A/N: Dedicated to Smart_Cookie5162 for the awesome cover! THANK YOU!
Chapter 6
Katherine
The next few days flew by like a blur. Andrew and I were in back to back meetings, and barely had the time to follow up with each other.
The night Vince made me dinner, we hashed over my doubts in which he assured me that he was a changed man. Rest assured, I wasn’t entirely convinced, but I felt a little better about our relationship.
Teddy mysteriously had last minute meetings out of town in which we hardly had time to talk…about anything.
Tonight was dad’s celebration party, and I told Vince that I would meet him at my childhood house, awaiting all the criticism that came along with it.
Claire and I got ready together while Courtney got ready at Penny’s house.
Mother had two huge tents set up in our ten acre backyard. With fifty tables that seated ten, about five hundred people would be in attendance. The tents were decorated with white icicle Christmas lights and the tables housed ivory table cloths with rose petals and a white orchid in the middle. I had to give it to mother…it all looked quite beautiful.
“So, how’s working with Teddy?” Claire asks, getting herself a white wine at the make shift bar. Claire, unlike me, has long blonde hair and blue eyes. She’s slender with legs that go on for miles. Like mother, she obtains her porcelain skin and quick wit.
“Okay I guess. I hadn’t seen him in the office for a few days, but it’s a nice change of pace.” I ask the bartender for a scotch. “How’s Kevin?”
Claire is a workaholic, a perfectionist, and borderline OCD. Her and Kevin’s relationship always suffered because of it. Although, there was nobody better than Kevin to be the man for her, Kevin, a gentle and understanding man was always her knight in shining armor…even though Claire couldn’t see it.
“We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about the Prodigal daughter returning.” I giggle and shake my head. It wasn’t fond over that term, but I was always the problem child for my parents. “Have you and Andrew talked?” She asks gently.
“A little…” I deflect the question because I knew what she was really asking…if we talked about Savannah. “We both have harbored anger for each other…but there’s no point of talking about it. He’s moved on—as he should and I’m getting over it.” I couldn’t ignore Claire’s concerned stare.
“It’s been five years, Kat…don’t you think you two should talk about her?” Actually, it’s been four years, eleven months, three days.
“Regardless, we’re healed. We’re okay.” I’m convincing myself of that, but it’s not really working. I finish off the tumbler of scotch and place it on the bar.
“And Vince? You just give him another chance?” I wanted to be done with this conversation already.
“Claire,” I start but am cut off when Kevin arrives, giving my sister a swift kiss on the cheek.
“Kat!” He throws his arms around me and gives me a squeeze. “Good to see you!”
“You too, Kev,” I reply returning his embrace. Kevin was always the older brother I never had.
“We were just talking about Kat giving Vince another chance,” Claire informed him, judgment salting her tone. I roll my eyes.
“Once upon a time, you weren’t such a judgmental bitch,” I tease playfully.
“Now, now, don’t be calling her names. She’s just concerned,” says Kevin, snaking his arm around her waist.
The tents in the backyard start to fill up with more people and a few minutes later, Vince joined in the conversation. Cliff Tucker, the “it” photographer who was employed by the Alexandria Tribune, as well as D.C. Socialite took pictures of us.
Penny arrived with her minions and instantly stole the show, thank god.
“I thought your mother said this was going to be small,” Vince whispered in my ear.
“For Helen Buchanan, this is small,” I whisper back. Vince kept close to me most of the evening with is arm either snaked around my waist or holding my hand. I didn’t start feeling guilty until Cliff and Michelle de Bourg made their entrance.
Glancing at us, Michelle gave me a pained glance and continued to her table. Shortly after, Sarah and Andrew made their entrance; Andrew looking miserable as ever, Sarah looking like she just won the Nobel Peace Prize. The pang in my chest made me realize that I was staring for far too long and Vince noticed, by the silent anger he was boring into my skull.
Needless to say, mother was testing me by seating me with Andrew and Sarah, but also with Penny, her minions and Claire and Kevin. As we all sit at the table, I don’t make eye contact with Andrew. Kevin nudges my elbow and smiles.
“So what are you doing for work?” He asks quietly as the rest of the table talks.
