Opposites Attract

Chapter 21

Chapter 21;

Eric p.o.v

It was the morning after the night before and the argument between Kate and her parents. After them finding us together in the flat, Kate's parents had been completely unreasonable, not listening to a single word she'd said.

As I held her whilst she cried that night, I decided that something needed to be done. That's why I was standing on her parents doorstep a few days later.

If Kate knew I was here, she'd kill me but I love her and that's why I'm here - to get this sorted.

I cautiously knocked on the front door of her parents house, trying to compose myself. It was a few moments before the door was opened, and I was (fairly) relieved to see it was Kate's mother.

"You have a nerve!" She scoffed, about to close the door afer seeing it was me. I stopped it with my hand and a foot, and she looked at me, clearly stunned.

"Please, I'm not here for me. I'm here for Kate. She'd kill me if she knew I was here."

"She didn't send you?" I shook my head no. "What do you want?"

"To talk. Please, this is killing her." I told her - it was true. Kate had been a ghost for days. She'd been angry, crying, barely eaten and spoken - even to Ali.

"I'm not happy about this, but we'll talk, for Kate. One thing - her father is out, but if I tell you to leave, you do, ok?"

I nodded. "Thank you." She moved aside and let me in. She closed the door behind me and led the way to the dining room. She sat down, all but ordering me to.

There were a few moments silence before she spoke. "How long have you been seeing each other? And don't even think of lying to me."

I knew truth was best at this stage. "Just over a month - soon after you tried to set her up with Harvey." I tried not to snigger at his name, deciding it wouldn't help matters.

"We should have known. She's been different these last few weeks ... happier. Not that that's a bad thing." It looked as if it physically hurt her to admit that I made her daughter happy.

"I'm not trying to be rude, but just what is your problem with me? Is it because I'm not from a well off family? Haven't had a private school education or the fact that I'm not a posh English boy, born and bred here?" I could feel myself getting worked up, so I tried to breathe.

"No, I haven't been brought up posh, my parents weren't rich or powerful, but I love your daughter - so much. She means the world to me and I'd do anything to protect her, to make her as happy as she's made me. I am more than capable of providing her with anything she could ever want or need now, but I know money isn't important to her - just to you, it seems."

There was a very long silence before she spoke. "Money has nothing to do with it. We didn't want our daughter dating you - or anyone like you - because we know she can do better."

"Oh, I know she can. Believe me, I've tortured myself for long enough knowing that. It's bad enough that I know it without her parents thinking it too. I would have liked to meet you both properly, before all of this, but as you didn't give me the option, we're forced to do it now."

She nodded ever so slowly. "I'll talk to her father when he gets home. I'm not promising anything but you make a good point and as much as I don't want to say it - I think you're right. I'm starting to see that my first impressions were false and I do apologize, truly, but I don't think we'll ever fully see eye to eye."

With a last 'thank you', I showed myself out.

I didn't feel like going back to Kate just yet, so I went for a walk. I ended up in a cafe somewhere, thinking about how to tell her.