by Layne, Lyssa
“You on the road yet?”
“No, I had to visit a friend first, but we’ll be leaving within the hour.”
“Text me when you get there so I know you’re safe.”
Katy smiled, “Will do.”
“Bye, darlin’.” That accent. Every. Single. Time. She melted.
***
Katy pulled into Andy’s driveway and was greeted by Nick’s golden retriever, Duke. As she got out of the car, he wiggled his butt wagging his tail, excited to see familiar faces. Nora set Nicky down and Duke ran over giving the toddler a kiss. Nicky giggled and patted him, wanting more wet, slobbery kisses.
The O’Neil’s’ front door opened and Carol ran outside to greet them. She scooped Nicky up covering him with kisses of her own. She looked in the car then to Katy. “Is Jesse coming later?”
Katy bit her lip. “Umm...I don’t think so.”
She frowned. “I thought we’d be celebrating him along with Tom and Andy.”
Katy’s vein pulsed in her forehead as she took Nicky back. “You’ll have to ask him,” she snapped as she turned and led Nora into the house.
Nora giggled as she shut the door. “I can’t believe you just said that to Mrs. O’Neil!”
Katy sat Nicky on the floor and he took off to find his Papa. Katy shrugged. “Well, her son should have told her the truth.” She paused, then added, “Just like you should always tell your mom the truth.”
Nora rolled her eyes and went into the living room. Katy followed and saw Anthony Monroe standing on the back porch manning the grill with Andy. Alayna sat in a recliner, texting on her phone while Abby flipped through a magazine.
“Hey, girls.” Abby stood up to hug her oldest daughter.
“Hi, Mom,” Nora said, wrapping her arms around her. Katy knew Nora wanted the freedom from her mother, but it was obvious she missed her, being away from her so much.
Katy nodded outside. “Things going good with Anthony?”
Abby grinned. She stood up and took Katy by the hand, dragging her into the kitchen. She looked in the living room to see if the girls were out of earshot. When she decided they were, she looked at Katy with big eyes.
“He’s moving in!”
“Wow! It’s only been a couple months, right?”
Abby shrugged. “Three months.”
“And are the girls okay with it?”
“I haven’t told Nora yet and Alayna...” She sighed before going on. “Layney’s been acting weird, maybe jealous of all the time Nora gets to spend with you. Maybe you can talk to her?”
Katy nodded and wished Abby was right. She bit her lip, knowing Abby was still in the dark about her daughter’s painful secret and wishing she could come clean about it, but forcing down the urge. It’s not my place to tell. Abby was regarding her intense expression with a quizzical stare, and opened her mouth as though to ask her sister-in-law a question. At that moment, Andy came in from outside with Anthony. He carried Nicky on his hip and hugged Katy with his free hand.
“No Jesse today?”
Katy looked down for a second, then up again. “I don’t think so. I doubt he’ll be around much anymore.”
Andy raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And you’re okay with this?”
Katy nodded, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I think I am.”
Andy moved his head up and down. “Okay then. Well, let me know if I need to do anything.”
She smiled and kissed his cheek. She appreciated Andy and everything he’d done for her, both before and after Nick’s death. He’d taken the place of the father she had lost.
***
Lunch was over and the girls cleaned up the kitchen. As Nora finished drying the dishes, Katy pulled Alayna to the side. “Are you ready?”
Her youngest niece nodded, but looked scared to death. Katy kissed her forehead. “Go wait in the living room.”
As Alayna trotted off, Katy told Nora to take Nicky next door to visit with the O’Neils. Katy casually ushered the men and Abby into the living room. She figured if Anthony was moving in with Abby then he’d probably better know he’d be sharing the house with a newborn in a few months.
Abby and Anthony snuggled on the couch while Andy looked on his phone to see what time the game started. Katy squeezed Alayna’s hand urging her to start. They’d repeatedly practiced so she knew exactly what to say.
