Breaking to Breathe

by Lisa N. Paul

  “Ells, we were just coming to meet you.” Cate was curious; why did her friend look so pale? “Honey, are you okay? You don’t well.”

  “Right, that’s why I ran over here.” Elliot tucked a curl behind her ear. “Catey, I think I just saw Fara. I mean, I know I just saw Fara. I thought I just saw you…Just… your sister’s in Charistown.”

  Kyle’s arm looped around Cate’s waist, pulling her closer to his torso in a protective gesture. “I thought you said you haven’t spoken with your sister in years.”

  Cate shook her head, “God, Ells, when’s the last time I talked to her? It had to be around the time we graduated college. My parents tried to rope me into another interview, and I declined. I called Fara to see if she was finally going to stop the madness, and she told me she couldn’t talk to me. I never tried her again.”

  “They told me you were trying to gather information so you could sue me.” Cate heard the voice and spun around to see her twin standing just inside the door of Danny’s. She looked tired, sad, and pregnant.

  “Do you want me to call the CPD? We can have her safely escorted out of here.” Kyle said. “I’d hate for her to claim she was hurt and then file a lawsuit against us. Sounds exactly like something your parents would do.”

  Wow, he really did his homework on Ron and Gail Lockton.

  “I’m not here on their behalf, I swear. I haven’t spoken to Mom and Dad since that phone call you were just talking about.”

  “What do you think, guys?” Cate didn’t know what to do. Fara was her twin; she wanted to believe in the good. But she’d obviously made a poor choice with her parents.

  “Catey, I think she’s on the level. It’s not a guarantee, just a hunch.”

  “Go talk to your sister, Angel. Ells and I will be at the bar. Just call me if you need me.” He gave her a quick kiss and escorted her best friend to the bar.

  “Come on, Fara. Let’s sit down; we can chat.

  Sitting across from her sister for the first time in years felt surreal. Cate wasn’t sure how to start a conversation with someone who she’d spent most of her life grieving over. So she asked the first question that popped into her head.

  “Why now, Fara? After all these years, why are you here now?”

  Fara winced at the point blank question, but didn’t hesitate to answer. “I know how it seemed, back then and now. I know I was a horrible sister. I’m sure I looked jealous of the attention you were getting even though you had it because of something horrible that happened.” Fara closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them. She looked haunted, as if in that one moment she’d remembered something awful.

  “Catey, our parents, they were always kind of…cold. Do you remember that?” Fara didn’t wait for Cate to respond before continuing. “I’ll never forget the day you were stolen. For that one second, just one…that man seemed nice, and I thought…Catey’s lucky. And then he started spewing those words and hurting you, and I froze. I didn’t help you. I didn’t scream. And you were gone.” Cate watched in anguish as unshed tears filled her sister’s eyes.

  “Fara, my God. It wasn’t your fault. We were little girls. You couldn’t have done anything.”

  Fara shook her head, “That’s not what they said. Our parents, after the first few months, they came to me and told me I was going to need to pretend to be you. When I tried to object, they told me that I owed it to you. That it was my fault you were kidnapped. That had I screamed, had I held on, you would have never been taken. They told me if I didn’t do what they said they would tell you that I was happy that you were gone.” The tears finally let go and slid silently down Fara’s cheeks.

  Cate’s stomach rolled with sadness, horror, and disgust. Her parents were evil and no better than the kidnapper himself. But what really broke Cate’s heart was the wasted time she and her sister lost.

  “Fara, I can’t believe you’ve kept this in all these years. You were just as much of a victim of their crimes as I was.”

  Fara sighed. “Yes, to answer your question, why now?” She rubbed her pregnant belly. “I’m having twins, Catey. Daughters. And the thought of them spending their lives hating each other makes me sick. It makes me cry.”

  Taking her sister’s hand in hers, Cate said quietly, “Don’t cry, we’re gonna figure this out.”

  A short chat turned into a long talk. Two hours later, Cate hugged her sister and watched her leave Danny’s and head home to New Jersey where she’d been living for the past ten years.

  “Spill it, girlie. My goodness, I wanted so badly to come over there and sit down at the table with you.” Cate laughed at Elliot’s silly grin.

