Brennan

by Anna Joung

  “Wow,” was all I could manage.

  I don’t know how long we stayed like that but eventually, he shifted. I moved my head as he sat up, I followed suit. Without another word, we gathered our discarded clothes, put on our shoes, and headed back to the cabin. There was no discussion as I followed him straight through to the bedroom. Both of us clambered into bed, naked, our bodies meshing together as we cuddled, his arms wrapped around me protectively. The last thing I remembered was his fingers running through my hair.

  That night all I could dream about was him.

  Chapter 3

  Brennan

  Our lips meshed together as we allowed the water to pour down upon us. I had allowed myself the luxury of scrubbing every inch of her body in the shower and she too had explored mine. By the time we finally left, our hands were wrinkled and I was rock hard.

  “We’ve got a busy day ahead of us,” I called over my shoulder as I got dressed, “You already know that, I bet. Do you want anything to eat or shall we pick something up in town?”

  She was toweling her hair dry as she replied, “We have a busy day? Oh, okay, sounds exciting. We can pick something up in town. Are we going somewhere?”

  I looked at her, my eyebrow raised in question. When I saw the lost expression in her face, I knew she had no recollection of this date.

  She doesn’t know the day her mom died?

  “We had better get going. The florist has my order ready and I think it’s best we get a head start on the day.”

  “The florist?” she asked, confused.

  I waved my hand dismissively, wondering how she was unaware of the date. Regardless, I decided to power ahead, knowing it would benefit us both to discuss this monumental event that had occurred in both of our lives.

  I want nothing more than to protect her but for this relationship to work, we need to be honest and open with one another. We can’t pretend the accident never happened. I can’t forgive my family for what they did but I need her, to hear her accept me. Even after everything.

  The drive into town was quiet as we listened to the radio. I let Liz pick up breakfast from the café whilst I collected the order from the florist. Five bouquets containing white lilies, roses, and snapdragons were waiting for me when I entered. I paid the hefty fee before she helped me load them into the truck, neatly propped up so they wouldn’t be damaged along the drive. I had just finished thanking the florist when Liz rounded the corner, her arms laden with bags and two coffees. Quickly, I strode over to her and helped her to carry everything back to the vehicle. After climbing in, I spoke.

  “How much did you buy? You must be hungry?”

  She swatted my arm playfully, “I didn’t know what you liked so I brought everything.”

  “I’m hardly a fussy man,” I scoffed, “I live out in the woods. It isn’t for a life of luxury.”

  I watched as her nose sniffed the air before turning around and looking at the blanket of flowers covering the back-seating area.

  “And you bought the entirety of the florists?”

  I laughed, “You’ll understand when they get there. Anyway, we had better head off. Is your dad going to be okay with you staying out with me?”

  “I’m twenty-two years old! He doesn’t have a say in that matter.”

  We both laughed and chatted away as we headed out of Chester. She really had bought a bit of everything. We feasted on pastries and bagels as we went North, gaining speed as we hit Route 705. My eyes scanned the side of the road, always anxious I would miss the spot although I knew it like the back of my hand.

  It’s hard to forget a place filled with so much misery and pain.

  As soon as I saw the spot, I pulled to the side, my heart sinking. I felt a lump in my throat as I jumped out the truck, heading to the backdoors before grabbing the flowers. My arms were filled as I headed to the post and laid down the flowers. Kneeling on the grass, I touched my forehead to the pole, remaining in that position for five minutes whilst Liz looked on. When I stood up, I turned to see her looking at me quizzically, a somber expression in her eyes.

  “What is this place? Why have you got so many flowers?”

  I lowered the tailgate of the truck and helped her up. We both perched on the edge, staring out at the empty road, silent. I thought for a moment on the best way to phrase everything before setting forth.

  “This is the spot where our parents died.”

  Her body froze and her eyes widened. I started to panic, wondering why she was so shocked, and then it dawned upon me.

  She doesn’t know.

  “Our parents?” she looked at me, her eyes piercing.

  “John never told you?”

  “My dad?” she asked, “Tell me what? I know my mom died in a car crash but…”

  Her eyes narrowed as it looked like she was piecing everything together. Eventually, she leaned back, her eyes filled with tears.

  “He never mentioned your parents. What… what happened?”

  My lower lip trembled as she asked the question. I wanted nothing more than to wrap her in my arms and take the pain away but I knew she needed to hear the story.

  “My mom and your mom used to be best friends, ever since school. I was eighteen at the time but I still remember your mom coming around to visit. Anyway, they went out to a party on the 4th of July. There was an Independence Day party out of town and it had run late. I think your dad was working late at the sawmill so they called my dad to pick them up. Only… he had been drinking. I wasn’t in the house at the time so I couldn’t tell him not to go. I wish I had been there, I wish I could have stopped him,” I felt my voice waver, “He went and picked our moms up. They were all highly intoxicated and with my dad at the wheel, they had no chance. Something happened and they swerved onto the oncoming lane. They crashed directly into the Baker’s car, they’re the woman in Beltline Fad’s parents. There wasn’t a single survivor. I was slinking about at some party or other when the police finally tracked me down. They took me home and told me what happened. I can’t remember much after that but I do remember the funeral.