Alayna and Katy sat on the hearth and held hands. Alayna cleared her throat. “Mom? Papa?”
The adults looked at her with inquisitive faces.
“I’m only fifteen, but in the past year I’ve made some very adult choices. I did what I could to be responsible, but at the same time, I’m still just fifteen.” She stopped and Katy squeezed her hand, but knew Alayna had forgotten what to say next. Tears rolled down Alayna’s cheeks and she blurted out, “I’m pregnant!”
Abby stuttered, trying to get the words out. “Wh...wh...at?” She stood up and started pacing. “No...no, no way. You’re my baby. You can’t be pregnant. You have to have sex to get pregnant!” She looked at Alayna then Katy. “Oh! You’re the one using our condoms!” Abby continued rambling and Katy glanced at Andy, who was rubbing his forehead.
Katy stood up and held her hands up. “Abby, stop for a second.”
Abby spun around to face her, giving her a dirty glare. “Did you know?”
Katy didn’t answer.
“You did! Why didn’t you stop her? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Ab, I couldn’t. By law, I couldn’t tell you anything.”
Abby broke down in her own tears and Anthony reached over to console her.
Andy looked at his youngest granddaughter and asked, “What’s the boy going to do about it?”
“Well, um...I haven’t told him yet.”
Katy turned to face her niece, shocked by what she’d just said. Alayna told her he knew and that he supported her and the baby. What else had Alayna lied to her about?
Abby threw her hands up. “Take them both, Katy! They like you better and you let them do what they want.”
“Abby! It’s not like that—”
Abby cut her off. “The hell it isn’t!” She turned and stormed out of the house, Anthony right behind her.
Alayna started crying again and Katy pulled her in tight for a hug. Katy looked over at Andy for some guidance. He sighed and patted his lap. “Come here, my little Layney Bug.”
Alayna crept over to her grandfather and sat in his lap. She laid her head on his chest while he patted her back. “Want to know a secret? Your mom doesn’t even know this.”
Alayna muttered yes and Andy started his story. “Your father got his girlfriend pregnant in high school.”
She wiped her eyes and looked up at him in shock. “Really? What happened?”
He nodded. “I tore him a new one for being so irresponsible as to have sex without protection. Then I told him to be a man. Made him get a job, and start saving for the baby. She ended up miscarrying, but he learned his lesson. If he was here today, he’d make you do the same.”
Alayna hugged Andy. “I promise, Papa, I’ll take care of this baby.”
“And finish school?”
“Of course!” The two embraced and Katy watched quietly on the sidelines, letting the two have their moment.
***
Katy walked into the O’Neil’s’ house. Nicky was having cookies and milk at the kitchen table. Katy tapped Nora on the shoulder, and in a hushed voice, told her to go check on her sister. As Nora headed back to Andy’s, Katy sat beside Nicky, waiting for him to finish his snack.
Carol set a glass of lemonade in front of Katy and said, “So...Camille Nester told me she saw my son buying a pregnancy test a few weeks ago.”
Katy didn’t say anything. She wasn’t in the mood to talk about Jesse, and especially not pregnancy tests. Carol continued, oblivious to Katy’s stoic behavior. “Do you know who it was for?”
Katy shook her head, knowing she would have to respond at some point.
Ca
rol sighed. “I sure hope he didn’t knock up some girl he met at the bar.”
Katy looked up surprised. “Why would you assume that?”
“Well, who else could it be?”
Katy was shocked. He’d never told his parents about them. She shook her head. This only confirmed that she’d made the right decision to kick him out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Katy nervously walked down the terminal of Baltimore Washington International Airport. She had left two teenage girls, one of them pregnant, at her house with her eighteen-month-old for the next couple of days. Jeremiah and Tiffany were going to check in on them, but the fear she’d come home to her house burned down and no firefighter there to save them danced in the back of her mind.
Katy texted Nora to let her know that she’d landed. Really she wanted to make sure things were okay even though she’d only been gone for four hours. She was staring at her phone waiting for a reply when she heard a familiar Southern drawl that set her heart beating wildly.