  “Well, according to her, our parents blackmailed her into taking my place. Once she agreed to do it, then they had even more ammunition to use against her. She said that when she finally put her foot down and told them she would never participate in anything else that pertained to my ordeal, they threw her out, but only after telling her that I had planned to sue her for identity theft.”

  Kyle’s eyes were dark with anger. “What kind of fucked up shit is that?”

  “I know, but wait, apparently, they had all kinds of bogus charges that they showed her. And they said if she contacted me, they would send the information to the police. So she stayed away.”

  “Jeeze, Catey. I never thought I’d say this, but I hate your parents more now than I did before.” Elliot reached out and squeezed Cate’s hand. “So why now? Why did she finally come to you after all this time?”

  “I asked her the same question,” Cate replied. “Her husband is a lawyer at some big firm in New Jersey. When they got engaged, years ago, she told him everything…yes, everything, and he sorted that shit out square. My parents won’t go anywhere near them. But she’s been ashamed and embarrassed. She didn’t think I’d ever forgive her. And now she’s pregnant. She just found out that she’s having fraternal twin girls, and she said the thought of them hating each other made her cry. So, she came to find me.”

  “Wow, that’s some crazy story, Angel. What are you gonna do?” Kyle lovingly rubbed his thumb over her knuckles as she thought about her response.

  “I can’t forget about what happened, guys, you know? It shaped my life. But Fara was just as much of a victim as I was. So I intend to take it slow, talk to her when I talk to her and see her when I see her and get to know my nieces. The rest,” Cate shrugged, “we’ll figure it out together. Right?”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Catey.” Elliot stood up from her chair and planted a kiss right on Cate’s cheek. “I’m gonna head back over to the new place. You two do your mushy kissy stuff and meet me over there when you’re done.”

  Kyle rose from his stool and pulled Elliot into a tight hug before walking her to the door. “Welcome to Charistown, neighbor; we’ll be over in just a few minutes.”

  “Sure, a few minutes,” Elliot giggled, winking over her shoulder as she left the two of them behind.

  “This place is gonna start getting busy soon. I can catch up with Ells if you wanna just check out our new store tomorrow?” Cate stood on her tip toes and planted a soft kiss on his lips, her scent enveloping him in cinnamon and Cate.

  “No way, Red, I’ll come now. Mmm, keep giving me those kisses... and I’ll definitely come now.” He murmured, pulling her tight to his body and opening her mouth with his tongue to deepen the kiss to a fevered pitch.

  “Oh no, really? We just walked in on Danny and Julie playing tonsil hockey in the office and now you two are going at it out here?” Ryan threw his arm around Ashley’s shoulders and started chuckling, “Princess, you ever think about the initials of this place? They’re DoM! I’m beginning to think Danny did it on purpose.”

  The four of them started laughing. Kyle was grateful for this silly family that they’d woven together. “I never thought of that, Ryan.” Ashley shoved her fiancé. “That’s hysterical.”

  “She says that like she’s just now learning I’m funny,” a disgruntled R
yan complained.

  “I will never understand the two of you,” Kyle admitted, shaking his head. “But can you do me a favor? Cate and Elliot just rented office space right here in Charistown. I’d like to go check it out. Can you cover me until I get back?”

  Ashley squealed with excitement as she hugged Cate and asked for a quick rundown on the location. His girl would be close to him, he couldn’t wait.

  “Sure. Go check it out. Welcome to the neighborhood, girlie. We’re excited to have you.”

  Ryan smiled at Cate and nodded to Kyle. “I guess you figured it out just fine.”

  “Yeah, man. Looks that way. Thank you, Ryan. For everything.”

  Kyle laced his fingers through Cate’s and walked out into the cool spring air. He pulled in a deep breath and held it for a beat before releasing and smiling at his angel.

  Two days after the Danny’s on Main Grand Re-Opening Party

  WITH A LARGE golden box tucked under his arm and anguish lumped in his gut, Kyle pounded against Lyla’s front door. “I know you’re in there, Ly; your car’s parked in the driveway. Open the fucking door.”

