The Only Answer

by Magan Vernon

  “What happened to you, Tripp?” I asked, keeping my voice low as I leaned in. “And why me?”

  He flicked his cigarette. “All my life I've had to live up to the Chapman name. The legacy. I've kept my secrets hidden but that's the thing about burying something. Someone always finds a way to dig it out.

  I shook my head. “Are you high right now? You’re not making any sense with this philosophical stuff. What secrets are you talking about?”

  He didn’t directly answer my question, instead he stared past me, licking his lips. “I’ve always been the black sheep of the family. Trigg was the golden boy with his degrees and sports and you were always dad’s pride and joy. The next Governor. Hell, probably President. But me...I was always meant to fade away. I actually thought that I would be the one to bring dad’s election down. Some reporter wouldn’t like my tattoos and would say we were all abominations or some shit. But now daddy’s very own little politician knocked up his girlfriend and all eyes are on you.”

  “What the hell is your problem, Tripp?” I asked through gritted teeth. “I’ve never done anything wrong to you. I don’t know if you’re still high or what’s going on, but that’s no reason to attack me.”

  He shook his head. “Little brother, you have to stop thinking that way. I’m not trying to do anything, just stating the facts. We’ve been under a microscope for so fucking long that I was wondering when you were going to crack. It’s good to see that you’re human.”

  I laughed slightly. “Me? You and Trigg have always been the successful ones. The Ivy Leaguers. I’ve always had to follow in your footsteps and when I didn’t I always felt like I was a failure.”

  I’d never admitted that to anyone. Monica knew how I felt about my brothers, but not that I thought I never measured up. I didn’t even know why I was admitting it right there. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, his eyes so intently focused that I couldn’t look away.

  “Trey, I don’t know what the hell you’ve been smoking but whatever it is, you should have snuck it in here for me.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “You’re joking, right?”

  He laughed, a low raspy sound that had definitely gotten smokier over the years. “Always so serious, little brother. You need to learn to lighten up. I thought maybe your ginger girlfriend would have rubbed off on you a little bit.”

  I leaned back, crossing my arms over my chest. “Lighten up? You do know that you’re in rehab, right? Dad is already going crazy with everything going on with me and Monica and now you had to add this to it.”

  He flicked some ashes off the side of his chair. “Yeah, thanks for calling and telling me about being an uncle by the way. Wait...no, you didn’t. I had to find out from fucking TMZ.”

  “I thought Mom told you? She and dad were kind of trying to keep it hush, hush for obvious reasons.”

  “That’s why you’re the golden boy, Trey. You always listen to what the hell they have to say even if it’s definitely not in your best interest. Mom and Dad weren’t there when you were knocking Monica up and they’re not going to be there the rest of your fucking life, so why let them dictate your every move?”

  “I’m just trying to do what’s best for the campaign. We all are,” I said, even though I was starting to lack the conviction when I said it.

  “Yeah?” He arched an eyebrow. “Does Monica feel the same way?”

  “What do you mean? Of course she does. She knows that this campaign is important to our family.”

  He shook his head, snubbing out the cigarette on the arm of the wooden chair. “Little brother you may have one hot ass fiancée and you even have knocked her up, but you’re still very, very clueless about women.”

  “And you think you know what’s best? What’s good for me and Monica and everyone? Tripp, you’re sitting in rehab and Dad is about to blow his freaking gasket.”

  He leaned back in the chair, focusing his eyes on me. “Exactly. That’s why I asked that you come and see me. I knew you would understand it all.”

  “Understand?” I couldn’t keep the frustration out of my voice. Tripp was a smart man and he knew it. He always used it to manipulate people and get what he wanted. Too bad he never actually ended up in law school because he would have been a great attorney. “I don’t know what you’re trying to get at. I’ve never had a drug addiction or purposely tried to sabotage Dad’s campaign.”

  He let out a breathed laugh through his nose. “You should know better than anyone that I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. We all have our vices. Mine has always been pills and Monica has been yours. A much safer one, but just as addicting and one you shouldn’t let go.”

  “Did you just compare my fiancée to drugs?”

  He groaned and stood up. “Look, Trey, I’m not going to fight with you and I’m not going to talk Dad into letting me out. I need to stay here awhile. Get my shit together for once. I probably should be in jail after what I did, but you know how powerful our family is.”

  He stared out into the distance as if all the answers would be there, written in the clouds. I wished the same thing. “It’s just good to know that I have a brother who isn’t so perfect and hopefully you’ll take that stick out of your ass and own up to it. I may be the black sheep but there’s nothing wrong with getting your coat a little dirty as well.”

  I may not have understood everything he was trying to say or his reasoning behind it, but I had to give him credit. He did give me a lot to think about especially when it came to listening to Monica.

  Chapter 14

  Monica

  Work was the last place that I wanted to be, especially when reporters were standing outside the building as if I was some sort of celebutante and they had to take my picture to make their sleazy quota.

  “Whoa, you look like shit.” Nate didn’t even try to hold it in when I walked behind the counter and threw my bag down.

