Chapter 12 – Torn
James studied the counter-top surface for a moment, at a loss, he hadn't been prepared for things to go the way they had in the last few hours. He was confused enough about Kate's amnesia, her continued attraction to him as well as her reticence with the children especially when contrasted to their general acceptance of her. Vivienne's actions were the only thing that made sense; the woman was so unpredictable that it was the only thing anyone could expect from her.
He had known from the moment he'd laid eyes on her again in that boardroom in New York that he should never have been there in the first place. They were far too volatile around each other. But he hadn't wanted to stay away, he'd needed to see the woman she had become, promising himself that if she appeared happy then he would leave New York and never lay eyes on her again. Satisfied that she was still the same prickly woman she had been when they first met, James had come back home to their children, telling his treacherous heart that everything seemed to have worked out for the best. Until she had started snooping around and he had had to pay the private detective a whole lot of money to only reveal his location to her when she had arrived in Texas at a later date. Now here they were, and James didn't think that he could stomach the angst that seemed to define them. They weren't on the Island anymore, and he wasn't as footloose and fancy free as he used to be. Besides any involvement with Kate meant he would bring down the shadowy but powerful attention of Ben and his Dharma Initiative down on his head, and he had sacrificed too much for that.
"Hmmpf, wool gatherin' instead of coming out to help us." Viv snorted in disgust as she came into the kitchen carrying a sleepy Tristan.
Mel came in behind Viv steering the worn-out children towards the kitchen table while she carried Drew who was fast asleep.
"Good Lord Boy look at the state of you!" Viv remarked with a sharp intake of breath.
"What happened Papa!?" Exclaimed Ali and David, hugging a leg each they looked up at him with saucer-like eyes. Their father's lip was swollen and bleeding slightly while his left eye socket was turning an interesting shade of blue.
James ran a hand through their curls and lifting one up in each arm gingerly kissed them in greeting before setting them down again.
"Tried to ride that damn mare again." James offered in chagrined explanation.
The kids looked up at him in sympathy, patting his leg before they shuffled onto the closest chair leaning sleepily on their elbows. Tristan still in Viv's arms reached out for his father, smiling when James leaned in to kiss his cheek. Viv moved away from James, deciding to sit at the kitchen table next to Ali and David, she set the pretty much sleeping Tristan on her lap and noticing the forgotten albums, eyed her grandson critically.
Mel had disappeared upstairs but she returned, walking up to James she hugged him and whispered discreetly in his ear, "Your shirt's ripped and there's bits of bark stuck to it."
James smiled in thanks and holding onto his cousin tightly for a second pulled away, giving Viv a cheeky grin. Viv harrumphed before she handed Tristan to James and shepherding the children upstairs went to run their baths. James wiggled his eyebrows at Tristan who grinned at his father drowsily.
With Mel bringing up the rear they went to get the children ready for bed.
Thirty Minutes Later
After he set a protesting and slightly cranky Drew on his bed with his pajamas on, James mock saluted Viv then he headed to his room to take a much needed shower. The woman's pointed barbs about his dirty condition had become tiresome. He bumped into Kate in the hallway, her hair was wet and pulled back in a severe ponytail, and she was wearing the freshly laundered clothes she had been wearing when she arrived the day before. Silently, James moved to the side, giving Kate leeway to step into the room, watching her from the corner of his eye, he continued on to his room.
"Oh my God Kate! What happened to you?!" Tristan gasped from his reclined position against the pillows. He sat up quickly his green eyes taking in the chafe marks on her neck and the turf burn on her arms and elbows.
Viv who was sitting in the rocking chair next to Tristan's bed while Mel finished drying Ali's damp hair with a towel, smirked.
"Did you try to ride Mary the Mare too?" David asked with a wrinkle of his nose.
"Looks to me like she took on the stallion." Viv remarked archly.
Kate blushed profusely, under the older woman's unrelenting stare.
"Are you feelin' better Kate? Didja make cornbread with Papa?" Drew asked.
"Yes I am and we did… thank you." Kate said a little awkwardly.
"Yeah, Papa's really good Kate, it's like he's magical." Drew said with awe.
The other three children nodded their heads enthusiastically in agreement. Kate bit her lip in discomfort; unable to prevent the dull flush creeping on her cheeks as she felt the two women scrutinizing her.
Mel approached Kate with a storybook in her hands, 'The Stinky Cheeseman and A Hundred Other Stories'.
"It is bedtime story time; did you want to read to them?" Mel whispered in her husky voice.
Kate was aware of all six pairs of eyes watching her expectantly, reaching out to touch the book she looked at Mel with tears in her eyes.
"No thank you, I'd rather just listen." Kate said softly, her voice trembling slightly.
She retreated towards the door, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed protectively against her chest. The kids sighed collectively in disappointment but otherwise didn't say anything; they studied Kate curiously.
"Sit your ass down, I ain't going to crane my neck for you." Viv snapped her brown eyes flashing as she accepted the book from Mel.
