by L. T. Kelly
He didn’t argue with her. The front door clicked shut behind him as she drew her knees up to her chest and let go of the pain inside her.
The sounds of her sobs ricocheted off the walls until they reached fever pitch, then quieted again. Finally, her swollen eyes closed and blocked out her troubles with sleep.
* * * *
“This has got to stop. What’s brought all this on again? It’s been years.”
Katie huffed out a sarcastic laugh. “Look, Mom. If it’s too much trouble for you, I’ll take her myself.”
“Looking like that,” Marie huffed and put her hands on her hips. “No chance, and your eyes look like piss holes in the snow.”
“Oh, thanks a bunch.”
“It’s true.” She shrugged and flounced off upstairs.
Katie dropped her pounding head into her hands. Her mom was right. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen. She’d slept on the couch all night, if what she’d had could be referred to as sleep.
She’d had nightmares, ones she hadn’t had for years. It had taken copious amounts of counseling and two years of anti-depressants to force them away previously, and it wasn’t a road she wanted to travel again. If it hadn’t been for Jessica, who'd been only six months old at the time, Katie was certain she’d have taken her own life. She’d spent her marriage being a selfish bitch. She absolutely refused to inflict that unsavory trait onto her child.
“You okay, Mommy?”
Her head whipped back. “Yeah, bunny, I’m just feeling a little under the weather. That’s why I called nanny to ask her to take you to school. Is that okay?”
“Course it is. Better than granny anyway.” Jessica snickered.
“Hey, you, don’t speak like that about Granny.” Katie elbowed her daughter playfully.
“Come on then, Missy. Nanny has got to get to work, unlike your bloody granny.” Katie’s mother appeared in the doorway holding Jessica’s school bag. Katie bit her lip to keep from chastising her mother for badmouthing her mother-in-law. She’d come with no questions and agreed to collect Jessica for her, as well.
“Do you want me to call in sick for you?” her mom asked, as gently as she could manage. She'd always been a hard woman, but in all the right ways. Katie knew how much her mother cared, even though she didn’t always show it.
“Please,” Katie said.
“Okay then, love. Do what you have to do today, and pull yourself together. Promise me?”
Katie managed a half-smile. “Promise.”
Marie nodded once and grabbed Jessica’s hand.
“Bye, Mommy.”
“Bye, bunny. Be good.”
Silence descended on the house as soon as they left. Katie glanced around, desperately wondering what she could do to perk herself up and smiling as she thought of it. One thing always lifted her mood…a pamper day.
Chapter Eight
Evan opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the harsh morning that spilled in through the curtains.
His head ached as he tried to lift it off the pillow and respond to the knocking at the door. Mel’s voice accompanied the tapping, announcing the arrival of housekeeping. He suddenly came to his senses at the thought of seeing Katie to apologize and explain his stupidity.
He rushed to the door disorientated, wearing only his boxer shorts, and yanked it open. He looked from Mel to the tiny Asian girl standing behind the cart, greedily admiring his scantily clad body.
“Where is she?”
Mel shrugged. “She called in sick. What did you do to her?”
Evan’s shoulders slumped under the weight of Mel’s accusatory stare.
“Nothing. No need to do my room today,” he mumbled, closing the door. His eyes swept the room, as though looking for his next plan of action. His ringing cell pulled him from his reverie. He double stepped across the room to snatch it up.
“Hey.” He spoke softly, noticing Al's name on the screen before he answered.
“Hello, lad. Do you want to gather the band over at mine? I’ve got something to discuss with you lot.”
Evan raked a hand through his hair, his mind focused on nothing but fixing things with Katie.
“You still there?” Al bellowed down the phone.
“Yeah, yeah, sorry I got distracted.”
Al chuckled. “Well, wake up and get your arses ‘round here.”
“All right, we’ll be there.”
“Good, see you in a bit.”
Glad for a task to pull his head away from the Katie saga, he showered and dressed quickly then assembled the band to head over to Al’s place. They hopped on the tube train and arrived within the hour.