“I’m the Director of HR at Teddy’s,” I reply quietly. Kevin knits together his eyebrows in confusion.
“Didn’t you just get your doctorate?” I glower at him, reminding me of the passion I’m leaving behind.
“Yes, I did, but I like what I’m doing.”
“I have an opening you know…I could use a partner…” A partner? It would be a brilliant career move and it would be everything I love. I could counsel…I could help people out of their problems…I could—
“She has a job, Kevin,” Andrew’s voice cuts in. We glance up to Andrew who is glaring at Kevin…practically mutilating him alive. Kevin smiles, unfazed by Andrew’s instant anger.
“I know she has a job. I just figured I’d extend the offer.” I take note of what Andrew is drinking, and if my suspicions are correct, he pre gamed before getting here.
“Sorry I’m late,” Teddy says, grabbing the seat next to Penny and warily smiling at her.
“I thought you were in Pennsylvania,” Penny accuses dryly.
“I thought it was Maryland,” I announce playfully, Teddy glaring at me to shut up.
“I was in Pennsylvania and I just got back. I got held up where I was at,” he explains, a fleeting glance at Sarah who clammed up immediately.
He’s still sleeping with her!
“They must have really wanted to do business with you,” I say with a wink. Teddy leans forward.
“Glad you’re in better spirits, Kat,” He spat. I wink as Vince finally pipes up.
“I’m glad you’re here…I thought we could talk business—
“No,” Andrew interrupts. The whole table falls silent and watches Andrew carefully. “You don’t talk about our affairs outside of the office. You can talk to Teddy about the business in our office. Anything other, you’ll need the general council and I’m not willing to talk about this here.” He’s drunk. Extremely drunk. And angry.
“Andrew’s right. I’ll give you my assistant’s card and you can set up the meeting with Jessica,” says Teddy.
“So how are you doing Vince?” Kevin cuts in, trying to relieve some of the tension. I can feel Andrew’s stare and reluctantly, I meet it when Vince talks on and on how we’re back together and he’ll be finding a job soon.
His walls are stronger than ever when he’s drunk. I always told him that his drinking was his security blanket and it was something he had to kick…fast.
“…we’ll get through it. My father’s going to pay that price—
“I see you didn’t take my advice,” Andrew interrupts. I feel everyone’s eyes on us, but for now I push them out of my mind. Right now, it’s just me and Andrew at the table.
“I see you didn’t take your own advice either.” His lips are pressed into a hard line, his untrusting eyes growing darker.
“And how is that working out for you?”
“How much have you had to drink?”
“Kat,” I hear Teddy warn. I ignore him, desperate to find out how drunk he is to make sure I don’t say something stupid.
“I’m not a child, Kate. I can hold my liquor.” I scoff.
“Don’t do this here, Andrew—
“I would just like to make you aware that I wasn’t the only one you destroyed when you left.” The entire table is quiet by Andrew’s admission.
“Andrew,” I warn.
“You left everyone here. They were your family—
“Andrew,” Kevin warns hastily.
“—and you left Savannah, too.” My world stops turning for what seems like an eternity. Grief washes over me just like the day we found out the news.
“Andrew!” Claire shrieks. Andrew looks around the table and suddenly realizes his mistake. “Kate,” he says softly. I feel myself stand up and walk away from the table. A waiter is walking back to the bar with a tray of scotch, stealing a full one, I head back up to the house, looking to get away to my room.
Climbing up the stone stairs, I notice my father stretched out on a patio chaise. Smiling, I take the one next to him.
“Katherine,” he chirps.
“I thought you’d be enjoying the party.” He scoffs.
“Fun fact: I hate these things.” He sits up and opens the cigar case on the coffee table and offers me one. He lights it for me and I take a drag, the tobacco stinging my tongue. I weakly smile, but I can’t bring myself to look at him.
“So, why are you back in D.C.? I thought you said you’d never come back.” I shrug.
“I’m surprised mom didn’t tell you.” Dad stays quiet for a minute and answers.
“She probably did, but I tend to tune gossip out.” I sigh.
