Life's Next Chapter (19 page)

“Have I ever told you that you can be a smart ass, sometimes?”

“Dad, I’m a very smart woman, not a smart donkey. Even though donkeys are a very smart animals.” She has the best carefree laugh ever. She makes me laugh.

“Seriously, though, will you move back in, or do I need to sell?”

“I’ll move back in, it’ll be nice to have a bigger place. Is that all?”

“No, the reason I’m moving in with Kate, besides that I love her and I want to marry her…is because she is…pregnant.”

Do I dare look at my child? The lump in my throat is swelling by the seconds. I look down at my untouched pancakes and say a silent prayer she’s taking this all in and will be ecstatic about it as much as I am.

“Wow…umm…geez, Dad, I have no clue what you want me to say about that.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know beforehand because we plan on telling your grandparents today. Dani, I love Kate…I’ve never loved another woman in my whole life. I’ve waited thirty-six years to feel what I feel for her. I’m excited about this baby. Granted, it’s way too soon, but I couldn’t be happier. I’ve always wanted to give you siblings. I know the age gap is big, but knowing if something ever happened to me, you would have a brother or sister with you.”

She doesn’t look at me, and I can’t take my eyes off of her. I need to know what she thinks by this. I can see her tremble and her chin quiver. “Baby girl, please, don’t cry. Please, tell me what you’re thinking.”

She looks up at me and throws her napkin on the table. “I’m thinking, what a fuck up I’ve been for you. It’s because of me you’ve waited so long in life for your true dreams. I was the ‘oops’ that fucked up everything. Tell Grandma and Grandpa I can’t come.” She pushes the chair back and storms out of the kitchen.

I run after her, grab her arm, and swing her back to me. “First off, don’t you dare talk to me like that. Just because you’re an adult doesn’t mean you can talk to me like that, Dani. Jesus Christ, I taught you better than that.

“Second, what the hell are you talking about? You are the best thing that has happened in my life. You’re the reason I fought tooth and nail to survive the war. You are the reason I’m living; you are my life. My heart beats only because yours is beating. You are my true miracle, and I don’t ever want to hear that type of nonsense out of your mouth, again. Loving my own flesh and blood is completely different than loving a woman. NO FUCKING COMPARISON, DANI!

“If I hadn’t been injured, or had the shit that happened to me, then yeah, maybe I would’ve found a woman to marry and given you a sibling closer in age to you. Life handed me a fucking grenade, it blew up in my hands, and putting the pieces back together took a hell a lot longer than I ever thought possible. But, I fought and I struggled to put those pieces back for you, Dani. You will always be loved, no matter what, and no baby, or me marrying Kate, will change that.”

Dani throws herself into my arms, lays her head on my chest, and cries into my shirt. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m just scared…I’m scared Kate is going to take you away from me, and now knowing a baby will come between us, it scares me. It’s always been just you and me. I don’t want to share.”

“Baby girl, I love you, and trust me when I say I’ll do my absolute best to make sure you’ll never feel neglected or unwanted. We’re going to have a family. You’re entering adulthood, and your life will forever change. But no matter what happens, I’m always going to be here for you and love you ‘til my last dying breath, got it?”

She pulls back and wipes her tears with the back of her hand. “Got it,” she mumbles to me. Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I guide her back into the kitchen. “Let’s finish eating.”

AFTER BREAKFAST, DANIKA and I sat on the couch watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, like we do every year. When it was over, Danika went back to her dorm to change and promised to return. Before I took a shower, I called Kate again to see how she was doing. She was baking up a storm to burn off the nervous energy. I told her I talked to Danika and how it played out. Kate didn’t talk much, I know she is scared and nervous, and being pregnant doesn’t help the situation. I end the conversation, telling her I’ll see her soon.

Not much later, Danika and I are pulling up in Kate’s driveway. The girls come running towards the truck screaming for Dani. Dani squats down and opens her arms for both of them. I know she likes to play it tough because she’s scared, but knowing Dani, I know she has a huge heart for those girls.

