Between Brothers

Finally

Sunday Morning

Christopher

She’s been sleeping since we left the scene. I haven’t left her side, she’s whimpered a few times in her sleep and I’m sure it’s from the black and blue marks that are running up and down her side. Her dad checked her out and said she should be ok, but it’s clearly not ok. 

The clean up crew did a good job, not a trace of Kayleigh here and a new bed that my beauty sleeps in. There’s a light knock on the door and it opens slowly, Julian steps in and closes it back. Glancing at the bed and then back to me, and a small smile creeps onto his face. 

“You finally got the girl to yourself huh?” He whispers, sitting on the end of the bed. Careful to not touch her, because I will kill him.

“I guess you could say that” I reply back, shrugging my shoulders. 

“What do you mean ‘you guess’? Are you fuckin’ stupid? She loves you and only you. Daniel and I were just placeholders” He says, he’s serious. I know she loves me but I know her heart doesn’t just beat for me like mine does for her, mistakes I’ve made in the past have me in a place of darkness. I hate it here. 

“Look, she loves you two idiots too!”

“No, she doesn’t. She likes us in the fact we were there when she needed us, but we both SUCK! I’m not made to be in a relationship with anyone, trust me! And Daniel is so f****d up, he takes his toxic behavior with him like it’s a duffle bag. She loves YOU! And only you! She’s been waiting for you since she was 15 and I don’t think you should f**k this up.”

“What am I supposed to do? Wake her up and tell her we’re getting married today? That’s stupid”

“That’s exactly what you’re gonna do. Don’t be a b***h now!”

“I’m not being a b***h!”

“Yes, the f**k you are and I never thought I’d see the day. The guy I looked up to since we were kids, is being a bitch.” Julian starts to laugh, he knows he’s pissing me off. I’m about to punch him when Tara starts to stir in the bed, groaning as she opens her eyes. 

“Geez, you both are so loud,” She says, stretching and rolling over to look at Julian and Me. 

“She’s awake! How are you feeling, doll?” Julian asks, lightly patting her foot.

“I feel like death. Are my Dad and Daniel ok?” She asks, staring at her hands as she wrings them together. 

“The Good Doctor is great, pissed off once he found out about Gloria killing your real mother but he’ll have to get over it. And Daniel disappeared.” Julian responds. 

“What about you? Are you ok?” She asks, finally looking up. Her eyes, they’re holding a secret.

“I’ve never been better, for the first time in a while I’m not pissed off. So that’s always a great thing!” Julian exclaims. He then stands up, smiles at both of us and leaves. The room falls silent and I’m forced to be an adult. I’m forced to speak and close the gap.

“Baby, are you ok? I can get you something” I ask, not moving. She doesn’t answer me, just swings her legs off the bed. Putting her bruises on display, I wince at the sight of them. She climbs onto my lap like she used to do, and lays her head on my chest. “Tara, I want you to listen to me. I know I never said it, I never told you how I felt. The words I should’ve said years ago have sat heavy on my chest for a long time. I want you to know that I’ve always loved you, from the first day I saw you. You changed me, made me focus and do better.” 

“Chrissy…” She says, but I cut her off. 

“Let me finish this… I never wanted to hurt you. For the first time in my life I was sorry for hurting you. I know dealing with Gloria wasn’t easy, I should’ve never left you alone to deal with her. I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for you to lose our baby, I can only imagine the pain you went through and it’s all my fault.”

“Chrissy… let me tell you something. The only thing that matters is where we are right now. I think bad s**t happens when people get too comfortable with where they are. We needed that to see if we’d land right here, was it ideal NO! But we’re here now. You are mine, Mr. Blane” Her words pierced my heart in a way that only she can do, breaking my walls down and bringing me to this moment with her. I always knew she was supposed to be with me and I love her more than ever. 

We sit in silence until the darkness of the room consumes us.

***

6 Months Later…

“How do I look?” I ask Julian. Who stands there smoking a cigarette and staring out of the window instead of answering me. I get it today sucks for him, I’m marrying the girl he wanted but I won’t apologize for it. I’ve waited long enough for her and I’m slightly annoyed I had to wait six additional months. She was hurt and needed time to heal. 

“Jules, how do I look?” I ask again, brushing the pomade into my hair.

“You look like you’re getting married… again” The annoyance in his voice isn’t missed but I refuse to let him rain on my parade. 

“The first time doesn’t count, this is the one that matters. What’s your problem? You and Serena not working out”

“Serena is insane. She’s sweet but insane if she thinks we could ever be in a relationship.”

“Why don’t you try?”

“Try? Ha, that’s for people who believe in fairy tales, aka you”

“f**k you, I don’t believe in fairy tales either. I believe in never giving up. She’s everything to me”

“UGH! Don’t remind me.”

“Enough about you, you ready to do this s**t?”

“You’re going to die when you see her”

“True, but I say it’s definitely worth the risk. Lets go do this”

We leave the room at the back of the church and head to get married. Standing at the altar, I see everyone start to stand as the godawful music starts to place, their attention at the door and mine trying to remember my vows. We’ve practiced this a million times, even decided to read the original ones because we didn’t want to mess this up but here I stand sweating because I can’t seem to remember what I’m supposed to say.

My panic is broken by the sight of white and black lace making its way toward me, my brown beauty daring to mess up her makeup as I see tears rimming her eyes. Her Dad guided her down the aisle, a smile painted on his face as I’m sure he still hates me but today I don’t even care. I care about the beautiful Tara, today is about her. 

She reaches me and the smile I bear is threatening to hurt my cheeks, as I cannot stop. I’m happy, she’s beyond beautiful. I’m lost in her smile when it’s time to say ‘I Do’, which seemed to break the tension of the room. A good laugh, something we could all use. 

The words I’ve waited for are finally spoken, the words I knew in my heart should’ve been said years ago are finally revealed. “I now pronounce you Husband and Wife, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Gregory Blane”

I kiss her like I’ve been dying to do that for years, her kiss back is sweet while she tries to reserve her makeup. Lucky her there’s a room full of people because I’d rip that damn dress off her and make her moan my name like she will be during our honeymoon. 

THE END.