“You’re not going to eat?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Cat, you have to eat. If you don’t, you know you’re going to get sick.” She gets up and pours a cup of tea and sits back down with a slice of toast and fruit. I watch her to make sure she eats something. She’s still very upset about last night. Her family is a thorn in my ass. Her mother is a thorn all by itself, she has to be dealt with. It’s time for us to have our own talk, about my family.
“You look nice.” Her hair is braided on both sides and pulled up in one. She’s wearing a form-fitting pale blue dress that shows her curves. I like it. I take a sip of my coffee watching her closely.
“Decided to wear something different today so there is no mistaking how pregnant I am. My official announcement for all who see me.” Her smile is tinged with sadness.
It wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for her mother. “I need to discuss something with you.”
She stops pretending to eat the rest of her food and holds her head up. “Thank you for being there for me last night. For not saying anything.”
“Where else would I be but with you.” I take her hand and hold it to my lips.
“You could have said I told you so.” She strokes her thumb across the top of her belly. “Is it wrong to want my family to be a part of my baby’s life? To want my mother to open her arms and embrace me when I tell her I’m having a baby. I was there when Kate told her she was pregnant. She was upset with me but when she heard, she forgot everything. She was happy to know she was going to be a grandmother. Why couldn’t she do that for me?”
“Cat—”
“It’s okay, Nick, you don’t have to say anything, I was venting.” She pulls her hand away from me resting them both on the table. “You wanted to discuss something with me?”
“We can talk about it later. There is something I think you need more.”
“What would that be?”
“We should go away for a weekend getaway. A mini-vacation.”
“We can’t. I can’t, I have work.”
I get up and lift her out the chair, my hands on her hips. “You can take a day or two off from work. I’m sure there’s an eager substitute waiting to fill in for you.”
She sucks her lower lip, her head to the side. “I don’t know?”
“You don’t want to go to a sunny desert island sipping virgin piña coladas—”
“I don’t like piña coladas, I like strawberry daiquiris.”
“Strawberry daiquiri, then. Frolicking in the sun and water, sun shining, skin glistening with coconut suntan lotion. Relieving your mind from the day-to-day stresses of everyday life. Doesn’t that sound good?” I rub the tip of my nose against hers. She rubs her nose back against mine with a dreamy sigh.
“That does sound nice.”
“Where do you want to go? We can go anywhere in the world. It doesn’t have to be a tropical island, it could be a villa in the south of France. I’m fluent in the language of love.”
“I know all about that. But I like your tropical island idea. You sold me.”
“What island would my lady love like to go to?”
She grins, moving her hands to my shoulders. “Lady Love?”
“You’re my lady and I love you, girrrl.”
She laughs harder and I put my forehead to hers and kiss her. I love to see her laugh. She brushes my hair back and looks into my eyes.
“I want to go to a place where I feel like I’m staring into your eyes, where the sky and ocean meet and become one with white sandy beaches. Can we go there?”
“Yeah, we can go there.” I love this girl.
Nick
“Hey, cuz, what’s up?”
“Hey, Mom wanted to know if you were bringing a date with you to the banquet next month. If not she has someone she would like to introduce you to.”
“Why didn’t Aunty Allison call me herself?”
“She did. She said she’s been calling you for days.”
“That can’t be right. She called me last week and we talked for like an hour. Hold on, let me check my phone.”
I shuffle through the papers on my desk till she’s finished.
“I know what the problem is. I mistakenly blocked her number while trying to block this guy I went out with; their numbers are similar. I’ll unblock it and give her a call later.”
“Great. I’ll let her know. Later.”
“Wait! Do you know who this guy is?”
“No idea.”
“I’ll go out with him if she wants. I trust Aunt Allison’s judgment when it comes to men, but I’m not bringing a date with me to the charity banquet.”
“Okay. Is there something else? You know I don’t care who you bring or don’t bring.”
“Is Chris going to be at the banquet?”
I sit back in my chair and smile. I see what this is about.
“Well, is he going to be there?”
“I think so.” I’m messing with her, I know he’s going to be there.
In a no-nonsense twang she says, “Don’t play with me, Nick. You know.”
“He’ll be there.”
“Do you know if he’s bringing a date with him?”
“How am I supposed to know?”
“You’re his best friend.”
“Ava, you know we haven’t talked as much since he found out Cat and I were together the first time.”
“Cat said he was over at your house yesterday, how bad could things be?”
“You must not know.”
“Know what? Did you guys get into a fight?”
“Not us, the rest of his family, yes.”
“What happened? Cat didn’t mention anything to me…she didn’t exactly sound like herself though.”
“What do you mean?”
“She sounded tired and distracted. I thought it was her being pregnant. I asked her about Chris and she said he came over last night and she was up late.”
“That’s all she said?”
“Yeah. She said she would tell me about it later. She was on her way to work and she didn’t want to be late again.”
“It wasn’t just Chris that was there, Ava. Her damn family was there.”
