“Annabelle isn’t in there, is she?” he asks nervously.
“No, she’s with a sitter.”
Mitchell nods, letting me go, and I turn back and walk inside. My mother watches us as I take my seat while he nods to everyone and smiles.
“Hi, I’m Mitchell.”
My father makes the introductions, including Rochelle, who stays seated next to me.
“Mitchell, why don’t you tell us why you’re back after a year of knowing Kat had Annabelle, and you took no interest in her.”
At the time, I wrote to Mitchell and told him he had a daughter, because he had a right to know he had a kid in this world, but I never heard from him.
Mitchell looks to me and drops his head. “I was on a power bender, partying every night, and working all hours to please my parents,” he says, shaking his head. “It’s no excuse, but one night I almost died. And that’s when I realized that isn’t the life I want. Who would care if I died? Possibly my parents, but they would see it more of a burden that I’m not there to take over the company than anything.”
“We love that girl, and won’t let you take her from us,” my mother finally speaks as her eyes shoot daggers straight into him.
“I would never. I even thought I would bring something to help put Kat at ease.” He reaches into his suit jacket and pulls out a folded sheet of paper. “It’s for you. You just need to sign it.”
Taking it from him, he starts to speak, “It states that I will never take her without Kat’s permission and consent, and my rights are that of Kat’s choosing. Never shall I leave the state or town without Kat’s permission as well.” Mitchell takes a deep breath as I read over it. “I’ve purchased a place not far from where you live, and I would like it if you could check it out to make sure it’s okay for her.”
“And what about all the lost time you’ve missed? Have you ever looked after a child before?” my mother asks.
I look up for his answer.
“No, but I was hoping you would help. You know Annabelle, and I want to get to know her.”
My father nods, happy with his words. Rochelle reaches under the table and gives my leg a squeeze.
“Do you want to meet Annabelle?” I ask.
He’s saying everything I want to hear, so hopefully he follows through. “I won’t tell her who you are yet. But you can meet her.”
“I would love that.”
“We are coming too.”
“No. This needs to be done with just us,” I say to my mother, standing and kissing her cheek. “Thank you,” I tell them all.
My mother doesn’t look up, so I pass her the form from Mitchell. “Why don’t you make sure these are legit and legal.”
Mom nods eagerly.
Rochelle offers me a small smile.
Mitchell has done well. Annabelle was nervous at first but warmed up to him when he kissed her doll. She likes everyone to kiss it for some reason. But no one is allowed to have it, only her. Walking him out after she fell asleep on his lap, he smiles.
“She is a real treasure.”
“She is,” I reply.
“Thanks for this, Kat. You really didn’t have to, and I know this isn’t easy for you. But I’ll try to make it as easy as I can.” I just nod. I simply don’t have any more words left. I have to go to work soon, and my mother should be here any second to pick up Annabelle. Closing the door as Mitchell leaves, I run upstairs to dress, sliding on my favorite red lace undergarment and my black slacks. I cover my lace with a jacket, so Mom doesn’t question me.
Oh shit! That’s right, she already knows.
A knock is heard from the door, and then it’s pushed open.
“In the bathroom,” I yell out.
Footsteps, which are louder than my mother’s, come up, and soon, standing in my bathroom doorway is Blaze.
“You just let anyone in your house these days?” he asks, leaning against the door frame, his feet hooked one over the other and a smirk on his lips.
“I thought you were my mother,” I tell him, going back to applying my red lipstick. “What do you want?” I don’t look at him as I apply it using the mirror, though I can feel his stare penetrating me from behind.
“A man just left your house.”
“Yes, one did,” I say, grabbing my mascara, applying another layer, not wanting to look at him.
“Are you fucking him too?”
I look at Blaze now. His face doesn’t hold any amusement at all. He’s completely serious. Just as I’m about to tell him to get fucked, my mother’s voice comes through. “Kat, there’s a motorcycle behind your car. Did you know?”
I look up to Blaze and give him an eye roll. “Yes, Mother, Blaze is here to annoy me.”
“Oh, Marcus’s brother,” she states, not sounding so positive about it.
Blaze steps out and walks to where I know my mother is waiting in the living room. “Yes, ma’am, I’ve come to take Katarina to work.”
I sigh heavily at his use of my full name.
“Katarina? She allows you to call her that?” my mother asks him, surprise laced through her voice.
“I don’t allow him,” I yell out as I slip on my heels, then walk out.
My mother looks up at me. “Mitchell left already?”
“Yes.”
“How did it go?” she questions, getting straight to the damn point. Rochelle likes to say she talks around people and changes the subject fast, but she never seems to do that with me.
“It went well, Mother. As well as can be expected. Look… Annabelle’s sleeping. I’ve fed her already. So feel free to wake her if you want to take her to yours, I can collect her on my way home.”
“No, that’s okay. I want to wake up with her. Can I have her for the night?”
“Sure.”
Mom doesn’t say goodbye as she walks up to Annabelle’s room, and heading straight in there, I hear her grabbing her things as I walk outside with Blaze next to me.
“I was serious about coming to drive you.”
“I can’t believe you told my mother you call me that,” I say while shaking my head. Looking back toward the house, where I know she’s probably watching, he passes me a helmet.
“That’s your name.” He points to the helmet. “Put it on. We need to get going.”
“I can drive myself.”
“Katarina, do you really want to stand out front of your house, where your mother is inside probably watching us, and have an argument?” I heave a heavy sigh and pull the helmet on. Blaze kick starts his machine and taps the back for me to get on.
I look up to my window and see my mother offer a small wave as I get on, and know Blaze is right, she is watching us.
Blaze takes off fast, making my grip tighten by wrapping my arms around him as he speeds through the night. I feel him chuckle when I grip him harder, especially when he goes faster around a corner. If I could punch him right now, I probably would, but I don’t want to risk killing myself. I’m not ready to die yet.
I see the club come into view, and when he stops, I’m the first to get off and put some distance between us. “Oh God, you could have killed me,” I say, referring to the last sharp turn he took. Stepping forward, I slam his helmet into his hands and turn to walk inside.