  “Okay, Jeez…hold on.” Her voice became clearer as she got closer to the front of the house. One at a time, he heard the locks and chains turn and unclasp until finally he saw her—his close friend—his sister. Forcing himself to swallow down the overwhelming anger and sadness her black eye and split lip caused, he yanked her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her. His own special brand of cotton batting to keep her safe from anything that meant her harm.

  Other than texts, Lyla had been avoiding him, and everyone else, since the party, and while Kyle’d been utterly blissed out with Cate, he’d been crazy worried about Lyla.

  “Ky, you’re choking me.” There wasn’t sarcasm in Lyla’s tone, as much as just fact. Sure, she smiled, but her smile was the wooden kind. Kyle had only seen it on her once before, it gave him chills. It was the type of smile where there was no happiness infused in the gesture. It was the equivalent of a fuck off to the recipient.

  Easing his grasp, he gave her a tentative grin and presented her with his treasure. “So I came to pay my debt. I even included a late fee.”

  “Shit, Marx, I’ve never seen so many truffles before. I can’t imagine what this cost.” Closing the lid without taking a coveted piece of chocolate, she walked the box back to the kitchen and placed it in the refrigerator. Closing the door, she turned and tipped her head up to meet his eyes.

  Kyle clenched his jaw, the desire to get his hands around the motherfucker who did this to her was increasing by the second. “Now…you’ve seen me. I’m fine.” Lyle began walking back to the front door. “You can tell everyone I’m doing just swell, okay?”

  Kyle wanted to howl in frustration; she wasn’t swell, fine, or any other goddamn euphemism she threw at him. She was hurting, and it was more than just in a physical sense.

  “Jesus, Ly. You’re fucking fine? What the hell?”

  He noticed as her hands became fists and her lids lowered; Lyla began to breathe in and out. He wanted to touch her, but if ever there was a Do Not Touch signal being flashed, it was then.

  “You’re right. I’m. Not. Fucking. Fine!” Lyla’s eyes blazed for a second before quickly returning to their cool detached flat blue. “Ky, nobody would be fine after dealing with that shit. Okay? Just give me some time and all will be super dandy.” Before Kyle could say a word otherwise, the doorbell began to chime.

  “What the hell? When did I move into 30th Street Station?” Lyla begrudgingly padded to the door. “People should learn how to call before just popping over.” She opened the door and sighed audibly when Max and Janie walked into the house like they owned the place. Good, Kyle thought, maybe having Janie around would be good for Lyla. Help to get her mind focused on something other than the trauma from two nights prior. He definitely wanted to know Max’s thoughts on how to help their friend.

  Kyle chuckled. “Come on in. The conditions are a bit chilly.” He thumbed to Lyla before exaggerating a shiver then grimaced when she punched him in the arm. “See what I mean?”

  “How ya doing, honey?” Janie cooed, hugging Lyla then examining her face. “You definitely look much better then you did yesterday.”

  “Hey hun, how ya feel?” Kyle watched as Max tipped Lyla’s chin up and looked into her eyes. Max was nobody’s fool, and Kyle knew it. It was clear Max was seeing exactly what Kyle had just moments before.

  “Guys,” Lyla swatted Max’s hand away from her face, “I’m fucking dandy. Stop treating me like a porcelain doll. It’s pissing me off. Christ, it’s only two in the afternoon, and I need a goddamn drink.” She turned her back to the triad and went to the kitchen. “Anyone joining me?”

  Seeing the concern in Janie’s face, Kyle had confirmation that his earlier feelings were right. Lyla was not reacting like a woman who’d just been a victim of a nasty crime—No, it was more like, she was the person who had been guarding Pandora’s Box. Now that it was open, Lyla Dalton was scared as hell. A chill ran down Kyle’s back at the mere thought.

  They walked into the kitchen to see Lyla filling shot glasses with vodka. Just as she was about to fill the fourth glass, she rested her gaze on Janie. “So…did that behemoth knock you up? Hence the reason for the big ole’ rock?”

  Max pulled Janie closer to his side as she giggled, “No, you little brat; he didn’t. We were just done waiting. Ya know?” Lyla poured the fourth drink and immediately lifted hers, drank it down, and waited expectantly for the others to follow. Once the glasses were empty, they left the women in the kitchen and went into the family room to talk.