“He was only with me because of our name. Then I found out that he was cheating on me, too. So, before the story could get out, I had to humiliate him before he did the same to me…I couldn’t stay in Chicago anymore.” From a side long glance, I see him nod.
“He’s an ass.” I nod in agreement. “And he’s here?” I nod again.
“Yeah. He’s here.”
“And you’re living together?”
“…yeah.” Dad made a disapproving noise.
“What are you doing with him, then?” At this point, I now know my mother schemes and doesn’t tell a single soul. Bitch.
I can’t answer that question because I’m too embarrassed to answer him.
“How do you feel about children conceived out of wedlock?” He swivels his head towards me, a terrified expression written on his aging features.
“Are you…?” I shake my head.
“Just curious.” He sat still for a moment, puffing on his cigar.
“Well, I would hope you would give the child a stable home…and if that doesn’t include a man, we would help you any way we could.”
“I’m not pregnant, dad.” He chuckles.
“I know.” I rest my cigar in the ash tray. I gaze at my father who is now staring into the sky thoughtfully.
“I’m really sorry, by the way.” He turns his head to me and smiles.
“You know you don’t have to apologize. I’m sure the reasons you left were good enough.” My eyes well up with tears because he doesn’t know the half of it. “I love you, Katherine. You’re my favorite daughter.” I giggle.
“You’re not supposed to say that out loud.” He chuckles.
“In all seriousness, I was hurt that you didn’t trust me enough to get you out of whatever situation that you were in. I mean, you disappeared for four months before you even left town—
“Hello, Arthur, Katherine,” Mr. de Bourg greets.
“Hey,” we both call back.
“I’ve been cast off to come and get you,” he states to dad. “They want you to make your speech now.” Dad groans as he stands up.
“I suppose we’ll finish our conversation another time,” he directs at me. I nod and stay rooted to my spot.
Savannah’s name was finally uttered in public. I knew coming back here was a bad idea…I should’ve toughed it out in Chicago…
The sun has set and the only source of light is the glow from the tents. Besides the glow of the lights from inside our house, it’s actually quite serene. I listen to my father talk and my anxiety starts to ebb.
Teddy makes his way up the stairs, his gray suit is disheveled and his yellow tie is loosened. He smiles at me and make me scoot over.
“You shouldn’t have played into his game, you know.”
“It all felt like an out of body experience. For a moment it was just the two of us at the table.” I see it in his eyes that he wants to ask me about her. I can’t pretend that it didn’t happen anymore. “You can ask one question…make it count.” Teddy’s smile diminishes.
“You know…shortly after you left, I had Andrew stay with me for a few weeks. He was constantly drunk, let his staff go on a long holiday…he’d show up to work sloshed…” The tears are presenting themselves again, because I can only imagine what it was like for him when I left. “He would consistently go on about you leaving because of him and Savannah…and I always figured that he cheated on you and that’s why you left.”
Savannah wasn’t his mistress. She was quite more to him than that. Me, too.
“Until I heard him say that you left her too, I figured it out. You disappeared a few months before you left…Andrew always would say that you weren’t feeling well or you were in New York visiting your cousins…”
I wasn’t visiting anyone. I sob as he goes on.
“Savannah was your daughter….you and Andrew’s daughter…wasn’t she?” I nod to confirm it.
“Yes,” I whisper. Teddy holds his arms out and I collapse into them, sobbing and hyperventilating that the truth was finally out.
“Is that why you left? Because Andrew didn’t want her?” I shook my head.
“No, no.” I take a deep breath and try to put on my best smile. “You’re going to hate me for this, but I’m not ready to talk about it.”
“It’s okay,” he says softly into my hair. “He shouldn’t have said anything at the table… who else knows about this?” I pull back and hug my knees to my chest.
“Claire and Kevin.” Teddy watches me, stunned.
“Claire, Kevin, and the de Bourg’s and Buchanan’s?” I shake my head, no.
“Please, Teddy? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.” Teddy nods and stretches out on the other patio chaise.
For the next hour, we talked about my week at work to get my mind off of that disaster.
“You’re still sleeping with both of them, aren’t you?” Teddy stares at the sky.
“I still love her. I know she’s with Andrew and it’s wrong and she did me wrong…I just…I love her, hell, I was going to propose to her at the end of the month!”
