Seeds of Jealousy

Brianna



As I watch my mother fall to the floor I can’t help but think that she’s faking. I mean, look at what she’s already done. Of course, she did have a head injury from the accident. What if I did something when I slapped her? What if she’s really hurt this time? No, she can’t be; she must be faking.



“Get up, Mom,” I say, my voice shaking a little. “I know you’re faking, you have to be.”



I move to the other side of the room and watch as Dad and Justin lift her onto the couch.



“I don’t know if she’s faking,” Dad says.



“She’s breathing and her color isn’t too bad,” Justin says. “I think she just fainted.” He turns to look at me. “What was she so scared to tell us?”



“I can’t tell you.” I say quietly.



“And she shouldn’t have to,” Ben interjects, walking over to put his arm around me. “It’s your mom’s responsibility to tell them, not yours or mine,” he says as he hugs me.



“I just wish…”



He squeezes me tighter in a gesture of comfort. “It’s okay. When she wakes up, we will get her to tell,” he whispers.



“Should we call the doctor?” Justin asks.



Dad is quiet for a moment while he watches my mom. “No, let’s let her rest for a minute.” I see him give Ben a look and Ben clears his throat.



“Justin, why don’t you take Brianna into the other room and get her some water,” he suggests. I look up at him and he smiles. “It will be okay, I promise,” he whispers.



Nodding, I walk into the kitchen with Justin. “You okay short stop?” He asks me.



“I don’t know. I’m really not sure about anything anymore.”



He hugs me and kisses me on the top of my head. “You know none of this is your fault, right? Nobody blames you for anything.”



“I know you don’t but, Justin…”



He doesn’t let me finish. “No, this is between your mom and us. I promise you that no matter what, we will always be here for you.”



I hug him again. “I love you,” I whisper out in a sob.



“Love you too, kiddo.” He kisses my head.



“Justin, could you come here please?” I hear my dad yelling.



He looks at both of us as we walk back into the room. “Brianna, go sit with your mother. I need to talk to Justin.”



Seeing the look on his face, I can tell Ben told him. Nodding, I go over to sit next to the woman I don’t want to be around.



Brian



Taking Justin away from everyone I sit him down. Taking his hands in mine.



“What’s going on, Brian?” he asks with a worried frown.



I take a deep breath. “You were right. Ben overheard her talking to Aidan and she came clean about everything. Brianna heard her, too,” I tell him trying to stay as calm as I can. “She’s been faking the memory loss all along.”



“I knew it,” he said, looking both angry and sad.



He goes to stand up but I pull him down. “Justin, I know how you feel. I’m fucking pissed at her, too, but we can’t just go in there and accuse her. She’ll just deny it, just like she’ll deny faking the fainting.”



“Are you sure she’s faking?” he asks, glancing toward the other room.



“I was watching her when you mentioned calling the doctor,” I tell him. “There was a brief look of shock on her face that she didn’t cover up in time. I don’t think she was expecting you to suggest that.”



“I can hardly believe this,” he says, shaking his head slowly.



“You know Ben wouldn’t lie,” I remind him. “Dee lied to me for 10 fucking years by not telling me I had a daughter, not to mention all the shit she’s lied about since she’s been back here. I believe Brianna and Ben.”



“But like you said, she’ll just deny it,” he says. “She’s not going to admit to any of this.”



“I saw the look in her eyes when Brianna accused her. She was close to the breaking point then and I think I know of a way to break what’s left of her façade.”



“Brian Kinney, what are you going to do?” he asks me with a slight smile.



“You’ll see. I’ve had it with her games. She’s not going to keep us apart a moment longer.” I lean in and kiss him deeply. When we pull apart, we smile at one another. “Ready?”



He nods once and I kiss him quickly before heading back into the other room. When we get there, we see Brianna sitting between Ben and Michael, watching her mother warily.



“So, how is she?” I ask Ben.



“Don’t ask.”



There is a knock on the door and Ben gets up to answer it. Emmett, Ted, Linds, Mel, and Deb walk in.



“Who died?” Deb asks as she sets a box of lemon bars on the counter.



“No one. Mel can I talk to you? Alone?” I ask her. She nods her head as we walk into the other room.



“What do you want?” she asks me.



“I want you to be my lawyer, too. Ben and Brianna overheard Dee talking to Aidan about faking all this memory shit and when Brianna confronted her about it, she pretended to faint.”



“Oh my God,” Mel says in disbelief.



“She’s fucking unstable, Mel,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t even trust her with the kids at this point. I want to sue for joint custody of Brianna. Fuck it, make it full.”



She looks at me. “Are you sure?”



“We both are.”



We turn to see Justin standing in the doorway. He walks in and stands by my side. “He wants full custody of Brianna, and I want … I want the same for the twins.” His voice grows quieter as he finishes.



“What’s wrong?” I ask.



“She’s still their mother.”



“Justin, after all this you still want her to be around them?” I look at him in surprise.



“No, Brianna asked if she could live with us. I just want Dee to know she can see them. I know Brianna will forgive her and she does love her kids, but…”



“You don’t trust her,” I say, catching the lone tear on his cheek with my finger.



“I can’t, Brian, not after all this.” He turns to Mel. “I want my kids.”



I put my arm around him and add, “We both want our kids. And I want Dee to get the fucking help she needs or no visitation and under no circumstances is she to be alone with them.” I look at Justin who nods in agreement.



“Okay, then I’ll draw up the papers tomorrow morning,” Mel tells us.



“Okay, now let’s go and shock the fuck out of my ‘wife’.” I make a face like I want to throw up which makes Mel and Justin laugh.



We get back out to the living room and Justin sits down next to Emmett as I go over to Dee, running a hand on her face.



“You are about to get everything you deserve, my dear wife.” I see one corner of her mouth twitch in a smile. “And then some.”



Justin



I watch Brian as he whispers something to Dee before walking toward me. He leans down and kisses me.



“Justin, I need to say this and I want to say it now. I know we have been through a lot of shit but all that’s about to change.”



I look at him and he smiles.



“Justin Craig Taylor, I love you more then anything in this world.”



I hear Emmett choke back a sob as I wait for Brian to continue.



“I want to ask you something important. I don’t want to spend another second without you. We have been together a long time and I know I am a better man because of you. I need you by my side for the rest of my life. Be my partner. We will go to Vermont to have it done legal and everything.”



I know my eyes are probably as wide as saucers as he pauses to take a deep breath.



“What I’m trying to say is, will you marry me?”



I gasp when I see the ring, then jump as Dee abruptly sits up screaming.



“FUCK NO YOU DON’T. I WON’T LET YOU!”