Three candidates

‘Oh, hello, Brianne.’

‘Hi, Shelley. I’ve arranged to meet Cecil, is he around?’

‘He’s in his room. Sorry, he didn’t say you were coming over. Do come in!’

‘Thanks!’

‘I know I’ve said it before, but you’ve got a lovely house.’

‘Thank you. How have you been?’

‘Not bad, thanks. What about you? All well, I hope?’

‘All good, dear. We’ll have to host again soon.’

‘Oh, sorry! I’m here.’

‘Hey.’

‘Let’s go into the lounge. Is it okay if we have some space to talk privately, Mum?’

‘Of course, if you like. I’ll be in the kitchen.’

‘Thanks.’

‘How come you still live with your parents, anyway? How old were you again?’

‘Twenty-nine.’

‘God, I got out as soon as I could. And not just so I could bring guys back to my place without being overheard.’

‘I honestly still enjoy it. My parents are good people. They’re fair. There’s been a few times when they’ve been annoyed at me bringing someone home without telling them. One time, my dad walked in on this girl on the toilet.’

‘Wow, that’s so romantic.’

‘Quite. But I got the impression you don’t prioritise romantic, if that’s not offensive to say.’

‘It’s not offensive. It’s pretty true.’

‘So what is it you wanted to talk about? Is this about what happened between us?’

‘Yeah, it’s related to that.’

‘Listen… Much as I really enjoyed it, I think we took too much of a risk. I shouldn’t have gone behind the mayor’s back like that, even though your relationship is open. Does he know…?’

‘No, and I’m glad. I’m gonna be honest, he’s been funny about the open relationship part, for me at least. Like, he can fuck who he wants but he gets arsey when I do it.’

‘That’s what I was afraid of… I don’t want him thinking it’s something personal and I was going out of my way to cuckold him or something. That could really cause a rift.’

‘I’m sorry, Cecil.’

‘No, I’m sorry. I had the responsibility to shut this down as well. I was just thinking with my penis again. You’re very attractive.’

‘You’re gonna hate me for this.’

‘For what? Why would I hate you?’

‘…Let me just say right now, that I think the timing between us was all wrong and I really don’t think it’s you, especially since you used a condom, but… I’m pregnant.’

‘…’

‘I’m sorry. Like I said, the chances are it’s not yours. But you deserved to know.’

‘…Holy shit. God, I really hope…’

‘This isn’t any better, but there’s three candidates instead of two. The other one of whom didn’t use a condom. Sadly, he’s a lot likelier. Or maybe it’s Tate’s. I just don’t know until it’s born.’

‘Three…? Who’s the other?’

‘…Abraxas.’

‘…You slept with Abraxas? No offence, but… why?’

‘It was a wife swap, okay? Tate got to bang Annalise and I was curious about Abraxas’ dick after seeing it.’

‘Oh, right… Sorry, the really inappropriate part of my mind is trying to figure out what the three of us have in common. And I don’t mean that we’ve all fucked you, I mean in the sense of what your type is.’

‘Oh. Well, it depends what I’m after. But, um, don’t put yourself on their level at all.’

‘…I’ve heard some unpleasant things about Abraxas.’

‘Me too. I really hope the baby isn’t his. But I’m in for a rough time regardless.’

‘If it was a wife swap, I imagine Tate knows there’s a chance it’s not his?’

‘Yeah, he does. He was furious.’ 

‘Brianne… I appreciate your honesty and I trust whatever you have to say. So, I have to ask… about Tate. I’ve heard things about him in the past, and based on what you just said… does he mistreat you?’

‘Oh God. I’m glad you trust me, but c-can I trust you? It’s not that you’ve done anything wrong, but… but…’

‘I have other reasons to be suspicious. When Indigo told us some things about what Abraxas had done, I commented that I heard Tate was a friend of his. And her response was to say “birds of a feather”. And she’s not the first person to accuse Tate of bad behaviour, either…’

‘Why, who was?’

‘Oh, nobody you know, it was all a few years ago now. Someone who used to be one of our friends and left over it. Nobody else believed his accusation, you see, and he didn’t have any proof. But right now I’m wondering if he was telling the truth the entire time.’

‘…Tate’s a fucking bastard and I’m leaving his ass long before I have this child. You can’t tell anyone though, okay?’

‘You’re going to break up with him?’

‘Yeah, and the sooner, the better. Promise me you won’t say a thing.’

‘Of course, I promise. Believe me, stirring the pot is the last thing I want right now.’

‘I intend to bring the baby up alone. If you want, when it’s born, we can do a DNA test and you can decide if you want to be in its life if it does turn out to be yours. You’re the only person I would let be its dad. I’m getting far away from Tate and Abraxas.’

‘God, but didn’t you legally change Marigold and Peach’s surnames to his?’

‘It’s just a name change. He’s not on the birth certificate. Why would he be? We had a fucking affair. Nobody was meant to know.’

‘So the sperm donor story was a load of cobblers?’

‘I think you knew that already, didn’t you?’

‘We did wonder. It wasn’t the most convincing setup in the world.’

‘Cecil, I know what you’re thinking, and I already know what a piece of shit I’ve been. If she’ll allow it, I’ll try to make it up with Roxxi once I’m gone. I’ve told Tristan to apologise on my behalf.’

‘That’s good.’

‘I’m done with all of this. It’s time I started being a better person. Set a good example to my girls, and this new baby, too.’

‘I’m glad that’s what you want to do. Though I have to ask… if you’re going far away and it is my baby, how will I be a parent to it?’

‘…We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Most of all, I just need to be safe.’

‘This has a lot of implications.’

‘I know, Cecil. I’m sorry. I never intended to cause you any harm. I’ve hurt a lot of people by being a selfish, spiteful bitch.’

‘At least you acknowledge that. I don’t wish to dig the knife in, but why did you do that to your sister?’

‘Jealousy. And it was totally unwarranted. Good job I got what I deserved, huh?’

‘Do you mean having a baby or being abused by your partner? Because nobody deserves either of those things as a punishment, Brie.’

‘No, not the baby. The baby’s innocent, I don’t view them as a punishment. I meant the abuse. If you can call it that.’

‘If it was serious enough to drive Roxxi and her children away, and it’s making you want to do the same to the point where you’re worried about your safety… what else can it be? And that’s wrong no matter what, okay? No matter what you’ve done, you deserve to be safe from your own partner.’

‘Thanks… Sometimes it’s hard to view it like that. I should be going, anyway.’

‘Alright. Take care of yourself, won’t you? Do keep me in the loop and tell me how you get on.’

‘I will.’

‘Bye, Shelley.’

‘See you later.’

‘What was all that about?’

‘Nothing important.’

‘Then why do you look like that? You haven’t been involved with her, have you? Surely you wouldn’t be sneaking around behind the mayor’s back.’

‘No! We’re just friends. I can’t tell you, okay? She’s told me some things in confidence, that’s all.’

‘You want to be careful. Don’t blur the boundaries too much. She’s not single.’

‘Yes, I know. Don’t shit where you eat, and all that.’

‘Cecil!’

‘I need to get ready for training.’