Chapter Eleven
It's been a few months now since Mike and I made peace at the park. Things have been a lot better between us since that day under the trees. It's almost as if things are back to normal.
"Katrina," Donna says with a knock on my open office door.
"Hey Donna, what can I do for you?" I ask. She has one of those determined looks on her face making it clear she has an agenda.
"I was wondering if maybe you and Mike would want to join me and Harvey for dinner tonight, but only if you want to," Donna says hesitantly as she sits down across from me.
"Um, yeah I would love to. Let me just make sure Mike is free and I'll let you know, okay?" I reply. We haven't had a night out with Donna and Harvey since before everything went to shit. I miss the dynamic the four of us had.
"So, that's better now? I mean I noticed you two both seemed happier and that's why I asked you to dinner, but if you aren't ready that's okay too," Donna says with a sympathetic look on her face. Her eyes narrowed more than usual and her lips in the form of a soft smile.
"Yeah it is better actually. We had a real talk and he told me exactly what happened. I mean things are by no means perfect, but we are going to be okay. I just wanted him to tell me about it. That's really the only thing I'm still upset about," I explain.
"And you're completely valid in being upset about that. I'm sorry I'm the one who told you. I'm also sorry that I suggested going to the bar that night," Donna says. I just look at her for a minute. I had no idea she felt any responsibility for anything.
"Donna, it's- you have to listen to me when I say none of this is on you. Nothing at all. Although I wish with my whole being that it was Mike that told me, I'm glad that you were the alternative. You've been an amazing friend through all of this. Really. I couldn't have survived this without your support, I mean that," I say. "I don't tell you often enough Donna, but I love you."
She gets up out of her chair and comes over to me at my desk. I stand up and meet her in a hug. "I know you aren't big on hugs, but you can't say something so sweet to me and expect me not to wrap you up," Donna says and I just laugh and hold her closer. "Alright now," she says pulling away from me, "you get back to work so we can leave early for dinner." And she leaves my office with a smile.
"Wait so you're telling me that you listen to Dolly Parton?" Harvey says to Mike from across the dinner table. I look over to my husband next to me and just smile. I can't wait to see his answer.
"Dude, she's fantastic. You have to give her a shot," Mike says and looks over at me. "She introduced me to her, and I've never been the same."
"All it took was one listen to 'Here You Come Again' and he was hooked," I say, and everyone laughs.
"So, I hear your high school reunion is coming up Katrina. Are you going?" Donna asks. I have no idea how she knows about the reunion, but I haven't brought it up to Mike yet.
"Oh, I don't know. Probably not. I've spent too much time away from work recently and I just saw my family," I say trying to move the conversation along. Mike doesn't look over at me like he always does while I speak.
Donna doesn't catch the hint, "I think you should go. Show those people you went to high school with how great you still are," she says.
"We'll see," I say, and Harvey jumps into the next topic. But the air has shifted a bit. Mike's hand was close to mine on the table before Donna brought up the reunion, but now it's resting in his lap. I feel a thousand miles away from him again.
When we get home from dinner, Mike goes straight inside to get ready for bed. After a few moments, I follow him into the bedroom.
"I was going to tell you about the reunion. I just didn't want to throw a wrinkle in what we have here," I say sitting down on the bed next to him as he takes off his shoes.
"Do you want to go?" he asks, but still doesn't look at me.
"I- I don't know. I honestly didn't even consider going. I've never been one to sit around and talk about the good old days with people I haven't even seen since then," I explain.
"I think you should go," he says quietly. I put one of my hands on his back softly and the other around his arm. He lets out a breath at my touch.
"Will you go with me?" I ask him. There's a moment of silence before he answers as we sit in the dark bedroom.
"You know I'd go anywhere with you," he says. I lean my head onto his back and touch him softly. "I didn't mean to get distant at dinner. I was thinking about everything that happened that first time we went to Pennsylvania. And I know it's ridiculous because we've been there so many times since then."
"Mike it's not ridiculous. Things are different. If you don't want to go, we don't have to," I offer.