  “So I heard Cate’s parents showed up after the party the other night.” Max shook his head disbelief washed over his face. “Man, you had one hell of a night.”

  “Yeah, not the kind of evening I’d like to repeat; however, it brought Cate back to me, and if that’s what it took, I’d do it over and over again, man. Anything for her.” Kyle said it out loud, and he meant every single word of it.

  “I’m really happy for you, bro.”

  “Max, I wanna talk to you about Lyla. Dude, I’m really fucking worried about her. She’s not okay, I mean not even close.” Kyle watched as his friend squeezed the bridge of his nose.

  “I know. Janie’s ready to crack as well because she sees it. My woman is ready to move back in with Lyla and run the girl’s life. I keep telling her that we can help, but Ly needs to figure it out on her own.”

  “What does Janie say to that advice?” Kyle couldn’t imagine it going over well.

  “Yeah, that was our first argument as an engaged couple.” Max scrubbed his face with his hands. “It sucked that she’d only been wearing my ring twenty-four hours when that fight went down.” Max leveled his gaze at Kyle. “We’ll figure it out buddy, I promise. And it’s not just us in this fight.”

  Kyle knew exactly who Max was referring to. “Hmm, I heard there could possibly be a very large, rather broody guy who’s finally ready to stop being a pussy and start laying his claim.”

  Max chuckled, “So you get some sort of an apology and now you’re calling him a pussy?” Max shook his head, “Not wise my friend. That being said, I do have faith in that particular broody man. So we’ll see.”

  Listening to Max tease, Kyle sat back on Lyla’s couch. Comfort surrounded him and memories of the nights he slept in that very spot when his nightmares wouldn’t give him peace and his guilt ate him up inside. Here is where solace was found.

  “You’re getting married, man.” He couldn’t help but blurt his inner thought.

  Beaming, Max nodded, “I know. And this time, I’m marrying the woman of my dreams.”

  The residences of Charistown are gearing up for a wedding that you don’t want to miss. See what Lyla’s response was when Max asked permission to marry Janie. Find out what Max whispered in Janie’s ear during their engagement dance. And spend some more time in the lives of Danny and Julie, Max and Janie, Ryan and A
shley, Kyle and Cate and the beginning of Lyla and Gage.

  We’ve seen what happens when the shots go down; it’s time to learn what goes on when the champagne flows.

  Coming Soon

  AHH, THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, for those who have read my other books, you know that these babies can be just as heartfelt and emotional as the story itself. What can I say? I’ve been blessed to live my life surrounded by some pretty incredible people. While I certainly can’t name them all, I can say there are several without whom this book would not be in your hands. Once again, my gratitude is endless… and so is this list… sorry ;)

  First things first—right around the time Thursday Nights was being finished, I was planning out the rest of the books in the series. I was making my matches and building the histories of the main characters. I had everyone matched up BUT Kyle. I knew Kyle was a dirty boy, however, I also knew he was going to turn into an incredible man. He just needed the perfect woman for him. That’s when Cate was “born”. Thank you Dara (and Andrew) for letting me use your daughter’s name even though I was “totally gonna make her a sex Goddess.” I gave her red hair…see, they look nothing alike ;)

  Some people think that by the time a writer pens their third book the whole process would be easy, *whisper* it’s not. Personally, I found this story incredibly difficult to write. In real life, it can be hard to introduce new “people” into an already established group; so for me to create not just one but two very strong female roles was quite a challenge. For almost a year I knew Cate’s story, but when it came time to put her on paper her history didn’t work with the rest of the Danny’s cast. *Face palm* I needed to re-think, re-figure, and re-configure my entire story. That’s when my girls swooped in and processed with me. They each helped in their own special way, and little by little Cate became a character I fell in love with. Some of these women have been with me since the very beginning of my writing career, and some I’ve met along the way; regardless, I honestly don’t know where I’d be without them…okay, I do and it wouldn’t be pretty. L.b Simmons, Kathy Sizemore, Cary Bruce, and Ilsa Madden-Mills.