  “Gee, thanks, you look awesome, too.”

  Going into my second trimester was a little better since the nausea had settled but now that I was filling out, my clothes were getting tighter. I had to resort to securing my pants with a rubber band and stretching out my t-shirts. The last thing I wanted was to be seen buying maternity clothes and more pictures taken of my fashion choices.

  He shook his head. “Sorry, just trying to say...something...” His eyes darted around the basically empty lobby. The hotel staff wasn’t letting anyone in the building unless they were actually a registered guest. I guess someone in the Chapman campaign must have been controlling that one or the hotel was just sick of all the people hanging around and wanting to snap pictures of me.

  I waved a hand. “It’s fine. I know this whole thing is awkward.”

  “Not as awkward as the fact that I tried to hit on you,” he said with a laugh.

  “You’re fine. I’m flattered, actually. Being here with you is a welcomed break from my reality.”

  And it was. Even if I was sure the guy felt weird since he hit on the pregnant chick. At least he was still half way normal around me. Ever since Trey’s brother, Tripp, went into rehab and Trey visited him, he’d been off. It was probably a mixture of everything from the campaign, but it was starting to wear on my usually put-together fiancé and the silence between us was killing me.

  “You’re just saying that because I don’t hound you with a million questions or try to take your picture,” he said, leaning up against the counter. I missed the hustle and bustle of working in a busy coffee shop. Ever since the news broke that I was pregnant, everything had come to a standstill. I think the hotel would have fired me if they weren’t afraid of a lawsuit.

  “Do you have questions?” I raised my eyebrows. Trey and I were strictly instructed not to talk to any news media outlets and it was even frowned upon when I talked to my friends, but I was getting sick of the silence. I needed to talk to someone, anyone, about what was going on.

  He shrugged. “Not really. I think the whole thing a little blown out of proportion
if you ask me, but then again I really don’t follow politics.”

  I sighed. “It is blown out of proportion. If Trey’s dad wasn’t who he was, I don’t know where we would be right now. If this whole thing would’ve just been another day in our lives or if it would be just as crazy.”

  “Can I ask you something? It may be too personal and you don’t have to answer.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  I was afraid the question would be something about pregnant sex or maybe even weirder, but I really had no reason to think that so I thought I’d give it a whirl. “Sure.”

  “Are you happy? Like really happy with all of this?” He waved his hand in front of me.

  That was the last thing I was expecting him or anybody to ask. The question took me by surprise and I blinked a few times. His eyes locked on me while he waited for me to answer. The sad thing was, I wasn’t exactly sure what to say so I was honest.

  “I don’t know,” I said in a voice barely above a whisper. “I mean, I’ve always thought I’d have a future with Trey and I always figured people would support us, but this...all of this has just gone awry. My parents haven’t talked to me in weeks, his are using me for some political agenda and I’m just so damn tired that all I want to do is eat bacon and sleep.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad you at least gave me a real answer and not some bullshit one that the Republican party wrote for you.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not the type of girl to give the canned answers that they want me to.”

  “And I’m damn glad about that one. I don’t know if I’d want to work with you if that was the case.”

  “Well, it looks like you’re stuck with me, even if we never have any customers.”

  He shrugged. “There are worse people I could hang out with. Like those people commenting on all of those stories. Do people have nothing better to do than attack someone behind a keyboard?”

  “I’ve been trying to stay away from all of the articles,” I confessed.

  “It’s probably a good thing. Those people are brutal and they don’t even know you. It’s like they just want to attack someone just to do it and make themselves feel better.”

  “You’re absolutely right,” I said.

  “I know.” He smiled and turned as a customer walked up to the counter, barely even looking up from her phone.

  I may have said he was right but there was something nagging at me. I guess I was a glutton for punishment because I really wanted to know what people were saying about me. Hell, what the Governor was saying in the articles.

  “Hey, Nate, I’ll be right back.” I waved and made my way toward the bathroom, even though I had no intention of actually going in.

  As soon as I turned the corner I pulled out my phone, unlocking it and quickly typing into Google, Monica Remy pregnancy.

  There were hundreds and hundreds of hits, including pictures of me that flashed everywhere. I’d Googled myself before and gotten some hits but nothing this crazy.

  I opened the first link that was actually by a pretty respectable news source. I scrolled through the first half of it and stopped when I got to the Governor’s statement.

  “Mindy and I are thrilled to be welcoming a new member into our family. Trey and Monica are planning a wedding and have both made the choice to continue on together with this new journey in their lives.”

  Well that didn’t sound too bad. But now I had to read the comments. I shouldn’t have. I should have ignored them, but I guess I really did want to be punished.

  The very first comment came from a guy with an avatar of a cartoon bumble bee. That should have been my first clue something was wrong.

  “A choice? So the governor finally agrees that people have choices? Oh wait, no that’s definitely not part of his agenda. Let’s see how he uses these poor kids to further his campaign.”

