I step back into the room but stop her from walking away.“Say whatever it is you need to say, fast.”
“I saw Jace for the first time.”
I tense, watching her.“When did you see Jace?”
“Your mother was holding him outside.He’s amazing.”
“Thanks.”Some of the tension at her saying she saw Jace goes out of my body.
“He has your eyes, but everything else is all Cat.He’s a beautiful little boy,” she says, her voice wavering.
I let out a breath and relax a little.She looks different.Still very much put together, but different.Less superior and I-have-all-my-shit-together.
“Kate, I don’t hate you anymore.I’m still very angry.”She lifts her head up and looks at me.I see the doubt in her eyes.“I’m sorry for a lot of things.I’ll never forget the way both of them were almost taken away from me, but I don’t hate you.Anymore.”
“What happened is something I will have to live with.My sister and her baby almost dying because of my rage and impulsivity.I wouldn’t want anything to happen to either one of them, especially that beautiful baby.”
I know what she’s thinking.I’m thinking it too.“I wish you could feel what I do when I look at Jace.I know how you feel; I feel it too.Having Jace doesn’t make me forget.I had two children.”
“Thank you.”
“I will never forget.That’s a bond we will always have.”
“You make her happy.”
“You’re the second person to say that today.”
“Anyone who looks at you can see you belong together.”
We stand in silence, and she clears her throat.“I’m going to go back to my seat.”I watch her leave and close the door.
That was different.I’m angry with her, but I also feel sympathy for her.Enough of this.I need to see Cat.On my way to Cat’s room, I see Shawn and Chris, catching the end of their conversation.
“Ava’s smokin’, don’t know why you keep playing hard to get.If you’re not interested, I’ve been thinking about asking her out.”
“I’m going to save you the trouble—no.”
“Hey, Shawn.”
“Hey, you ready to be tied down for life?”
“Way past ready and waiting.”
“I know you are.You’re a lucky man,” he says, patting me on the back as he heads back to where the guests are.Pointing a finger at Chris, he says, “We’ll talk later.”
“Where the hell have you been?”I ask Chris.
“I ran into Ava.She was giving me all kinds of shit about my date.”
“You should have expected that.”
“Yeah, come on, let’s go outside, Cat’s ready.”
“It’s about damn time.”
I can’t take my eyesoff her.The sun is shining down on her, and she’s an angel made for me.She looks to the left where my parents are standing.She sees my mother, and the smile on her face is even brighter she sees Jace sleeping soundly in my mother’s arms.Her eyes find me, and the rest of the way she sees only me, and I only have eyes for her.It was all worth it.I would do it all again if it meant I would be here waiting for her, for my forever.
Cat