Today, Al looked more businesslike than usual, wearing black slacks and a pale-blue shirt.
“Come in, come in.” He ushered them inside. A bleached-blonde, fifty something lady hung back in the hall. Evan couldn’t help but notice her eyes twinkling with excitement.
“This is my wife, Eve,” he said with a flick of his hand toward her. “Eve, these are the lads I told you about.”
The woman couldn’t seem to contain herself. She rushed forward and flung her arms around Evan’s neck. He stumbled backward breaking his fall as his elbow connected with the wall. Eve failed to notice, even when she released him, and he rubbed the affected area.
“I knew your dad. It’s lovely to meet you properly,” she gushed.
“You, too, Mrs. Wright.”
Her eyes wide with delight, she inspected each inch of his face. She waved a hand around with an exuberant smile plastered on her face. “Please, call me Eve.”
The band stood awkwardly in Al’s hallway. Their tension rose as they glanced at one another, most likely wondering why the hell they’d been called there in the first place.
Al broke the ice quickly. “Come on through, lads,” he bellowed cheerfully, turning down the corridor. They followed him into the dining room where the table appeared to be set up as though they were attending a grand conference. They each took a seat and exchanged looks that ranged from confused to flummoxed.
“Right, lads. Let’s get straight down to business. Do you have a manager yet?”
They’d had plenty of half-hearted offers, but none that had made them bite. All eyes were directed at Evan. He figured that was due to his connection with Al.
Evan cleared his throat, while looking at Alex’s excited stare. They both realized Al was suggesting he become their manager. Evan knew he couldn't decide for the four of them, as much as he wanted the partnership to happen. They needed to have a discussion about it and make the decision as a band.
Al clapped his hands loudly and rubbed them together. “Well, how about me? I manage a few bands already, but they don’t even measure up to the shite on the bottom of your shoes. I’ve got contacts a plenty. Let me make this dream come true for you, lads. You lot are going to rock the fucking world. Harder. Better. You’re going to be more amazing than Monument ever could have been.”
“What cut are you asking for, Al?” Tom piped up. He had the business brains of the group. They’d never have taken him if he hadn't put music first, but he’d made sure he had a back-up plan if Spires didn’t work out and never made any secret of it.
“Look, lads, I’m a bloody good manager. I’ll not rip you off. That I promise. All I suggest is that you get yourselves a decent contract lawyer, and I get your permission to get mine to draw up a contract. Can’t say fairer than that, can you?”
Alex stuck out his bottom lip, sat up straighter and shrugged as if he’d already made his mind up. Tom nodded in approval. Jamie was Jamie, simply waiting to follow the general consensus.
A fizz of excitement rippled through Evan. The worry of what to do about Katie left his body long enough for him to feel elation. He’d be working with the next best thing to his father, and he couldn’t see anything bad in that. As soon as they’d agreed to find appropriate legal advice, his anxiety returned.
They all got up to leave. They had shit to do at the stud
io, and hanging around at Al’s wouldn’t get any issues resolved. Tom gazed intently at his cell as they were leaving. Evan assumed he was already looking for a lawyer. The guys walked ahead as Al clapped a hand on Evan’s shoulder and dipped his head with concern.
“You okay, lad? You’re not as excited as I thought you would be.”
Evan considered the old man’s face. It must have meant a lot to him to offer them this epic chance. Evan closed his eyes and shook his head before snapping them open to look at his idol.
“Man, I’m sorry, I’m struggling with some personal issues.”
“Katie, huh?”
Evan pursed his lips and nodded.
“Take some advice from an old man.” He smiled softly. “You win some; you lose some. If she’s worth it, you’ll get her.”
Evan grinned. “Oh, she’s worth it, and I will get her.”
Al slapped Evan on his shoulder again. “Atta boy. Off you go then, lad. Take the car for now. I’ve got plenty in the garage. You can keep it for as long as you need.” He handed over the keys Evan had dropped off the day before.
“Thanks. Thanks for what you’ve done.”
