“Hello?” he mumbled.
“Who’s the girl?” she blurted out.
“Katie? Do you know what time it is?” he sounded disoriented.
“Eleven o’clock,” she grumbled.
“Yeah, in Boston maybe. Not here,” he sighed. “It’s Saturday.”
“Who’s the girl?” she repeated a little more calmly as the anger began to slip away only to be replaced by sadness and heartbreak.
“A friend,” he groaned. “Her name is Eden. We’ve been hanging out.”
“Why? Why did you feel the need to send me that?” she begged.
“I was happy that I could start walking again. I wanted you to see that I’m going to be ok. Katie, I told you not to wait on me. I’m not coming back,” he sighed and she could here him shifting in his bed.
“But, I love you!” she pleaded with him.
“I know. I know you do, but this is not going to work the way you want it to. I’m trying to do the right thing here. You need to move on, away from me. Meet someone else. I will always love you, and I’ll always be your friend. You were the first girl to see the real me. You didn’t run away or believe the rumors. I’ll always treasure that and be grateful. Right now, friends are all we can be. It’s only fair that way. I need you to understand this,” he sighed and rolled onto his back.
She responded in silence as she tried to hold back the sob that was rising in her throat. She didn’t like the way this was going. This was it. This was really the end. She’d seen it coming weeks ago as the letters had dwindled and the phone calls had become friendlier. She’d been fooling herself into believing that this would work out.
“Can we?” he finally broke the silence.
“Can we what?” she sobbed as a strangled cry escaped from her lips.
“Be friends?” he begged.
“I can’t be anything with you right now, Zach. I can’t get past this with you in my life. If you truly want me to move on, then we have to stop the calls and emails. Every time I get a letter or email from you, it cuts the wound right back open. I can’t heal this way,” she choked out her response. “I can’t be your friend right now, it hurts too much.”
“I understand,” he sighed. “I’ll always be here if you change your mind. I really do want to be your friend, but I understand where you‘re coming from.”
“Goodbye Zach. Good luck with Eden. I know you like her just by the smile on your face in the picture.” Katie hung up the phone before he could respond and flung it across the room. She rolled onto her stomach and buried her face in her arms. Violent sobs wracked her body as she let all possibility of a future with Zach leave her thoughts. This was not how she wanted to spend the holidays.
After a few minutes, she rose to a sitting position as swiped at her eyes just in time to her Melanie shout down the hall, “Katie! Front step!”
“Coming Mom,” Katie called as picked up the laptop from the floor and placed it back on her desk.
She pulled on her snow hat and grabbed her gloves before storming out into the family room.
“I don’t know why you just don’t call Mr. Montgomery,” she huffed.
“Because Austin has his own things to do,” Melanie shook her head. “Now, outside.”
Katie walked over to the front door only to swing it open and slam it shut behind her, causing the glass in it to rattle. Melanie shook her head from side to side and rolled her eyes at Katie‘s dramatic act. She was growing tired of the teenage meltdowns and wasn‘t sure how much more she could take before she had a meltdown of her own. As much as she loved her daughter and didn’t want her to grow up any faster than necessary, she was ready to get past this phase in her life.
Katie grabbed the snow shovel that was leaning against the side of the porch. She moved over to the top step and began pushing the snow off the edge and letting it fall to the bushes below. It was a busy Saturday for winter, with lots of people bustling around on the streets. She assumed that with Christmas just around the corner, most people were trying to get their shopping finished.
Katie looked up from the steps just in time to see a giant U-Haul truck trying to parallel park in front of her mom’s BMW. She shook her head and watched for a few minutes before going back to her shoveling. Making a tsking sound as she shoveled, she chuckled as she thought about the truck bumping into the car. She wondered who in their right mind would want to move to Boston in the middle of winter. It was bad enough trying to go in and out and not track snow everywhere, but to be moving furniture and boxes in this mess? Who did that?
Just then, the doors to the truck swung open and two figures jumped out. Katie couldn’t tell if they were men or women due to the fact that they were bundled up. A car pulled up past the truck and parked. A figure climbed out of the car and lifted out what looked like a baby from the backseat. They must be a new family moving in Katie thought. The brownstone next to Melanie had been vacant since she and Katie had moved in. She was happy, because it had meant that it would be quiet. Katie groaned as she went back to shoveling. She knew that this new development meant noise and neighbors.
After looking a little closer, she could tell that the figure driving the car was a woman. She had removed her hat and brown hair had cascaded down her back as she carried the baby inside the brownstone. The other two figures had moved to the back of the moving truck and thrown the door up. Katie was down to the third step now with only two more to go. She had her back to the moving truck, but turned when she heard a crash. One of the figures, the larger of the two, was struggling to not drop a dresser.
