“That’s not true, Oliver. You know Catherine wants a family. Don’t let your fear hold you back from something that could be really special. Just because Emily is gone, doesn’t mean you have to stay lonely forever.”
Just then, Alice walks in with her empty plate and takes it to the sink.
I open my mouth to argue, but then Alice pipes up. “Daddy, can we please go see Catherine? I miss her so much.”
Her words hit me hard, reminding me of just how much Catherine had become a part of our lives.
“Don’t worry, Alice,” Erica assures her. “You’ll get to see her soon.”
Alice smiles, and I can tell from the brightness in her eyes that she’s getting excited. I look at Erica, about to tell her that this is a bad idea, but then I catch sight of Alice’s eager face and sigh in resignation.
Alice squeals in delight before running off to play in the living room.
Immediately, I turn to Erica with a scowl. “What’s that all about? Why are you making promises like that to Alice?”
Erica’s expression softens as she looks at me. “Catherine accepted the job offer in Manhattan and she’s going to be leaving soon. I thought Alice should have time to say goodbye to her before she goes.”
My heart sinks at the thought of Catherine leaving, but I try not to let it show. Instead, I turn to Fred. “Why didn’t you tell me Catherine accepted the job offer?”
Fred shrugs, his face turning a few shades redder. “I couldn’t tell you without you figuring out Erica and I are dating. Besides, it’s not really my place to share Catherine’s news without her permission.”
I nod, feeling a mix of disappointment and anger. “And when was she planning on telling me?”
Erica speaks up, her voice gentle. “She’s said nothing to you about it because she thinks you don’t care about her anymore. Does she really owe you anything after what you did to her?”
I clench my jaw. “So what now? Are you going to force me to see her before she leaves?”
Erica shakes her head. “No, Oliver. We won’t force you to do anything you don’t want to do. But just think about it. Is it really worth throwing away what you had with Catherine just because of one fight? Don’t you think you owe it to yourself and to Alice to at least try to work things out?”
I shake my head. “She’s too young for me. She deserves to go to New York and meet someone her age, who’s carefree and doesn’t already have a family.”
Erica rolls her eyes. “That’s a ridiculous excuse, Oliver. Age is just a number, and Catherine is a grown woman who can make her own decisions. And as for not having a family, she’s not stupid. She knew what she was getting into when she got involved with you. It’s not fair to make assumptions about what Catherine wants or needs without even talking to her about it.”
I bristle defensively at her words. “Look, I’m not making assumptions. I’m just trying to do what’s best for everyone involved.”
Erica leans forward, her voice low and intense. “Catherine loves Alice. Her biggest fear has been that she wouldn’t make a good enough mother figure for her.”
Erica’s words make me stop and think. Suddenly, I understand something big. Catherine and I are actually scared of the same things. We both worry about not being good enough for Alice. We both want a family and love that we can count on.
This new thought feels important and strong inside me. “You’re right,” I find myself saying, more to myself than to Erica. “I’ve been too caught up in being mad and trying to protect myself. But this is about our family and love. It’s about not letting fear control us.” I feel my keys in my hand, their sudden heft reminding me I have somewhere important to go.
“I have to see her,” I say, feeling sure now. “We need to fix things. We need to really talk and understand what we both want.” I leave quickly, knowing I have to act fast. My talk with Catherine can’t wait. We have something special, and I can’t lose it because we were afraid to speak our true feelings.
I rise so I can head over to Catherine’s, begging that she’ll be willing to hear me out.
Chapter 33
Catherine
AsI’mpackingmythings to prepare to leave for Manhattan to apartment hunt, I hear a knock at my door.
Erica had said she would bring Alice by, so I cross over to my foyer and open the door. To my surprise, Oliver is the one standing outside.
“Oliver… What are you doing here?” I ask, glancing around the front entrance. “Is Alice here?”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s only me. Can I come in?”
I nod, then step aside so he can enter the foyer.
