Breakaway - A Contemporary Romance Drama Story (5 page)

Chapter 4

Kate went shopping for a car the following day. After Phillip dropped Mr. Miller off at his office he swung by and picked Kate up. They went to several different car lots before they found someone who was willing to negotiate with them. In the end Kate was the proud owner of a new car. After thanking Phillip for his help she headed to the flower shop to see Mr. and Mrs. Holden. Mr. Holden was behind the counter arranging a vase of tulips when Kate entered the shop. His eyes lit up the minute he saw her.

"Becky!" he called out to his wife, who was in the back. "Come quickly."

"What is it, Sam," Mrs. Holden said, appearing suddenly. "I don't- Kate!"

Kate smiled. "Hello, Becky."

Mrs. Holden hurried around the counter and gave Kate a hug. "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," Kate said softly.

Mrs. Holden released her. "Is this little angel, Gaby?" she asked, glancing down at the baby.

"Yes." Kate placed the infant seat on the counter. "Would you like to hold her?"

"Yes, please."

Kate removed Gaby from the seat and placed her in Mrs. Holden's arms.

"She makes me wish I had more grandchildren," Mrs. Holden said.

"Lets go to the office and have a seat," Mr. Holden said.

"I don't want to keep you from your work," Kate said.

"We're not so busy that we can't take a break," Mr. Holden said, leading the way to the office.

Once there Kate and Mrs. Holden took a seat on the couch while Mr. Holden sat down behind his desk.

"You have no idea how thrilled we were when Nathan told us you were moving back," Mrs. Holden said. "Of course no one was more thrilled than Nathan. After you told him you were coming back he was on cloud nine."

"It's good to be back," Kate said. "I wasn't crazy about New York. It was too noisy, too big. Edward was the one who liked living in the city."

"What made you and Edward decide to move back?" Mr. Holden asked.

"Edward's father needed him to come back and help run the company," Kate said.

A bell suddenly went off from the front of the shop. "I'll see to the customer," Mr. Holden said, standing. "You ladies visit without me."

"How is Jill?" Kate asked Mrs. Holden. "I haven't had a chance to call her yet."

"She has an ear infection," Mrs. Holden said, rocking Gaby in her arms. "I talked to her last night on the phone. She said she's taking an antibiotic and ear drops for it. She'll feel better in a day or two."

"The poor dear," Kate said. "I want to send her some flowers. Do you know what her favorite flower is?"

"Its daisies," Mrs. Holden answered. "I'll have Sam make up a bouquet and have them delivered to her."

"Thank you. How much do I owe you?" Kate asked, reaching for her purse.

"Your money is no good here," Mrs. Holden said.

"I wouldn't feel right not paying you," Kate said.

"And I wouldn't feel right taking your money," Mrs. Holden said. She smiled at Kate. "You're a part of our family. Let us do something for you."

Touched by her words Kate thanked her.

That evening Kate was in her bedroom getting ready for her dinner with Nathan and Connie when Edward barged into the room.

"The cook told me you wouldn't be joining me for dinner. Where are you going?"

Setting her bottle of perfume on the dresser, Kate took a deep breath and chose her words carefully. "I was invited to have dinner with Nathan and his girlfriend, Connie."

Edward moved closer to Kate. "Since we got here you've been going behind my back and doing things. First you invited your boyfriend-"

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Don't interrupt," Edward growled. "You invite
him
into my home, then yesterday you take off to go and see dear daddy. That's after you're rude to William." He struck her hard across the cheek. "That's for William. Now where was I? Oh yes, you come home with a car. How did you get the car, Katelyn? Did your boyfriend buy it for you after you slept with him?"

"My father bought me that car," Kate said through clenched teeth.

"Take it back to him," Edward said.

"No," Kate snapped.

"What did you say?" Edward said, his eyes flashing.

"I said no," Kate muttered.

Edward slapped her on her already tender cheek. The sound of his hand connecting with her cheek was loud in the quiet room. "You will take the car back."

"Please, Edward," Kate said. "I need a car. What if Gaby got sick and needed to go to the hospital? Without a car I would have no way to get her there."

"I don't give a damn," Edward said. "I don't care if the baby gets sick and needs to go to the hospital. The car goes back. Now you're going to call your boyfriend and tell him you can't make it to dinner."

"I won't do that," Kate said. "Nathan is my friend and I'm going to go and have dinner with him and his girlfriend."