“Hey there, darlin’, you looking for a ride?”
Katy turned around, unable to hide the grin on her face as she saw Dr. Rich Baudin. He laughed when he saw her expression and pulled her to him. He easily lifted her off the floor as he hugged her. When he set her back down, he held her left hand and she felt his fingers trail over her wedding band, but he didn’t mention it.
Quickly trying to avoid any questions about the ring, she asked, “Do all the doctors in the exchange program get that kind of welcome?”
He winked. “Only the pretty ones.”
She smiled as she followed him to the parking lot. “Touché.”
Still laughing as they left the building, he walked them over to a black Hummer. Like a gentleman, he helped her into the passenger side seat and then placed her suitcase in the back. Her phone finally beeped with a text. She read it quickly, smiling at Nora’s comment to leave them alone, everything was under control.
***
After a tour of the hospital, Rich had taken Katy to a local dive bar that was decorated with old license plates from all over the country. The place was noisy but completely intimate at the same time. Rich leaned over the small table and spoke into her ear. “Ever tried oysters?”
Katy shook her head and Rich grinned. “Perfect.” Waving the waitress over, he placed an order and held up his beer. “To new friends,” he toasted.
Katy clinked her glass with his and repeated, “New friends.”
After they both took a drink, Katy asked, “Have you been to Wiley’s?”
“The dive bar on the Belt?”
Katy nodded.
Rich shook his head. “Place closed last month, but I heard it had some great beers on tap that you couldn’t find anywhere else.”
Katy’s face dropped in shock. “It’s closed? That was our favorite place to hang out when I was in med school! The beer was great but the bartenders made the best Purple Alaskan shots.”
Rich laughed. “Sounds like you were the typical med student.”
“Hey!” Katy laughed and threw a peanut at him.
Rich stood up and grabbed her hand as Rick Springfield came over the speakers. Katy’s heart raced as she heard the words of the song, but Rich quickly had her bouncing on the dance floor, laughing and forgetting her concern. He took her by the waist and swayed her back and forth in a goofy manner as he sang along with every song that played. Katy could barely catch her breath she was laughing so hard. Their waitress waved to them as she set the oysters on their table. Rich took Katy’s hand and guided her back to the table.
“Okay, you have to shuck ‘em first,” Rich informed her.
“Shuck?” she asked with raised eyebrows.
He nodded. “Yeah, that’s half the fun.”
He took an oyster shucker and peeled off the shell. “Open up.”
Katy opened her mouth and Rich fed her the delicacy.
“Mmm…” Katy moaned. Despite its gritty texture, it actually tasted delicious.
Rich grinned proudly. “I knew you’d like it,” he said with a wink.
Katy laughed and the two began shucking the rest of their meal. Once the last oyster had been eaten, Rich held Katy’s hand and walked her to his car. He helped her in and, when they were buckled, Rich looked at her and asked, “Would you like to go to your hotel now or back to my house for a drink?”
She bit her lip and he smiled reaching over to stop her. “I promise, it’s only a drink.”
She nodded and let herself relax and smile. “A drink sounds great.”
Twenty minutes later, Rich pulled up in front of a log cabin on the outskirts of town. After shifting the car was into park, he opened her door and helped her out. He waved his hand in front of him, showcasing the small, single-family house.
“My humble abode,” he introduced.
Katy smiled. “It’s cute.”
Katy could tell it was a man’s house. There were two mounted deer heads adorning the walls. The decor was minimal, but what there was included lots of fishing decorations. In the kitchen, which lacked any decoration whatsoever, Rich poured them each a glass of red wine and laughed. “I can tell you aren’t a fan of the design.”
She laughed. “No, it’s not that, it’s just...different.”
He sat on the couch beside her, handing her the glass of wine. “Tell me how your house is decorated.”
