Blame it on the Stars (The Blame Game) (26 page)

“
I was
going
to be married. But you…our wedding…”

“
All for your benefit.”

“
But why?” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Why didn’t you just tell me the truth? I was so happy with Steve.” She whirled around and pounded her fist on the wall.

He shook his head.
“I don’t know. Maybe I wanted to see if I could win you back.”

She turned around slowly to face him, her tears still falling.
“It was just a game to you, wasn’t it? You never had any intention of living with us.”

He shrugged again.
“Payback’s a bitch. You ruined
my
life.”

“
It’s sad that you feel that way, Nick. I didn’t make you keep Chris. I was going to place him for adoption. But you made your own choice. So you see, I don’t think he or I ruined your life. I think you managed to do that all by yourself.”

“
I suppose you’re partly right,” he admitted. “And I’ve been scrambling to cover up my mistakes for years.”

“
The picture in People Magazine. That was that for your benefit?”

“
There had been some speculation about our sexual preferences. Craig and I thought we needed to do some damage control.”

“Who cares anymore? I can
’t believe in this day and age that anybody would give a shit if you’re gay.”

He chuckled bitterly. “Then you are sadly naïve. Lots of people care, and it impacts tours and record sales. Some people are cool with it, sure. But Craig and I—”

“
Craig and I. Craig and I.
You were in this whole thing together, weren’t you? You manipulative bastards. I can’t believe you did this to me. And Chris...he spoke to Steve that day. Did you put him up to that?”

“
No, that was a surprise. Funny as hell, too.”

She saw red.
“It was
not
funny, it was awful! Why would he do that to me?”

“
He wasn’t doing anything ‘to you’—he was trying to get his parents back together. He was desperate for a real family.”

“
I just can’t believe this.” She shook her head again.

“
Oh quit bitching.” Nick scoffed at her. “Your life can go on as you want it. I’ll give you a well-publicized divorce, and a huge settlement. And custody of the children.”

“
The children,” she repeated, and put her hands on her stomach. Something occurred to her, and she asked him “Were you and Craig monogamous?”

He laughed at the question, and Catlin
’s heart sunk. “Have you ever been tested for HIV?” she asked softly.

“
Yeah, we’ve been tested a few times. It always comes out negative.”

“
Recently?” She got in his face.

“
I don’t know. What’s your problem?”

“
My problem
? My problem is I was close to you! We’ve kissed, shared a bed—”

“
In the most literal sense of the word only. We never fucked, Catlin. You can’t get HIV from kissing.”

She scowled at him, but he was probably right. She understood the facts. They
’d just never applied to her before. Something else came to mind and she froze. “What about Chris? Have you ever had him tested?”

“
He’s fine, quit wigging out.”

“How do you know that?” She swung her purse at him like a club.

“
Hey! Stop it!” He grabbed for the swinging bag.

Catlin pulled her purse back and
stomped through the house. “I’ve got to get out of here.”

Nick ran after her, pulling doors
closed behind him. “Catlin, give me the keys. You’re in no condition to drive.”

She glared at him
. “I hate you. I can’t believe this shit.”

“
I know, I know. It sucks to be you. Same song, different year.” He snatched the car keys and shoved her lightly into the passenger side of the Jaguar.

H
urrying around to the driver’s side, he slid in and started up the car.

She was still crying angrily.
“Just take me home! Then I want you to get out! I don’t care if I ever see you again.”

Nick slammed the car into gear and squealed out of the drive.

“Slow down.” She reached for her seatbelt. The car tires squealed again as he peeled off the gravel drive and on to Spillway Road. “Nick, you’re going too fast.” There was a tricky turn coming up that she was used to, but he wasn’t. “Nick!” she screamed as the car went out of control and headed over the embankment.

Chapter Eighteen

Catlin woke up and looked around. Her head was pounding and her eyes were blurry. She saw a face, and tried to focus on it.
“Steve? Am I dreaming?”

Steve picked up her hand and squeezed it.
“No, you’re not dreaming. How do you feel?”

She
glanced from side to side. She was lying in a bed, hooked up to all kinds of machines. “Where am I?”

“
You’re in the hospital, Catlin. You’ve been in an accident.”

“
I remember, I think.” She touched her forehead and felt a bandage. “Oh God.” She started to cry.

“
It’s okay.” Steve sat on the edge of her bed. “You’re going to be fine. You’re just bumped and bruised a little.”

Panic gripped her and she
reached for her stomach. “My baby?”

“
He’s fine.” Steve touched her hand. “They’ve got him hooked up to a monitor—see?” he motioned to one of the screens beside the bed.