“Whaaat? No wonder she sounded out of it. They must’ve wrung her dry.”
“They did more than that. Every time I think about it my head starts pounding.”
“What did they do? I hope you didn’t get into a fight with them?”
“Only after I found her in the bathroom crying and she told me her mother suggested she get rid of the baby for Kate’s well-being.”
“She did what? How dare her! I hope you didn’t hit anyone, did you?”
“I wanted to. Jay and I almost got into it.”
“Poor thing. No wonder she sounded like that. I know she wanted them to accept the pregnancy like Chris has.”
“As far as I’m concerned, them not being in her life is the best thing for her and my child.”
“I know you think that.”
“No, I know it’s best.”
“They’re not all bad. You spent a lot of time over there growing up being friends with both Chris and Cat, even Jay. They care about each other.”
“Come on, Ava. So what she said is okay?”
“Hear me out before you cuss me out. I am in no way agreeing with what she said. I’m saying they need time to adjust to this new situation. There is a lot going on, this is a very unconventional situation. She’s not in a good place with her family but she loves them. You don’t, but she does.”
“I don’t want them near her as all they do is hurt and disappoint her. They have had their chance. They don’t have to like me, but don’t blame her for all of this. Don’t make her the scapegoat for all the problems in their family. Everyone had a part in the unraveling of that family, things they didn’t deal with when they should have, starting with her mother.”
“I’m going to advise you to keep the door open for reconciliation with her family.”
<
br /> “I didn’t ask for your advice, Ava.”
“You didn’t ask but I’m giving it anyway because I can stand back from the situation and see it clearer than you, the people who are in it. So I’m giving my unsolicited advice.”
“Whatever.”
“She’s going to be estranged from her family because she chooses to be with you and she loves you. That’s a lot to ask of anyone. The family you have may not be the one you would have chosen but family is family. When it all comes down at certain points in your life you’re going to need your family, even the worst of them. Don’t make her choose between you and them. Try to help her find her way back to them, leave the door open for reconciliation or else it might come back to bite you in the ass one day.”
“Her family doesn’t deserve her, look at how they’re treating her.”
“And you do?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re the man that slept with her sister and got her pregnant then she got pregnant by you the same month, if I have my facts right, on the same day her sister loses her baby.” She says the last part like it’s a big secret no one should know about.
“That’s not fair, A—”
“What’s not fair? That I’m speaking the truth? This is how her family sees you. To top it off, you dumped Kate and now you’re sleeping and living with her little sister. Wolf in sheep’s clothing remember that. In their minds you’re going to do the same thing to Cat, you can’t be trusted.”
“I love Cat. I would never do anything to hurt her again, to see the pain and betrayal in her eyes when I told her about Kate and me.” This is why I can’t tell her about Paige. Nothing happened, but I don’t know if she’s going to believe that. I put my arm on the desk and rub my eyes. If her family only knew…
“I know you wouldn’t hurt her, but they don’t. Can you honestly tell me if you were Jay and the rest of her family you wouldn’t feel the same way, Nick?”
“All I know is I don’t want her hurt any more. She’s cried enough for loving me. I’m not letting her go. We’re her family: me, her, and this baby; if you don’t want to be a part of it, get the fuck out of the way.”
“You don’t have to say anymore. I hear you.”
“Good.”
“I’m going to call Aunty Allison now. I’ll check on Cat later in case she wants to talk.”
“Bye.”
I decide to go home early to see Cat, I can finish working at home. I have one stop to make first.
I ring the doorbell and just the person I came to see opens the door.
“What are you doing here?”
“Believe it or not I came to see you.”
“What for? We have nothing to say to each other.”
“I have plenty to say. If you don’t want me to say it out here where someone might hear you should let me in.”
Staring daggers at me, Mrs. Reed moves out of the way and I walk into the living room. She stands in front of me with her hands folded. She wants me gone as fast as possible. She doesn’t need to worry, I don’t want to be here with her either. This is not a social call, I get straight to the point.
“In all the years I’ve known your family, Mrs. Reed, you were there but you weren’t present, you were wrapped up in yourself.”
“You don’t know a thing about me.”
“I do. There isn’t much I don’t know about you and your family. You came from nothing and married a hardworking determined man who could provide the status and money you wanted. You’re not a nice woman but you pretend to be, you’re good at it most of the time.” Her face puckers and her hands drop to her side like she wants to slap me. I guess I know more about her than she wants me to.
“How dare you!” She hisses at me between clenched teeth.
“No, how dare you come into my home, disrespect me, and tell her she should kill my child.” I stare back at her with as much unbridled hostility. “Did anyone tell you to kill your children when you were whoring around with another man?” Her mouth drops open with shock before she snaps it shut.
“I never said—”
“Shut the hell up, I know what you said and what you meant. Didn’t come here to have a discussion with you about what you meant or didn’t mean, I couldn’t care less.” She snaps her mouth shut. Eyes bulging while I give her my brand of honesty. She’s not accustomed to the men around her speaking to her like this. I don’t give a damn. Maybe if one of them would have talked to her like this sooner she wouldn’t be such a bitch.
