The Price (5 page)

“You can hold him once I finish nursing him,” she said to her mother.

“He has a lot of hair for a newborn,” observed Marnie, as she sat on the bed across from her daughter. “And dark, too.”

“It will change once he gets a little older,” said Kate. “Isn’t he the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen?”

“He is precious.” She smiled and Kate smiled, too. “Are you happy, Kathryn?”

“Yes, Mother,” said Kate, hoping the question was genuine. “I am
very
happy.”

“And you’re content to live with a man like Jack?”

“I love Jack and he loves me.” She smiled down at her son and touched the tiny hand resting on her breast.

“He is not an easy man to live with, and it takes a strong woman to keep a man like that satisfied,” said Marnie. “I am not so sure you are strong enough for the long haul.”

Kate looked up and saw her lift a reproofing brow.

“I can handle it,” said Kate, sitting up straighter in her seat. “He’s easier than you think.”

“Easier than Paul?”

“What are you getting at, Mother?” The smile left Kate’s face.

“You and Paul had more in common, and you still had difficulty in keeping
him
satisfied.”

“You haven’t changed,” Kate sighed. “You still think it’s my fault that the marriage ended.”

“I know it takes two for a marriage to fail,” said Marnie. “Don’t fool yourself by placing the blame all in Paul’s lap.”

“
I
wasn’t the one who cheated!” Kate’s face flushed red.

“No, but you didn’t help the situation with all your emotional swings,” stated Marnie.

“That was from all the hormones I was taking,” said Kate, as her heart began to beat faster in her chest. “You know how much I wanted a child.”

“Well now you have one,” said Marnie. “Let’s hope he has your brains and Jack’s good looks and not the other way around.”

“What do you mean by that?” Her back stiffened.

“Oh, Kathryn. Really?” Marnie shook her head then abruptly changed the subject. “I saw Paul before I left. He wanted me to tell you congratulations, and he wanted me to give you this.”

She reached in her purse and pulled out a letter then handed it to Kate.

“What’s this?” she asked, holding the grey envelope between her fingers.

“I think he is a bit remorseful for hastily ending the marriage the way he did,” said Marnie.

“Why? Isn’t he happily married to Emily?” Kate frowned as she leaned over and placed the envelope on her nightstand.

“Aren’t you going to read it?”

“Why should I?”

“He left Emily,” stated Marnie.

“So what does that have to do with me?” Kate felt an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach.

“He left her, shortly after he heard you moved out to this God-forsaken town,” continued Marnie. “Kathryn, I am of the opinion that Paul feels he made a mistake ending your marriage.”

“Well it’s a little late for that, don’t you think,” snapped her daughter. “I’m happily married to Jack and we have a son together.”

“Just read his letter,” said her mother. “Now that you’ve gotten the maternal child-bearing out of your system, maybe there is a way to find your way back. I’m sure he would have no objections to helping you raise your son.”

“So that’s why you came for a visit,” said Kate angrily. “You didn’t come to see your grandson. You came as Paul’s messenger!”

“I came because I love you, and I don’t want you to ruin your life any further than you already have,” stated Marnie. “A man like Jack will only bring you heartache. Trust me, I know.”

“Jack is nothing like Daddy, if that is what you’re inferring.” Kate’s face turned a furious red.

“Are you sure about that?” Marnie rose from the bed. “Just think about it and we’ll talk later. Right now, I believe I would like to get situated in my room.”

Marnie walked over to her daughter and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

“Don’t get up,” she stated, seeing her daughter shift in her seat. “I’ll have Jack show me to my room.”

Kate watched her mother leave the room, closing the door behind her.

FOUR

LETTERS OF UNREQUITED LOVE

She’s poison!” Kate cried into the phone, spilling her emotional unrest to her friend Clara. “She brought a letter from Paul.”

“You’re kidding …
right?
” Clara could not believe the audacity of Marnie St. Claire. “Did you read it?”

“No, of course I didn’t read it,” exclaimed Kate. “But now I have to tell Jack about it.”

“Why?” asked Clara, knowing nothing good would come from Kate’s disclosure.