“You’re more than welcome, lad. Anytime, anything, your dad would have wanted me to. I want to help you wherever possible.”
Evan flashed his newfound friend and soon-to-be manager a smile before climbing behind the wheel of the car, filled with hope of sorting out shit with Katie and her fucked-up past. A past that appeared to be as disastrous as his, only she didn’t know that yet, and he figured he'd be better off keeping that under his cap for now.
* * * *
“Hey, bunny, you okay?”
“Hi, Mommy. Yeah, cool, thanks. Look.” Jessica grinned, displaying the gap in her front teeth. She pushed out her chest and pointed proudly to the golden sticker stuck on her blue-and-white checkered school dress.
“Wow, what did you get that for?” Katie asked, leaning forward off the couch to inspect it.
“Being kind to the new boy.”
“That’s nice. Go you.” Katie held her hand up for a high five, which Jessica quickly responded to.
Marie trudged into the room behind her granddaughter then stopped abruptly, her eyes widening.
“Bloody hell, look at you.”
Katie grinned and winked. “Took your advice. I’m sorted now. Thanks, Mom.”
“Nothing a bit of slap couldn’t fix, ay?” Maria chuckled, plunking herself down on the settee beside Katie.
“Looks that way.”
“You do look lovely,” Jessica announced, noticing Katie’s appearance.
“Thanks, bunny, but that doesn’t get you out of homework. Off you go.”
“Aw, Mom.”
“No arguments. Remember, the sooner you start, the sooner you finish,” she said in a singsong voice that always did the trick. Jessica grabbed her school bag and disappeared upstairs to her bedroom.
“Stick the kettle on will you, love. I’m gasping for a cuppa,” Maria said, groaning as she sank back farther into Katie’s sofa.
Looking over her shoulder at her mother sprawled out, appearing exhausted, a rare pang of affection washed over her. Katie had always loved her mother, of course.
When she’d met Lee, his parents had been perfect and together. They were financially comfortable, traditional and proper in a stiff English sort of way. Helen hadn’t had Lee until her late thirties. She’d been a devoted primary school teacher until she’d become a mother. A year ago, Lee’s father had passed, hence Helen’s insistence that she take Jessica far more than she should. Katie knew Helen felt lonely.
Katie’s family was completely different from Lee’s. Marie had had Katie at nineteen. Katie’s father had left her mother a year later, and Marie had struggled to raise her alone. Even after Katie had left home, Marie continued her tireless work, which had always been her way.
Katie padded to the kitchen, flicked on the kettle then grabbed two cups off the mug tree. She dropped teabags into each cup and set about pouring the boiling water into them. The shrill sound of the doorbell made her spill the water while pouring the second cup.
“Shit!” She quickly lifted her hand off the counter to prevent the water from burning her.
“I’ll get it,” Jess called from halfway downstairs. Any excuse getting out of doing her homework.
“Mom,” Katie called out, stirring the tea and not wanting Jess to be snatched off the doorstep by some chancer.
“On it like a car bonnet,” Marie answered, making a groaning noise as she heaved herself off the sofa to get the door.
Katie froze mid-stir, her limbs paralyzed as the unmistakable American accent flood her ears, accompanied by Jessica’s excited greeting. His voice got closer. He’d been invited inside. Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared out the kitchen window, feeling as though the walls were closing in on her.
“Katie, Katie, Katie,” her mother’s hushed voice resounded through her tiny galley kitchen.
“What?” she snapped.
Her mother’s eyes widened. “You’re a dark horse, aren’t you?”
“He’s just a friend.”
“Yeah, course he is.” Marie winked, appearing less fatigued than she had five minutes ago.
Evan was speaking animatedly with Jess in the living room.
“Believe what you want to,” Katie huffed and shoved past her mother.
Evan’s head shot up as she stepped into the room.
“What are you doing here?” She attempted to keep her voice light and airy. The last thing she wanted was to have an unpleasant confrontation in front of Jess.
“I came to ask you guys to have dinner with me.”
