Love Survives (49 page)

“The next morning he left for work and finally was able to call. He said that you were all going to be moving, and the house was going to be up for sale within the week. He told me that I was a mistake and that he’d spend the rest of his life making his mistake up to your mother.”

She put her head down and cried harder. “That’s the last time I heard from your father, but not the last time I heard from your mother.”

My mom looked right at Kat. “Katy, that morning she drove you all to school, and none of you probably caught on that anything was wrong. She was going to meet your father so that they could talk.”

“How do you know that? Because I know she wouldn’t have called to tell you that.”

“The school called me first, letting me know that I had to come get the boys. They asked if you’d be coming home with me, too. As angry as she was at me, I knew you were her first priority, so I called her. When she answered I could tell that it was bad. She didn’t get on the line and start cussing me out, or accusing me of ruining your family. She was calm, almost like she knew what was happening and that they weren’t going to make it. I’ll never forget the words she said to me.” She paused and kept her gaze on Kat. “Take care of Katy, Dani. Keep her safe and love her forever. Make sure Brooks never takes her for granted.”

I think we both started crying at the same time. It was like we were living that moment again, but now with complete understanding of how it all came to be. “Shh,” I whispered as I tried to console her.

I wanted to make this easier for Kat, but had no idea how. Her heart had been ripped in two the day she lost her parents. It was hard to remember her mother. I had a few instances where she made it a point to pull me aside and say something about Kat, but it was too long ago. I’d been through too much to remember back that far.

The fact that she knew I cared about her daughter back then made it all so real to me. I felt like somehow she knew we were supposed to end up together. Even as mad as she was at my mom, she could still picture Kat and I being together. I had so much adoration for the woman, and I hoped Kat did too. Her parents had met because they wanted to work things out. They died together, in each other’s arms. They loved one another until their last moments.

After several minutes of sobbing, Kat wiped off her face and looked toward my mom. “Why now?”

“Don’t you get it, Katy? You can’t move forward with Brooks because you think you were responsible for Bobby’s death. How do you think I felt, raising the daughter of the couple that I killed?”

God, I didn’t want this to be the conversation that brought Kat back to me, but damn if it wasn’t. She turned and looked at me with so much pent up sadness. I had no idea what to expect next.

My mom added one more thing. “Katy, you’ve got one life; one chance to make things right. It’s taken me a long time to accept the things that I can’t change. I’ve got to live with myself every day. I’ve got to look in the mirror and face those demons, but I do it, because I have you and the rest of our family. You see, out of something tragic, I learned to be better to myself and to the people around me. I worked things out with Walt and I’ve never loved anyone like I love him now. Seeing you making the same mistakes I made is killing me. I don’t want you walking away from something you were always meant to have. Even your mother knew it. You two have been in love your whole lives. I’ve never seen something so beautiful in all of my life. I’m so sorry for what I’ve done. I don’t expect you to ever forgive me, but please don’t give up on each other. I know your parents are looking out for you. They brought you two back together. I have to believe that.”

When my mom got up and left the room, it was difficult to come to grips with everything she’d said. For a while I sat silent, staring into Kat’s eyes. She had some valid points, and even though I didn’t agree with hashing it all out like she had, so close to Kat having attended a funeral, I knew why. We both did.

Now I just needed to know if it was going to make us, or break up the only family either of us had ever known.

Chapter 58

After all these
years, the truth had been confirmed. Our parents were having an affair; one that led to her mother being in the Pentagon while the plane hit it. Like a row of dominos life had followed that path of destruction. I was speechless, and from the look on Kat’s face she felt the same discontent. Even though I’d suspected it, I didn’t know how I was supposed to look at my mother the same ever again. For my whole life, I’d assumed she and my dad were happy. They were such good parents. I wondered what went so terribly wrong that she fell into the arms of his best friend. Better yet, I wanted to know why Kat’s dad didn’t push her away.

Our families did everything together. It was almost sickening to imagine how right under our noses, they were sleeping together.

Then there was the fact that my mother chose to tell us when we were struggling. Was this her efforts to open our eyes to what was at stake? I didn’t know about Kat, but I already knew what I wanted. There was no doubt in my mind that we’d get through this. My hardest struggle was having to wait it out. Perhaps this confession would bring us closer together. I was too in shock to consider anything else.

It was strange how after my mother left the room we sat there in silence. I couldn’t find the words to express my feelings. I didn’t want to overstep  what Kat could be experiencing. She was the one who lost her parents. Mine were still fine.

Without saying a single word, she took my hand and led me into the bedroom. “Wait here,” she requested.

I don’t know where she went in those few minutes. I kept listening, wondering if she’d gone in to confront my mother some more. I half expected them to have words, but the house remained silent. When Kat came back in the room, I was still sitting on the bed with my hands on my knees. I kept my face narrowed on the floor because I was afraid to look in her eyes and witness her pain.

Kat got down on the floor and wedged herself between my legs. Our eyes met, and she reached up to wipe away a tear that was still lingering on my cheek.

“I’m so sorry about my mom, Kat. If I would have known-”

She put her finger up to my lips before I was able to finish what I wanted to tell her. “Shh, don’t talk about it. Just listen to what I have to say.”

“Do you know that there’s not one single day in my life that I can remember where I didn’t love you?”

I didn’t know where this was going, but so far it seemed like it was in the right direction. A hint of hope filled me as I listened.

