Brian's POV
"Hurry up Penny, we're going to miss our flight!" I said as gently, but with as much urgency as I could. Penny was very stressed about going back to Huntington Beach even though she was cleared to fly. With Christmas and the New Year behind us, I thought getting far away from Gwyn would be good for both of us.
"I'm sorry Honey, I'm just trying to make sure everything is taken care of. Wane overseeing the remodel and repair of the other house and Chloe keeping and eye on this one."
"Is that all?" I asked as wrapped my arms around her and kissed her forehead right where the scar was hidden under her bangs. She cast her eyes down to the floor, I lifted her chin. "I keep telling you to stop worrying about it. You're beautiful, that little scar is nothing."
"You're right. Let's get going!" She said, trying to hide the tears starting to form in her eyes.
Finally, the luggage was in the car and everything was ready for us to leave. "I can't wait to see a Huntington Beach sunset again! How long did they say it will probably be until the trial?"
"They said at least a month. Let's not think about that right now." I said.
We were off, Penny was so excited she was like a kid at the airport. It's hard to believe this woman didn't fly until she was in her forties, and now she loves it. My thoughts were interrupted by my phone ringing. The caller ID said it was our attorney, I stepped away from Penny before answering it.
"Hello Brian, this is Victoria Dominic."
"Hello."
"The Prosecutor's office called and Ms. Parish wants to plea bargain."
"No! I want her put away for as long as possible." I said as calmly as I could.
"I've set up a meeting for us with the prosecutor tomorrow at 10:00 AM." My heart sank as I looked over at Penny and she smiled.
"We'll be there." I replied. Cali had to wait and my hatred of Gwyn surfaced as I made my way back to Penny to give her the news.

Penny's POV
I can't believe it, Gwyn can even mess up our lives from jail. I knew something was wrong as Brian walked back from the phone call. He looked sad and almost angry. We were both very quiet on the drive back to Springfield. When we were home I called Chloe and told her she didn't have to worry about checking on the house.
We went to bed early, Bri kissed me on the forehead and assured me everything was going to be okay.
The next day we sat in the waiting room while our attorney met with the prosecutor and Gwyn's attorney. The wait seemed like forever, then finally we were called into a small room with our attorney.
"Well, this has to be one of the strangest requests I have ever heard of. She wants to confess, under oath in court. In exchange for a 2 year sentence with 5 years probation after that."
"No way" I said. "She's not getting off that easy."
"Penny, let's think about it for a second first." Brian said.
"There's a lot to consider," the attorney added "this would mean no trial, less publicity, all over quickly and if it does go to trial there is no promise of how long she would get."
It was decided that we would think it over, but if we had any objection they must know the next day.
Brian and I hashed out the pros and cons and decided we would not object. We would be able to get on with our lives and not have to endure a trial.
A date was quickly set for the hearing. The only spectators were family and friends. Gwyn was brought in wearing lovely orange jail attire. The gorgeous confident woman was gone, she now looked tired and ill.
Her attorney had a set of questions to ask her and the prosecutor could also ask questions, object and even withdraw the deal if need be. She wanted this, she had better tell the truth.
The first questions were regarding the night she shot me. She answered all truthfully and with what seemed like genuine remorse. Her act wasn't fooling me.
The next questions were regarding the poisonings, I didn't realize all the times, it all made more sense now.
The third set of questions were about Adam and the blackmail to keep me in the states. She admitted it all.
The fourth and last set of questions involved Brian. It was almost finally over.
"Ms Parish, at did you ever drug Mr. Haner?
Gwyn: "Yes, Twice"
"Why did you drug him?"
Gwyn: "To try to get him to sleep with me or at least think he had."
"Were you successful?"
I felt like plugging my ears, I didn't want to sit there and hear this woman say she slept with my husband.
Gwyn: "Well, he thought he slept with me and she thought he slept with me and that's all I cared about at the time."
You could hear a collective gasp in the courtroom. My mind was racing, my head was spinning "Oh My God" is all I could say as I started shaking and crying. Brian wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. The judge demanded quiet and Gwyn confirmed that she and Brian did not sleep together! I hated the bitch for all her lies and all she had put us through, but the knowledge that Brian really hadn't slept with her took a weight off of my shoulders, one that I didn't realize was still there.

Notes