute. After I was finished, I gathered the plates together, but he took them from me and put them in the sink.

"Forget about the dishes," he whispered in my ear and nibbled on it. I giggled and he tugged me into our bedroom.

"Brad!" I cried, but he pushed me on the bed and fell on top of me and kissed me.

"It's too early," I complained, and he rolled off of me, laughing.

"I've gotta go to work in an hour," he said. I moaned.

"Why didn't you get it off?" I asked.

"Because my boss is a bastard. I should get into the shower." He kissed me and walked into the bathroom. I folded my hands behind my head and smiled up at the ceiling.

After Brad had left for work, I started to clean up the house, making the bed, doing the dishes, and talking a relaxing jog through the park.

As I was jogging, someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned around slowly and saw that Brian was standing behind me. Brian! My heart dropped into my stomach.

"Brian," I said nervously, tittering.

"Skye," he said. He had only changed a little, he still had those hazel eyes and his sandy blonde hair turned a shade lighter. It had seemed that he had grown about 2 inches. A shiver went up my spine.

"I've heard of you little, episode," he muttered, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Episode?" I could only see where this was going.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about Skye. It's a scandal, a fraud. Nothing had happened. It's all just an attempt for publicity." I arched my eyebrows and laughed.

"Scandal? I see," I started to pick up the pace on my walking and charged forward. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me towards him violently.

"What!" I slapped his hand off of my shoulder.

"Talk to me Skye."

"NO!" I turned away, but he jumped in front of me.

"I know that there's something that you want to tell me, I can see it in your eyes." I stopped and stared at him for a moment. He shifted his eyes away.

"You're right, there is something that I want to tell you," I said, placing my hands on my hips. He smiled widely at the thought.

"You're an arrogant, conniving asshole who has nothing better to do than to screw women over. I don't ever want you talking to me, and if I have to have a restraining order filed, I will! Now get out of my way!" I pushed him away and started to jog back home, practically sprinting. A tear slipped down my cheek. I wasn't going to cry, I told myself. I wiped my tear away and jogged upstairs and burst into the apartment.

There was a call on answering machine, and I pressed play as I stripped out of my wind breaker.

"Hey, it's me Brad. I got dinner reservations tonight at Che la rie at 6. So be ready when I get home. Dress to kill please. I'll see you later, love yah, bye." I smiled and ran into my room and sifted through the closet. The only dress that I could think of was the black one sleeve dress that I had bought for prom. I tossed it on the bed, and looked at the clock. It was already 3! I stripped out of my clothes and ran a bath and lit candles, sitting in the tub and relaxing for almost a half an hour.

After my relaxing bath, I blow dried my hair and put it up elegantly and slipped into my dress, surprisingly it still fit. I put on my diamond earrings, and sifted for a necklace to wear. I found the locket that Zach had given me at his wedding. I chewed on my lip, and put it down, looking for a different necklace. I ended up wearing a pendant that my father, actually, my stepfather Rick, had given me. I waited for Brad to get home, and looked at his face when he had seen me.

"You look . . . excellent. Let me change real quick." He kissed my cheek and ran into the bedroom to change. I went into the living room

and waited until he had popped out. He was dressed in a black tuxedo with the head of a rose tucked into his breast pocket.

"Hello," he said and wrapped his arms around my waist. I smiled and put my arms around his neck.

"Shall we be going?" I asked and grabbed my purse. He nodded, and pulled me outside.

"Let's take your car," he said and walked outside, locking his arm with mine.

"You'll never believe who I ran into today," I told Brad as we were being seated.

"Who?"

"Brian." His eyebrow raised.

"What did he have to say?"

"He just said that my little, episode was a scandal," I said, tossing my hand into the air.

"It figures that he would say that," he muttered, and grabbed my hand and patted it. He patted his breast pocket and sighed with relief.

"What?" I asked. His smile brightened.

"Nothing," he sang.

"What is it!" I reached over and tried to get what was in his pocket, but he pushed me back.

"Hey, let me do some explaining." He went into his pocket and pulled out a black ring box. I sucked in my breath. His eyes glittered in the dim candlelight.

"Happy now?" He asked, and I couldn't contain my laughter.

"Yes, this was planned. Ever since you were brought home from the hospital, I've wanted to ask you, but I didn't have the guts to do it. Now that I'm in law school and pulling a part time job, I've matured a bit. And I'm finally going to ask you to marry me. I hope you'll say yes." He opened the box and in the light, glittered a gold ring with a diamond in the middle, and two smaller rubies on each side. I gasped and slowly took it from the box and slid it on my ring finger.

"Is that a yes?" he asked. I looked up and nodded, tears glistening in my eyes.

"Yes." I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him. He held me tightly, and pulled away.

"Now let's finish up dinner and get out of here." He kissed me and sat back down and we finished our dinner quietly.

I imagined the day that I would get engaged. It would be on a beautiful morning in April, when it had just finished raining and everything was still wet. I imagined me and my lover walking through our magnificent rose garden, holding hands and chatting softly about things that we had usually talked about. He would suddenly get onto one knee and propose and I would certainly accept and he would sweep me into his arms and kiss me passionately.

But I was with the man I love, Brad, and how he proposed to me didn't matter. He loved me, and I love him.

After our romantic dinner, we had arrived home and a note was slid under the door.

Your presence is requested tomorrow at 12:00 noon at the County Jail to speak with Zachary and Victoria. Presence is mandatory.

I frowned and tossed the letter in the trash.

"Who was it?" Brad asked, putting his chin on my shoulder and placing my hands on my hips.

"Nothing important," I told him and turned around to kiss him.

"Let us celebrate our engagement," he whispered in my ear, and pulled me into our bedroom.