“I don’t know what either one of my daughters saw in you.”
“Stay the hell away from Cat. It’s not good for her or my child.”
“Your child. She’s not your property, she’s my daughter. If I want to speak to her I have that right. I don’t need your permission with anything concerning my daughter. I’m her mother.”
“Why don’t you act like it?” Instead of being a raging heartless bitch.
“Get the hell out of my house!” She raises her voice. “You’re not good enough for her.”
“Neither are you.”
I turn to leave and see Sophie in the doorway looking distressed, fidgeting with her apron. I like Sophie; she was always nice to me when I came over. Once, she caught me looking at Cat’s legs when she was wearing a short jeans skirt bending down in front of me back in high school. She gave me that look: “you better not even think about it.” I take the scowl off my face and manage a smile so she’ll stop looking worried. I know Cat would want to see her.
“It’s nice to see you, Sophie. I wish it could be under better circumstances.”
“It’s nice to see you too, Mr. Nicholas.”
I smile for real at the formal use of my name. “Please, Sophie, we’ve known each other far too long for you to start being so formal. It’s still Nick.”
She nods her head and smiles.
“You should come by to see Cat, it would be nice for her to see someone from her family that’s actually happy for her. And not make her feel like she’s the dirt underneath their fingernails that needs to be scrubbed away.”
“I will. Tell her I said hello. I’ll give her a call tomorrow.”
“I will. Bye, Sophie.”
“Bye.”
The first thing I do when I get home is kiss Cat. It feels good to come home to her and hold her in my arms. After we eat dinner I go to my office to finish working. She showers and knocks on the door before she walks in wearing cotton pajama shorts and a sleeveless top.
“Can I come in?”
“You’re already in.”
“Yeah, I am, smartass.”
She’s smiling at me when I look up from my papers. I push my chair back from the desk and hold my hand out for her to come to me. She sits on my lap and I kiss her stomach; her hands play in my hair, and my thoughts start to go south when my hands make contact with her skin, inching up her shorts.
“Nick?”
“Yeah,” I answer, kissing the side of her breast through her shirt.
“This morning you said you wanted to tell me something.”
Damn. I have the papers in my drawer. We haven’t had sex in a long time and I was getting turned-on. Good thing she reminded me, I’d almost forgotten about that. I pull my hand out of her shorts.
“I want you to consider giving me power of attorney for you medically.”
She looks at me expressionless. “Why?”
“God forbid, but if something happens to you and you’re in the hospital I won’t have any say in what happens to you, your parents would. If we were married I would, but we’re not.”
She stares at me and doesn’t say anything.
“You don’t trust me?” I say to her.
“I do. This is a big decision to make.”
“It is. I don’t want your life or our child’s in the hands of your family. Especially after hearing what your mother had to say last night.”
“She really didn’t know I was this far along.”
I hold my head down, press my teeth together, and hold back before I answer.
“Don’t get upset.”
“Don’t say another word to defend her.”
“I wasn’t, I wasn’t defending her.”
I let a breath out and hold my head back up. “I don’t want your family making decisions that will affect our lives.” I bend down and pull a drawer out, reaching for the papers. “I had the papers drawn up when I went back to the office yesterday.” She looks at them on my desk. I can’t tell if she’s mad. I know she’s not happy. “All you have to do is sign them.”
“That simple, sign them. Put my life in your hands alone.” It’s not a question but she’s looking at me as if it’s a question she needs to ask.
“It’s your choice. Look over them. If it’s not in my hands, it’s in theirs, and so is the life of our child until he’s born.”
She takes the papers off my desk and leaves the room, leaving me wondering what she’s going to do. Does she trust me with her life? I trust her with mine.
The next morning I’m dressed early. I have to go in to prepare for a case. I make sure not to wake Cat before her alarm is set to go off.
I put my coat on and grab my briefcase off the counter. I turn to open the door and see her.
“I don’t want my family coming between us. You’ve always taken care of me even when I didn’t want you to. I trust you with our lives.” She walks over to the kitchen table placing the papers there and walks back toward the bedroom.
“Cat—” Walking to her, I put my hands on her face and kiss her. “I’ll see you when I come back from work. I’m going to be late tonight, but I’ll call you today.”
She smiles and nods her head. “Good luck in court today.”
“Thanks.”
Cat
Bathing suit, check. Sunscreen lotion, check. Shades, check. That’s everything on my list. I know Nick packed all his stuff already, I don’t need to worry about Mr. I like to be prepared. “Oh shoot.” My passport. I better have that or I won’t be going anywhere tomorrow morning. The doorbell rings and I go to see who it is.
“Shawn, hey.” He has a big smile on his handsome face and a look of confusion when his eyes move down my body. He rubs his eyes and blinks.
Imperfections Come To Light (The Imperfection Series Book 2) Page 20