“Because I don’t want to hide anything from my husband,” she replied. “Besides if I don’t tell him, you know damn well my mother will let it slip into the conversation, and then Jack will read all kinds of things into why I didn’t tell him.”

“You’ve got a point,” said Clara. “But Jack is not going to be happy.”

“He’s going to be furious!” declared Kate. “I have visions of him tossing my mother out on her ear.”

“Well maybe he should,” she snorted. “It would serve that old battle axe right for interfering with your marriage.”

“She said I couldn’t keep a man like Jack satisfied.” Kate continued her rant. “Do you think she’s right, Clara? I mean, in the long run? Am I strong enough to keep him interested in me?”

“You’re letting her do it to you again,” she warned. “Jack is crazy about you.”

“You’re right. He
is
crazy about me,” said Kate, nodding her head in agreement, but then another thought came into her head. “But do you think he will
always
be crazy about me?”

“Kate, don’t let her undermine your confidence. I think it would be best if you made certain to never be alone with her in the same room, until she grows tired and leaves.”

“Maybe you’re right,” said Kate biting her fingernails.

“I know I’m right. When is she leaving?”

“Sunday.”

“You just have to get through tomorrow,” said Clara, knowing it was going to be the longest day of Kate’s life. “And kick her out by noon the next day.”

Kate looked up when she heard Jack enter the room.

“Gotta go, Clara,” she said quicker than she wanted, as Jack gave her a questioning look.

“Good luck,” said Clara and she hung up the phone.

Kate tossed her cell phone on the bed as Jack leaned over the bassinet and peeked in on his sleeping son before sitting beside her.

“What were you and Clara talking about?”

“Just girl talk.” Kate shrugged.

“Girl talk, huh?” He gave her a questioning look as he removed his boots.

He slipped off his socks, and rolled them in a ball, and then hook shot them across the room into the laundry basket.

“How long has Jesse been asleep?” he asked.

“I just fed and changed him,” said Kate. “I’m hoping he sleeps for a few hours tonight.”

“You want to take a bath with me?” His eyes twinkled a devilish green.

“I would love that,” Kate sighed and felt her fears wash away in that instant.

She shimmied out of her top and her shorts, and Jack tossed them in the laundry basket on the way to the bathroom.

“I think dinner went well with Marnie,” said Jack, as he turned on the faucet to the bath.

“You think so?” asked Kate, leaning against the doorframe.

“She was cordial,” he said removing his shirt and jeans tossing them to the side. “And your dinner was kickin’, baby.”

“Thanks,” she smiled.

How did he always know how to make her feel better? She watched Jack climb into the tub and lean back.

“You just going to stand there, or are you coming in?” He grinned.

“I’ll be right there.”

She disappeared into the bedroom, returning with the letter in hand. Jack sat up and Kate stepped in, sinking into the hot water and leaning against his chest.

“What’s that?” he asked, brushing her hair to the side and placing light kisses to her neck.

“It’s a letter my mother gave me,” said Kate.

“Who’s it from?” he said, half-listening as his focus was about getting lost in the softness of her skin.

“It’s from Paul.”

That got Jack’s attention and he removed his lips from her skin. Kate handed him the letter.

“It’s from your ex?” he questioned, examining the handwriting on the front of the envelope. “What does he want?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t read it.”

“Well let’s read it and find out.” Jack leaned back against the tub and opened the letter. He cleared his throat, before he began to read it aloud.

Hey Katie, I bet you’re surprised to hear from me.

He paused. “He calls you, Katie?” he scoffed.

“Only when he wants something from me,” answered Kate, burrowing her back against his chest.

Jack held the letter out for both of them to read.

Congrats on becoming a mother. I know how much it means to you. It got me thinking about us and I remembered how much you wanted to start a family.

“What
us
?” declared Jack as his lip curled into a frown. “There’s no
‘us’!
”

Kate glanced up and gave him a warm, claiming smile, flashing a pretty set of blue his way. Jack snorted as in agreement.

Back then the thought of being a father scared the shit out of me. I didn’t think I was ready, but looking back I realize how much of a jerk I was and how much pain I put you through.

