Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) (29 page)

Jim whistled softly.
“That looks like three different kinds of pain.”

Steve gently took the straps and tied them again. He planted a kiss on the nape of her neck.
“It’ll all disappear before you know it, and I’ll be rubbing suntan lotion back there as we lie on a beach in Cancun.”

They chuckled again, and Jetta started detangling Catlin
’s hair. “I hope we’ll also be lying on that beach.” She looked at her husband.

He
shrugged. “I assumed we’d be stuck home baby-sitting for the crew they’re leaving behind.”

Catlin and Steve laughed.
“I like the sound of that,” Steve said “No worries, knowing everyone is in good hands.”

Catlin grinned and shut her eyes.
“Especially me. I’ll be in the best hands of all!”

Chapter Nineteen

“
You’re just going to have to stay in bed.” Steve folded his arms across his chest.

Catlin
rolled her eyes. “That’s easier said than done. Are you forgetting I have a son to take care of?”

“
No. I saw him a little while ago. He said to tell you ‘hi’, and he wants to come up and see you again tonight. He’s doing okay, Catlin, really he is. Dana and Teresa are spoiling him rotten, in fact.”

She smiled
with relief. “Thank you.”

He kissed her as he murmured
, “Anything for you, my love.”

They didn
’t hear her door open, so Dr. Marcus cleared his throat loudly. Steve pulled back and they looked at the doctor sheepishly. He said, “I know I told you to relax. I guess I should have been more specific.”

Steve stood and made room for the doctor.

Catlin said, “Sorry.”

The doctor looked at her, then Steve, and back at her.
“No, you’re not.” He smiled as he grabbed her chart, and did a quick examination.

“
How’s the headache?”

“
Gone, mostly.”

“
I think we’ll wean you off the pain meds. We’ll get rid of the IV, but we’ll leave the port in place for a while, so Dr. Jonas can give you a quick injection if he needs to.”

“
In case the contractions start up again?”

“
Yes. But you’re looking good. Just stay in bed, use the stupid bedpan, and don’t give the nurses a hard time. That’s my advice for today.”

She
tossed up her hands. “Okay then. Send me your bill.”

He raised his eyebrows up and down a couple times
. “Oh, I will.” He looked at Steve, then back at Catlin. “There is one other issue I needed to mention. Evidently your— husband—” he said it questioningly, and Catlin interrupted,

“
Nick, yeah, he was my...estranged husband.”

T
he doctor glanced at Steve who said, “It’s a long story. If I’m paying you by the hour, then you don’t have time to hear it.”

He laughed.
“Okay. Anyway, apparently he was somebody famous? We’re fielding a ton of phone calls, most of them from the media.”

Catlin looked at Steve
. “I never thought of that.”

Steve turned to the doctor
. “We’ll put out a press release with the information they want to know. Hopefully that will get rid of most of them.”

“
Good.” The doctor nodded, and started out.

Steve
added, “Oh, Dr. Marcus, there is one more thing. We have reason to believe that Catlin
might
have been exposed to HIV. Can you do a test for that, please?”

“
Oh my.” The doctor looked at her. “When do you think the exposure was?”

“
It started in December,” she replied. “I never had any
actual
physical contact, but with the baby and all…”

He nodded
. “I’ll have the nurse draw some blood. Let’s hope nothing shows up.” He walked to the door. “I’ll see you in the morning. Get some
rest
!”

“
Thank you.” She looked at Steve. “He’s nice.”

“
Yeah.” Steve stretched. “I’m going to wait and talk to Craig before I put out the press release about your strange husband.”

She smiled
. “I said
estranged
.”

“
Oh.” Steve grinned as if he didn’t know that. “Anyway, Craig said he was coming today, so I expect he’ll be here soon.”

She nodded, and looked toward
the door as Craig came in. His hair was pulled back sloppily into a ponytail, and he was wearing his glasses instead of contacts. Catlin frowned. “Speak of the devil. You look like hell.”

Craig ignored the comment and glanced at Steve. He said to Catlin
, “What’s he doing here?”

“
Taking care of me.”

Craig snorted
. “Lucky you.”

“
I don’t think you want to come in here starting trouble.” Steve placed a hand on Catlin’s shoulder.

She squeezed Steve
’s hand, and looked at Craig. “No, you really don’t. Now is not the time.”

Craig scratched his forehead. He had an uncomfortable look on his face.

Steve said, “Come on in. I know you and Catlin have a lot to discuss.”

Craig nodded.
“Yes, we do. So if you’d excuse us...”

“
Steve’s not going anywhere,” Catlin told him “I have a concussion, and I don’t need you messing with my mind.”

“
Catlin.” Craig looked at her. “I have no intention of doing that. You don’t know how freaked out I am over this whole thing.”

“
Oh, I’m sure you are,” she agreed. “You’re probably more upset about losing Nick than I am. I found out yesterday the two of you were a lot closer than anyone knew.”

He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again and looked at her.
“Do we really have to do this with him here?”

Steve had been standing next to her. Catlin
tugged at his hand. “Sit down.”

He dropped to the edge of the
bed.

She looked at Craig
. “I’m not doing anything without him anymore. You wanted to drive us apart? Well, Nick drove us back together as he was taking my car over the cliff.”

Craig raised his voice
. “Are you really the cold, heartless bitch that you sound like right now? If you are, then I never really knew you.”

Steve
’s hand tensed and Catlin squeezed it. “I think you’re right, Craig. You don’t know me. If you did, you and Nick would have been honest with me. I would have been thrilled to have Chris, and everybody would be living happy lives right now. But, no, I didn’t get honesty. Just manipulation and back-stabbing.”

