Disclaimer: see chapter one
Sara's POV
We drove back to my apartment in relative silence. I don't know why I had to go and be so bitchy to Catherine when all she offered was to buy us dinner. A dinner I'm sure would have capped a nearly perfect afternoon. I have to admit, I really enjoyed sitting back and watching the interaction between Allie and Catherine. It was like they had known each other for years. I should have asked Catherine for help to begin with instead of Sofia. It's just so damn hard to consider her a friend when the only feelings we've ever shared toward each other is animosity.
I don't even realize that we've pulled up in the parking lot of my apartment complex. I'm brought out of my reverie by Catherine's gentle touch on my shoulder. "How about you grab the bags and I'll get Allie?" she asked me. I nodded in response and popped the hatch on the SUV.
She was busy getting Allie out while I was struggling with the bags. Did we really need to buy her this much stuff? Wait a minute, I said we. Did I really need to buy her this much stuff? There, that's better.
Allie and Catherine were talking as they walked up the three flights of stairs to my apartment. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I was jealous. My little girl had known this woman for only a few hours and already was receiving more attention—better attention—than I had received from her in years. Why I am suddenly so worried about Catherine and how she treats me? Is it really that I'm suddenly concerned with it? Quit thinking, Sidle. That's your problem. Well, one of them anyway.
We reached the door of my apartment. My arms were full and I had to have Catherine reach into my jacket pocket to retrieve my keys. She walked in, waited for me to get inside, and then shut the door and dropped my keys in the bowl by my door—just like I do.
I waked to the room that was going to be Allie's and put the bags down. Cath had planted herself on the couch with Allie in her lap and they were animatedly discussing something.
"Alright, Cath. I really appreciate your help today. I'm sure that you need to get home to Lindsey and then to work."
"Don't be ridiculous. Nancy is taking care of Lindsey and I have the night off." Catherine stood up and crossed the room toward me. "Where's your washer and dryer? We need to get all of those clothes we bought for her washed."
"They're behind the door there. I can handle it Cath, really, you can go now."
"No, it's my pleasure. I'll grab her clothes and start washing them while you fix us something to eat." With that, she smiled and walked toward the room she had seen me drop the bags in. Why was she doing this?
I threw my hands up in the air and said, "Fine. Thanks." I was in the kitchen chopping vegetables for a stir fry when I felt my pants leg being pulled on. I looked down, and right into the eyes of my little girl.
"I wanna help." I picked her up and sat her on the counter so that she could watch what I was doing. With every vegetable I started to chop, she'd ask, "What's that?" and I would explain it to her. I heard the washer start and knew that Catherine had started a load of laundry.
I was busy paying attention to my vegetables and Allie and didn't notice Cath come back into the living room until she called my name. "Sara? Hey Sara?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Don't ma'am. I'm not that old! When's the last time the linen on her bed was changed?"
"Probably the last time she was here. When was that Allie?"
"I dunno," the little girl replied.
"It's probably been a few months. I have a spare set for that bed in the linen closet in the hall. But I'll change it as soon as I'm done here."
"You cook. I'll change the linen," she flashed me a beautiful smile and then continued, "Besides, it looks like you have an audience there, Chef Sidle."
I couldn't help but smile back at her.
Was this the real Catherine?