by James, Sandy
She handed the clipboard back to the nurse. The woman flipped through the papers. “You don’t have any insurance?” she asked.
“No,” Katie meekly replied.
“Doesn’t the baby’s father have any insurance?”
“The baby’s father is... out of the picture.” Katie tried to hold her head high and her spine straight.
The receptionist rattled off her obviously well-practiced speech. “The fee for prenatal care and a normal delivery is on a sliding scale. We’ll look over your financial records and give you the price before you leave. The total fee has to be paid in full before your due date. The hospital will send you a separate bill. If you require a cesarean, you’ll be charged more depending on your income. If you want an epidural, the anesthesiologist will send you a separate bill. Any questions?”
Katie felt like she’d been listening to someone speak in a foreign language. A shiver of hurt ran through her thinking about how Seth must have felt those first few weeks in her employ. “What’s an epidural?”
“The doctor will explain that,” the receptionist answered. “Any other questions?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Have a seat. The nurse will call you in a minute.” The receptionist shut the glass window separating her desk from the waiting room.
Katie turned around and saw three women who were obviously due to deliver at any minute. For a moment, she wondered exactly what she had gotten herself into, but she comforted herself with the notion that she would always have a part of Seth close to her. That thought made her smile. Her hand drifted to her stomach.
Katie sat down and picked up one of the magazines littering the tables of the waiting area. She saw a small photo of Seth on the upper corner, and she stared at it for a minute. I’m not going to cry, damn it. She dropped it back on the table and chose another magazine. She had almost finished reading an article on the benefits of breastfeeding when a skinny blond nurse walked into the waiting room and called her name.
The nurse escorted her to a peaceful blue room with framed pictures of smiling babies dressed in adorable animal costumes. “Please take off all your clothes and change into this,” the nurse instructed as she handed Katie a green gown. “Have a seat on the table when you’re done, and I’ll be back to take your vitals.”
“Thanks,” Katie replied as she took the gown.
Once the nurse had completed the task of taking Katie’s blood pressure, weighing her, and making notes about anything from allergies to whether she took vitamins, Katie had nothing to do except wait patiently for the doctor. She sat on the paper-covered table, trying to hold together the flimsy gown and wondering what kind of sadist would design something as ridiculous as the pathetic piece of material that barely covered her.
There was a soft knock on the door before it opened. The doctor’s smile immediately put Katie at ease. He had a round face, soft blue eyes, and a gray-brown beard that reminded her so much of a young Santa Claus that she couldn’t help but like the man. His voice and touch were gentle as he completed a lengthy examination to be sure Katie’s pregnancy was progressing normally.
After the doctor made a few notes in her chart, he went over to the cabinet and retrieved a piece of equipment that looked like a small transistor radio. “What’s that for?” Katie asked.
“We’re going to listen to the baby’s heartbeat,” the doctor replied as he picked up a white bottle and squeezed cold blue jelly on her belly. Using a small device that reminded Katie of a tiny microphone, he rubbed it gently into the goop, searching for just the right place on her stomach.
When she heard the first “whoosh whoosh” of the tiny heartbeats, she was stunned. For some reason, the experience made the whole thing real for the first time.
I’m going to be a mother. I’m really going to be a mother.
“Good strong heart tones,” the doctor said as he glanced at Katie and smiled.
She nodded and swallowed the large lump that had formed in her throat.
“Everything looks really good. I’ll want to see you back in about four weeks. We’ll schedule an ultrasound on your next visit so we can narrow down the due date and make sure the little guy is doing well.”
“It’s a boy?” she asked entirely surprised the doctor could possibly know the baby’s gender so early in the pregnancy.
“Can’t say for sure. But the heart rate is high, so it’s more in the boy range than the girl range. Of course, I’ve been fooled before.” He chuckled. “Many, many times. Please call me if you need anything.” He patted her knee and then left the room.
All of a sudden, Katie didn’t feel all alone in the world anymore.
Maybe this love will stay.
Chapter 30
“Matlock! Come on in,” Seth said with a sweeping gesture of his arm and a sarcastic tone. “Welcome to the Taj Mahal.”
Ross stepped in and looked around the enormous living room. The place was littered with harness racing magazines, fast food boxes, and beer bottles. “It looks like a tornado went through here.”
“Sorry. The maid isn’t in until... never. I fired her.” Seth cleared a couple of magazines off the black leather couch and threw them onto another pile of magazines on the floor. “Here, sit down. Want a beer?”
“No, thanks.” Ross picked up one of the large number of CDs scattered around the room. “Since when do you listen to Clay Aiken?” He grabbed another and shook his head. “Didn’t know you were a closet Barry Manilow fan. Sure you’re not gay?”
“Kiss my ass,” Seth replied as he grabbed a remote control from the end table. A huge flat-screen plasma television hanging on the wall came to life. “I had the Internet hooked up so I can watch the races in here. Spun Gold races tonight. Third leg of the sires stakes. I can’t believe Katie is letting Mark Masters drive. What the hell is she thinking?”
