Chapter twenty-four: Leave it open

"Well, that was interesting, Tom." Arthur stated as he turned to her. "Kate, you were bloody impressive."

She smiles weakly. "Thank you Arthur." She sighed and rubbed her head. "God…I've no idea. All those years!" she turned towards Thomas and laid her hand on his forearm. "Thank you. I-I didn't know I needed to know that so much. Thank you."

"You're welcome Kate."

"What," she shook her head. "What made you look into it?"

"I can't take credit for that. Daniel."

She blinked in surprise. "Daniel?"

"He asked me to do that the night in the club." she exhaled and shook her head. "He felt he owed you a debt. As for me, I felt I owed it you…because of what we are."

"Thank you. You didn't have to do that."

"No, but I wanted to do it." Thomas held her hand. "Ok, we're going into the living room and have a small discussion with the family."

"I can't." she shakes her head. "I can't take anymore."

"You don't have to do anything." He assures her. "I just want you to sit and listen. Can you handle that?"

Kate exhales. "I suppose I can. It's just…everyone's so angry at me."

"They don't know you Kate," Arthur stated as he rubbed her shoulder. "give 'em time. Regardless of what Polly thinks…I trust you."

"Thank you." She smiles as Thomas takes her hand and they approach the parlor.

"As I stated before," Jeremiah's thick Caribbean accent was the first they heard. "all will be revealed in good time. You are too angry Polly."

"Damn right I am." Kate stops in her tracks. "That little minx thinks she can just swan on in here and take over this whole family."

"That's not what Tommy's said about her," Ada says. "I don't know much about her, but I like her."

"Please."

"I don't think she's as conniving as you think she is." Ada states. "I don't get that impression of her."

"Everyone knows," Gina states. "that Polly is never wrong when it comes to affairs of the heart."

"Until now." Thomas states as he enters the parlor, tugging her along with him. She inhales and holds tightly onto his hand. "I see I'm just in time for another family discussion." He glances at Charlie and ruby, who were both glowering at her. "I hope no one was saying bad things about Kate."

"Nobody likes her." Ruby mutters loudly.

Charlie tacks on. "Expect for Ada and Jeremiah."

"I don't know her," Jeremiah states. "but I always judge a person by how they shake my hand. She extended her hand first and she had a firm grip, strong eye contact and a kind smile. I don't see any of this…malice you claim she has."

Everyone took that moment to study her and she held his or her gaze as she shifted her weight. The medication she'd been given this morning was wearing off and she was starting to feel a sharp pain in her chest where her breast had been. "Does anyone happen to have an Anacin?"

Ada searched her purse and shook her head. "I'm sorry." No one else even bothered to check their pockets.

Thomas glanced at ruby and Charlie. "Alright, you two. Go ask Elton to see if we have some Anacin for Kate. Then ask him to let us know when dinner is ready. You two go wait at the table."

They nodded and as they passed by her, they both flashed her an encouraging smile as they hurried out of the room.

She shakes her head as she grabs tumbler of whiskey. "I'll be fine." she quickly pours herself a shot of whiskey. Thomas glanced at her in surprise as she downed it as if it was tequila. She let out a sharp cough as she exhaled. "God, that's strong, but I see why you men drink it. Calms the nerves."

He gripped her hand firmly. "You're doing good Kate. Almost there." he guides her to sit down in his chair, garnering more disapproving looks from Polly, Michael and Gina. "Now," he states as he places a hand on her shoulder. "Kate is my legal wife. From here on out, you will all give her the respect she deserves as my wife." Polly rolls her eyes. "I will not, tolerate anyone disrespecting her or talking bad about her."

"I'll never trust her." Aunt Polly spat venomously. "Never."

"What did I ever do to you Polly?" Kate suddenly demands. "You disliked me from the moment I walked in the door. And for the life of me, I cannot figure out why!"

"I find it reprehensible for any man, to bring his wife's mistress to her funeral!" Kate stared at her in shock. "Your affair caused Lizzie to commit suicide and here you are, now his wife and mother to his children that you stole!"

"Enough!" he shouted. "Liz and I had been having trouble for months. That brought it on, it wasn't Kate."

"I saw what was going on between you two!" she snapped. "deny it all you want but we all saw it."

"Nothing happened between us," she stated. "all we did was acknowledge that we had met once before, but couldn't place where."

"I know, in the war you two claim, but I did some digging. There is no record of you in any Red Cross service record."

"Naturally." Kate said. "My record was destroyed."

"Why?"

"That's my personal business which I don't feel compelled to share with you at the moment." She states firmly. "Arthur and Thomas saw the proof."

"Things can be forged."

"Photographs can't." she bites out. "I still had my nurse's band and Thomas and I have discussed many of the men that we knew during our time in Verdun. I may be a clever woman, but no woman can fake all knowledge of being on a battlefield like that."

Jeremiah nodded in agreement. "There is sense in what she's saying."

"Then why won't she say the truth?"

"The way you're attacking her?" Ada states. "I wouldn't answer anything you asked me if you put it to me like that. Why should she give you anything personal? She's already given it to Tommy and Arthur because she clearly trusts them."

"I also want to put on the record," Thomas stated. "that there was nothing going on between Kate and me when Lizzie was alive." He holds Polly's gaze. "Everyone here knows that I didn't love Lizzie when I married her. She'd wanted more from me than what I could give at the time. She was angry and upset. she invited Kate to move into the cottage and wanted her out the very next day. I told her there was nothing wrong, but that woman didn't believe me."