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“I’m tired of fighting with you. I’m sick of all of it.” She paused for a second, and in that amount of time I felt confused again. Her explanation was all over the place. I was going to get whiplash if it continued this way. “What your Mom told us may be unbelievable, but I get why she did it. For the first time, I understand what she’s been trying to get through my hard head. It’s like I’m seeing clearly, finally. Brooks, if you don’t move all of your shit into this house soon, I’m going to go crazy. There’s no reason you’re still going to the base to change. B and I need you here. We can’t be a family unless you’re here with us, all  the time. Your mom was right. I can’t change my past, and I shouldn’t ruin my future; our future. If it’s still okay, I’m ready to fall completely into this with you. I’ve been ready my whole life, but I was just too scared of losing you. I’m not afraid anymore, Brooks. I’m not worried of what tomorrow might bring because I know you’re going to be there. I know you’ll protect me and love me like you’ve done our whole lives. God, I’ve wasted so much time. Are you even listening to me? Do you still want this? Say something?”

I was speechless, unable to move a single inch. Of course I heard her, I just couldn’t begin to express how thankful I was.

I fell back onto the bed and began to laugh. I have no idea what made me do it. I supposed I was so delighted that I couldn’t control what I was feeling. Tears streamed down my cheeks, not because I was sad. I was elated, flabbergasted, utterly overwhelmed.

Kat stood up and grabbed me, shaking me as if I’d gone mad.

“Are you okay? Is it the affair? Do you want to talk about it?” I found it more funny that she assumed something was wrong. Finally everything was right.

“I can’t be mad about something that we had no control over. I’ve never been one to live in the past, not when I knew you were always my future.”

“Come again?” It was silly that she needed me to repeat myself since I’d been telling her the same lines our whole lives.

“I said that you are my future and I’ve always known it, well felt is a better word.”

When she leaned forward to kiss me, I pulled her against my body. In that moment I didn’t want to let go. Unlike every other time we were together, I could feel her finally giving me all of her. It was as if she’d finally been given a reason to stop fighting the inevitable. Our future was set in stone. Nothing could steer us away, not anymore.

We kissed like teens making out for the first time without their parents being home. With each slip of her tongue, with every movement of my hands across her skin, I got excited. My palms were sweaty, and even though we were on the bed, I felt dizzy. This wasn’t just a passionate embrace. It was taking everything in me to go slow when all I wanted to do was get her naked.

This was my Katy, my Kat. Every inch of her belonged to me. She owned my heart, my soul, and everything else I could give her. She wasn’t just the mother of our daughter. She was going to carry all of our children. There wouldn’t be a moment in our future where she would have to worry that I’d leave because it would never happen. Wherever I went, she’d be there at my side. I finally felt something that I’d waited my whole life to experience.

Secure and stable.

There was nothing but content pouring into each of our kisses, and I think she felt it as well. Our minds and bodies were in complete sync. It was beautiful, and in no time at all, I was undressing her. She helped me lift the white undershirt over her head. The two last things to go were her panties and bra.

Then Kat began unbuttoning my dress jacket. One by one the fabric loosened while she teased me with her wet lips. My t-shirt came off next, and as soon as it left my head, I felt her fingernails coursing up my naked chest.

I cupped her breasts, taking one nipple into my mouth and sucking on it. Kat leaned back, using her hands to unfasten my belt and then my pants. With little effort I shoved my boxers down, eager for what was to come afterwards.

While Kat removed her panties from her ankles, I directed her back onto the bed. She climbed on top of me, straddling my erection as if she needed no assistance to position it at her entrance.

I played with her hair, taking a few strands and covering her breasts with it. She looked so damn sexy. I couldn’t help but to ask for a reminder. “Tell me you’re mine.”

She leaned down and teased me with her sultry lips once again. “I belong to you, I always have and I always will.” She traced my tattoo, looking down as she finished. “And you belong to me.”

I ran my hands on both sides of her arms and started moving her body into a steady pace. Kat tickled my chest with her nails, crossing over my nipples with the palms. Right away they were stimulated by her touch. She leaned forward licking each of them while leaving a trail of wet saliva when she pulled away.

I gasped and threw my head back, forcing myself to stay collected. Kat pulled away with an ornery grimace on her face. She knew she was making me crazy, and I didn’t want it to stop.

Then, after our lips separated from another tongue-filled kiss, She leaned back, giving me ample space to reach down and feel her slickness. She was prepared and hungry for what was about to fill her. I took ahold of my stiff erection and taunted her there, making sure to spread her juices over her sensitive clit. Her body bucked before I thrust inside of her, filling her with so much more than a hard cock. We’d been struggling, and this was an end to it all. This makeup session was all about getting over the hurdles and giving in to what we knew was right.

Our connected bodies converged, moving amidst a steady rhythm. I was lost in her, succumbing to the pure fact that this was all finally mine. With every grind, slip, and even halt, I was captivated by her body. Her essence beckoned me, satiating my hunger to have her in every way possible. She was what I’d wished for in my darkest of days. She was the last missing piece to my puzzle. I’d found my forever and knew for certain that she’d never slip away from me again. This pivotal moment in our relationship would stand out amongst the others. This was the night that everything significantly changed for us.

We made love: beautiful, debauched love, christening our new life and future. Her serious stare only intensified the moment as I filled her with intoxicating passion. Hot sweat rolled down the skin between her breasts as she continued riding me. I held onto her hip and used my other hand to gently rub her clit, guiding her body into a generous orgasm. As her walls tightened around me her release felt so fierce, like it contained years of pent up hostility. Rather than give her time to come down from her  lustful high, I flipped us over. Kat began stroking me, making me want to slip right back inside of her. I was on the brink of losing it, desperate to satisfy my salacious appetite. I teased her with my  tongue, forcing her to fight to touch it with hers. Her inviting lips begged to be kissed, and I happily obliged.