No More Lies, No More Pain. [Re-do]

THREE DAYS LATER…

Since the day we met, Austin and I have been spending a lot of time together. Today was going to be the first time he would meet my baby girl, and I’m pretty excited. I also took this time to think over his offer. I only have two days left to answer him, and I know that it’s time to stop being selfish and just let him know today what I have decided.

“Are you serious?” Audrey asked in disbelief as she watches me pack while sitting at the foot of my bed.

“Yes. I’ve given it some deep thought, and I think it will be best for Beatrix and I to go back home.” I say as I continue to pack my clothes.

Audrey let out a frustrated sigh. “I can’t believe you are going to go back to the asshole that did you wrong!”

I then drop the little bit of clothing I had in my hands, into my duffle bag and look at her in frustration. “First of all, you don’t know him well enough to call him an ‘asshole’, so don’t even go there. Second of all, he’s Beatrix’s father. I’m not doing either one of us any favors by staying away from him. I need to see him and so does Bea.” I then place the remainder of my belongings into my bag. “So listen, I’ve been doing some thinking, and Austin and I have talked about it. I think it’s best that Bea and I move out today.”

Audrey’s eyes grew wide. “Today? Why?”

I shrugged. “I guess it makes it easier for me to wrap my head around the fact that we are really going home this time.”

She scoffed. “But your home is here! You and Beatrix belong here in Belfast, with me. Who am I going to go shopping with from now on? This house is going to be so empty without you and Bea here.”

I then grabbed my bag and placed it down outside my bedroom door. “Audrey, you will be just fine. We will miss you, trust me, but you can come visit us in California any time you want.”

She then got up and followed me to Bea’s room. I grabbed Bea’s bags and placed them outside her door. I carefully grabbed my cheerful baby girl from her crib and sat in the rocking chair as I waited for a text from Austin.

Audrey sat next to me on the floor and looked up at us. “I wish I could make you two stay.”

I shook my head. “No you don’t. I’m giving you your freedom back. You finally have your house back and now you’re going to have two free rooms that you can turn into whatever you want.” I smiled.

Audrey had no further response once we heard my phone vibrating from my pocket. Austin was texting me.

A: So, have you decided yet? Two days left until I leave.

Me: Yes I have. Beatrix and I are going with you. I’ve already packed our bags.

A: I knew it. :) Okay, I’m on my way right now. Had to make a quick stop.

Me: Where to?

A: You’ll see when I get there. Gah! Impatient. Lol I’m kidding. ;)

Me: LOL! Okay Mr. Carlile. See you in a few.

A: Cool.


I couldn’t help but laugh a little to myself as Austin and I were texting, it was making Audrey raise an eyebrow. “I don’t get you. One minute you’re saying how in love you are with Brian, and yet there you go flirting like crazy with this Austin character.”

I then raise an eyebrow at her. “What? I’m not flirting with him.”

She chuckles. “Yeah… Right.” She then gets up and grabs Bea’s bags. “I’ll take your stuff down stairs.” She then walks away, leaving Beatrix and me alone. I looked around the room one last time before looking down at Beatrix. She stared up at me and smiled. I smiled back at her and kissed the tip of her nose.

“I love you sweetie.” I whispered.

Just then, my phone vibrated. It was Austin.

A: I’m here.

Me: Okay. We’re coming.

I then carefully got up and walked downstairs with Bea wrapped in her baby blanket in my arms. Audrey was in the kitchen drinking a glass of wine while she stared at me. I grabbed the three bags at the door, as well as the car seat and stroller, and turned around to look at her. “You gonna come say goodbye to us?” I asked with a smile.

She stayed in place and shook her head. “No. It’s not goodbye just yet. I’ll be seeing you.” She then raised her glass to us as a toast before taking a big gulp. Never taking her eyes off of us.

I nodded once before walking out the door. Austin smiled and ran over to me. He grabbed two of the bags, and stroller, and led me to the taxi. Once the bags were placed in the car, he gave me a small hug before giving me some flowers and a teddy bear and looking down at Beatrix. “Oh wow. She’s so beautiful.”

I smiled at him. “This is my baby girl. Beatrix Eliza Haner.”

Austin then carefully took her in his arms and started talking baby talk to her. He then looked at me and smiled. “She looks just like you.”

I smiled and shook my head slightly. “No, she’s all Brian.”

He then looked back at her, smile never leaving his lips. “Well, she’s a beauty, like her mommy.”

With that comment, I couldn’t help but blush a little.


TWO DAYS LATER…

For the two days, Bea and I slept in the master bedroom of the suite and Austin slept in the living room on the couch. The entire time he spent it playing with Bea and making her laugh. I was so surprised at how quickly they grew attached to each other. I guess Bea could sense that Austin was a good guy.

We took an early morning flight all the way to New York City, and from New York, we took the next flight out to Los Angeles. When we arrived in Los Angeles, I started to feel my heart trying to punch its way out of my chest. We took his car and drove all the way to Huntington Beach. Bea was asleep in the back seat, and I suddenly felt myself taking a tight grip to Austin’s free hand. He looked at me with concern. “Evelyn, are you okay?”