"No, we're going. You want to go. I think I already know the answer to this, but did you tell your parents about what happened?" Mike asks.
I reposition to where I can see him completely and he can see me. "I did," I start, "but it's okay. I also told them about what really happened. I promise they don't think any different of you."
"You can't promise that Katrina. Hell, you feel differently about me. There's no way they are okay with me temporarily breaking their girl's heart," he says. And there it is. He isn't worried about what happened the first time, he's worried about what's going to happen this time.
"Mike, I can make sure that everything will be okay. I can do that for you," I say.
"How?" he asks.
"Because I love you. And nothing that happens here or there or anywhere could ever change that," I say and touch his face lightly. His eyes narrow in on mine.
"How do you always make everything feel okay?" he says as he puts his forehead to mine.
I just smile and lean in for a lingering kiss. I've never known a man as intimately as I know him, and I never want to know anyone else this way. When he pulls away from the kiss, I can feel a shift in the atmosphere from our cosmic touch. In this moment, I want him like I've never wanted him before. We sit here kissing for what feels like forever before his strong arms lift me up to lay me on the bed, his lips never breaking contact with my body. I want to feel this way for the rest of my life. So overwhelmed with love and passion.
The next morning, I wake to Taylor busting into our bedroom. I look to the clock next to our bed to see it's only four a.m.
"Taylor baby what's wrong?" I ask her in the early morning light.
"I can't sleep," she replies in a whiny, whispering voice.
"Come here," I say to her and reach my arms out. She walks over to my side of the bed and climbs her way in with my help. She immediately wraps her small arms around my neck. I hear an almost inaudible sigh of relief come from her and it makes me want to cry. Throughout everything with Mike and I, we've tried to make sure the kids are getting enough attention from us, but I'm just not sure how well we are doing. It could just be that Taylor can't sleep or maybe she just needs to be held again.
"I love you, Taylor," I say as I snuggle her. She's already asleep, but I say it anyways.
I don't fall back asleep and Taylor is sleeping soundly in my arms when Mike wakes up.
"Look at you two," he says in a sweet morning voice, a smile covering his face.
"She couldn't sleep," I say, and he moves to place his hand softly on my cheek.
"You're the best mom, Katrina. Our kids are so lucky," he says leaning in for a soft, good morning kiss.
"Thank you. I think she needed some snuggle time," I say with a quiet laugh. Taylor still hasn't moved.
"We should do something just us and the kids today," Mike says while getting up to see if Bennett is awake.
"Yes, we definitely should," I agree and try to slip out of Taylor's grasp, knowing Bennett will be ready to eat if he is awake.
I reach over to my nightstand to grab my phone. I see a text from Donna: Sheila had the baby!
"Oh my god, Mike!" I say loudly and Taylor wakes up next to me.
"What?" Mike says frantically as he runs back into the bedroom. This time with Bennett in his arms.
"Baby! Louis!" I still can't form clear sentences. I'm overjoyed for Louis and Shelia.
"Let's go see them today," Mike suggests.
Aw! I'm going to go see them today! I reply to Donna's text.
"Yes," I tell Mike.
"But I do have some things to do around the house this morning, so if you want to go this morning without me then you can," he says bringing Bennett to me as I sit up.
"Okay. I'll go this morning and we can all see them once they get home," I say. Mike gives me a nod and we start to get ready for the day.
"Donna," Mike says as he opens the front door and sees the redhead standing in front of him. He wasn't expecting to see her today. "Katrina's out right now."
"Yeah I know, can I come in?" Donna replies. She knew Katrina was at the hospital seeing Louis' new baby girl and she needed Mike to be alone to accomplish her agenda.
"Of course," Mike says and steps back to let her inside. Taylor runs through the living room and Mike kindly reminds her not to run in the house. Donna just laughs at the little blonde's energy.
"I wanted to talk to you about everything," Donna says.
"Okay..." Mike says skeptically. What more could Donna want to talk about? They were going to Pennsylvania tomorrow for Katrina's reunion and they'd already been reconnected for some time.
