If Only by Lisa M. Owens

gaze pleading for understanding. “I know what is going to happen to you,” she interrupted when Susan opened her mouth to speak. “I was once married to that monster.”
    Susan just stood there, her stare disbelieving. Bree could tell Susan was fighting an inner battle with herself whether she should stay and talk to her or just turn around and leave. She only hoped her friend would stay and listen.
    “You won’t understand,” she attempted to explain as she anxiously began biting on her lower lip. She released a short laugh as she brushed a wayward curl out of her eyes. “Hell, I don’t even understand. But you must listen to me,” Bree pleaded, tears glistening in her eyes. “Please.”
    When Susan showed no attempt to leave, Bree decided to take that as a positive sign. She was silent as they approached the bench and then sat down side-by-side. She released a shaky sigh. “I really don’t know how this happened,” she forewarned. “All I know is when I woke up a couple of days ago, I was happily married to your brother when we hadn’t seen or even spoken to each other for several years.”
    “What?” Susan questioned sharply, staring at Bree as if she had just sprouted an additional head.
    “It’s like a crazy dream,” Bree admitted as she looked at her friend. “I’m not sure what is real and what is make-believe. I met Bryan Sexton while I was engaged to your brother, and I ended our engagement and married Bryan. He was violent and cruel to me. In fact, Bryan Sexton caused me to have three miscarriages throughout the entire length of our marriage. After the last one, I filed for divorce.”
    Susan laughed, a short, brittle sound that sounded sarcastic, even to Bree’s ears.
    “Just because you had some stupid dream doesn’t mean Bryan is really that way,” she insisted.
    Bree grabbed Susan by the wrist as she looked her friend straight in the eye, her emerald green gaze troubled. “You called me,” Bree confessed, her eyes pleading. “You suspect you are pregnant,” she blurted.
    Her friend covered her mouth with one hand as she released a startled gasp. “How did you know?” she asked. “I haven’t told anyone,” she stated.
    “You have to listen to me,” Bree stated as she grabbed Susan by the hands. “You called me one night. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but Bryan must have been cheating on me. With you,” she stated flatly as Susan looked over at her in disbelief. “I’m sure you didn’t know he was married to me,” she insisted as understanding seemed to finally dawn on Susan’s face.
    “But he isn’t married to you,” Susan whispered, struggling to comprehend what Bree was trying to tell her.
    “Because I went down another path this time,” she explained. “I chose your brother. Bryan didn’t marry me; he married someone else. And he is cheating on her. With you.”
    “I don’t think I understand what you’re saying,” Susan murmured.
    “You called me,” Bree insisted. “You had taken a pregnancy test and it had shown up positive.” When she looked up, it was to discover Susan’s face had paled. “You have already taken the test?” she asked, fearing she already knew the answer. At Susan’s slow nod, Bree continued, “So when were you planning on telling Bryan?”
    She cleared her throat as she stared at Bree, not quite sure whether or not she should believe her, Bree assumed. Swallowing with difficulty, Susan responded, “Tonight when we are alone in my apartment.”
    “Then tonight will be the night it happens,” Bree stated matter-of-factly, but her face betrayed her. There was alarm etched in her features.
    “When what happens?” Susan asked, breathless.
    She looked over at Susan sadly, her gaze troubled. “Tonight’s the night when all hell breaks loose.” Nibbling on her lower lip, she struggled to find the right words to explain. “You’re going to tell Bryan about the positive pregnancy test, and he is going to go