Ross frowned. He hated this whole situation and was damned sick and tired of all of them being nothing more than pawns to the whims of a man long dead. Sterling Remington might have been a formidable man in the corporate world, but it had become obvious he wasn’t much of a father. “Why are you watching that? You’ve been back for two weeks.”
“Because I want to see how my... how Katie’s horse does. It’s a shame Brian can’t drive yet. He’d give Gold a good trip,” Seth rattled on as if making idle chit-chat. Ross knew that what Seth really hoped to accomplish was to fish for some new information about Katie.
Seth walked across the room to the large wooden bar, opened the refrigerator door, and grabbed a beer. “I heard College Mascot got claimed. You made a killing on that, didn’t you? What did Katie say when she lost him?”
Ross didn’t answer.
Seth tried again. “How much did he get claimed for?”
“Thirty grand.”
“And what did Katie say?” Seth prodded as walked away from the bar.
Ross set his briefcase on the floor, took off his jacket, and slung it over the couch arm before sitting down. “Just let it go.”
Crossing the room in long strides, Seth sat on the coffee table across from Ross. “I just want to know how she is. Did she get her money yet? Did she get her hundred grand?”
Ross wondered if Seth knew how pathetic he sounded. “No contact, remember?”
“Ah, come on, Matlock. Have a heart.”
Ross didn’t bother to hide his frustration. “Remington, you know the rules. Why do I have to keep explaining them to you?”
“Fine. Whatever. How are Brian and Sam? You can tell me about them, can’t you?” Seth asked as he twisted the cap off his bottle.
Ross sighed, realizing Seth would be like a pit bull until he got some new information. “They’re fine. Sam looks pregnant. Brian is off the crutches and using a cane.”
Seth nodded as he seemed to greedily soak up the information. “And did they ask about me?”
“Well, yes and no. Can’t you just drop—?”
“What did they say?”
“Seth, you don’t want to know.” Ross felt like a kid gossiping on the school playground.
“Sure I do. I know my buddy Brian wouldn’t let you leave without a message. What did he say?” Seth asked with the eagerness plain in his voice.
Ross sighed again and reluctantly answered. “He said for you to go fornicate with yourself. Not in so many words, but...” He shrugged. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t quote him.”
Seth’s face contorted like he’d taken a punch to the gut.
“How do you expect him to feel? You knew you’d have to leave eventually. It’s not your fault, but they’ve had to deal with the fallout.” Ross tried to console his client. He would have preferred to deck him.
The more Ross thought about the situation, the more ridiculous the whole mess seemed. Seth made a choice, and now he acted as if a wrong had been perpetrated on him. All of his pissing and moaning couldn’t change the fact that Seth had left Katie behind. Her friends had every right to be angry at him, and now the man needed to suck it up and learn how to live with it.
The post parade began. Seth threw himself on the couch, transfixed to the television, absorbing every word.
Ross really wanted to leave, but he decided to stay long enough to see Katie’s race. “You know, you really need to sign those papers.”
“Yeah, whatever,” Seth replied without taking his attention away from the television.
Realizing that talking was wasted breath as long as racing was on, Ross leaned back and let his head rest against the couch to watch the race. As the starters released the horses, Gold immediately sprinted to the front of the pack.
“No, you moron! He races off the pace! Off the pace!” Seth screamed at the television. “Katie must be having a fit.”
Ross sat there and watched Seth. It was clear that he missed racing. It was even more apparent that he was utterly lost without Katie Murphy. Ross wondered why Seth couldn’t seem to be able to figure out that money wasn’t always the most important thing in life. Millions of dollars sure weren’t buying Seth any kind of happiness.
By the half-mile pole, the outside horses challenged, but Gold dug in to try to keep the advantage. The colt hung on through most of the stretch and only faded in the last sixteenth of the mile, holding on for third.
“Damn it! Masters should’ve won that race!” Seth shouted as he jumped up. He turned off the television and then pitched the remote at the couch. “Well, at least he’ll be in the finals. Tell Katie to think about a driver change. And tell her to tell the damn cowboy she puts in the bike to race him off the pace. If Masters would’ve won, I could’ve at least... at least... seen her in the winner’s circle.”
Ross considered Seth for a moment before he finally stood up and grabbed his briefcase. Clicking open the latches, he popped it open, fished out a magazine, and tossed it at Seth.
“What’s this?” Seth asked as he caught the publication.
“Arthur’s been holding onto it. It was in your father’s file. You were supposed to get it before you signed the final papers for the estate, but I thought you might want to see it now. There’s an interview with your father in there. You ought to read it.”
Seth dropped the magazine down amongst the other discarded debris. “I damn well won’t. After what he did to me? I don’t care what he had to say about anything.”
Ross stared at Seth for moment, allowing his anger to swell. When he finally spoke his mind, the words came out in a stream of contempt. “You’re a freakin’ moron, you know that? I’ve watched you for the past six months. You went from a man acting like a spoiled brat to a real human being. Now you’re back to being a rich, miserable waste of life.”
“It’s not nice to talk about your paycheck that way.”