She sipped the wine. “FDNY,” she simply stated but felt the need to explain. “It was my husband’s house and I left everything the way it was.”
He nodded. “I apologize if this is out of line, but have you thought about starting over?”
She shook her head. “I can’t leave. I have my nieces to help with and Nicky’s grandpa is in New York. I can’t leave them.”
“I found it improved my perspective on life,” he said with a deep laugh. “And it helped to not have the constant reminder of my ex, too.” He put his hand on her leg. “Katy, it’s admirable that you want to take care of your husband’s family, but at some point, you have to do what’s best for you.”
He set his wine on the coffee table and leaned in toward her. “I know I said it’s only a drink, but I’d like to kiss you if you’re okay with it.”
Katy sucked in her breath, her heart racing as she nodded and mumbled, “Okay…”
He took her glass of wine and set it beside his. Sliding his hand around her neck, he leaned in, lightly touching her lips with his. She tensed at the contact and he pulled away.
Reaching for her wine glass, he handed it to her and smiled. “If you don’t want to kiss me, tell me. If you do, take a drink and relax.”
She laughed and set the glass of wine down without touching it. “Oh, I definitely want to kiss you,” she said with a grin. This time, she leaned into him pushing him back against the couch. He chuckled as he grabbed her waist and pulled her on top of him and they began making out like teenagers.
***
Katy woke up the next morning staring at a deer on the wall. She smiled and rolled over to see Rich still sleeping. She kissed his bare shoulder and he moved his arm around her pulling her closer.
After polishing off the bottle of wine the night before, he fired up his laptop and they researched the surgery that was scheduled for today. They were like high schoolers as they flirted, their legs intertwined, and held hands as they quizzed each other. Finally, around two, Rich told them they needed to get some rest.
He informed her that she was welcome to stay the night, but nothing more physically was going to happen. Katy was disappointed, but relieved at the same time. She appreciated his chivalry and that he didn’t push for more than she could give him. He’d offered to sleep on the couch, but Katy wouldn’t let him. She also failed to mention that she slept better when she was held in her sleep and she was in desperate need of a good night’s rest.
As he pulled her against him, he mumbled, “I could get used to this. ”
Katy’s stomach jumped at his comment and she quickly
rolled out of bed wearing the tank top and yoga pants she’d slept in. Rich groaned when she moved away. Smiling at his reaction, she leaned over and kissed him softly, ignoring his comment. “Do you have coffee?”
He nodded. “Yes, but I’d rather lie in bed with you for a few more minutes.”
“Me too, but—”
He grabbed her legs and pulled her on top of him. She laughed as he flipped her on her back and kissed her. She guessed they could grab coffee on their way to the hospital.
***
Katy sat on the observation deck watching Rich and his fellow surgeons work. It was a routine mitral valve repair. Katy had done the new procedure a few times so she was only here to assist if needed. As she took notes on the surgery, she daydreamed about last night.
Rich was handsome and charming, and best of all, he didn’t work for FDNY. He treated her like a lady, respected her professional opinion, and he wasn’t a bad kisser either. Katy knew things would never be serious with the distance between them, but she was overlooking that fact and enjoying their time together.
Katy watched the doctors work in the operating room below her and leaned forward to get a better view. Rich threaded the catheter and was about to begin pumping the balloon. Katy looked at the screen and noticed a spot in the patient’s heart. She jumped up and hit the intercom button and shouted, “Stop!”
The doctors in the room below looked up at her, but she was already sprinting to the operating room to scrub in. As she ran into the room, she pointed to the screen. “If you inflate the balloon, you’ll blow that vessel.”
Rich and the other doctors looked to where she pointed. It was quiet for a full minute before anyone spoke. It was Rich that finally broke the silence. “You’re right, Dr. Garrity. Good catch.”
Katy didn’t notice Rich’s boss as she walked him through a different procedure to correct the problem at hand. An hour later it was corrected ahead of schedule. While they scrubbed out, Rich commented, “Your studying paid off today.”
