Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) (16 page)

Craig made spaghetti for dinner, and they ate and laughed through the whole meal. Catlin helped them clean up afterward,
and then she looked out the window. “I can’t believe how hard it’s snowing. We haven’t had one flake yet, and it has to snow now.”

Craig came up behind her.
“Does it matter?”

She continued to look out.
“I wonder how I’m going to get home if this keeps up.”

Chris
jerked his head up frantically. “You’re not leaving?”

She looked over at him and smiled.
“Not right away. I can stay a couple days if you all will have me.”

He looked away again, and didn
’t answer. But the expression on his face moments earlier had been priceless.
He wants me here.

“
Can we watch a movie?” Chris asked his father.

Nick looked at his watch.
“I don’t know. It’s a school night.”

Chris
jumped up and pointed at the window. “Look out there! I’m not going to school tomorrow!”

Nick laughed.
“You’re probably right. Well, see if you and Catlin can agree on a movie.”

Chris
ran to the movie cabinet, and pulled one out. “This is my favorite, The Princess Bride. Have you seen it?”

“
No. I’ll watch it with you.”

Craig
grabbed a book. “I, on the other hand, have seen it ten million times. I think I’ll opt out of this viewing. You kids go ahead.”

“
Can we make popcorn?” Chris asked Nick.

“
Go for it.” Nick motioned to the kitchen, and Chris ran in there.

“
He’s going to do it?” Catlin asked.

Nick nodded
. “He’s a self-reliant kid. He knows how.”

Catlin walked to the kitchen door and peeked in at the boy.

He was watching the microwave popcorn starting to pop in the bag. When the timer rang, he grabbed the bag out and ripped it open. “Ouch!” He jerked away as hot steam burned his hand.

Catlin rushed him to the sink and ran cold water over
the red spot. “Here, this will help.”

Chris
fought back tears in his embarrassment.

“
Just sit here for a minute,” she told him, as the water ran over his hand. “I hate it when I do that. I can’t get anything out of the regular oven without burning my hand at least once.”

Rubbing his eyes, h
e gazed up at her. “I must get it from you, then.”

She laughed.
“Yeah, you must. Well, I sure hope I gave you some good qualities, too, and not just my klutzy ones!”

Chris
laughed with her, and she handed him a towel to dry his hand. “Gently now, don’t rub it. Pat it dry. There. Feel better?”

He nodded, and they poured the popcorn in a bowl together.

“Can we have a soda?” Chris asked.

S
he shrugged. “Why not?” She pulled out two sodas, and they went to the front room.

“
Everything okay?” Nick asked them lazily.

“
Yes.” Chris answered quickly.

Catlin nodded toward the fireplace.
“That thing work?”

“
Yep.”

“
Then why don’t you light us a fire? It’s chilly in here.”

Nick
looked at her for a moment. He stretched, and stood up slowly to start the fire.

Chris
grabbed a fleece blanket from a cabinet. “We cover up with this when we’re cold.”

She smiled at him
. “Want to share with me?”

“
Sure.” His face reddened a bit, but he sat next to her and they got under the blanket. They got their popcorn and sodas ready, and started the movie. Nick lit the fire, and stretched out on the floor.

“
He’s going to sleep, isn’t he?” Catlin whispered to Chris.

“
Probably,” Chris replied, and they grinned at each other.

The movie was funny, and Catlin and
Chris laughed through it. There was a short man in the movie that ran around saying “Inconceivable!” in a funny voice, and they mimicked him over and over while Nick slept peacefully on the floor.

At nine o
’clock Catlin told Chris “Can we pause this? I promised someone I’d call at nine.”

He reached for the remote and hit pause.
“Who are you calling?”

“
My fiancé, Steve.”

Chris
had a blank look on his face.

Catlin said
, “The man I’m going to marry.”

He
blinked. “You’re getting married?”

“
Yeah.” She smiled. “Give me just a couple minutes, and I’ll be right back.”

She left Chris with a funny look on his face,
as she went to the guest room and dialed the phone.

Dana answered
, “Hello”

“
Hi Dana, it’s Catlin. How are you?”

“
I’m fine! How are
you
? Are you feeling better?”

“
I am, yeah.”

“
I couldn’t believe it when they said you were sick today. I had to go to the office and call Daddy to see if he knew. And he said—what?” She turned away from the phone, then back to Catlin. “Oh Catlin, Daddy’s chomping at the bit to speak with you. Here.” She handed the phone over.

Steve said
, “Hi there.”

Catlin
laughed. “Wow! That girl needs to take a chill pill.”

He chuckled.
“She misses you. So do I, in fact. How are you feeling?”

“
Better. I’m getting some rest.”

“
And some snow. How much do you have?”

“
I don’t know,” Catlin answered truthfully.

“
We have three or four inches. Jetta says there’s probably going to be a snow day tomorrow, so you won’t miss anything.”

“
That’s good, I guess.”

“
How’s it going with your brother?”

“
Okay.” She felt uncomfortable on that subject. “Well, I should probably let you go.”