“Katie was—”
Seth’s eyes flashed rage. “Don’t you dare! Every time I’ve asked about her, you’ve put me off. You can’t—”
“I’ll say whatever I damn well please. Katie was the best thing that ever happened to you. Hell, she’s the best thing that ever happened to me. And you threw her away.” Although he had a quick temper, Ross generally didn’t resort to a physical display of anger. But at that moment, he was sorely tempted to knock Seth Remington down a peg or two. Literally.
“You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t sit here every damn day wondering what she’s doing, who she’s with? If she misses...” He cut off his words and took a long draw on his beer bottle.
“Yet, here you stay in your gilded cage. You’re pathetic. You don’t deserve her.” Ross picked up his briefcase and grabbed his jacket. “When you’re ready to sign the paperwork, call Arthur. I quit.” He slammed the door as he left.
Seth watched Ross’s exit and was surprised to realize that he was actually sorry to see him go. Even though Seth didn’t want to admit it, Ross had always done a commendable job in taking care of his family’s interests—of Seth’s interests. And of Katie.
God, I miss her. There was no one to talk to, no one to tease. His angel was gone, but his heart wouldn’t accept that reality. It still pined for her like a vital piece of him was missing, like a limb had been wrenched from his body. Like there was a hole in his soul.
But Katie wanted money more than she wanted me.
Sometimes Seth watched racing just to hear the announcer say Katie’s name or to get a glimpse of her on camera. It was like a caress to his soul, but pain quickly followed, as it always did each time he thought of her.
He blamed his father more than anyone could ever imagine. In his mind, it had been the Old Man’s fault that Seth had lost Katie.
Wallowing in his misery, Seth decided to play the one card he still had left to try to get past his problems forgetting Katie Murphy. Picking up the cordless phone, he scrolled through the stored numbers that dated back to the winter before finding the one he wanted. He dialed and waited for an answer.
“Hello?”
“Kirsten, it’s Seth. I’m back.”
* * * *
The minute he picked Kirsten up, Seth realized his folly. She was still as beautiful as ever. Her long blond hair bounced around her shoulders. Her face bore just enough make-up to give her a natural look. Everything about her screamed sophistication. But the second she opened her mouth, Seth wished he’d just stayed home.
The woman prattled on about people Seth hadn’t seen in ages, about people he’d really cared nothing about in the first place. Kirsten must have figured her duty was to catch Seth up on all the important things he had missed while he’d been away. His ears were ringing before they even reached the trendy nightclub.
The instant he walked inside, Seth realized that Kirsten had obviously phoned several friends who now waited at one of the larger tables. She waved to them as she pulled Seth’s arm, leading him toward the group. He groaned when he saw their familiar faces. The Boys’ Club was there.
As Seth pulled out Kirsten’s chair, he leaned over to whisper in her ear. “I wish you hadn’t called any of—” Before he finished his sentence, a flash went off near his face temporarily blinding him. Through the blue dots that floated in his line of vision, Seth saw a man with a camera running for the exit. “Damn press.”
Kirsten sat down as Seth took a seat beside her. He listened to the table conversation but only answered questions when he was specifically prodded to do so. There was chatter of who would travel to their warm weather condos over the winter months. Kirsten discussed several important upcoming social events. One of Seth’s old friends talked about his girlfriend’s abortion and what a close call it was that the unfortunate woman had actually considered keeping the baby for a few agonizing days.
He thought about his Katie, who longed to have a child but never could have one of her own. Katie, whose depth of caring would have embraced his child and loved him for who the child was rather than thinking of the baby as a burden.
How was I ever a friend to any of these morons?
Senator Kelly’s son grabbed another Jell-O sho
t and threw it back. “C’mon, Seth. You need to try one of these.”
“No, thanks.” Most of the people around him were fast on their way to being drunk, and he had no desire to follow suit.
“Wanna dance?” Kirsten asked, reaching out and stroking his arm.
The gesture reminded him too much of Rachel. He brushed her hand away. “No, thanks.”
After twenty irritatingly long minutes passed, Seth stood up, threw a few bills on the table, and leaned over to Kirsten. “This was a huge mistake. I’m leaving. You want me to take you home?”
Kirsten knit her forehead as she stared at Seth for a moment. “You’ve changed. And not for the better. Go home. I’m staying with my friends.”
Seth breathed a sigh of relief as he walked out the front door.
He picked up a speeding ticket on the drive home.
Chapter 31
The cover photo on the magazine sitting under the small stack of mail immediately caught Samantha’s eye. Her first instinct was to rip it to pieces so that Katie never had to see the stupid thing, but that would only be stalling the inevitable. She shoved the magazine into the vast wasteland she liked to call a purse. “You coming, Brian? Your appointment is in fifteen minutes.”
She heard him yelling back from the kitchen. “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming. Hold your horses.” Sam could hear him laugh at his own ironic sense of humor. It only made her realize how much she really loved the guy.
After dropping Brian off for his physical therapy, Sam drove out to Katie’s farm. She stopped the truck next to the barn, pulled the magazine out of her purse, and looked at the cover again. The headline blazed “Remington Heir and Fiancée Reconcile” next to a picture of Seth leaning over a beautiful blonde. Their faces were so close that it appeared as if he might have just kissed her.
