Breakaway - A Contemporary Romance Drama Story (13 page)

"It wouldn't hurt for you to lie down and take a nap," Jill said, eyeing Kate. "You look tired. If I remember correctly you looked tired the last time I was here."

"I have a difficult time sleeping at night," Kate said.

"Why is that?" Jill asked. "Is it because of Edward?"

"Him and Gaby," Kate said. "When I'm not up taking care of her, I'm lying there wondering what he's going to do to me next."

"Don't do that," Jill said. "You will drive yourself crazy. You have to sleep, Kate."

"Don't worry about me, Jillybean," Kate said, smiling. "I get enough sleep to get by on. I will be fine."

"Are you getting plenty to eat?"

"Of course." Kate opened her eyes and checked her watch. "Speaking of eating, dinner will be done in thirty minutes. We always eat at six sharp. Heaven forbid if dinner is not on the table when Edward sits down."

"Then I should go," Jill said, standing. "I don't want to see him."

"I don't want to see him either," Kate said, rising from the sofa.

"Then leave him," Jill declared. "Right now. Leave with me."

"You know I can't," Kate said gently. "Come on, I'll walk you to the door."

Once Kate saw Jill off, she went upstairs to the nursery to check on Gaby before dinner.

When Nathan arrived at his parent's home for dinner, he found Mr. Holden in the kitchen chopping vegetables for a stir-fry. "Hey, dad."

"Hi," Mr. Holden said. "Are you staying for dinner?"

"I was planning on it." Nathan opened a drawer and took out a knife. He grabbed a green bell pepper and began cutting it into strips. "Where is that beautiful wife of yours?"

"She went upstairs to take a few Ibuprofen," Mr. Holden said, dropping vegetables into the hot wok on the stove.

"Is she okay?" Nathan asked concerned.

"Something happened earlier today that upset her. You know she gets a headache when she's upset." With a spatula, Mr. Holden stirred the meat and vegetables. "It has to do with Kate. The reason she is upset."

Nathan set the knife down and looked at his father. "What about Katie? Did something happen to her?"

"No," Mr. Holden said.

"Damn it, dad," Nathan snapped. "Will you please tell me what is going on?"

Mr. Holden sighed heavily. "Your mother and I were having lunch at Tuscany's when we saw Edward. He was there with a woman. At first we thought maybe it was a business meeting, but when he kissed her, we knew something was going on."

"Are you sure it was Edward?"

"Yes," Mr. Holden said. "Before you ask, it wasn't an innocent kiss. He kissed her the way a man kisses a woman he wants." He placed a hand on Nathan's shoulder. "Son, I think Edward is cheating on Kate."

Nathan stared at the hardwood floor as he thought about what his father had just told him. Anger sprang to life inside him. He wanted to wrap his hands around Edward's throat and squeeze the life out of him. "He's married to a beautiful, kindhearted woman. Why would he want to cheat on her?"

"I don't know, son," Mr. Holden said. "Some men have everything and still they want more. They think the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."

Nathan massaged the back of his neck and grimaced. "What do I do, dad? I mean Katie is my best friend. I can't keep something like this from her, yet I don't want to tell her. This is going to break her heart. I can't bear to see her hurting."

"You have to tell her, Nathan," Mrs. Holden said, walking into the kitchen. "She needs to hear it from someone who cares about her, instead of finding out about it from a stranger."

Nathan knew she was right. He just wished he didn't have to be the one to break the news to Kate. "I'll go see her tomorrow," he said. "Then I'm going to pay Edward a visit."

"Oh no you're not," Mrs. Holden said. "You're going to let Kate handle this. Your job is to be there for her and support her."

"I am not going to stand by and let him get away with it," Nathan snarled.

"Your mother is right, son," Mr. Holden said. "Let Kate handle this. You will only make things worse if you confront Edward."

"Poor dear," Mrs. Holden said sadly. "No woman should ever have to go through this." She moved closer to her husband and kissed him on the cheek. "I wish Kate could have found someone like you."

As Mr. Holden spoke, he looked at Nathan. "She did find someone like me. She just didn't marry him."

"Katie and I are just friends," Nathan said. "That is all we are ever going to be."

Mr. Holden turned around and checked on the stir-fry. "I agree."

"You two could have been more if you both weren't so darn blind," Mrs. Holden said.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Nathan said his eyes flashing.

"Now, son," Mr. Holden said, shutting off the burner. "Don't swear in front of your mother."

"You love that girl," Mrs. Holden told Nathan. "I can see it in your eyes every time you talk about her. It just about killed you when Kate got married and left. I have stood by for years and watched you go from one relationship to the next. You were never satisfied. It's because they were not Kate."

"You don't know what you're talking about," Nathan said halfheartedly.

"Yes I do," Mrs. Holden said. She reached up and cupped Nathan's face between her hands. "Why is it that you haven't married Connie yet? You two have been dating for a year now. It's obvious she wants marriage and children."

"I'm not ready for that," Nathan said.

"You're thirty-three years old," Mrs. Holden said. "When will you be ready?"

Nathan jerked away from her touch. "What do you want from me, mom?"

"I want you to admit to me and yourself that you can't commit to someone because you're in love with Kate."

"God, you're a stubborn woman," Nathan growled.

"Don't you take the Lord's name in vain, young man," Mrs. Holden said sternly.

"Sweetheart," Mr. Holden said. "Leave the boy alone. It's time to eat."

Nathan pulled out a chair for Mrs. Holden. "Let's declare a truce for now and sit down and have a pleasant dinner."

"All right." Mrs. Holden sat down and placed a napkin her lap.

"How was work, son?" Mr. Holden asked, carrying a bowl of rice in one hand and a bowl of stir-fry in the other. He put the bowls on the table and then took a seat.

"Work was fine," Nathan said. "How did it go at the shop?"

"We had a busy day," Mrs. Holden said, fixing her husband a plate. "A couple came into the shop wanting us to do the flowers for their wedding. It's going to be a big order to fill."

"We're going to be busy, that's for sure," Mr. Holden said.

Nathan sat through dinner with his mind on Kate. He wondered what he was going to say to her when he saw her. How did he tell her that the man she was married to was cheating on her? Unable to finish eating, he left the kitchen without saying a word to Mr. and Mrs. Holden and headed to the living room where he sank down on the sofa and grabbed the phone. Dialing Kate's number, he held his breath and waited for her to answer.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Katie."

"Nathan," Kate said. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm okay."

"Good. Are you going to be home tomorrow?" Nathan asked.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"I need to talk to you and I don't want to do it over the phone."

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Kate asked.