Livid, Edward grabbed Kate by the hair and punched her in the eye. Pain shot through Kate and she cried out. "Call him," he snarled. "If you don't something bad could end up happening to him. You wouldn't want him to get hurt because of you, would you?"

"N-n-no," Kate stuttered.

Edward shoved her away from him. "Call him."

With tears running down her cheeks Kate moved to the bedside table and picked up the receiver. She dialed Nathan's cell phone number with a shaky hand and waited for him to answer.

"Hello?"

"H-hello, N-Nathan." Kate winced at the hoarseness in her voice.

"Is something wrong, Katie?"

"Yes," Kate said. "I – I think I have a touch of food poisoning. I've been throwing up. There must've been something wrong with the seafood I had for lunch."

"I'll be right over to check on you," Nathan said.

"No!" Kate said sharply. "I mean there's no need to. There's not really anything you can do for me."

"Drink plenty of liquids," Nathan said. "You don't want to get dehydrated."

"I'm sorry I can't make it to dinner with you and Connie. Will you please tell her I'm sorry?"

"Sure," Nathan said. "Don't worry about it, Katie. We'll get together another time. You just take it easy and call me if you start feeling worse."

"Thank you, Nathan," Kate said.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow," Nathan said.

"All right." Kate dropped the receiver back in its cradle.

"Very good, sweetheart," Edward said, smirking. "You're becoming a pro at lying."

Kate turned to face Edward. "You got what you wanted. Now get out."

Edward crossed the room, shut the door and locked it. "Not yet." He turned around and retraced his steps.

"W-What are you doing?" Kate asked as her heart pounded in her chest.

Edward reached for the buttons on Kate's blouse. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

Her blood running cold Kate slapped his hand away. "I can't, Edward."

"Yes you can," Edward said, gripping her arms.

His touch made Kate's skin crawl. "I just had the baby. I'm still healing."

"You'll be fine." Edward threw her on the bed and covered her body with his.

Fear gripped Kate like a vise. She found she couldn't move and could barely breathe. No," she gasped.

"You belong to me," Edward said, moving his hips against hers. "I'll do what ever I want with you. Do you hear me, Katelyn? Whatever I want." He pulled at her clothing, ripping her blouse open.

Kate struggled against Edward while a little voice in her head told her it was no use. He was stronger and heavier. Tired, she gave up the fight and just lay there.

"I knew you would see things my way, sweetheart," Edward said. He reached between them for the zipper on her jeans. Just then his cell phone started ringing. Holding her down with his body, he took his phone out of his pocket and glanced at the display screen. "It's father. I guess we're going to have to finish this some other time."

Kate was suddenly free. She curled up into a tight ball and watched as Edward unlocked the door and left the room. Once he was gone she buried her face in her pillow and cried.

The next morning found Kate sitting in the living room. Besides the nursery it was her favorite room in the mansion. It was decorated in warm shades of yellows and greens. The large windows that flanked the fireplace let in sunlight making the room seem brighter and warmer. Sitting in a chair by the window, Kate was enjoying the sun on her face.

"Kate," Clara said, entering the room. "Dr. Holden's sister is here to see you."

Kate's hand flew to her black eye and she wondered how she was going to explain it to Jill. "Have her come in here. Thank you, Clara."

"You're welcome," Clara said. She turned and slipped out of the living room. A minute later Jill walked in.

"Hello, Jill," Kate said quietly. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Jill said. "Thank- what happened to your eye?"

"I got a little dizzy and I fell," Kate said. She gestured to the chair across from her. "Please sit down."

Jill stopped in front of Kate's chair and looked down at her. "How long has Edward been abusing you?"

Shocked, Kate gaped up at her. "He's not abu-"

"You know," Jill said, taking a seat. "When I was in college I was in an abusive relationship with a guy named Jeff. He would use me for a punching bag. I became so good at making up stories to go along with a new bruise. My favorite one was the box that fell off the top shelf of the closet. Have you used that story yet?"

Kate bowed her head, feeling ashamed and embarrassed. "This is my problem, not yours. I won't drag you into it. So if you don't mind I'd like to change the subject."

"I mind," Jill said. "Please tell me what's going on."

Kate breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. She raised her head and gazed into Jill's eyes. They were the same shade of green as Nathan and Mr. Holden's. "It doesn't leave this room. No one is to know about this."

"What about Nathan?" Jill said.

"Especially Nathan," Kate said. "He can never know."

"He's not blind, nor is he stupid," Jill said. "He's going to find out eventually."