“
That’s enough!” Craig said angrily. “Nick is dead! Don’t you think that’s punishment enough for whatever sins you think we committed?”

Catlin looked at him quietly.
“Yeah, I suppose it is. And I’m sorry as hell for what happened to Nick. You know I didn’t want things to work out this way. I’ve been planning a life with Nick the whole time you were away, because he led me to believe that was going to happen. And then yesterday he sprung it on me that he never intended to be with me. He just wanted the cover of a wife and baby to take the pressure off you two.”

Craig spoke in a calmer voice
. “We may have made some mistakes. But he didn’t deserve this.”

“
Who said he did? I didn’t kill him. It was an accident. Shit happens, remember? But you know what? What the two of you did to me was no accident. So don’t expect me to forgive you— or trust you— anytime soon. You
almost
ruined my life. “

Craig
looked at Steve, sitting next to Catlin on her bed. “It doesn’t look like your life is ruined.”

“
Only because I was lucky enough to find a man who truly loves me. He cares about me. He would never use me the vindictive way that Nick did.” She looked at Steve, and clutched his hand, pulling both their hands to her heart. “And I’m lucky that he’s taking me back. I never stopped loving him for one minute.”

Steve smiled at her, and put his other arm around her. He kissed the side of her head.

Craig turned away, and paced over to the window. He looked out for a moment, and turned back to them. “How is Chris?”

Steve replied
, “Better. He’s getting by, anyway. He’d probably like to spend some time with you.”

“
Where is he?”

“
At Steve’s house,” Catlin answered.

Craig
rolled his eyes. “Of course.”

She told him
, “You are welcome.... to find a hotel.”

Steve looked at her and whispered
, “He can stay with us if you want him to.”

She shook her head.

Craig said, “A hotel is fine. I’m smoking like a chimney. I’ll be better off there. But I think Chris should be with me.”

“
Not a chance,” she replied without a moment’s hesitation. “He’s fine where he is. You can visit him there.”

Craig looked at her. He turned back to the window, and stared out for
another minute. Finally he asked, “What have you done about funeral arrangements?”

Steve spoke up
. “They’re holding his body in the morgue until someone makes arrangements. There’s one other thing, Craig. Reporters are starting to swarm the hospital phones. I think we should put out a press release saying what happened, and that his wife and child survived. Do you want to work with me on the wording?”

Craig faced Steve.
“Yeah, thanks.” He looked at his sister. “What do you want to do about a funeral?”

“
If it was just me, I’d say I didn’t care. But I think we should have something for Chris.”

“
In Kansas City?” he asked.

Steve said
, “Catlin can’t travel. And Chris isn’t going anywhere without her.”

Craig thought about it.
“I suppose we could have a funeral here and a memorial service later in the city. I think his parents will want to take care of the burial.”

Catlin waved her hand.
“Let them. I don’t care.”

Craig said
, “They’ll be here tomorrow. They’re going to want to talk to you.”

“
Oh, Jesus.” Catlin looked at Steve. “His mother is a real piece of work. Not to mention the fact that she hates me. I haven’t seen her in ten years.”

Steve looked at Craig.
“How does she feel about you?”

“
She’s always liked me.” Craig shrugged.

Catlin replied snottily
, “I bet she wouldn’t if she knew the truth about you and her precious son.”

Craig grimaced.
“Catlin, what good would that do? Please don’t.”

She waved her hand again.
“I’m not going to tell her.”

Steve sighed.
“Can you just handle them, please? Catlin needs to avoid stress, and I really don’t think she’s going to be able to go to a funeral.”

Craig nodded.
“I’ll take care of the Prescott’s.”

“
Thank you,” Steve said.

Catlin tugged at his hand.
“My head is starting to pound. Could you please ask the nurse for something?”

“
Sure.” He put a tender kiss on her forehead before he stood up, and went out to the nurse’s station.

Craig looked at her
. “I’m sorry for everything, you know.”

She gave a small nod
. “I’m sorry about Nick. It was a stupid, stupid accident.”

Craig looked out the window again.
“I can’t believe he’s really gone.” His shoulders started to shake.

Catlin woke up alone. She rang for the nurse. It was dark, but she couldn’t tell what time it was. Nancy, the evening shift nurse, returned.

“
Hi, how’s the head?”

“
Better.” Catlin nodded “What time is it?”

“
Seven-thirty. Are you hungry? I can get your dinner.”

“
I guess.” Catlin looked around.

Nancy
smiled. “He said he’d be back.”

Catlin
nodded. “Thanks.”

She was finishing up her dinner when Steve
returned, Chris in tow.

“
Hey!” She pushed her tray aside and held her arms out to her son. “I’m so glad to see you!”

“
Mom!” Chris hugged her, and Steve helped him climb up to sit closer.

“
Hello.” Steve smiled at her.

“
Hello.” She pointed to her cheek.

Steve leaned down to kiss her
and she turned her head quickly, so he kissed her lips instead.

“
Gotcha,” she murmured.

“
Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be,” he murmured back, and kissed her one more time. He pulled away, smiling. “Have a good nap?”

“
Yes,” she replied. “My head feels much better.” She put her arms around Chris and hugged him to her. “How are you doing?”

He
gazed up at her. “I’m fine. Teresa let me help her bake cookies.”

“
Oh?” Catlin raised her eyebrows.

Steve commented
, “That’s quite an honor. She usually doesn’t want anyone in her kitchen.”