“What now?” I wonder as I hear a commotion in the house.
I walk back inside to find my mother and sister stand there, arguing with Isabel. Katie is crying. I scoop my daughter up in my arms and carry her to her room.
“It's going to be okay, sweetie. I'll send Auntie Liz up to keep you company,” I say, trying to comfort her. She sniffles and hugs her teddy bear.
I walk back out of the room and downstairs. “Okay enough!” I roar. Everyone stops yelling. “Can you go up and keep an eye on Katie?” I ask my sister.
“I'll do it. I'm her mother, after all,” Isabel says in a superior tone. She turns and walks out of the room.
“What is she doing back here?” My mother demands. My sister crosses her arms and glares at me.
“Honestly, I don't know. She just showed up,” I admit.
“I don't want her in this house. She's nothing but a Gold digger,” my mother argues.
I sigh, not in the mood for another fight, so I go to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Taking two aspirin, I rub my temples, feeling a headache starting.
My mother follows me. “You get her out of this house now. I don't want her here. I don't care if she is Katie's mother.”
“I'll see what I can do,” I reply tiredly, so ready for this day to be over.
“If you remember, I didn't even want you to marry her in the first place,” my mother reminds me.
“Yes, I remember it quite well,” I say, walking out of the kitchen.
I don't know what to do, I need space. I walk upstairs to my room and throw myself backward on the bed to stare up at the ceiling. I really doubt that things could get any worse than they are right now. I know Isabel won't leave. Because of that, my mother isn't going to leave.
Poor Katie is so upset. I don't know how I am going to get out of this situation. It's like a nightmare that keeps going from bad to worse. Katie runs in and climbs in the bed with me.
“What's wrong?” I ask, alarmed.
“They are yelling again,” Katie says. As I sit up, she climbs into my arms for a hug. I feel a little awkward as I'm not usually affectionate. “I miss Cece,” she whispers. I hear the sadness in her voice, and I realize she is trying not to cry again.
“I know, sweetie,” I answer, hugging her. I want so bad to say me too. I do miss Cece, more than I thought I would.
Katie stays in my arms for a long time. Eventually, she falls asleep. I carry her back to her room then tuck her gently into bed. I close her door halfway to try and mute some of the noise.
“Okay enough! Katie is asleep,” I say once I'm downstairs.
“This is my house, and I'll do what I please,” Isabel snaps.
“Wrong. It's my son's house. Get out of here, you little tramp,” my mother argues.
They start fighting again. I sigh and walk to my office, accepting that I can't deal with this right now. I sit at my desk and lay my head down. I just want a moment of peace to form a coherent thought. I pull my phone out. I don't know why I bother to check it. I'm never going to hear from her again. That thought depresses me more than my current situation.
Chapter 16 - Cece
Today is a big day for me. I am able to enroll in college classes. I finally have the money I need. It should be a special occasion, but I'm not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. Everything is weighing so heavy on my mind that I can’t get started. It’s been that way all afternoon.
I reach down to caress my stomach. I am carrying Ben's baby, but I still haven't told him yet. I haven't seen him since the day everything happened. I know he had been trying to get ahold of me, but I just wasn't ready to deal with it all since I was still processing my emotions. Now that I'm calm, I know what is right and what I must do. I just hope that it goes the way I have it planned.
I miss him, and I miss Katie so much. It's driving me crazy not being able to see them. I start to feel restless, needing to do something, so I reach a decision. I'm going to go and pay them a visit this evening. Even if it is only for a few seconds at least, I'll be able to see them again. Besides, the more I think about it, this just doesn't feel right. Ben needs to know that this is his baby. I'm not expecting anything from him. I just want him to know. That's the right thing to do.