“
We really don’t have to rush off. I’d like to know where you are, at least.”

“
I’m at Craig’s house. But I’m really tired, honey. I’ll plan to call you tomorrow night, okay?”

“
Sure.” He sounded disappointed. “I love you.”

“
I love you, too. Goodnight.” She hung up, and looked up to see Christian peeking through the crack where she’d left the door open. “Hey. Ready to finish that movie?”

He nodded, and they went back out to the sofa. Nick was still snoring.
“Party pooper,” Catlin whispered to Chris, and he laughed. But before the show was over, Chris was also asleep with his head on Catlin’s shoulder. The movie ended, the DVD player shut off, and Catlin sat there in the firelight with her sleeping son’s head on her shoulder.

It was another half hour before Craig walked out and looked at her.
“What are you doing?” A slow smile crept over his face.

“
Just enjoying the quiet.”

Craig
gaze went from her to the sleeping boy. “Did I tell you, or what?”

“
You told me.” She smiled down at him, too.

“
I’ll put him to bed.” Craig started to pick the child up.

Chris
’s arms went around Catlin’s neck, but his eyes never opened.

“
Oh.” Catlin was surprised but not unhappy. “I don’t think I can carry you, honey,” she whispered.

“
I’ll help.” Craig lifted the boy, who held on to his mother for dear life.

They carried him together to his room, and laid him, clothes and all, in his bed. Craig pried
Chris’s arms off Catlin, and they tucked him in.

They watched him sleep for a minute, and Craig said
, “I’d say it was a successful first day, wouldn’t you?”

“
Yeah.” She put her arm around Craig. “I would.” She pulled the bedroom door shut, and motioned to the front room. “I’ll let you put that one to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“
‘Night, sis. I’m glad you’re here.”

“
Me too.” She smiled at him gratefully and went to bed.

Catlin slept more peacefully that night, and felt good when she woke in the morning. She was lying in bed, thinking about getting up, when Chris peeked in her room.

“
Hi.” She batted her lashes at him.

“
It’s a snow day!” he shouted. “No school!”

“
Yay!” Catlin hollered out “That means we get to spend the day together!” She sat up, and grabbed her big white robe. “Shall we make some breakfast?”

“
I usually just have cereal.” Chris led her to the kitchen.

“Cereal is okay.” She looked through the cabinets. “But sometimes I like to cook. Ooh, here’s some pancake stuff. Do you like pancakes?”

“
Yeah!” He grinned, and helped her make the batter.

Catlin showed him how to make shapes of the pancakes as she poured them on the griddle.
“My favorite is Mickey Mouse.” She poured two small circles on top of one big round one.

“
Hey, that’s cool!” They were creating more designs when Nick joined them.

“
Good morning.” Catlin watched him.

“
Hey. Any coffee?”

“
Nope, sorry. Just pancakes.”

H
e reached for the coffee, and started brewing a pot.

“
You’ve become the Establishment,” she teased “Drinking coffee!”

He shook his head
. “I couldn’t get through some of the sessions we have without it.” He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “We only use legal drugs these days. You know, beer, caffeine.”

She chuckled
. “Good. I’m glad to hear that. Pancake?”

He looked over the choices.
“These are some weird looking cakes.”

Chris
laughed. “Yeah, most of them turned out to be aliens. But they taste good.”

Nick grabbed one as he walked by, and nibbled on it.
“I’m going to shower. I’ll be back in a few.”

Catlin and
Chris sat down and ate at the table. Craig came out partway through breakfast. “Good morning,” Catlin told him.

“
Hi.” He poured himself some coffee, and grabbed a pancake.

“
Doesn’t anyone sit down to eat here?” she asked sweetly.

Craig sat next to her, but continued to eat pancakes with his hands.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Are you just getting up?”

“
Yeah, why?”

She looked at
Chris. “Who told you that you have a snow day?”

“
I turned on the radio and listened, after my alarm went off.”

She looked at Craig again.
“He gets himself up, and makes himself breakfast?”

“
We stay up pretty late some nights. He’s learned how to get along.”

She started to
comment, but decided against it.

Craig said
, “‘Course it’s all different when he’s at the Prescott’s. She’s got rules and schedules coming out the ying yang.”

Chris
made a face.

Catlin looked away, trying not to laugh. She composed herself
and used her best teacher voice. “Rules are important. And everyone needs some kind of schedule.”

“
Yeah, yeah.” Craig waved his hand.

Chris
went to look out the window.

“
We got a lot of snow.” He looked at Catlin “Hey, um...do you like to go sledding?”

“
Well, I haven’t gone in a long time. But it sounds like fun.”

Nick came into the room, showered and changed.
“What sounds like fun?”

“
Sledding!” Chris told him.

Nick poured himself some coffee
. “We could go sledding. But first, I think we need to shovel out from under. Who’s going to help me?”

“
I will!” Chris jumped up and down. He looked at Catlin “What about you, um....?”

She
grinned. “Chris, I’m sure you’re trying to figure out what to call me. It’s up to you. You can call me Catlin—”