A glowing Kate walks to the truck. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her more beautiful. She’s wearing jeans, a charcoal grey sweater with a swooping neckline, and a pair of hot-as-hell black leather, knee-high boots. Her hair is half pulled up in messy curls and she’s wearing black dangling earrings. She has done up her make-up, too. I could just scoop her up and take her to bed. I want nothing more than to tear the clothes off of her. I’m trying to discretely adjust myself in my jeans as I approach my sexy girl.

“Sunshine, you look fucking gorgeous.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself, stud.” She hands me three dishes of baked goods.

“Babe, you didn’t have to cook all this.”

“I know, but it gave me something to do. Julia, so help me, you get dirty you will not have any cookies,” she huffs to Julia as her tough as nails daughter is trying to climb into the bed of the truck. “So, your truck or mine?” Kate says as she is digging out her sunglasses.

“We’ll take mine. Let me put these in the truck, and I’ll grab the girls’ seats,” I say as I walk to the driver’s seat and place the cookies on the seat. Kate walks over to Dani and gives her a hug. Dani smiles, but it’s not her true honest smile, which puts a little tug on my heart. I can see Dani saying something to Kate, and then it seems by instinct Kate rubs her belly. Damn. I can’t wait to see her belly swell and to feel my child kick. This is going to be the longest seven months ever.

The drive to my parents’ home is oddly quiet. We arrive at my childhood home, and the place Dani was raised for more than half her life. I pull in right behind my younger sister Leah and her husband Charles’s Mercedes. I look at Kate and she’s gnawing away on her bottom lip. I grab her chin. “Stop. Baby, they will love you.”

“Ahem, can we get out, now?” I look in the review mirror to see Dani stuck between the pink and purple booster seats. I silently laugh to myself. I get the girls out of the back. Dani leads Julia and Nicole to the house. I walk to Kate, who is still standing by her door.

“Luke, promise me that if they hate me, you’ll take me home right away. I don’t think I can handle it. I feel like I’m going to throw up any minute.”

“Honey, I swear to you my parents will go ape shit over you. But, yes, I promise at any time you want to go, we will go.”

Walking in between the cars, I guide her to the front door. As we pass the Mercedes, I realize my sister and her shithead of a husband are still sitting in the car. I look over to see movement, and the window is cracked just an inch. I can hear voices, but not what they are saying. The side window tint is too dark to see facial movement. I ignore what’s going on. I can’t deal with Charles right now, and I sure as hell don’t need to put Kate through his bullshit. I seriously don’t understand what Leah sees in the bastard. With my hand on Kate’s lower back, I guide her up the walkway into the house. I can’t wait for my parents to meet the love of my life. We walk through the front door and Mom is already waiting with open arms. Kate slides to the side, so mom can hug me first. “Luke, Happy Thanksgiving, love.”

Giving her a hug and kiss back I reply, “Happy Thanksgiving, Mom. Mom, this is Kate. Kate, this is my mother, Marcy.”

Kate, still glowing, leans into my mother and gives her a hug. “So nice to meet you, Marcy.”

My mom is in her glory. “Likewise, Kate. Luke was right, you are beautiful, and so are your girls, wherever they’ve run off, too.”

“Thank you, Marcy.”

My father walks up to me with Nicole in his arms. I knew these girls would melt their hearts, just like they have done with mine. “Kate, this is my father, William. Dad, this is Kate.”

Dad leans in and gives her a kiss on the cheek. “So happy to have you here with us. Your daughters are just darling,” Dad says as he kisses Nicole on her cheek.

“Nicole, behave okay? Go find your sister,” Kate says.

“Kate, please, there’s nothing they could destroy. It’s been years since we’ve had a little one running through the house.” Mom says as she looks at Dani, who’s sitting on the couch, scrolling on her phone.

I head for the kitchen to drop off the containers of desserts. Glancing out the front window, Leah and Charles are still sitting in the car. What the fuck is going on? Mom has already pulled Kate to the couch and they’re talking away. Dani is still on her phone texting. Looking through the back doors, I see Dad blowing bubbles with the girls. I smile as I look around the room, knowing this moment couldn’t get any better.