"Do you think she's really okay? I mean I know you talked it out, but at dinner the other night I noticed you both shut down," Donna says sitting down on the couch.
"Yeah yeah, we just hadn't talked about the reunion and I got pissed. It's not really your problem to worry about though, Donna," Mike says a bit defensively. He doesn't like medaling.
"I'm just worried about my friends, Mike. I just want you two to make it. And you might not if Katrina isn't okay," Donna says, this time with a bit more of a harsh tone to her voice.
"We're fine. She's fine. Thanks for the concern," he says back to her, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.
"Mike," Donna says.
"What? Do you think I don't know she isn't okay? Of course I know that, but I also know she's getting better. We're rebuilding our relationship. I know she deserves the entire damn world, but I just don't know how to give it to her," Mike confesses.
"Mike you don't understand. You are her entire world and you can give yourself to her," Donna explains. "But you're right it's none of my business. Just one more thing before I leave. Be careful back in Pennsylvania," she says.
"Careful?" Mike questions.
"Careful. You're probably going to see Joshua again. And Aaron. And everyone in her family that knows what happened. You need to be prepared for what you're walking into," Donna explains. She just wants Mike to not be taken off guard.
Mike hadn't thought about seeing Aaron or Joshua, but now it's all he can think about. "I'll be fine, Donna."
"Okay. Tell Katrina I said have fun back home," Donna says and with that she gets up to leave. But before she does she goes upstairs to see Taylor.
Before she comes back down, Katrina gets home.
"Hey everybody," Katrina says as she walks through the door.
"Hey babe," Mike says and gives her a light kiss. Keeping his arms around her, he asks, "How's the baby?"
"Adorable. It made me remember when the kids were first born. So fresh and cuddly," Katrina explains. She can't wait to have another child in the future. Or maybe a few more.
Donna walks down the stairs carrying Taylor. The little girl is getting older but she's still small enough for everyone to easily carry.
"Well hey Donna, I didn't know you were here!" Katrina says at the sight of the woman.
"Yeah I just wanted to see you guys before your trip," she replies and walks to give Katrina a hug. "Have a great time and don't worry about work. We've got it here."
"Thanks Donna. Have fun at your anniversary dinner tonight," Katrina says. It's Donna and Harvey's six-month anniversary and they're going out to celebrate.
"Oh I will," Donna says with a wink and leaves the house.
"Can you keep a secret?" Mike asks Katrina as soon as Donna's car is out of sight.
"Ugh you know I hate secrets," Katrina says, and she always has.
"No no it's a good one. A great one, even. Please let me tell you," Mike says and wraps his arms around her from behind. He nuzzles his head between her shoulder and neck, amazed as always at how perfect he fits there. He places a soft kiss on her collarbone and she gives in.
"Fine, tell me," she says with a smile she can't hide.
"Harvey's proposing tonight," Mike says and her reaction is everything. She gets out of his embrace and practically jumps up into the air.
"Oh my god! That's amazing!" Katrina says. And it really is amazing. Donna and Harvey are just perfect for each other on every level.
"I know! I'm so glad you know now. I've been holding it in for weeks. But please still act surprised when Donna tells you," Mike says and gets his wife back into his embrace.
"I will, I promise. I'm just so happy for them," she says and puts her head on Mike's chest. She listens to his heartbeat for a while before Taylor runs through the room.
"Nina Taylor Ross, no ma'am. You have to stop running," Katrina tries to scold her daughter. But when Taylor looks at her with those big blue eyes of hers and pouty lips, she can't help but give up on being upset with her. She's just too precious.
"Stay strong," Mike whispers to Katrina but he knows she's too far gone so he tries to distract the both of them. "Alright, come on ladies let's get packed for our trip tomorrow. Mom you've got yours and Bennett's stuff and Taylor and I will get ours, deal?"
"Deal," Katrina says with a smile. She's excited to see her family again and some of her old friends. But there are some people she hopes won't show.