  "Everyone in town found out what had happened. Of course they did, it's a small town after all. People didn't look at me the same after that, I think they blamed me for my dad's drunken mistake. "My dad had wiped out not only your mom but another set of parents along with mine. I don't think I'll ever forgive him for that choice but I've had to live with it. That's why I moved up into the mountains, deep in the woods. I couldn't bear the looks anymore. The judgment from everyone's faces daily was torture. I had always been handy, so I started chopping up trees and your dad bought them off me out of pity. I don't think he can stand to be in the same room as me. That's how I've been living for the last seventeen years."

  By the time I had finished speaking, tears were streaming down Liz’s face. I reached out to hug her but she pulled away, as though disgusted. She wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth, taking in all the information. After a while, she finally spoke.

  “I want to go home,” she uttered.

  I didn’t try to convince her otherwise as she jumped off the back of the truck. I closed the tailgate and clambered into the driver’s seat. I gave one last look at the flowers before starting the engine and heading back into town. The drive back as silent, I could hear her gulping as she tried to control her flow of tears. Pulling up outside her house, she didn’t say a word as she quickly freed herself from the confines of the truck and ran to her front door. It was when she turned around and gave me that final look that my composure crumbled. Those eyes said everything that she hadn’t. It was the same look everyone in Chester has given me since the day of the accident.

  It’s my fault.

  ***

  Liz

  Luna bashed the top of her snowy white head into me as I sobbed into the pillow for what felt like the millionth time that day. I was clutching onto it, soaking it through with my tears. I didn’t know how to make the pain away.

&nbs
p; Looking to the side, I watched as my Norwegian Forest cat curled into a ball against me, purring. I couldn’t help but reach across and stroke her fur absent-mindedly.

  “Thanks for being here, Luna.”

  She made a high-pitched sound from the back of her throat to show her appreciation before dozing off. Shuffling over, I buried my face in her fur, inhaling the scent. My dad had gotten her for me when I’d agreed to work at the sawmill, four years ago.

  He could buy me a cat to congratulate me but not tell me the story behind my mom’s death.

  Saturday had gone by in a blur of tears and now Sunday evening had come around, I found myself weary and my eyes stinging. It had been a shock to hear that Brennan’s dad had been the cause of my mom’s demise, something I had lived with for seventeen years. It had been hell growing up as a girl without a mom. I had never fit in at school, not knowing about anything girly, I had to teach myself when I was older. When I had my first period, my dad had awkwardly shoved me into my neighbor’s house for a discussion. He was also the one that had scared me away from ever having sex, that was until Brennan came around at that party. Now I was contemplating a serious relationship, it made me think about all the other things I would miss out on – my mom squealing over my engagement, her helping me pick my wedding dress, being able to meet her grandchild. There was a big empty space where she should have been and my heart ached with loneliness.

  And now I have to forgive a man for killing her? But… it wasn’t Brennan.

  It was then I started to think about the man I had run away from. Not only had he lost his mom, but he had lost his dad too. To make matters worse, everyone blames him for something he had no part in. It was his parent’s decision. Even then, his dad hadn’t intentionally gone out to kill anyone, it had been a series of bad mistakes.

  And my mom also made by getting in that car.

  For the first time since I had woken up, my tears finally stopped and I sat upright, staring out the window. The summer sun shone down on the trees beyond my house, the woods where Brennan lived. I knew somewhere out there he was dying inside, knowing that his family member had caused the loss of one of mine.

  But it isn’t your fault, Brennan. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.

  ***

  Brennan

  I took my slip from the guys before heading into the office. I held my breath as I opened the door, standing stock still at the sight of her. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for her to see me. Then, her eyes looked up and she caught sight of me. We both remained still, assessing one another before speaking.

  “I am so sorry,” I began, “I had no idea you didn’t know. And I can never apologize what my father did, all the pain he’s caused your family…”

  Quickly, she stood up, holding up her finger to silence me, “That’s because you have nothing to apologize for. It wasn’t you, your father got in that car drunk and it wasn’t his fault that our moms decided to get in his car, knowing that he was drunk. It’s easy for people to point fingers because it takes the blame away from them but, truth be told, all of them are just as guilty as they are innocent. It’s time we let go of the past and move on with our future.”

  I felt hope bubble up inside of me. I rushed over to her and held her tight against my chest, kissing the top of her head as I did so.

  “You didn’t answer any of my calls, I thought you hated me,” I confessed.

  “Hate you?” she pushed back and looked directly into my eyes, “I could never hate you. I think…”

  Her pause was all I needed to interject, “I love you, Lizette Miller.”

  Her face erupted with a heartwarming smile, “I love you too, Brennan Hill.”

  My mouth descended upon her, our kiss passionate and true. It felt like the whole world faded around us as we held one another. When we pulled away she giggled before perching on the side of her desk, holding my hands.