  I shouldn’t have, but I kept reading on. Every comment had someone attacking the Governor and calling it all some big political ploy and wondering how he was going to try and use it to his advantage. Tears stung my eyes and I quickly wiped them away before locking my phone and sliding it back in my pocket.

  “You read the comments didn’t you?”

  I didn’t even need to look up to know that Nate was standing in front of me.

  “No. I was just reading an article about global warming and it really upset me,” I lied.

  He shook his head, taking a step closer. “You’re a horrible liar. It’s a good thing you aren’t the politician in your relationship.”

  “Har, har. Very funny.” I smirked.

  He took a few steps closer until we were toe-to-toe. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I can’t even pretend like I know what you’re going through, but I can tell you this much; I’m not out to get you or to judge you. I just don’t want to see you cry.”

  He ran his thumb across a tear that fell on my cheek. I looked up at met his eyes. He wasn’t looking at me with pity, but like he actually understood.

  “I’m sorry for walking out like that and leaving you to fend for yourself with the customers.”

  He laughed, shaking his head and stepping back. “It’s not like we’re getting much for people anyway.”

  “Touché.”

  He put his arm around my shoulders. “Come on, Monica. Keep your chin up. The world sucks out there. Everyone is out to get each other and that’s not going to change just because you’re pregnant. The best thing you can do is try not to let it bother you as much and teach whatever it is growing inside of you that even though the world is a sucky place, there are some people in it who don’t suck too hard.”

  I smiled at him as we walked back toward the coffee bar. “You’re very eloquent, aren’t you?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, it’s a wonder I’m single.”

  I shook my head. “You know, if I wasn’t with Trey I would have taken you up on the offer. Probably. Maybe.”

  “No need to make excuses. I’ll just keep hoping another girl like you walks into the coffee shop and maybe this time she won’t be engaged and will give me a chance.”

  “I hope so too.”

  Chapter 15

  Trey

  There was a guilt boiling inside of me. I’d avoided Chastity at work and even requested that she be sent to finish her internship at a different office. Neither one worked out very well and her flirting was just as boisterous as ever.

  It’s not like I actually gave into her, but something felt wrong about it. I was going to be a father. A guy in the political spotlight, and I had a very attractive blonde woman that was trying to be my closed door intern.

  Then, there was everything I talked about with Tripp. I’d always looked up to both of my older brothers, always compared myself to them. It was weird to watch Tripp fall so far from grace. Even more strange was the way he talked to me. The way he got inside of my head and really made me think.

  Maybe I wasn’t being fair to Monica. Everything always had been for Dad’s reputation, but when did my life as the son of Kirk Chapman end and my own life begin? It was always a thin line that I never crossed, but it was probably finally time I did.

  Usually after work I just wanted to get home and relax. Monica would cook dinner after getting off of work and we would hang out, watch TV, talk or not talk. Usually it was the two of us on our respective phones until bedtime.

  But not tonight.

  I decided to head to Whole Foods after work and pick up some things for dinner. Monica was finally able to eat again and when she did eat it was usually bacon. I was a terrible cook but if I found enough stuff with bacon in it that had easy enough instructions, I thought I could figure it out.

  My cart was loaded with just about every bacon item I could find when I finally pulled up to the register. I noticed two women ahead of me talking and as soon as they saw me they stared then looked at each other and huddled, whispering softly.

  I guess I was being recognized. I put on the best smile I could even though I wasn’
t in the mood to talk to anyone. I just wanted to get home and get dinner started before Monica got there.

  “Hello, ladies. Hope your evening is going well.”

  The women both giggled and then the younger of the two turned toward me. “You wouldn’t happen to be Trey Chapman, would you?”

  I nodded, pushing my car a little further up the line. “I am. Good to meet you.” I put my hand out and she shook it limply, staring from me to the magazine rack.

  I finally got sick of her gawking and decided to see what she was staring at. My stomach sank as soon as I saw where her eyes trailed.

  The headline read “BABY’S GOT A SECRET,” and underneath was a picture of Monica and someone standing in front of her. They were toe-to-toe with his hand on her face. They weren’t embraced or kissing, but I knew an intimate position when I saw it.

  Squinting, I noticed the man’s tattoos on his arm. The hair. The background of the hotel that Monica worked. This was the guy who ran out to my car the other day and introduced himself. Like we were supposed to be best friends or something. All this time I had been worried about an intern flirting with me and Monica was stealing private moments with a co-worker. I threw the magazine down. I couldn’t even read the article and suddenly I wasn’t hungry anymore.

  I turned, leaving my cart in the middle of the aisle and walked out. I didn’t look behind me to see the gawking faces, I just had to get away and to get a real explanation.

  ***

  I barely remember driving to Monica’s work. My blood was boiling so thick that it was stinging my vision. I tossed my keys to the valet and he said something to me frantically, but I didn’t listen. I didn’t care.

  All this time I’d been focused on the family reputation. On how I could be the best Chapman possible while my fiancée was pregnant with my child. I thought she was doing the same thing and I was being unfair to her. I never even thought about the fact that maybe someone else was out there. Someone else who didn’t have familial obligations.