She tried to focus in on the squiggly lines.
“It’s okay, really?”

“
He.” Steve smiled. “They did an ultrasound. It’s a boy.”

“
A boy.” She closed her eyes, and then they popped back open. “Christian? Is he okay?”

Steve nodded.
“He wasn’t with you. He’s fine.”

“
Where is he?”

“
We’re taking care of him, Catlin. Don’t worry.”

She closed her eyes again. She was so sleepy.

“
Catlin, can you hear me?”

She opened her eyes, but didn
’t recognize the face.

“
Hi, I’m Dr. Marcus.” The tall, dark skinned-man smiled at her. “How are you feeling?”

“
Sleepy,” she whispered.

“
Part of that is the medication we’re giving you. Can you try to answer a couple questions for me?”

She nodded.

“Can you tell me your name?”

“
Catlin McCall—uh, Prescott. Catlin Prescott.” That reminded her, and she asked, “How’s Nick?”

“
He’s being looked at in the other room. Do you remember what happened?”

“
Accident. How’s my car?”

The doctor
winced. “Not as good as you are. I suspect it’s seen its last day.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

Steve stepped up and took her hand. “Don’t worry about your car, Catlin. Just thank God you’re alive.”

She looked at him.
“What are you doing here?”

He smiled.
“Where else would I be?”

“
How did you find out I was here?”

“
I was working when the report came in. I’ve got to tell you, my heart leaped into my throat when I heard someone rolled a Jag on Spillway Road.”

“
We rolled?” She scratched at the bandage on her forehead.

The doctor asked
, “You don’t remember that?”

“
Not really.” She shook her head. “I remember heading for the edge. Maybe I blacked out after that.”

“
Catlin.” The doctor looked down at her chart “Can you tell me your address?”

“
1428 Hazelnut.”

“
Do you know what day it is?” the doctor continued to question her.

“
Saturday, last time I checked.”

“
Yes it is,” he replied. “Well, you have a concussion, but your memory seems to be intact. That’s encouraging.”

“
Is my baby still okay?”

“
He’s raising a ruckus in there, but he’s holding his own. Your obstetrician has been in several times. He’ll be back when I tell him you’re awake.”

She looked at the fetal monitor, then at the doctor.
“My head is just pounding.”

He checked his watch.
“We can give you something for the pain in a little while. I’d like Dr. Jonas to examine your first, though. Can you hold on?”

She nodded.

The doctor left, saying, “I’ll be back!”

Steve moved over to where the doctor had been, and sat on the bed. He ran his hand back through Catlin
’s hair.

“
You were here earlier,” she remembered.

He nodded.

“You didn’t have to come back.”

“
I never left.”

“
What time is it?” She looked at his watch.

He checked it
. “Close to nine-thirty.”

S
he yawned, and tried to stretch. Every muscle and bone in her body seemed to ache. “Ohh…” she moaned.

“
Can I get you anything?”

“
Water?”

He filled the cup next to her bed, and held i
t to her mouth. She sipped, and leaned her head back again.

The doctor returned with her obstetrician.

“Well,” Dr. Jonas smiled at her. “You gave us quite a scare. That baby has been complaining ever since he got here.” He checked the monitor readings.

“
It’s a boy?”

“
It sure is,” Dr. Jonas replied.

“
I didn’t want to know,” she murmured.

The doctor
looked at Steve.

He smiled sheepishly.
“Sorry.” He looked at Catlin. “I just thought you could use some good news to get your mind off ....things.”

She pointed a finger at Steve.
“You wanted to know, didn’t you?”

He
shrugged and stepped back while the doctor examined her. “Well, Catlin,” Dr. Jonas said “As far as I can tell, everything’s okay. We want to keep you in bed for a few days for observation, and to make sure the baby stays calm. You’re almost seven months along, and babies have lived outside the womb at that age. But he’s small, and he’ll be better off if he can stay in there another month or two.”

Catlin glanced at Steve to see if he was listening to the doctor. She could tell by the smile on his face that he heard every word.

Dr. Marcus gave her some pain medication. “This will make you sleepy. The best thing you can do right now is rest.”

“
Thank you.” She settled back into her pillow. The medicine was working already, she just wanted to sleep.

Dr. Marcus looked at Steve.
“You might as well get some rest, too.”

She heard him say,
“I want to check on her son, but then I’ll be back.”

Catlin wanted to ask about Chris, but couldn
’t seem to speak. She didn’t try and fight the meds, just closed her eyes and gave in to it.

