“I see that. It’s okay. We’ll get Cat. She’ll be okay.”
She nods and exhales sharply. “But then what?” She pauses. “I should report him to ACS.”
I don’t think that’ll fly at this point, claiming Cat’s being abused or neglected, but I feel it’s wiser to not say that.
When we get there, Emerie lets me go with her into the apartment building. An older woman with bright orange hair answers the apartment door, her face drawn into lines of concern. “Hi, Emmie.”
“Klara. Hi.” Emerie hugs her, and I see Cat hanging back in a doorway. I lift my hand at her and wave, and she gives me a tentative smile.
Then Emerie rushes over to Cat and hugs her, too.
“Hi. I’m Klara.” The woman extends a hand to me.
I shake it and smile. “Nice to meet you,”
She casts Cat and Emerie a worried glance and bites her lip.
“You shouldn’t have run away,” Emerie says to Cat. “What were you thinking?”
“I don’t want to live with Dad anymore,” Cat says tearfully. “Not if you’re not there.”
Emerie winces. “I’m sorry,” she whispers to Cat.
“I wanted to come to you, but I didn’t know where Owen lives.”
I see the pain flash over Emerie’s face. “I’m so sorry, sweetie.”
“Can we go there?” Cat asks, glancing at me.
“We should take you home,” Emerie says gently.
“No! I don’t want to go home!” The agitation in her voice has Emerie instantly trying to soothe her.
“Okay, honey, we won’t go there tonight. But you have to go back tomorrow.”
“I don’t want to!” Her small face reddens as she tries not to cry.
“Is it okay if we spend the night at your place?” Emerie asks me.
“Of course.”
Emerie straightens. “Thank you, Klara. I’m sorry about this.”
“Don’t apologize!” Klara smiles and hugs Emerie. I can see genuine concern and affection on her face, and I feel glad that Emerie and Cat have had someone like this in their lives. “I’m glad she came here, where she’s safe.”
Cat has a big backpack that appears stuffed full. I lift it and sling it over my shoulder. “Okay, ladies. Let’s make like a banana and split.”
That earns me a faint smile from Cat.
“If you need me, I’m here,” Klara says as we leave.
We make the return drive home mostly in silence. I can feel the energy flowing off Emerie, but I’m not sure if it’s anger or relief or something else.
In my apartment, we take Cat’s things to my office, which has a bed for guests. Luckily the room’s a good size and even with all Emerie’s boxes, there’s room for Cat. I leave them there, saying, “I’ll let you two talk.”
Emerie shoots me a grateful glance, and I gently close the door.
Rubbing my face, I trudge to the living room and turn on the TV. I can hear voices from the bedroom but not what they’re saying. What would I say, in Emerie’s place? I know nothing about kids. You assume when someone has money that their needs are being met. Obviously not.
I remember watching that movie on the plane and talking to Emerie about the hierarchy. Cat obviously didn’t feel safe or secure at home despite the luxurious surroundings. I rub my aching jaw and try to relax it.
Not only is Vince pissed that I’m dating his stepdaughter, but I’m now harboring his daughter. I am so fucked.
Emerie emerges a while later, closing the door behind her. She walks over and sits next to me. “She’s getting ready for bed.”
“What did she tell Vince?”
“She snuck out and left him a note. She said if I wasn’t living there, she didn’t want to either.”
I bite back a smile. “Good for her.”
“No! It’s not good!” Then she sighs. “Okay, I’m glad she wants to be with me, but…he’s her dad. She has to go back.”
“She doesn’t want to.”
“What time do we need to get Cat to school?”
We figure out a plan.
“I’ll sleep with her tonight,” she says softly, meeting my eyes.
“Yeah. Sure.” Not ideal, but I get why. “Did you call your stepfather?”
“Yeah. He hadn’t even found the note yet. I would have liked for him to worry a bit. It might have been good for him.” She purses her lips. “I told him where we are.”
“Oh.”
She meets my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“At this point, it is what it is.”
“What does that mean?”
“Let’s talk about it in the morning.”
She studies my face, nods, then kisses me, which as always turns longer and hotter and…I wrap my arms around her and devour her taste, trying to fill myself with it, since I won’t have her in my bed. We both pull apart breathing heavily, her eyes glazed. She smiles and touches my cheek. “I’m sorry about this. Good night.”
“Night, beautiful.”
I watch TV a while longer, then head to bed. Alone. For the first time in weeks. And goddammit, I miss Emerie.
Fucking bizarre. I never wanted to get involved with anyone during the season because it would be distracting. And this is exactly why. I’ve seen Millsy and Hellsy and Morrie go through this. Relationships aren’t a straight line to happiness. They’re a fucking roller coaster. Up. Down. Spin around. I don’t have time for that.
We need to get this shit figured out and back to normal before we start playing again. Which is only two days away.
What that looks like…I have no clue.
I lay awake for a long time, thinking about that.
Cat shows up first in my little kitchen. “Good morning.”
I can’t be annoyed about her being here. She’s a kid. Her eyes are heavy and pink, and her lips sag. My heart clenches with sympathy. “Morning. How did you sleep?”
“Eh.” She makes a face. “The bed is nice. And I’m glad I’m with Emerie. But it was hard to sleep.”
“Same here. Want some breakfast?”
“I guess so.”
“I have bread for toast. Granola and Greek yogurt. Or I can make you one of these.” I hold up my smoothie.
“No FrootyOs?”
I laugh. “No. Those will kill you, kid.”
She eyes me. “That’s what Em says. I’ll have some yogurt, please.”
I open the fridge and find it. “I have berries.” I hold up a container. “Or granola. Or both.”
“I’ll take both.”
We get her set up with a delicious and nutritious bowl.
“Want coffee?” I ask.
“Okay.”
“I was kidding. You don’t really drink coffee, do you?”
“No.”
I laugh. “What’s your first class of the day?”
“Math. I love math.”
“Huh. Good for you. If you love math, you can do anything.”
She gives me a skeptical look. “Even play hockey?”
I grin. “Do you want to play hockey?”