"The eyes can see what the tongue denies."

"There wasn't even a connection between us for months. There was a mutual understanding that we'd met somewhere before." Kate stated. "Nothing happened until I got back from America. That's when things changed because we remembered how we knew each other."

"The first time I kissed Kate was in May. Lizzie had already been dead for 8 months."

"You should have waited."

"Why? She was already dead to me and the annual mourning period is 6 months." Kate reached up and placed her hand atop his hand. "Kate was genuinely fond of Lizzie and can't be blamed for what was going on in her mind at the time." Polly doesn't look convinced. "I want you to give Kate a chance."

"Why should I?" he said something in Romani, causing Polly's eyes to flash. "You're a damn fool."

"She is my wife."

"You're a fool!"

"That may be, but Kate is my wife!" he exhales raggedly as reaches for the tumbler of whiskey. "I've never had anything like this before," Kate glances up at him and her heart stills in her chest at the look in his eyes. "and I don't intend to lose her."

Jeremiah smiled at him. "Good for you my friend. I've been praying ever since Grace, that one day, you'd be blessed with someone to make your spirit lighter. This time…I think you've got her."

"I agree." Arthur states as he steps towards the center of the room, drawing all eyes to him. "I've been closer to these two during this time than any of you here. Kate makes him happy and in spite of how she looks now, she's happier around him. Isn't that what matters? She's a good woman for him."

"Everyone 'good' for him turns out bad." Polly states. "You mark my words. This will end badly."

"It'll end badly for you." Arthur states firmly. "Kate almost shot the balls off her own brother after shooting off his ears." Everyone shot her a surprised look. "I'd say, her loyalty lies here with us. She has no family, she loves those two kids to death."

Ada nods. "I agree. Everyone should give her a chance. This thing has been rushed but," she flashes her a smile. "Tommy hasn't cared for someone in a long time. It's nice to see."

"Dinner, is served." Elton states from the doorway. "Also, Mr. Shelby, we appear to out of Anacin. Shall I go fetch some?"

Kate shakes her head as everyone walks swiftly out of the room. "No, don't bother. It's late." She turns towards him. "Might I have my own room for tonight," she asks tightly. "if not to inconvenient? I need some space, it's been a trying day and my chest is killing me."

"Understood." He nods. "Do you need anything? Morphine?"

She shakes her head. "No. Uhm, do you have any laudanum?"

"Might." He glances towards Elton, who steps forward. "Have we?"

"Yes Sir. I'll fetch it myself."

"Also, prepare one of the guest rooms for Mrs. Shelby." Elton shoots him a curious look. "She's had surgery a few days ago and really shouldn't be out of bed."

Elton nods. "Of course Sir." He turns to her. "And Mrs. Shelby, might I take the liberty of sending a maid up to help you tonight until we've had time to engage a lady's maid?"

Kate blinks. "Uhm, I could use some help until I've recovered, but," she turns to him. "do I really need a lady's maid?"

"Not if you don't want it."

"Thank you. And Elton, might you have her bring up some warm water and bandages please?"

"Of course Mrs. Shelby."

As Elton turns and leaves, Thomas turns her towards him. "Aren't you going to join us for dinner?"

She shakes her head. "Not tonight. I am really tired, in pain and I need some sleep." Thomas suddenly lifts her up from the ground, causing her to cling onto him. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you up the stairs," he climbs up the stairs without any effort. "you really shouldn't be out of bed at all. How long were you supposed to stay in bed anyway?"

"Three more weeks at least. Look, you really shouldn't be carrying me."

"Kate, its fine." the sound of footsteps behind them, causes him to turn slightly to see Elton and a maid hurrying up the stairs. "Make sure it's the room adjoining mine"

"Of course Sir," Elton holds out his hand. "might I have the key for it?"

Kate frowns as he states. "I unlocked it this evening. Kate's going to be bedridden for a few weeks. First thing tomorrow, have a doctor come here to examine her."

Kate shakes her head. "Thomas, I'll be fine."

"Kate, you were bleeding this morning." He continues up the stairs. "You weren't supposed to be out of bed and you've had to deal with a lot these past few hours."

"Yet, I'm still standing," he cocks his right brow at her, causing her to smirk slightly. "or at least I would be, if you weren't holding me."

He says nothing as he continues towards what would now be her room. He sets her down outside the door, leaning against the doorframe for a moment. "Are you sure you don't want anything sent up to you?"

She shakes her head. "The moment I take the laudanum, I'm going to be out like a light."

"Alright." He straightens upright. "We'll talk tomorrow?"

Kate nods. "Yes." As he steps away, she reaches for his hand, causing him to pause as she gently squeezes his finger. "Thank you….for everything."

He inhales, looking as if he is debating something for a moment before simply stating. "Goodnight Kate." And with that, he walked away.

Kate sighed and stepped into the room. Tomorrow was another day and hopefully, it would be better than today had been.

Guest: I hope the chapters lived up to your expectations.

Angel029: She needed to know.

Idcam: Kate does have a temper, she keeps it in check until someone pushes her too far and today was one of those days. And here's the triple update, since I left all of you hanging for 3 days, figured I'd make up for the missed days. I don't know, I guess I'll find out when things calm down. We've been friends for almost 10 years now and it would be a shame if things ended in such a way.