“Don’t tell me to calm down.This is as calm as I’m going to get.I didn’t want them here because I knew they were going to try some shit like this.”
He opens the door and walks out, leaving me to wipe away my tears and groan inwardly at what’s about to happen.I hear his voice loud and clear, roaring through the air from the living room.
“I want all of you to get out!”
I half run, half walk in my expanding condition to stop things from getting out of control and fists from flying.Not that I’m going to get in between them—I have more sense than that— but I can try to stop it before it starts.When I reach them, my hands on my side, out of breath from my short run, Jay is moving toward Nick, who is standing on the opposite side of my family.
“What?”Jay says, his fist clenched tight.I stand in front of Nick, breathing hard with a mixture of adrenaline and fear.With concern in his eyes, Jay turns to me.The look isn’t something I wasn’t expecting to see from him today.
“You heard me.Get the hell out,” Nick says over my head.
Chris steps up behind Jay and puts his hand on his shoulder to stop him from getting any closer to Nick.I’m glad he’s here.My dad steps to Jay’s other side and he has a look of utter disdain and disgust across his face looking at Nick.
“My daughter asked us over here to talk.From what I heard in there I’m not sure she should be here with you by herself.”
“Daddy, I’m fine.Nick wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Are you sure about that, baby girl?He seems to have a temper.Are you sure this is where you want to be?”
Nick puts his hand on my shoulder, and Jay leans in, but the hand Chris has on him stops him from getting closer.Keeping his eyes on Nick, he asks me, “Cat, are you okay?”
Nick drops his hand from my shoulder and says, “Give me a fucking break, are you kidding me?Nowyou’re concerned about her, after how many months?She’s almost six months pregnant with my child.We’ve been living together for over three.”
I turn to him, my hands on his chest, tears threatening to roll down my face again.“Nick, I’ll deal with it.”Because I’ve been doing such a great job of it already.
He looks at my mother and stabs a finger at her.“Your mother told Cat she should have an abortion.I’m the last person you should be worried about hurting her.”
Three heads turn all at once in my mother’s direction, wide-eyed and mouths open.My mother has a hand around her waist and the other over her mouth, and the look on her face is one I can’t remember seeing before.She almost looks ashamed.For once.
“Now you can handle it.I’m going back to the office to handle my business.Make sure they’re gone by the time I come back.”He strides past me to the door, closing it with a resounding crack through the air.
I can practically see all the walls shaking around me.Instant.Massive.Migraine.
I put my hands over my eyes and rub my temples to relieve some of the tension and thumping in my head.“Lock the doors behind you when you leave.”Someone puts their hand on me, I don’t know who.I don’t bother to look at them.I’m tired.I’m defeated.
My voice shaking uncontrollably I tell them, “You need to leave.Go home.You can’t stay here.”My head in my hands, I go to the bedroom to lie down, afraid to cry because of the migraine I have.I compromise by holding myself together as best I can, clinging to his pillow, letting my silent tears soak in.Nick doesn’t come back for a long time.I’m not sure what time he comes home.
Nick
When I come back she’ssleeping in the dark.She’s on her side, her back to me on my side of the bed.I strip out of my clothes, get in behind her, and wrap my hands around her.Damn, she doesn’t have any clothes on.We haven’t had sex since I came back from my trip, and it’s driving me crazy.She doesn’t know this but I spoke to her doctor.He reassured me it was fine to have sex.I don’t want to take a chance.Being next to her, feeling her skin next to mine, knowing I could easily slip into her, is testing me.One touch.I put my hand over her warm thighs and move my hand between her legs and I feel curls.She stopped shaving when she started having trouble getting a good view.I don’t mind, but she seemed to.I think I’m going to help her out with that.She’s going to resist, though I think I can persuade her with the promise of mind-blowing sex.I know she’s as ready as I am.
Not tonight, though.She doesn’t need that tonight.My fingers slip lower, and before I reach inside her my fingertips are wet.I need to get up and move away from her before I get carried away with need.I pull my hand away from her and she stops me by taking my hand and placing it over her stomach, putting her fingers between mine.She doesn’t make a sound.I know she’s crying, so I hold her close to me and kiss her on the side of her neck.She needs me in a different way tonight.I press my lips against her neck again.
“I’m here for you, baby.I’m always here for you.”Even when I’m a total ass for leaving you here alone tonight.I let my anger come before what you needed.“I’m sorry.”
In the morning, she joins me at the breakfast table, smiling, but she’s quiet.Too quiet.
“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 thornbush all on her own, and 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.”