“
She’ll probably sleep through the night,” Dr. Jonas agreed with Dr. Marcus.

Steve gave Catlin a kiss on the forehead.
“Just in case she doesn’t, I want to be here.”

When she woke the next morning, Catlin’s headache was not as strong, and she didn’t feel as fuzzy as she had the night before. She looked around the room, and saw Steve sitting in the chair next to her bed. “Are you still here?”

He opened his eyes.
“Is that a rhetorical question?”

“
Apparently.” She yawned. “Did you sleep here?”

He stretched his neck from side to side.
“If you can call it sleep.” He looked at her. “So how are you feeling this morning?”

“
Sore as hell. But my head feels clearer, I think. Not like I’m lost in a fog.”

“
That’s good.”

Catlin
needed some answers. “What are you doing here, Steve? Your wife must be furious.”

He looked down, then back up at her.
“Barbara’s gone, Catlin. She went back to Kansas City.”

“
Gone? Why?” She was surprised.

He shook his head.
“It wasn’t working out. I knew it, the kids finally realized it, and even Barbara herself eventually admitted it.”

“
I’m sorry.”

“
It’s all your fault,” he teased. “You ruined me for anyone else.”

“
Oh please.” Catlin rolled her eyes, and then looked at the door as Dr. Marcus walked in.

“
Good morning.” He flipped through Catlin’s chart. “How’s the head today?”

“
Better. It feels clearer, anyway.”

“
Headache?”

“
A little one. Nothing like last night.”

“
Any other complaints?”

“
Bed’s a little lumpy.”

Dr. Marcus
tapped her chart on the foot of the bed. “I’d complain to a nurse if I were you. Everyone knows they’re the ones who run this place.”

She smiled
as he examined her face. “Sit up for me?” He pulled her forward to look at her back.

“
What do you see back there?”

“
A bunch of scrapes and bruises which are now purple but will soon be green.”

“
Lovely.”

He
looked at her. “You’re lucky to be here, kiddo. I wouldn’t complain too much.”

She nodded.
“When do you think I can go home?”

“
When we’re done poking at you.”

“
Today?”

He laughed.
“Maybe
a week from today
. You’ve been through major trauma, Catlin. We’re still not sure that baby is going to stay in there. You need a great deal of bed rest.”

“
But I have a son to take care of! I can’t stay here a week!”

“
Would he be the long haired boy with the anxious look on his face waiting out in the hall?”

She looked at Steve
“He’s here?”

Steve nodded.
“Waiting for doctor’s permission to come in.”

She looked at the doctor pleadingly.

“Five minutes,” he told her. “Then you need to rest. And sometime today you need to get cleaned up, and try to get the sand out of your scrapes. The nurse will help you.”

“
Five minutes is better than nothing.” She reached for the bed adjustment, and moved herself to a sitting position. “Can I see a mirror?”

Steve
touched her face. “You look beautiful.”

“
Yeah.” She chuckled. “About as beautiful as I feel, I’ll bet.”

Dr. Marcus walked to the door.
“I’ll send him in, and I’ll be back to check on you later.”

“
Thank you!” She grinned, eyes on the door.

Chris
approached the doorway hesitantly. Dana and David stood behind him.

“
Oh, baby!” Catlin started crying when she saw her son. He ran to her.

“
Careful.” Steve helped him climb on the bed around the monitors.

Catlin hugged
Chris tightly. “I’m so glad to see you!”

“
Me too!” He’d been crying. “I was really scared.”

“
I’m so sorry we scared you. It was a stupid, stupid accident.”

“
Steve said the baby’s okay, though,” Chris assured her.

“
Isn’t that wonderful?” She hugged him again. “Did he tell you? The doctor says the baby is a boy.”

“
Really?” His eyes lit up “A brother for me.”

“
That’s right, my darling. Everything is going to be just fine. Have you seen your father?”

Chris
looked at Steve nervously. “No, I haven’t.”

Catlin
followed his gaze. “Isn’t he allowed visitors yet?”

“
Not yet,” Steve said softly.

Dana stepped forward.
“Hi Catlin,” she almost whispered.

“
Come here you.” Catlin held out her arms, and Dana gave her a big hug.

“
I’m so sorry.” Dana was crying. “For everything, I mean…”

“
It’s okay.” Catlin comforted her, and when David stepped up, she held her arms out to him, too. They joined together for one big hug.

A nurse came in and
stomped her feet. “Doctor said five minutes, folks. Mama needs her rest.”

The hug broke up, and Catlin kissed her son one last time.
“I’ll see you later, honey. You be a good boy, okay?”