Whole Lot More

Chapter Thirty Six

Chapter Thirty Six

"Hello Martin."

Martin's jaw tensed just at the sight of her on his doorstep. She'd beaten him at his own game. She had come to ruin the day before he'd even had a chance to tell Brynne what was going on.

"What are you doing here?" he growled.

"Oh what a silly question that is, Martin. I warned you more than once that if you didn't tell her, I would. Did you think I was joking?" Her hand rested on her stomach. "Since he won't tell you Brynne, I will. This little bundle of joy I am carrying is Martin's baby."

"I know you," Brynne whispered.

Kaleen grinned, "I met you at the airport this morning. You know Brynne, you really shouldn't talk to strangers... you never know just who you may end up talking to. I mean, for all you know they could be a murderer... or your boyfriend's pregnant ex-girlfriend..."

"Get out, Kaleen!"

She smiled at Martin, "What? And miss the fireworks? Where's the fun in that?"

"I'd suggest you leave right now before I call security and cause a scene."

"Then they'd get here, see a pregnant woman and laugh in your face, Martin... no one is going to touch a pregnant woman."

"You're sick," Martin growled.

"Just returning the favor, maybe next time you'll learn not to turn your back on your responsibilities."

Not able to even lay eyes on her anymore, Martin slammed the door in her face and locked it; he wouldn't give her the satisfaction in watching the aftermath of what she had just done to his relationship.

Brynne hadn't uttered another sound since the one sentence she had said to Kaleen, and when Martin's attention finally turned back to her, he noticed the far off gaze in her eyes.

"Brynne," he said, laying his hand on his arm to bring her out of her daze; the sooner he could explain his side, maybe he could salvage some part of their relationship.

She flinched at his touch though, and pulled her body away from him; her voice, when it came out, was devoid of all emotion. "Please don't touch me, Martin."

"Fuck," he groaned, "Please let me explain."

"That sounds like a good idea right now... an explanation."

He groaned. This day was turning into near possibly the worst day of his life... and it was bound to get worse.

"I -- I don't even know where to start..."

"How about at the beginning? That sounds damn good to me right about now."

"I... Kaleen is my ex-girlfriend..."

"I know that Martin! Your family told me about her when we were visiting them... I asked you about her, remember?"

"I do," he nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me then?"

"I don't know."

Somewhere along the way, tears had started to fill her eyes. "Exactly how long have you known about this Martin?"

He knew this was the make or break question. Did he tell her the truth? Did he lie? Did he tell her he'd known basically since she'd been in his life? That he didn't know how to tell her or if the baby was even his? That he planned to have a paternity test as soon as the baby was born and then he was going to tell her?

"Martin? How long have you known she was pregnant?"

She waited with baited breath hoping that the answer wasn't what she dreaded to hear. If she found out he'd known for a while, she didn't know if she would ever be able to forgive him.

"You have to understand Brynne, she is certifiably insane. And I don't even know if that baby is mine - I plan on getting a paternity test done as soon as the baby is born."

"Martin - just answer the damn question already!"

He swallowed hard. "I've known since the week after I started talking to you." He searched her eyes for emotion, but all he saw was disappointment. "Brynne, you have to understand-"

But she didn't have to understand anything; she didn't even give him a chance to finish his sentence before she was pushing her way down the stairs and out of the coach, Kaleen still stood outside the door, the pure look of satisfaction on her face downright sickening.

"Hope you're happy," Brynne murmured, passing by the pregnant girl. Kaleen's thoughts didn't need to be voiced for anyone to see the pure happiness on her face. Oh, she was happy alright.

Martin descended the stairs, putting half a thought into following Brynne, but he knew she wouldn't have left if she wanted him to follow her.

Kaleen smirked at him from outside his coach causing the look on his face to turn into a glare. "Get the fuck out of here, and don't ever expect to be able to come back. I will make sure you're never even allowed back into any track from now on."

He slammed the door in her face and sighed; he was going to give Brynne an hour, and if she wasn't back, he would go out looking for her. He needed to try to clear the air between them.

***

Brynne got as far away as she could knowing any minute she would break down, she could already feel the upcoming panic attack begin to take over her body. At one time she had become far too used to having panic attacks... but it had been a long time.

She ducked behind the nearest motor coach and slid down until she was firmly sitting on the ground with her back leaning against the bumper of the monstrous home on wheels. She laid her head against her knees and just let everything out.

The pain. The hurt. The disappointment.

She'd let herself fall again; and once again... nothing turned out like she had hoped it would.

***

Dale and Julie sat in his coach just enjoying being with each other; their conversation going from one topic to another, talking about anything and everything they could come up with.

"How 'bout some music, babe?"

"Sounds good."

His stereo was controlled by a remote control so he didn't even have to leave the comfort of the couch to turn it on, and when the soft sounds of Marvin Gaye came across the speakers, Julie giggled knowing this was a set-up.

"What?" he asked.

She playfully smacked his chest, "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. are you trying to seduce me?"

"Of course not," he answered back quickly - almost too quickly, "Why would you ask that?"

"Hey - I never said that was a bad thing or that it wouldn't work and I wouldn't enjoy it -"

"Oh really now?" His hand slid up her shirt and rested on her bare stomach, "Then ya don't mind if I do that?"

"Not at all."

His hands began to explore her body even further, but froze when his phone rang loudly from beside him. "Fuck," he growled, practically ripping it out of his pocket, even more aggravated when he saw Martin's name across the phone, "What do you want MT? I was kinda busy."

"Sorry Junior. But I - I fucked up bad. Brynne left, and I have no clue where she is."

******


Things are going to be pretty dismal for a while, sorry guys!  Things will eventually get better I promise but it's going to take a while...