“Patrick, come grab this,” he yelled.
Just then, the smaller of the two came rushing around the truck to grab the other end of the dresser. Steam puffed out of their mouths as they struggled to right the large piece of furniture. Patrick, as she now knew him, pulled his snow hat off and tossed it in the direction of the truck. A mop of sandy blond hair appeared as he wiped his forehead. The two figures, which Katie now figured were a father and son, carried the dresser in through the front door of the brownstone.
Katie moved down to the next step and paused as Patrick reemerged and was ambling over to the truck. He looked up just in time to see her staring. She blushed at being caught and turned away quickly just as he hit a small patch of ice. He began flailing around trying to regain his balance. Katie snickered as she watched him. When he finally righted himself, he looked up at her and took a big bow. Katie released a huge laugh and shook her head. She turned back around and moved to the last step.
Patrick stood watching for a minute and then decided to come over and introduce himself.
“Hi!” he shouted as he waved and made his way in her direction.
“Hi,” she shook her head. “Salt will help with that you know.”
He looked back at the icy spot, “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I’m usually a little better than that.”
Katie cocked her head to the side as she gave him the once over. He had that All-American look - tall, lean, and blond. His hazel eyes danced in amusement as he watched her scan his form. He looked to be slightly over six feet tall and she assumed he had a muscular build based on the lifting she’d just observed.
“I play hockey,” he shrugged as he brought her back to the present. “I‘m not used to falling on the ice.” He put his hand out in front of her, “My name’s Patrick.”
“Katie,” Katie answered in a clipped tone, not reaching for his hand. Confidence was pouring off of him and she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction that she was curious about him.
“Well alrighty then,” Patrick backed away. “We’re moving in next door. That’s my dad, Jason, and my mom, Suzanne. I have a little brother too, Max,” he pointed toward a woman who was holding open the door for the man trying to carry a box through it.
“Patrick! Boxes first, then socializing,” Jason pointed to the truck.
“I gotta go,” he backed up a little farther and hit the ice again. As he slipped he glanced b
ack at Katie and winked, “It was nice meeting you.”
Katie shook head and laughed, “Watch your step.”
When she finished with the last step, she made her way back up to her own front door. She tossed the shovel over to the side and kicked the snow off her boots. Once inside, she peeled off the heavy clothes and tossed them to the side, and made her way into the kitchen only to be met by Melanie.
She handed her a mug of hot cocoa, “Who was that?”
“New neighbors,” Katie grumbled.
“Did they seem nice?” Melanie smirked as she sipped her coffee.
“Don’t start, Mom. I know you saw him talking to me. I don’t know anything other than his name and that he plays hockey,” Katie sighed. “He’s so cocky too. Trust me, not going to happen.”
“I didn’t say anything. But it is nice to see you smile and laugh again,” Melanie smiled at her and patted her shoulder as she walked out of the room.
“Don’t get too comfortable,” she called over her shoulder. “Austin’s coming over in an hour and we’re going to get a tree to put up tonight.”
Katie sighed. Her mom was crazy when it came to the holidays. She was like a kid during this time of year. Katie shook her head and made her way back to her room. Yes, she needed a distraction and going to get a tree sounded great right about now. She closed her door and walked over to her window. She peered through the translucent curtains to see Patrick still bringing in boxes. Even though she knew it was wrong, she stared at him for a few minutes until he turned around and caught her. Busted she thought as she pulled back away from view. Conflicting emotions began to swirl in her head. Who was Patrick? How old was he? What would Zach think if he knew she was thinking about another guy? The more she beat herself up, the more she started telling herself Who cares what Zach thinks, if he can hang out with other girls then I can hang out with other guys.
“Katie,” Melanie called. “Austin and Hannah are here, let’s go.”
Katie emerged from her room, grabbed her coat and hat, and made her way out to the door where everyone was waiting.
“Ready?” Austin grinned.
“Yep,” Katie smiled back. “Let’s go.”
They made their way down to Austin’s truck and headed out of town to find the perfect Christmas tree for the Andrews’ house.
Chapter 15
“So, what do you think? Is it big enough for you?” Austin chuckled as he straightened the tree in the stand.
They had been out for several hours looking at fir trees, trying to find the perfect one. Melanie was picky when it came to trees. She wanted one that was full and quite tall. When they finally found one to her liking, Austin had hoisted it into the back of the truck and tied it down for the ride back to her house.
“It’s perfect,” she squealed as she bounced on the balls of her feet. “ I love it.”
She moved around the tree, surveying it as Austin slid it to just the right spot in the room.
