My father sits back in his seat, a look of relief crossing over his face. “Oh, Katia didn’t tell us about all that.”
Isaac nods, and takes my hands in his. “I’m a very lucky man. This has been the most… satisfying relationship that I can ever remember being in. I’m very happy to have found her.” My cheeks burn even hotter, turning a crimson red.
Before we came, I thought I was going to break down and die from crying, but now I think I’m going to die from embarrassment. I’m so not used to being treated this way, much less being complimented in front of my entire family. I just don’t know how to take it all, or how to react. It’s crazy going from being Isaac’s pampered pet/Slave, to pretending to be his new, doting girlfriend. Is that what this is? Pretend? I have to shake off the question as my aunts “aww,” from across the room.
Act normal. Act normal. Act normal, I repeat to myself over and over.
“I’m happy, too,” I add in quickly, shyly. My voice is low compared to Isaac’s. I’m hoping all my blushing just makes my family think I’m nervous to be in front of them with a new boyfriend after so long.
Daddy says to Isaac, “Tell us a little bit more about yourself, Isaac.”
Isaac sits back in his seat. “What would you like to know?”
“Well, where’s your family from? Have you already celebrated the holidays with them?” My father asks the natural question, but I wish he hadn’t.
Isaac pauses, pain flashing in his eyes as he searches for the right words. “I only had my mother, and she passed away when I was younger,” Isaac admits finally, clearing his throat, his deep voice very quiet. Looking at him, a feeling of sadness presses down on my chest. I remember his confession, him telling me how his mother needed help and how he didn’t help her. Tears burn my eyes, but I blink them away rapidly. I didn’t know she’d passed away. I find myself scooting closer to Isaac, wanting to comfort him. Wanting to ask how it happened. My blood feels ice cold. I made it this far through the meeting, I can’t start crying now. I have to be strong. I reach out and grab Isaac’s hand without thinking. It’s not something a Slave should do, but an adoring girlfriend would. And I feel like he needs me.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Isaac,” my mom says, speaking for the first time since we sat down. She turns to me and gives me a sad, small smile and pats my thigh as she says, “I’m happy our Katy cat brought you home for the holidays at least. We expected her not to make it.”
Katy cat. My old nickname. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes again as I remember how I used to run through the hallway of this house, and swing around the banister just a few feet away. Hearing my nickname being yelled by my mom and dad, even my aunts, uncles and cousins.
Before they took me. Before that bastard stole my innocence. Back when I was just Katy cat. Just a girl, getting yelled at for running through the halls. A lump forms in my throat, and I have to continue smothering my feelings.
“Katia, are you alright?” Mom asks, seeing the conflicted expressions cross my face.
God, if I get through this without crying, it will be a fucking miracle.
“It’s just been a long time since you’ve called me that,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
“It’s a cute nickname, Katy cat,” Isaac says, giving me a wink, all traces of his unease and pain gone. He looks so cheerful that I almost forget he was even upset a moment ago, and I’m forced to laugh as I wipe at the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes.
“You know why I called her that?” my father asks. Oh God, here we go. Dad proceeds to tell a story I’ve heard a million times before, of how I kept my cat costume on for nearly two weeks after Halloween one year, refusing to believe I wasn’t a cat. As he goes into detail, I drown out the sound of his voice, a small smile stretching over my face.
It’s a good memory. One that makes my father happy to tell. My mom is smiling in the corner. Happiness overwhelms me.
Isaac gives my hand a squeeze, and I wish I could just crawl into his lap and hold onto him. I rest my cheek on his shoulder and give him a quick kiss, whispering, “Thank you.” I didn’t realize how much I was missing by avoiding my family. How much happiness was still here, waiting for me? How much love was here?
I look back over to Isaac as he chuckles at something my dad says and my heart does a backflip as the strongest feeling that I’ve ever felt surges through me. It frightens me. And it can’t be what I think it is. Isaac is my Master, not my boyfriend. And only for less than thirty days. I need to remember that. I can’t be falling for him. How could I? It’s too fast.
But as I watch him laugh at my father’s joke, I know I’m lying to myself.
Chapter 25
Isaac
The little box is sitting on the edge of the outdoor coffee table. Taunting me. I should know better than to give her a gift and create expectations. I didn’t go out of my way to gift her something for Christmas. After all, I provide her with everything she wants or needs on a daily basis. But it hasn’t been sitting right with me.
I want to spoil her. I want my kitten to be nothing but happy.
The silver wrapping paper is folded perfectly; the edges of the box are sharp with a white ribbon tied neatly on top. It’s picture perfect, and inside is something I think she’ll love.
A bracelet, or an anklet if she’d like. It’s from Pandora, and customizable with trinkets on it. The first is a yellow topaz charm surrounded by small diamonds, for the month of November. It signifies the first time I ever saw her. A little silver dog is the second one I picked, and was the easiest to decide on. She’s told me a few times about Roxy, her dog, passing and I’m hoping this will give her happiness to see it dangling from the bracelet. I picked out a cat as well. I’ll have to tell her it’s because of her nickname, Katy cat. Not that there’s a difference between a cat and a kitten on these little charms, but still. There’s a difference to me.
Then there’s a Merry Christmas bauble for the holiday we shared together, and a New Year’s charm with champagne glasses and the year for tonight. A turquoise charm for the month of December, when she finally became mine.
The last one is a silver heart with “kitten” engraved on it. It looks like a tag that would hang from a collar. Even though she hasn’t yet told me she’s ready for a collar, I want her to have it.
I wouldn’t give her a collar with that anklet still on her. I don’t know why it bothers me so much, but it does. I won’t allow her to wear my collar while she has that anklet on. Simply because of what it symbolizes. He still has a part of her, and I want all of her. We’re halfway through this arrangement already. But we can always renew the contract.
A bit of insecurity weighs down on my chest, making it feel tight and uncomfortable as I light the last candle in the enclosed patio.
The glass enclosure all opens to the outside, as though they’re extravagant windows, but it’s far too cold to open them in December. But with the candles lining the room and the stars lighting the night, it’s gorgeous out here.
I have the large flat screen TV on with the ball drop from the New Year’s countdown on, although it’s muted.