Page 77 of Once Upon a Beast

“She is all I have. It wasn’t supposed to be like this!” James cried.

“You lost her. You lost her the minute you did this. You let greed and your need for revenge cloud everything. You tried to ruin my father and instead he ruined you. You’re the reason this happened. You’re the reason you lost your daughter and everything you held dear. I don’t know if Layla will ever want to talk to you again, but if she doesn’t, I will support her in that decision. If she wants, I will make sure she never hears your name or sees you ever again.”

“No. don’t do that,” James sobbed.

“I didn’t do it, you did.”

Disgusted with the man, I picked up the gun and moved away from him. I looked over to see Layla standing off to the side. I wasn’t sure how much she had heard. I walked over to her and just stood in front of her. She looked up at me and gave me a sad smile.

“How are you doing?” I asked and put the gun down on the counter.

“I have no idea,” she said and walked into my arms.

“We’ll get through this together,” I said. Layla wrapped her arms tighter around me. “I’m sorry this happened. I’m sorry it ended the way it did.”

“I wanted to believe it had all been a lie, that he hadn’t done it, or it was all a misunderstanding. I kept hoping it was someone else. But it wasn’t. It was all him, he did all of this. For what? For why? I just don’t get it,” Layla said into my chest.

“We may never truly know what pushed him over the edge. We must try and find a way to move past this and live our lives as best we can.”

“As long as I have you, I can,” Layla looked up at me and gave me a slightly better smile.

“You can count on it.”

We didn’t get to say anything more as the cops arrived. They quickly separated us and took our statements. The officer was done with me before Layla and I went and made a few phone calls. By the time I was done, so was Layla. I found her sitting on the couch looking out but I could tell she wasn’t seeing anything.

I went over and sat next to her. I didn’t say anything and she didn’t either. After a few minutes, she leaned over and put her head on my shoulder. I twisted my head and kissed the top of her hair.

“How did it go with the cops?” she asked.

“Well. I think they were as shocked by everything as we were. I called Garrett and he’s going to go to the precinct to talk to the DA.”

“So, it begins all over again,” Layla said.

She hadn’t heard what I said to her father and while I still didn’t know what he was going to do, I needed to give Layla some hope. “We don’t know how long this is going to take or what will happen. He might confess to everything and avoid a trial. It could be over before we know it.”

“Will it ever be over?” She asked.

“No,” I replied honestly. “This will hang over our heads and my fathers for the rest of our lives. What we do with that is our choice.” I turned and looked at Layla. “I choose to not let this define me. I choose to find a way to make the best of the situation. I have my father back, I have you in my life. My first career might be over but there’s a chance for another one. I want to start my life over. I want to do it right, with you. No more hiding, no more people thinking that I’m a beast to be avoided. I want to live in the light that is you. I want to have a life with you. I want to have kids and grow old with you.”

“Are you proposing to me again?” Layla teased.

I dropped my head down on her head and smiled. “No. This is not the time or the place.”

Layla leaned back and gave me a slow smile. “Really? Why not? I think it’s the perfect spot. You just said you wanted to start your life over. You want to have a life with me, with kids, and growing old. Why wait? Why not start all of that now.

“This day has been beyond crappy. I need something good. I need something to look forward to. I need to know that things are going to get better. You can give me all of that by saying you’re mine.”

“You already have all of that. I am yours. I have been since we were kids. I will be yours until the end of time.”

“So, make it official. Marry me. Start this life that you want, that I want, right now. Don’t make me wait. If I’ve learned anything from today is that you have to take the moments, you have to enjoy everything you have when you have it. I want to have all of that with you.”

“Are you proposing to me now?” I teased.

“Yes. If I must, since you won’t. Marry me, Nicodemus Murphy. Make me the happiest woman in the world.”

I looked into the eyes of the woman that I loved and I knew she meant every word. I wanted to give her a proper proposal. I wanted to make it special. But Layla was right, there was no better time than now. I wanted a life with her. I wanted her to be my wife. Why should we wait?

“Well, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?” I asked.

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