Chapter 6

Catherine picked at her plate as she sat across from Chris and Lindsey at the kitchen table. The tension could be cut with a knife from the looks she gave to Chris and then stared back down at her plate. “Come on, Cath, it’s been a week. You have yet to say 2 words to me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for not finding you particularly trustworthy... or worthy for that matter.” she responded.

“So I suppose there’s no putting this behind us?”

“My apologies! I didn’t know I was supposed to look the other way when someone cheats on me and act like everything’s okay! I’ll be sure to try that!” she replied sarcastically.

“Well, look at the time.” Lindsey interrupted. “I have tons of homework, so if you’ll excuse me.” she said, practically running from the table and escaping. Catherine and Chris exchanged cold glares for a few moments before they heard Kylie’s screams come through on the baby monitor.

“I’ll get her.” Chris said, standing up.

“No, I can handle it.” She shrugged off his offer and rushed back to the nursery. He sighed and sat back down in his chair.

---

Catherine and Lindsey both had their arms full of brown grocery bags as they stood outside on the front porch to their home. Catherine struggled to get the door open and rushed into the kitchen, Lindsey following close behind, and set the bags on the kitchen counter. The two of them began to unload the grocery bags when they heard Chris arguing with someone. They looked curiously at each other, then walked towards the arguing and noticed it was coming from Kylie’s room.

“I haven’t even seen you in two years, I don’t get a call, a letter, don’t even know if you’re alive! I finally found you thinking you’d be happy to see me and I find this!” a female voice screamed. Catherine peered around the corner to see the two people in the baby’s room arguing.

“Karen -” Chris began, but the screaming woman cut him off.

“Your fucking child doesn’t even know what you look like! You ran away the first chance you get! What’s your problem Chris! You have a child and responsibilities at home and now you find a new child and new responsibilities!”

“Lindsey, go to your room.” Catherine whispered outside the hallway. She did as her mother said, and then Catherine barged into the room.

“What the hell is this?” Catherine asked immediately to Chris.

“Catherine - ” yet again he was cut off.

“I said, what the hell is this!” she repeated.

“I’m his WIFE!” she made sure to pronounce the word wife loud and clear.

“Your what!” Catherine screamed at him.

“Let me explain.”

“I don’t think there’s much TO explain! You’re married!” Karen yelled.

“Cath, we’re separated.”

“Uh, that was never legally resolved in court!” She screamed again.

“You’re married.” Catherine said softly and shook her head in disbelief at him.

“I don’t wanna leave you and the baby.” he told her. Catherine pursed her lips and stared at the ceiling, thinking for a moment.

“Well, I want you to leave me and the baby.”

“Catherine -” Yet again, he was cut off.

“No, you leave with your little wife. Don’t come near me again. Don’t come near this baby again, you got that? If you ever, EVER try to sue me for custody, they’ll never find your body! Get the fuck out of my house!” she screamed so loud, she could’ve broken the sound barrier. Chris nodded slowly.

“Okay.” he replied in a whisper. He walked out of the room and Karen followed, but not before giving a dirty glare to Catherine; a glare Catherine was happy to return. Catherine waited until she heard the front door slam and then looked at Kylie. She was in her crib, staring amazed at the Winnie the Pooh mobile hanging above her crib and spinning as the theme song tinked in tiny little notes as it spun.

“Are you okay?” Catherine heard Lindsey and turned around to see her daughter staring in the doorway. She pondered her daughter’s question and then shook her head.

“No... Keep an eye on the baby.” She said and rushed out of the nursery, with Lindsey following.

“Where are you going?” Catherine didn’t answer and grabbed her keys off the side table by the door. “Mom, where are you going?” she repeated, but her mother still didn’t answer. She walked out the door quickly and slammed it shut without a word.

---

Catherine rang the doorbell to Gil’s townhouse and paced outside while she waited for him to answer. The door opened and she stopped her pacing. “Catherine?” Gil asked, suprised to see her. He saw that her eyes were wet and bloodshot. “Are you okay? Is the baby okay?” he asked frantically.

“The baby’s fine.” She whispered. “But, uh... I’m not.” He gestured for her to come inside and she kept her eyes on the ground as she walked in.

---

“He’s married?” Gil asked, handing her a cup of coffee and taking a seat next to her on the couch. She slowly nodded and took a sip from the mug, finally calmed down.

“I broke my promise to myself.”

“And what promise would that be?” he asked.

“I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry over him.”

“Well, you can’t really promise yourself that, Cath. He did break your heart after all.”

“No, he didn’t. I mean, maybe the first time he got awfully close, but this time... this time he just made me feel like such an idiot. I should have just listened to you... I shouldn’t have given in to him. I know better. And I know that I’ve been a horrible, horrible friend and that’s why I’m here: to beg for forgiveness.” She chuckled nervously. “I was way out of line. You have been just so terrific throughout my pregnancy - throughout our entire friendship. And I dump all your help down the toilet the moment a guy who hurt me bad offers his help. Not very good judgement huh?”

“I think we both said a lot of things we didn’t mean. I didn’t have the right to tell you what to do, I’m not the boss of you. After all, I am the one who told Chris you were pregnant in the first place.”

“Let’s just say we’re both hopeless idiots and leave it at that.”

“Alright, I’m game.” He laughed. “Truce?” He asked.

“Truce.” She agreed.

“Well, uh, Lindsey’s diaper changing skills are less then perfect so I think I should get going.” She said, setting down the coffee mug on the table and rising from her place on the couch. “So we’re okay?” she asked him, putting on her jacket. He thought for a moment before responding.

“Answer me one thing and I think we will be.”

“Alright.” She replied, curious.

‘Okay... how do I say this? Why is it that I helped you, I was there for you, I even went into the delivery room for you and Chris cheats on you, uses you, treated you like shit: Why did he get you and...” he hesitated. “I didn’t?” he finished. Catherine’s eyes went wide at his question/confession.

“Wh-What?” She asked.

“Why did he get you and I didn’t?” he asked again uncomfortably. Catherine tried to find her voice.

I, uh, I didn’t know you... wanted me.” she shrugged. “Honestly, what’s to want?”

“What’s not to want?” he asked, getting bolder.

“Well, I think I should be able to get back to you by January with that long list of things.” She smiled.

“There’s two of the reasons.”

“What’s two of the reasons?” She asked confused.

“1: You’re very funny. You always make me laugh, and 2: Your smile can light up a room. Cliche, I know, but it really can.” She tried to control it, but she couldn’t help smiling when he said this. Suddenly, Catherine’s phone began to ring. She looked at it and saw it was Lindsey. She flipped it open.

“Yeah, honey?” She nodded and listened to what Lindsey was saying.

“Well, you know where the formula is... It says right on the container how to make it... Alright, alright, I’ll be home in a few minutes.” She said and hung up with her daughter. “She ‘doesn’t know how to feed the baby.’ I swear, she’s completely incompetent.”

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Hey, why don’t you come over for dinner tomorrow night? We can, you know, talk some more about this.”

“I’d like that.” he smiled. She turned around and began to open the door, then stopped.

“Oh, and Gil?” She said. She walked up to him, placed her hand on the nape of his neck and pulled him in for a very passionate kiss. She pulled back and smiled widely at him. “Oh, I have a feeling tomorrow’s just going to be so much fun!” she said very perkily. She winked at him then sauntered out the door, leaving a stunned Gil behind.

The End