Opposites Attract

Chapter 23

Chapter 23;

Eric p.o.v

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked nervously. We were stood outside Kate's parents house on the doorstep and I won't lie - I was as nervous as hell.

It was a few days after the nearly argument between us, and Kate had phoned her mother to organise a get together the day after.

"100%. It's a stupid issue and we need to get this sorted." she nodded determinedly, before proceeding to ring the bell.

As soon as she had, she grabbed my hand and held on for dear life. I squeezed her hand back gently with a smile, trying to reassure her.

The door opened slowly and again, it was her mother. "Sweetheart, it's good to see you." She exclaimed as she pulled Kate into her arms. It was fairly awkward as Kate refused to let go of my hand, but they managed.

Her mother let her go and turned to me. I was expecting a slap across the face or something, so it surprised me when she smiled slightly and nodded.

"Eric, it's nice to see you too." I was somewhat confused, so I was only able to manage a nod and a dumbstruck look before Kate pulled me inside gently.

Her mother spoke only to Kate at the moment. "Ok, I've spoken to your father and he's relatively calm. He's given it some thought and I think he's beginning to accept it, but he'll still need more time. Just don't push him."

She turned to address me now. "Eric. I apologise for the other day. I'm never normally that rude." She cringed slightly.

"Mum, what did you say?!" Kate gasped. Her mother just waved her off, continuing to address me.

"Anyway, I want you to know that I am - after a good old think - ok about it. You make my daughter happy and that's all I- we - ever really wanted for her." She smiled.

Even after all the stress of the last few days/weeks, I still didn't harbour any ill feelings towards her - she was only doing her job, she's protecting her little girl.

As I was thinking this, she extended her hand. I shook, more than happy that we were getting somewhere. "Thank you, Mrs-"

"Oh no, Maria, please." she smiled as she led us into the livingroom.

               ........................

Eric p.o.v

"If you want to whore yourself out, that's one thing, but you don't bring him here!" Kate's father bellowed.

I stood up, now too wound up to sit. I snapped - I couldn't hold it in. I hate being angry - I nearly always say something that I regret.

"That's your daughter you're speaking to!" I bellowed.

He looked as if Kate and I were at it in front of them, right here on the rug - his eyes were huge and his mouth was wide open. "Excuse me?"

This had not gone well. It had started off well enough, but after Kate had mentioned that we'd gone to see my family together, he'd hit the roof.

"Your daughter is anything but a ... that. She is an amazing, caring, beautiful young woman and I'll be dammed if I'll let you call your own flesh and blood such a vile thing.

The fact of the matter is that she had been separated from Josh for months before she even spoke to me. When she did, I was honoured. It broke her heart to lie to you and Maria and I wanted her to tell you, but I'm glad we didn't now, if this is how you'd have reacted." I spat.

He, Kate and Maria were all staring open mouthed at me. I could feel the anger in my veins, so I all but ran outside to the front porch. I hadn't said anything that I regretted - yet - and I wanted to keep it that way.

As soon as I'd got out there, I'd tried to breathe and calm down.

I'd been doing quite well for the last few minutes, leant against the railing with my eyes closed and my nose pinched between my fingers.

I heard the front door open a while later, but did not look up.

"Eric?" Kate asked timidly as her hand touched my arm. I opened my eyes and looked up, feeling a hell of a lot calmer.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have got that angry, but he had no right to call you what he did." I sighed heavily.

"I know, and he's appologised." She told me before coming up to me and wrapping her arms around my waist, resting her head on my chest. I instantly wrapped my arms around her shoulders, feeling how cold she was.

It was cold today so I shrugged off my jacket and wrapped it around her, then pulled her to my chest again in a further attempt to warm her up. She shifted her weight, rested her whole body against mine and sighed.

"Listen, me being here is obviously only making things worse. I should probably go so you can talk calmly." I looked down at her as my hand absently stroked up and down her back.

"No, they need to accept that we're together." She replied as she stood up straight and put my jacket on properly. "If they want me to be unhappy with a man I despise, rather than the man I love, then I guess they won't want to be involved in my life."

"Come on, let's go back to yours?" I asked. She nodded and without a further word, we walked back to her place.