Jess leapt up off the sofa, clapping her hands together excitedly. “Can we, Mommy, can we? Please.” She held her hands together in a prayer-like stance.
Katie shot Evan a narrow-eyed glance, before smoothing out her features to look back at Jess.
“Sorry, sweetie, you can’t have two late nights in a row. You need to get some good sleep to be ready for your last day of school tomorrow.”
Suddenly, Marie appeared beside her, cup of tea in hand. She didn’t even look at Katie, far to busy beaming at Evan as though she’d never laid eyes on a man in her life. “Mommy is right, Jessica. You could do with an early night. I’ll look after you while Mommy and her friend go have dinner.” She still hadn’t looked at Katie to gauge her wishes.
“Oh, okay, thanks,” Evan said, his brows squished together. “Is that okay with you, Katie?”
At least, someone’s noticed I’m standing here. Katie huffed and slammed her hands onto her hips to prevent them from wringing her mother’s bloody neck.
“It doesn’t look like I’m being given much of a choice, does it?” Her eyes were narrowed into slits as she looked at her mother, her mouth twisted into a scowl.
Evan chuckled, and the sound warmed the pit of her belly. “You’ve always got a choice.”
She turned her scowl on Evan.
“Come on, Jess. Let’s get you sorted out before I go. Say goodbye to Evan; you have homework to do.” She felt an immediate tug of guilt as she looked down into her daughter’s sad eyes. She hadn’t stopped for a second to think Jess might have been upset at being told she couldn’t go for dinner.
She knelt, placing her hands on her daughter’s knees. “I’m sorry, bunny. You really shouldn’t be out two nights in a row, hey?” She wiped away a tear from beneath her daughter’s blue eye. “How about Evan helps you with your homework down here. That should make it quicker for you. Then you and Nanny could watch a movie before bed?” She glanced at Evan for his permission. He sat back on her couch as though he belonged there.
Her stomach rolled nervously. She wished he did belong.
The little girl squealed and ran upstairs to collect her things.
“If that’s okay with you?” she said softly, standing again.
“Doesn’t look like I have much of a choice, does it?” He shrugg
ed and held her gaze with a hint of mischief in his eyes.
“You’ve always got a choice,” she whispered, before hotfooting it after her daughter.
Jessica stood on the landing with her schoolwork in her hand.
“Be good,” Katie instructed and patted her on the head. She made her way to her bedroom to freshen up her lip gloss. Peals of laughter flooded the downstairs of her house, a house where there hadn’t been much of that. She studied her reflection. Fine lines were beginning to appear around her eyes, and that annoying frown line she always tried to hide appeared to be at full force. What the hell was she thinking running around with some young hotshot? She should be at home drinking cups of cocoa and watching Disney movies with her kid.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
Katie flinched at her mother’s voice coming from the doorway.
She picked up her eyeliner. “What would that be then?” She removed the lid and applied it, trying to still the shake of her hand.
“You think he’s too young for you, and that you don’t—”
“Mom, come on, he is—”
“Don’t interrupt me,” Marie barked. “As I was saying…you don’t think you deserve happiness after everything that’s happened.” She sighed heavily and glanced around the room.
Katie couldn’t speak for fear of bursting into tears. The truth in her mother's words reignited the battle that had raged inside her for too long.
“I felt the need to come up here and tell you not to be so stupid. You’re a beautiful young woman, your life is far from over and it really is time you moved on. Look at the way he is with Jess. What more could you ask? Stop taking life so seriously, and go with the flow.”
Katie nodded but refused to affirm that perhaps Marie was right.
“Plus…” Marie giggled and slapped a hand over her mouth. “He’s bloody gorgeous.”
Katie walked over and pulled her into a squeeze, giggling along with her.
* * * *
“Thank you.”
“Thanks for what?” Evan asked, turning to look at Katie as he switched on the ignition. She looked stunning, her lips shining like a prize and her long, ebony locks falling around her face. She always put up a hard front. Although he found that attractive about her, his body responded to how small she looked tonight. How vulnerable she seemed.