“I’ll get the lights and you can help me put them up,” she walked down the hall to the spare room that was currently being used for storage, and began dragging boxes out to the family room. Hannah and Katie were in the kitchen drinking cocoa, and trying to warm back up. Melanie had just about finished bringing out boxes when she felt two big arms wrap around her waist from behind.
“Austin! What are you doing?” she squealed.
He nuzzled his face into her neck, “I’m taking a break to kiss the woman I love.”
She relaxed in his arms and turned to face him. She rose up on her tiptoes and planted a soft kiss to his lips. Just as she was about to pull away, he deepened it. A soft moan escaped her lips as he pressed her flush against the wall. He used his hips to hold her still while his hands began to skim along her form. Melanie arched into him when she felt his arousal press into her thigh. Thoughts of decorating the tree became fleeting as he moved his mouth to her jaw and neck. “I’ve been waiting all day to do this,” he mumbled as his hand moved up her side to caress her breast. “Austin,” she panted “we have to stop. The girls,” she began to push on his chest. He backed up and ran a hand across the back of his neck as he tried in vain to control himself.
Melanie took a moment to collect herself before responding, “There will be more of that later, if you help me finish.” Then she turned and walked back in the direction of the family room with just a little more sway to her hips.
He groaned and grabbed the box that she had been carrying and placed it strategically in front him. “Fine, I’m helping,” he called after her.
She laughed as he sulked his way back out to the family room. After calling the girls from the kitchen, the four started opening boxes and decorating their perfect tree.
Katie came bouncing into the room with a stack of CDs in her hand, “Mom, let’s put on some music.”
“Sure sweetie, you pick,” Melanie looked back as Katie was opening the cabinet to the stereo.
They had a family tradition of listening to Christmas carols as they decorated the house every year. This was the first year they’d had a live tree though.
“It smells so good in here,” Katie inhaled deeply.
“It’s the tree,” Melanie answered distractedly. “You’ve never had a live tree in the house, at least not one that you remember.”
Melanie had bought an artificial tree when Katie was little. When they lived in New York, their apartment was small. Without Sean to help carry and set it up, she didn’t have anyone else to rely on. It was nice that Austin could help this year. Melanie felt like she was finally getting some of her old life back.
As Austin strung the lights, Melanie and the girls began unwrapping ornaments and placing them on the couch.
“Most of these look homemade,” Hannah stated.
“Most of them are,” Melanie sighed. “We didn’t have a lot of money when Sean and I were first married. As much as I wanted a tree that looked like something out of the Macy’s store window, we just couldn’t afford it. We spent several nights of our first holiday season making decorations. It was a Christmas that I’ll never forget. This one here,” she pointed at Katie, “was just starting to make her presence known.”
December 1997
“Babe, we can’t afford all this stuff right now,” Sean drug his hands across his face as he surveyed the bags and boxes that Melanie had spread all over the floor.
“I know, I just want this Christmas to be special,” Melanie sighed. “It’s our first Christmas together as a married couple and the only one we‘re going to get before the baby arrives.”
It looked as if she had bought out the store. All kinds of boxes littered the tiny apartment floor.
“I promise, once I’ve been at the hospital longer and have some seniority, I’ll buy you all kinds of fancy stuff to put up in here,” he waved his hand around in the air.
“Alright, I’ll take some of it back,” she dropped her shoulders in defeat and crossed her arms dejectedly.
The next afternoon, Sean had shown up with all kinds of things to make decorations with. It looked like he’d raided an Oriental Trading store. Melanie and he had spent the next several nights making ornaments and decorations for the apartment and tree. Over the years she and Katie had added to the collection. They did have several store bought items that they had collected from trips or from friends, but the hand made ones all told a story.
December 2012
Katie held up a small reindeer ornament made out of clothes pins, “Remember this one, Mom? I made this in preschool,” she smiled at the memory.
“I remember all of them, sweetheart. They all hold something special to my heart,” she smiled at Katie as she continued to unwrap and place them to the side.
Just then, she came across one that she couldn’t mistake. It was heart shaped and heavy. She slowly unwrapped it and a lone tear trickled down her face. She glanced up at Austin and quickly wiped it way. She thought she’d been quick enough for him not to notice, but she wasn’t. Aust
in had been hanging around her for long enough to be able to read her. He knew something was wrong.
He walked over and knelt down beside her, “Is something wrong?”
“No, I’m fine,” she lied.
He pulled the mass of tissue paper out of her hand and began unwrapping it. Once he got it open, he discovered a pewter heart shape frame with a picture of her and Sean. They were hugging each other as someone else had caught the moment on camera. At the bottom of the frame it read “Our First Christmas”. He placed the ornament on the coffee table and wrapped his arms around her. She knew by his silence, that he understood and would not push her to talk about it.
Unbreak Me (Second Chances) Page 16