Chapter 32
“Hello?…Yes…It’s
done?…Good…Thanks a lot Dad. Okay…Bye.” Howie hung up his cell and
took the two sobbing women in his arms again and wished to God that there was
more he could do for them.
“Wh…what did your dad
say?” Billie stuttered as she wiped her eyes.
Howie ran his fingers
through her soft blonde locks. “My Dad pulled a few strings at the police
station and one of the officers just served Kris with the restraining order.”
“God Howie…I…thank you so
much…” she gazed up at him, her eyes red from bawling for so long.
He lowered his head and
kissed her forehead. “You know I’ll do anything you ask, Billie.
Anything.”
She gave a light smile and
nestled her head back on his shoulder.
Howie turned his head and
peered at the top of Katarina’s head. She
hadn’t spoken in a while. “Rina? Are you
okay?”
“No…”
His heart broke for
her. He’d never heard a more vulnerable voice. The poor girl had
been through so much. She didn't deserve that kind of pain.
Nobody deserves that.
“Is there anything more I
can do?”
Katarina finally raised her head. “…I don’t think
so…but thank you so much. You’re such a wonderful person…just like he
said you were.”
Howie raised an
eyebrow. “Who?”
Her face grew even more
pallid. “Um…no one you know.” Her eyes suddenly grew misty again
and her body stiffened. “Kris can’t get near us…ever?”
“Ever.” His eyes
narrowed and he tightened his embrace on both of them.
I’ll make sure of that.
***
“Are you all
packed?” Caroline looked at Nick as he gave her a tentative smile.
“Yeah…” He sat down
on his bed. “I’m going home Caroline. Can you believe it? I’m
actually going home.”
She cupped his face and
grinned. “Yes darling. Home.” She sighed. “I’m going to
miss you though.”
He put his hands over
hers. “Caroline, you’ve been like a…second mother to me. Even
during those moments when I treated you so...horribly, you've always been there
for me. Guiding me." His eyes softened. "I…I love
you very much.”
Her eyes glistened with
tears and she grinned. It was the first time he’d ever said that to her
and that made her heart swell with pride for the man who’d become so special to
her. “I love you too Nickolas. Promise me you'll take care of
yourself.”
“I’ll try.”
“And darling…try to find Katarina once you settle in again. Make things right
between you two again.”
His faint smile disappeared.
“No.”
“Nickolas…”
He looked away. “I
can’t Caroline.”
"Don't you love her
anymore?"
"...I love her,"
he replied hesitantly, "I...I never stopped loving her Caroline,
but..."
"But what?"
"She broke my
heart."
Sighing, she sat next to
him, but kept a hold of his hand. “If there’s anything I want you to
leave this house with Nickolas, it’s with the lesson that forgiveness is the
greatest virtue. Yes, she left you and I know it was wrong of her, but
can you really see yourself spending the rest of your life without her?”
Nick kept his gaze on the
floor. “I don’t know…”
“Just think about it
darling.”
He nodded.
“Good, now let’s get a
move on. I don’t want you and Brian to miss the flight.”
Hand in hand, they
descended the stairs. Caroline thought that when this day came she would
be sad. That she would be so utterly depressed at the prospect of being
left alone again. Instead she found herself feeling nothing but happiness
for her Nickolas.
Her son.
Brian turned around from
gazing out the door and gave them a grin that could light up an entire
room. “Ready?”
Nick gave Caroline a
nervous gaze.
She squeezed his hand and
then let it go.
He leaned down and gave
her a peck on the cheek. ‘Love you,' he mouthed.
Her eyes pooled with more
joyful tears. ‘Love you too,’ she returned.
Nick graced her with a
smile and then faced Brian. “Ready.”
***
“Rina,
I’m so sorry.”
Katarina looked at her sister through tear filled
eyes. She hadn’t stopped weeping since she’d spilt her darkest
secret. “It’s not your fault Billie. You didn’t know.”
Billie wrapped her arms
around herself. “I should’ve though. I saw the way he looked at
you…but I didn’t care. I was just so blind…” She bit her lip.
“I didn’t mean to put you through so much pain.”
“Please don’t blame
yourself,” Katarina shifted on the bed to face her,
“if anything, you should be angry with me…I should’ve told you about him
sooner.”
“Yes…you should have…but
I…I can’t be angry with you Rina. I just…I just
wish I could take away those terrible memories from you. I can’t believe
Kris…”
Katarina looked away, those memories replaying over and
over. Her throat constricted with panic. No…don’t Rina…It’s over…He can’t hurt you anymore…But…
“Rina…”
The next thing she knew,
her sister was beside her, holding her while her body shook violently from
uncontrollable sobs of despair. It happened so long ago, she should be
over it by now.
No.
It didn't matter if it
happened 2 years ago or 2 minutes ago. You never get over something like
that. Not easily.
"Rina?
You still haven't told me why Kris had such a hold on you."
"I can't tell you
Billie."
"Why honey?"
She squeezed her eyes
shut.
"He RAPED you?!"
"Nn...no.
He came close, but some people came to my rescue."
"I'll kill him!
I swear if I ever see that son of a bitch, I'll kill him!"
"Nick, don't talk
like that please..."
"What do you want me
to say?! That I'm happy the asshole nearly...He hurt you Rina!"
"Yes, he did.
But it's over now."
"Nick...can't you
just hold me?"
"I'm so sorry Rina, I wish there was something I could do..."
"Just hold me
Nick...and don't ever let me go...ever..."
"I won't, I'll
protect you with my life Rina...I promise."
"Because," Katarina lifted her head to meet her sister's worried gaze,
"I have to protect those I love." I have to protect Nick.
Just like he would protect me.
***
“Kevin? It’s Brian.”
“Hey Cuz. What’s
up?” Kevin glanced at his watch. Kristin would be here at any
minute. He grinned.
Rachel was going down
tonight.
“I need you to call A.J
and Howie for me.”
“Why?”
“You guys have to meet me
at Nick's old house in Ruskin. Nick's family will be there too.”
Kevin raised an
eyebrow. “Again I ask why?”
“I…I can’t explain over
the phone. But y’all have to be there. It’s important.”
He heard a stewardess in
the background and his curiosity mounted. “Are you on a plane?”
“Yeah, I’m on my way back
from
“
“Bringing home something
special.”
Kevin didn’t know what to
make of that. “Okay…”
“Look Kev, I know this is soundin’ pretty weird to you, but just trust me on this
okay?”
The doorbell rang and
Kevin rushed to the door. “All right Cuz. When do you want us
there?” He mouthed a loving greeting to his wife before returning to the
kitchen.
“…How about the day after
tomorrow.”
“Fine.”
“Thanks…oh, before I go,
how are things with…you know.”
Kevin grinned and rubbed
his hands together in excitement. “Oh that’s under control now.”
“Really?”
Kristin winked at him and
he laughed.
“Trust me Bri. It
is.”
***