“I know what this is,” said Jack, getting a little bent. “It’s a forgiveness letter.”

I miss you Katie! I can’t take back what I did, but if I had to do it all over again I would do it differently. I know it’s wrong to ask for forgiveness, but I now realize the biggest mistake I ever made was letting you slip away.

“And there it is!” He snapped the letter in his hand. “He wants you back, baby.”

“Jack, please.” Kate shook her head and rubbed her brow. “Maybe we shouldn’t read it?”

Kate moved to take the letter only to have Jack hold it out of her reach.

“Not so fast. Let’s see what he really wants.” He positioned the letter again for them to read.

Let me right the wrong. Let me fix what I broke between us. I’m asking for a chance to talk to you. I’m not good without you. I don’t care that you have a child from another man. If I could have you back, I would love him like my own.

“Like HELL YOU WILL!” His jaw tightened like a vice grip. “You aren’t getting anywhere
near
my wife and kid!”

I want to see you, Katie. I am begging you to please consider my offer. I need to hear your voice again, see you in person. Call me and let’s talk.

Your first love,

Paul

P.S. I have enclosed a picture of us. Remember when we went to the carnival, and we had our pictures taken in that tiny booth. Those were good times, Katie. I want them back.

Jack searched the envelope and found a photo strip of a younger Kate and her ex.

“Well look at you,” said Jack holding up the torn strip of two photos. “You think he’s got the other two?”

“Who cares,” she frowned.

“We got a problem, Kate,” said Jack as he returned the letter and the photos to the envelope and tossed it on the bathroom floor.

“There’s no problem, Jack,” said Kate.

“You still love him?”

“Of course not.” She turned to look at him.

“Are you sure?”

“I love you, only you.”

“Just so you know, I’m not sharing you with that guy,” he reiterated. “I need to know that I have
all of you.”

“You have all of me, baby,” said Kate, needing for him to feel secure. “I don’t want any secrets between us. That’s why I didn’t open the letter until I was alone with you. If I had feelings for him, I wouldn’t have shown you the letter.”

What Kate said made sense, but still he had to be sure.

“You’re mine, Kate.” He lifted her chin and made her look at him. “You belong with me.”

“I don’t want anyone but you,” said Kate, as she placed a tender kiss on his lips. “You have to believe me.”

“I do,” said Jack as he looked into those blue eyes of hers and saw the love. He breathed a sigh of relief.

He leaned back against the tub, taking Kate with him, pressing her full breasts against his chest. She was his, all his, and he calmed down as he thought about the absurdity of the letter. A slow grin formed on his face.

“That letter was pretty lame,” he chuckled aloud. “If it were me writing that letter, I would have made your panties wet.”

“Really?” Kate smiled.

“Oh yeah,” said Jack as he ran his hands down her back. “To start, I would have said something like,
I miss spanking that pretty mouth of yours with my lips.
”

“Tell me more,” said Kate as she felt his hands roam over her backside.

“I would have said
I miss loosening that fine ass of yours
.” He gave her a wicked smile as he squeezed her cheeks. “
And watching it squirm while you’re underneath me
.”

Kate pressed her knees into the tub as she lifted her head with a saucy smile and stared into his deep, devilish greens.

“What else?” she asked, feeling a sweet surge form in her belly.

“I would tell you how I want those luscious breasts of yours in my mouth,” said Jack, lifting her full-swollen mounds into his hands as his mouth clamped over her nipple and sucked.

“Oh my.” Kate released a light moan.

Jack lifted her over his hard arousal and melded her to him. Kate felt a wild surge, as her body consumed him deep inside.

“I would have said,
I missed being home inside you
,” he growled. “
Getting all lost in that sweet pussy of yours wrapped around my cock and soaking me good.
”

“That would have worked,” said Kate in a rasped breath, as he lifted her hips up and down, sliding in and out of her.

“I would tell you how I missed hearing you come and watching that freckled face get all twisted when you beg me for more.” He continued getting lost in her. “You going to come for me, baby?”

Jack reached for her nipples and pinched them between his fingers, holding them firm.