A/N: Okay, my readers. Please don't think I'm a terrible person. Between the site acting up within the last couple of days and me making sure that you receive the updates and having issues uploading (still don't know why that happens), one of my readers pointed out from Facebook where I also update this story that I got the last couple of chapters mixed up. I guess I posted ch48, 50, & 51 but NOT 49. I didn't realize this until early this morning when she left me a message telling me. So, I'll be posting that right now. If the story seems confusing to read right now because of it, please reread the last 4 chapters to get clarification. My apologies. I'm not perfect. If you're still with me on this story, please let me know what you think. I don't know how to fix my mistake chapter wise and I'm not going to attempt to incase I make it even worse (if that's even possible). Any questions, let me know. Thank you to those who have reviewed so far. I don't know if the site is up and running again. I'm gonna attempt to post this. If you receive this, please read & review. Thanks.
Title: FSOG: From Heartbreak to Happiness?
Chapter 49
***Same Day***
(Kate comes home in tears. Ana, who was catching up on some paperwork from work, can hear her bestie friend's quiet sobs. She immediately puts her paperwork down on the table and goes to her friend)
Ana: (concerned) "What happened? What's wrong?"
(Kate wipes her tear-stained eyes and speaks)
Kate: (sniffles) "I ran into my mom earlier."
Ana: (surprised) "She's here in Seattle? Huh. I didn't know that."
Kate: (shakes her head) "Me, either. We bumped into each other outside the cafe. It was awkward, to put
it mildly."
Ana: (snorts) "That's an understatement. Go on."
(They go to the couch and get comfortable)
Kate: "Ana, it's been years, YEARS, since I've seen her. Did I want to see her again?" (shakes her head) "Hell, no. But she seemed genuinely interested in how I was. She had some coffee and I had my vanilla latte. She commented that it's been a while since we saw each other. I couldn't help but say that it's because of my own stepdad who put the moves on me."
(Kate softly cries as she continues)
Kate: "Ana, she acted shocked when I brought that up. As if she expected me to forget it. In her defense, she said she didn't know who to believe because there was no proof."
Ana: (scoffs) "When someone says they've been molested, something is usually up. There may not have been proof, but she should have looked into it. At least, she could have involved the police. She didn't do any of that."
Kate: "I couldn't take it anymore, Ana. I told her if she would have believed her own daughter over that fucker, none of this would've happened. I rushed out of there and ended up knocking over the chair I sat on in the process. I knew if I stayed, I would've said something I regretted. As much as I'm pissed off at my mom, I don't want to say something I'll regret. I honestly don't know if I ever want to see her again."
Ana: (shakes her head) "I don't blame you, girl. Hopefully if you bump into her again, she'll truly be apologetic and know what she did wrong. It doesn't sound like that right now."
Kate: (shrugs) "She seemed sorry. In my opinion, though, she didn't go out of her way to truly mean it."
(Ana pulls her best friend into an embrace and lets Kate cry it out. A little bit later, Kate wanted some comfort from Elliot. After arriving at her boyfriend's apartment, she knocks, and he lets her in. Elliot can tell something is wrong from her tear stained face)
Elliot: (worried) "What happened, babe? Talk to me."
(She rushes into his arms and he comforts her for a few minutes until they get settled on his black couch)
Kate: "I ran into my mother after not seeing her since I was 17. She seemed sorry. She made the comment we haven't seen each other in years."
Elliot: (scoffs) "Yeah, I wonder why! Maybe if she believed you to begin with instead of that loser...that's her own damn fault."
Kate: "I wanted to make up with her. I just...I just couldn't, though. She hurt me so badly. The last straw was when she said there was no proof of what he did. I couldn't take it anymore, Elliot. I ended up knocking over the chair I was sitting in and rushed out of there. Elliot...she..." (softly cries) "...She hurt me so bad when she took his word over mine." (raises her voice) "I don't give a shit that she said I didn't have proof! I'm her fucking daughter! She should've believed me over him! When a young woman makes an accusation like that against her father or anyone...it should be investigated! She never did that! I packed my bags and got the hell out of there. I never looked back."
Elliot: "If she were to truly apologize to you over what she did back then, would you ever be able to forgive her?"
(Kate ponders his question after what felt like hours but was only seconds. She shakes her head in uncertainty)
Kate: "I honestly don't know."
(Elliot rests his hand over Kate's and speaks in a gentle tone)
Elliot: "For the record, it's totally up to you what you want to do. I will never tell you what to do. But, if it were up to me? I'd reach out to my mom and get it all out in the open because it sounds like you want to do that. You sound confused or uncertain. However, you want to try salvaging the relationship."
(Kate can't help the chuckle from escaping her mouth as she speaks)
Kate: "You know me so well, Grey."
Elliot: (chuckles a bit) "Of course I do. I love you, babe."
***The Next Morning***
(Kate got her usual latte and is about to exit the cafe when her mom gently rests her hand on Kate's shoulder. Kate turns around to see her mother. Before Kate has a chance to leave, her mom asks to speak to her)
Lori: "Please, Kate."
Kate: (sighs) "I-I don't know."
Lori: "I promise. I won't make you mad intentionally or upset you on purpose. I just want to say my piece."
(After thinking about it for a moment, she says okay. They take a seat near the door. Mom couldn't help but be hopeful as Kate sits down. Kate takes a drink of her latte and speaks)
Kate: (nods) "Go on. I'm listening. Please don't make me regret this."
Lori: "Before your stepdad passed away a few years ago, he admitted his wrongdoings. He knew he couldn't lie anymore about what he did. Needless to say, I was shocked. I slapped him across the face and cried at how I didn't believe you. I damned him to hell and told him to get the hell out of my life." (tearfully) "Oh, sweetie, no words will ever be enough to describe how sorry I am."
(Kate thinks back to the night of his death. She fears that she'll go to jail. Her head was going to all the worst case scenarios. Lori must have sensed Kate's worriedness as she spoke)
Lori: "Kate, I know what happened the night your stepfather died."
(Kate is shocked! How the hell did her mom know? Did her mom catch her in the act somehow? Did her mom hire someone to find out? Lori can tell Kate's mind was going a million miles a minute)
Lori: "After the incident, I spoke to the cops. The more I thought about it and the more I spoke to the police, I started putting the pieces together. I realized what happened the night he died. Kate, honey, I want you to know something. I don't blame you for what happened. I believe you 100%. I know you were only defending yourself and that Anastasia was, too."
Kate: (shakes her head) "I never said anything out of fear that you wouldn't believe me. I was so scared you would think the worst and I would go to prison."
(Lori gets up from her chair and kneels in front of her daughter, speaking in a sincere tone)
Lori: "I believe you, my beautiful daughter, I have no intention of punishing you. I'm sure you've been punishing yourself all of these years." (nods) "Am I right?"
Kate: (cries) "You're right. I have. I was picturing so many things that would go wrong. I appreciate you saying you believe me." (sniffles) "Thank you, mom."
Lori: "Oh, honey. I should have believed you all along. I'm so sorry."
Kate: (nods) "I forgive you."
(Kate and her mom embrace after years of being apart and being at odds)
Chapter 49 Done
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