Kate immediately pulled herself away from the wall and looked around the airy room for a seat that wouldn't get her into trouble.
"You can sit with me if you want Kate." Tristan offered as he patted a spot by his bed.
Kate smiled her gratitude and made to approach the bed, before she could sit down Ali opened her mouth to complain.
"No you should sit with me 'cause Tree had Mel an' everyone else on his bed last time!"
Kate looked from one child to the other, unsure how to handle this situation. Tristan folded his arms across his chest and glared at his sister, getting ready to argue then at the last minute he shrugged.
"I'm gonna sit on Grandma's lap." He announced smugly.
Ali crossed her arms mimicking his pose and pouted, her brother had outmaneuvered her, since sitting on Viv's lap was rarely an option it was the ultimate honor.
"Get a move on Kate, we found you a seat." Viv snapped irritably.
Kate did as she was told, sitting down gingerly on Ali's bed as the little girl beamed at her approvingly. As soon as she got comfortable, Ali squirmed onto Kate's lap and smiled up at her again, then stuck her tongue out at Tristan. He watched wistfully, already sitting on Viv's lap, the book in his arms. Kate turned to the right to see Drew and David snuggled up to Mel on David's bed, as she continued to rub their hair down with a towel, they grinned happily at Kate.
"Now which story shall I read y'all? Hmm… I think this one will be most fitting." Viv said to herself as she opened the book to a page and kissing her great-grandson's head started to read.
30 Minutes Later
James crept into the room, smiling softly at the sleeping children; he took Tristan from Vivienne and tucked his youngest son into bed. The little boy murmured and seeing his father whispered, "G'night Papa."
"Night son." James whispered back.
He looked over at Kate who was still sitting on Ali's bed with the little girl fast asleep against her breast and his heart cart-wheeled in his chest. Her lashes were lowered concealing her thoughts but the pulse jumping frantically in her throat and the tense set of her shoulders told James she was overwhelmed. He gave Viv a searching look but she was studying Kate with a thoughtful look on her face. Mentally shrugging he walked over to the bed and picked Ali out of Kate's arms. She drew in a sharp breath of protest, before she sidled off the bed, giving James the chance to tuck the little girl in. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Goodnight Shortcake."
Ali smiled in her sleep, tucking her hands underneath her cheek; James brushed a stray curl off her face and smiled tenderly at her. His eyes met Kate's which were softening as tears sprang up. His face telegraphed his sympathy and Kate inhaled deeply, the ice creeping back up into her demeanor she swiveled on her heel and stormed out of the room.
Mel had already tucked in the other two boys and remained standing by Drew's bed, watching the fireworks between the couple with interest. James looked at his grandmother for support.
"Can't say I blame her." Viv remarked with a raised eyebrow, she was rocking gently in the chair.
"Don't you start Viv." James growled his mood fouled all over again.
When James arrived downstairs with Viv close behind him, they found Kate sitting at the kitchen table filing her nails, a determined look on her face.
"I need you to make me some better fake ID. And don't try to tell me you don't run scams anymore." Kate said without looking at him.
She blew on her nails and setting the file down, turned her palms up and stared at them with detached interest.
"Kate-"
"I need to protect myself, it's obvious that I can't trust anyone. So just do it James."
James chafed at her tone but didn't want to get into a fight with her in front of Viv even less, so he left the room and went to start working on it. Kate watched him go and rolled her shoulders back, still seated stiffly she risked a glance at Viv who was standing by the kitchen sink.
"Would you like something to eat?" Viv asked quietly.
Tears instantly sprang up in her eyes and Kate choked out a response, "I can't. I've already thrown up twice."
Viv nodded and then turned away, reaching for a glass from one of the cupboards and filled it with some water from the faucet. Walking up to Kate she set the glass in front of her and sat down next to her in silence. Kate drank most of the water quickly and then setting the glass down stared at her hands for a second before she realized that Viv was studying them with fascination and curled her fingers into fists.
Eventually, Viv got up and disappeared into the pantry, bringing some covered dishes into the kitchen she started preparing a snack of some sort. Kate remained seated blinking a couple times as she tried to contain her simmering fear and rage. She picked up the nail file and continued to shape her nails.
When James returned he set down a plastic card with Kate's picture on it, the name read, 'Monica Porter' and the date of birth was one month and 3 days earlier than Kate's actual birthday. It was an Ohio driver's license and it looked authentic enough. He also gave her two printed ticket stubs that had Monica Porter on them and the trip was a return flight from JFK to Des Moines. Kate nodded in acceptance of the proffered articles and slid them into her back pocket; bearing an ironic smile at the name choice. She stood up and risked a glance in his direction before looking away.
"If you wanna make it more convincin', you'll need a passport, a birth certificate, a bank account, bills an' an address." James told her.
"I do and I will need those, I'm all alone in this and I need to have an escape route. I'm takin' your advice and going home, I need answers. Besides, it's clear I'm not going to get any here." Kate said tartly.