“Mom, Kate, I left something in the truck, I’ll be right back.” Walking out the door, I’m going to find out what the hell is Leah’s problem. Haven’t seen the girl in months and she pulls this crap on Thanksgiving. Walking back down the walkway to their car I squint, trying to see through the front window, but I don’t make anything out because of the bright sun. Coming to the side, I fist my hand and pound on the window. Again, the window slides down just another inch. “Are you going to stay in the fucking car all day?” I growl to my sister. She has been so distant. She hardly calls; her visits are less frequent. She’s starting to piss me off.

“Luke, just give me a minute, please.” She barely gets the words out. I lower my head to gaze into the car. I could just feel the tension pour out of the car.

“Leah, if you don’t get out of this fucking car in three seconds, I’m going to break the God damn window and pull you out. Open the fucking door!”

Upon that ultimatum she opens the door. I squat down to be at eye level with her. “Charles, what the fuck is going on in here that you two can’t act like civilized people and go in the damn house? Leah, mom hasn’t seen you since Easter.”

“Luke, we’re talking about a personal matter, so if you don’t mind, please excuse yourself and let us finish.” Hearing Charles tell me to mind my fucking business pisses me off. I want to rip his tongue out of his mouth.

“Leah, get in the house. I need a word with Charles.”

“Luke, please, just leave us alone and go back in…please,” she barely whispers the last word.

“Leah.” As I stand up, I pull her out by her arm and she winces.
What the fuck?
She’s standing in front of me wearing a thick sweater dress that looks two sizes too big on her. She’s a petite thing, like Kate, but a couple inches shorter. She has lost weight and has dark circles under her eyes. Even concealer can’t cover it up. “Leah, pull your sleeve up and show me why you winced when I grabbed hold of your arm. I know my own strength, and I know I didn’t hurt you. So you better show me what is under this sleeve.”

Tears are running down her face. “Luke, I beg you, please just let me be. PLEASE!”

I’m no fucking moron. I’ve seen the signs of domestic abuse. Hell, I was in therapy for years and I’ve done the group sessions. Some PTSD sufferers have turned to beating their spouses. Looking at my sister quiver in the driveway in sixty-five degree weather is fucking pissing me off. I hear Charles telling Leah to get in the car; they aren’t staying.

“He fucking hurt you, didn’t he?” I seethe at her. She doesn’t look at me, but by her trembles I can tell. “Did he lay a fucking finger on you?” She just bows her head down and doesn’t say a word. “God damn it, Leah, answer me. I’m not going to let that prick hurt you ever again.”

“Luke, he’s my husband. This is our business, not yours.” I clench my jaw and shake my head with such force.

“Leah, you made it my fucking business when you recoiled from my touch. Honey, I don’t give a fuck if he is fucking God, he has no right to lay a finger on you. Now, show me your arm…now, Leah!”

She holds out her arm, but makes me pull up the sleeve to her dress. She has bruises all up her arm, some very new, and some very old ones. I immediately grab her other arm and do the same. Her arms reflect one another and the bruises are all over the place. I grab her shoulders and twirl her around and pull the collar of her dress down and look down her back. She is black and blue from the neck down. Of course the bastard wouldn’t hurt her face.

“Leah, get in the fucking car! We aren’t staying here,” Charles screams to my sister.

I walk around the car and pull the son of a bitch from the car. I throw him against his custom Mercedes. “Now let’s see who the bigger man is. You enjoy beating up my baby sister, Charles?” I have him by the neck of his shirt and with just a little more pressure my fist could pinch off his airway. My other hand is holding his hand onto the roof of the car. I can hear Leah’s pleas and cries to let him go.

“Let me go, asshole. This isn’t your fucking issue. Listen to Leah and mind your own damn business.”

I don’t know what overcame me, maybe it was the pent up frustration from Keith, and what he did to Kate. How I couldn’t do shit for her, but now, I see Leah and all hell breaks loose. I can help her, and this piece of shit will never touch her again. I ram my fist into pretty boy’s face, over and over again. I feel the blood run down my fist. I hear Leah’s cries. Then I hear more screams, this one from my other sister, Lilly. Her husband, Tyler, is trying to pull me off of the fucking bastard. I lift my leg and kick Charles in the ribs. I watch him keel over. Before I know it, my father is helping Tyler pull me away from him. Kate runs up to me, telling me to stop and to calm down. Calming down is not going to happen anytime soon.