“Andrew will kill you if he finds out.”
“I have a funny feeling that he doesn’t give a rat’s ass now that you’re back.” I glance over to my best friend as he wallows.
“Does she feel the same about you?”
“Hell if I know.” My heart breaks for Teddy.
“What about Penny?” Teddy scoffs and beats that idea away with a stick.
“We all know how she feels about me.” I weakly smile.
We reach a comfortable silence and from the corner of my eye, I can see someone coming up the stairs. When I see its Andrew, all of my anger and grief returns, destroying any progress I just made.
“Can we talk?” He asks softly. Teddy sits up, ready to come to my defense.
“You get two minutes. That’s it.” I tell Teddy that it’s okay to leave, and Andrew and I set off into the house. I lead him to my father’s study and close the door behind him.
“I’m so sorry.” I cross my arms. He looks exhausted and miserable…
“Every time you do something like this…you can’t just say you’re sorry and expect me to forgive you every time.” He sits on the corner of dad’s desk to steady himself.
My tears began to fall again.
“Everyone’s going to try and figure who she is now, you realize this?”
“All they have is a name. Savannah’s identity will be just fine,” he assures me.
“Teddy knows.” Andrew stiffens.
“Then you should probably know that Sarah does too.”
Wait, what?
He told her?
My anger replaces my grief real quick.
“She knows?”
“Before you get angry—
“What the fuck, Andrew!? So not only is she wearing my engagement ring, but she knows the dirty details about my daughter—
“Kate, she was my daughter, too,” he replies calmly.
“I don’t know what fucking game you’re playing, but let me make this easy for you. I’m out. Spend the rest of your life with that bitch, because I’m done.” My face is glazed in tears and Andrew looks completely drained and defeated.
“Don’t tell me that Vince doesn’t know—
“He doesn’t,” I snap. I take a deep breath. “We had an agreement in the hospital: we don’t tell a soul until the both of us are ready.”
“You told Teddy…”
“He figured it out!” I shout. I wipe my eyes as best I could. “She—
“Watch it Kate,” he growls. “Sarah may be the pain in my ass right now, but I’m still marrying her.” I cross my arms. “Don’t even pretend that I don’t see you parading Vince around like you have something to prove.” His words are physically painful. The knife in my heart sinks deeper and twists harder. “I’ve seen your stories on D.C. Socialite for the last week. I’ve seen you parading him around town pretending that you’re okay that I’m getting married.”
“I am okay—
“You don’t want to be alone.” My breath is stolen from me. “You are just as desperate as I am. Being alone terrifies you and you are terrified of the criticism if you didn’t have Atwood as your buffer. Let me tell you something. I see right through you. I always have. Don’t you dare act like I gave something that was special to you away because if you really and truly wanted that ring, you would’ve stayed—
“You pushed me away—
“You left when it started to get messy!” There was a knock on the door, but I ignore it.
“You blamed it all on me and refused to see me for weeks. I really tried to get you out of that damned house…to get you away…to rebuild what we had—
“If you want to play the blame game, we’ll play it right. If you would’ve put on your God damned seatbelt, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” he snarls. The door opens just as I smack Andrew across the face. Andrew stares back at me, his eyes are narrowing and growing darker by the second and smirks.
“Go straight to hell,” I say softly.
“I’ll meet you there,” he counters. The sound of someone clearing their throat severed my gaze. Vince is leaning against the door frame.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Kat, I think we should get going…” I nod in agreement, too livid to even glance back in Andrew’s direction.
On the way back home, we drove in silence.
“What was that all about?” Vince asks quietly.
“Nothing,” I reply.
“Obviously something…I’ve never seen you hit anyone before…it must have been bad.” I shrug.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Do I have something to worry about?”
Andrew and I had been to hell and back, barely surviving. We’ve hid our secret for so long that sometimes, it all felt like a dream…a bad dream. And even though we shared a daughter, Savannah will always link me to him. And I will forever love the man that he used to be.
“No,” I lie.
The truth is, no matter who Andrew is…no matter how impulsive or broken he is, I will always love him.
“No. You don’t have anything to worry about.”