I quickly shook my head. “Austin, I’m not ready. I thought I was ready to see him now but I’m not.” I started breathing quickly, and my chest began to hurt.

“Okay, Evelyn. Relax.” He said calmly as he slowly began to breathe in and out until I kept along with his pace. “There you go. Now, it’s all going to be fine. You and Bea can stay with me until you are ready.”

I looked at him with concern. “Austin, I don’t want to put you through the trouble.”

Austin shook his head slightly. “It’s no trouble. I’m just being friendly. If you’re not ready, then my place is open until you are ready to see him.”

I snickered a little. “Well, what if I’m never going to be ready?”

Austin lets out a small chuckle. “I’m a patient man. Just as long as you understand that you and Bea are welcome in my apartment so you two can stay as long as you want.” He smiled at me.

I smiled back. “Thank you.” I respond before he makes a turn around and heads back to his apartment.


THE NEXT AFTERNOON…

Austin had to leave early to the studio to work on new tracks for his new album Restoring Force: Full Circle. So Bea and I had the entire apartment to ourselves; with the exception of Austin’s dog, Echo.

After feeding all three of us, I decided to take Bea and Echo out for a walk at the beach. I placed sunscreen on Bea, and dressed her up in a white dress with small red roses all over, and a white hat. I dressed in denim shorts and a white tank top with white sandals and dark shades on. I then put the leash on Echo after I placed Bea in the stroller, and then we made our way down to the beach.

The day was so beautiful. It was warm, and the smell of the ocean filled the air. Children were swimming and building sand castles, everyone was getting a tan, laughing, talking, and some were drinking. It was perfect. We settled down at a random spot on the beach and played. Echo chased after a ball I threw to the ocean and he would bring back. We stayed there until Bea and I started getting hungry.

We headed back to the apartment and I made me a sandwich and Bea a bottle. Echo ate out of his food bowl. I then gave Bea a bath and put her down on Austin’s bed for a nap. I surrounded her with pillows so she wouldn’t fall, and Echo came and slept on the foot of the bed. I went to my bag in the living room to grab a pair of panties and a bra before heading to the bathroom to take a shower, leaving the door slightly open in case Bea started crying.

I stayed in the shower for thirty minutes, half of the time I spent getting clean, and the other half I was thinking. Thinking about how I am going to face Brian for the first time in two years. How it was going to go; the things he would say; the things I would say; and so on.

I finally got out and dried myself before putting my underwear on and stepping out of the bathroom. I kept rubbing my hair dry as I walked out, not realizing until the last moment, that Austin was in the apartment. I let out a small shriek at the sight of him and quickly tried to cover myself with the towel I was using to dry my hair. “Oh my God!” We both kept repeating as Austin quickly covered his eyes.



Later on that night, Austin and I sat in the living room in awkward silence. Bea was asleep for the night in the guest room and Echo was in there with her, sleeping on the foot of the bed. The awkward tension in the room was so thick that you could cut it with a knife.

The TV was our only source of light for the moment and the movie was on low volume. We were watching Despicable Me, though I doubt either one of us was even paying attention to it. At least I wasn’t.

After an hour into the movie, Austin cleared his throat to try to speak to break the ice. “So, um, nice weather today.”

“Yes, it was. Very nice.” I quickly stated.

We both nodded before another brief pause of awkwardness. “You have a nice figure, by the way. Especially for having a baby.”

I chuckled. “Thank you. I squeeze in as many workouts as I can.”

He nodded. “I can see.”

Another brief pause of awkwardness went by.

“I’m sorry for walking around like that, I should’ve known better.” I began.

“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t know I was here. I understand.” He smiled at me and I smiled back.

We then continued to watch movies and talk about our day. Eventually we both said goodnight to each other and headed to our rooms for bed.




It took me three days before I was finally ready to face Brian. I placed Bea in her car seat and waited until Austin left for the day to call a cab to pick us up. We made it all the way to Huntington Beach and made it to Brian’s house. It surprised me that he still lived in the same house. I took a deep breath before paying the cab driver, getting Bea, and taking the first steps out of the cab and into the lawn. My heart began beating harder with each step. When I finally reached the door, I hesitated to press the doorbell. When I did, my heart skipped a few beats.

The door then slowly opened, but to my surprise, Brian wasn’t the one answering the door. Instead, a really thin woman with bleached blonde hair and oversized breasts answered the door. “Yes?” She asked with a raised eyebrow and a small attitude.

I knew this was going to happen, but I tried to play it off. “I’m sorry. I must have the wrong house. I thought this was the Haner residence.”

She shook her head. “No, this isn’t the Haner residence, this is the Gates residence.”

Nope. I was at the right house, and this bitch is an idiot. Just then, I heard another voice coming closer in the distance. “Candy, this isn’t your house! Please stop answering my do—“ Brian then stops in place next to Candy and stares at me in pure shock. “E-Evelyn?”

My breath hitched as I stared at Brian for the first time. I couldn’t believe I was finally here, with him.

Notes

Okay DeathBats! Let me know what you think, and I'm taking in votes as to where Evelyn's future leads. Should she get back together with Brian, or should she start something with Austin? Let me know! Love you all! <3