  “Well, I guess now everything is out in the open I should probably tell you that you were my first.”

  “What?” I looked at her incredulously.

  “I was a virgin before I met you. But when I saw you at that party, I knew you were the one. I felt something deep inside of me, a connection I had never felt before. I haven’t slept with another man since. You’ve been my one and only.”

  My mouth dropped open before I responded, “I felt that connection too. I just knew I had to be with you and I’m still in awe that I have you now. Ever since that night, I’ve never been able to get you out of my mind. I have never been with a woman since. No one could ever compare to you.”

  As we were kissing once more, I didn’t hear the door behind me. I didn’t even register the footsteps until I felt the hot breath on the back of my neck and a hand gripping tightly into my shoulder.

  “Get the fuck off my sister, Brennan!”

  Chapter 4

  Liz

  I gasped as Buck grabbed hold of Brennan and threw him backward, leaning into his shoulder so he fell against the floor. The fury in his eyes terrified me like there was an entirely different person within the body of my brother.

  “Buck,” I shouted as I stood up, grasping onto his arm, “What are you doing? Leave him alone!”

  He turned around, facing me. Rage filled his every being as his shoulders tensed.

  Spittle flew through his gritted teeth as he spoke, “What in god’s name do you think you’re doing Liz? Do you know who this man is? Do you know what he’s done?”

  “Yes,” I retorted, “His name is Brennan Hill and he’s done nothing wrong. It was our parents that made their decisions.”

  “His dad killed our mom,” he pointed his finger accusingly at Brennan as he slowly got up from the floor, “We’ve lived without our mom for seventeen years because of his dirty family. They plagued us, they ripped our family apart. How can you bear to be in a room with him, let alone kiss him?”

  “Because I love him, Buck. His family did nothing wrong but what you’re doing right now is. Stop letting your ego take control and try to see some sense.”

  “You love him?!” he spat as he shoved me to the side.

  I hit square against the desk and felt a shooting pain up the side of my pelvis. As I turned around, I saw that this had been the trigger for Brennan. He went leaping into Buck, shoving him against a wall. In response, Buck pulled back his right arm and with full force, sent it crashing into Brennan’s face. His head twisted awkwardly to the side before he retaliated with his own punch, landing straight in the center of Buck’s face, I heard the crunch before the blood started spurting forth. This only angered Buck further as he landed a kick in Brennan’s side, sending him sideways where he crashed into me. The force sent me and the desk to go flying backward, the computer smashing onto the floor. As he heard me scream, Brennan turned around and tried to help me up before I saw Buck’s arms wrap around his torso and yank him away. I tried to grab hold of Brennan’s hand but it only resulted in me being dragged under his body as he rolled onto the floor. I felt the breath go out of me as the weight of two fully grown men descended upon me. My body ached as they rolled off me and began swinging punches. By the time I had turned my head to the side, Brennan was on top of Buck, laying punch after punch into his face as my brother tried to protect himself with his arms.

  Painfully, I pushed myself to my feet, wobbling slightly before screaming, “STOP!”

  Brennan’s fist stopped mid-air as he looked over at me, giving another time for Buck to push him off of him and crawl away. They both sat, looking up at me, blood pouring out of various cuts on their faces.

  “You let this asshole do this to your own brother. What kind of sister are you?” Buck seethed.

  “An understanding one,” I replied, “You’re the one who shoved me, he just came in to protect me. Then it looks like testosterone got the best of both of you. Brennan, let’s go.”

  Just as Brennan was getting to his feet, I heard a door slam and a sharp voice follow, “You’re not going anywhere.”
/>
  ***

  Brennan

  “Dad?”

  I turned to look at the purple-faced man standing in front of his office door. My jaw clenched at the sight of him, knowing the tirade of abuse that was about to spew forth. I watched as he looked about the destruction in the room before they settled on the bloodied and bruised body of Liz’s brother in the corner.

  “What the hell happened here?” he asked, directing his glare at me.

  Liz stepped forward before I could speak, “Buck took it upon himself to decide who I can date. He thinks I can’t be with Brennan because of our family’s past.”

  The man went visibly red in front of my eyes before shouting, “Of course you can’t! Are you insane? Sure, I made business with the guy because I pitied him, he had lost his parents and he was a kid at the time. But would I ever allow you to date him? Never! His pathetic excuse for a father is what cost us your mom’s life. Our sweet Gail…”

  “Mom was the one who decided to get in that car. Why can’t we blame her for her decisions either?”

  The fury was evident in John’s eyes as he stepped forward. As he raised her hand to slap her, I stepped forward, shielding her with my body. This time I kept my arms firmly by my side, I knew better than to start a physical fight with her father. His hand had begun to descend but he stopped it abruptly, just before it made contact with my chest.

  “Move out the way, boy. Our business is done. I don’t want to see you around here again.”

  “Well, if you don’t want to see him then you won’t be seeing me either,” Liz cried.