She gave him a pointed stare, he looked away guiltily.
"Are you gonna come back?"
"I don't… I can't be around you."
"Didn't answer my question."
Kate rolled her eyes as she headed for the door. James grabbed her arm, stopping her mid-stride.
"It's Viv's 75th next Friday… An' a chance to see the munchkins again after you've had some time to digest all of this." James finished lamely.
She stared at his hand on her arm and then back at him, her eyes shooting daggers.
"Why don't you wait til mornin', I can do more for you by then." James tried again.
Kate looked at Viv who was pretending not to be eavesdropping as she sealed a Tupperware container.
"Boy's making sense, it don't happen often." Viv said without looking up.
Kate eased her arm out his hand as she nodded in acquiescence, she didn't have the guts to go against the older woman.
"Fine. I'm going to bed; unless you've got a lab here underneath the same roof as your family… focus on finding me a trustworthy contact in New York in the meantime." Kate commanded her tone hostile.
She smiled at Viv and mouthed 'Good night' before striding out the door. James looked at Viv helplessly and followed her lead when she sat down at the table.
"There's a lot of hurt and justifiable anger boiling underneath the surface."
"More like on the surface…I'm not interested in soothin' her feelings. Even now, when she's aware they're our kids, she ain't interested in gettin' to know them. All she cares about is herself, so the brainwashin' wasn't a hundred percent successful. That's classic Kate. She knows more than she's lettin' on an' I don't trust her further than I can throw her." James retorted.
"That feeling appears to be mutual." Viv observed.
James shrugged uncomfortably. Viv smiled at her grandson; placing a hand on his forearm she rubbed it gently.
"From the state of your face and her hands y'all did a good job of tearin' each other apart. Whatever attracted you two to each other and gave me four beautiful great-grandchildren is still there. For the babies' sake you're going to need to reach some middle ground." Viv said in that firm but gentle tone she used when she wanted to bend him to her will.
"No, we don't. She's nothin' but trouble Viv, exactly the kind of woman you warned me about. Don't let the pretty face fool you." He said brusquely.
They sat there for a long time; eventually he picked up Viv's hand and kissed it. Getting up he set her hand on the table and stormed out of the kitchen and up to his bedroom. Viv smiled to herself and rose from the table to clear the kitchen.
Midnight
Kate pulled her bedroom door open quietly, scanning the hallway quickly she shouldered her bag and let the door shut behind her. Tiptoeing to the living room she opened the balcony windows and shut them behind her. Throwing her bag off the balcony she climbed over the rails and dangling in the air for a few seconds as her legs swung beneath her she held her breath and counted to five. With a deep breath she let go, gasping when she landed on the porch with what sounded like an extraordinarily loud thud. She bit back a scream when Viv stepped out onto the porch, dressed in the same clothes she'd been wearing all day. The petite woman approached Kate with a brown paper bag and handed it to her when Kate accepted the bag, a set of keys fell onto the floorboards.
"Why are you helping me?" Kate whispered urgently as she bent down to pick up the keys.
"I know you were a fugitive but my grandson never told me what for and I never asked. What did you do?" Viv asked quietly.
Kate palmed the keys and stared at Viv in the faint moonlight, she was taken aback by the question and the food and car keys. How had she known Kate would sneak out?
"I blew up the woman-beating drunk I grew up thinking was my stepfather but turned out to be my biological father. And I'm not sorry, I'll never be sorry for that." Kate said in a neutral tone.
Her heart was hammering in her chest as she got ready for the disgust to cloud Vivienne's features. If she had seen it once she had seen it a thousand times, on everyone's face except for Cassidy. She wondered if in all their time together on the Island she had eventually told James. Something told her he wouldn't have judged her either.
Viv shrugged, thinking it was quite telling that a week after they were rescued, when she had been reunited with her grandson, he had still been protective enough of Kate to withhold that information from her. Or that in all the time since, he still hadn't told her saying simply that she had been on the run from the law.
"Leave my truck outside the Texaco Country Club and hop on a bus to the airport from there. Put the keys underneath the right wheel, there's a snug little opening that I can put them in without worrying about them falling out should someone decide to tow the truck 'fore I get it back." Viv instructed.
Kate's eyes widened in surprise but she nodded her understanding all the same.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Viv asked impatiently when Kate remained rooted to the spot.
The brunette sprang into action, nodding her thanks she leaned in and hugged Viv quickly before she turned and ran for the truck.
Viv felt her heart soften for the younger woman and then shaking off the feeling sat in the rocking chair and watched her flight.
"Blew up your Daddy, huh? Yeah, you're going to fit right into this screwed up family." Viv said to the trail of dust Kate left in her wake.
The old woman rocked herself with a small smile playing on her lips; it looked like her stubborn grandson's equilibrium was headed for a soul-shattering shakeup. The boy had become too complacent burying his wants and needs for the sake of the children; it would do him good. The fugitive and the con, Viv's smile grew wider, now that's what she called poetic justice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press that button and review folks! ; )
