Chapter Twenty-eight
Alison held Kate close and rocked her back and forth. She looked over at Rafe and sighed, "Do you really want to argue with me about this again?"
The sunlight in the kitchen glinting off her hair was ruining his concentration for a second. He almost forgot what she was talking about.The look of seriousness in her eyes brought him back. "No. Alison. I don't but you are crazy if you think I'm going to let you do that." He ordered.
Alison rolled her eyes at him and patted Kate's back as she continued. "OK. First of all - what's with you "letting" me do things? You can be worried about me and want me to be careful but you don't control what I do."
He knew he'd never win with that tactic. It was something he was reminded of again and again. He sighed in frustration, took a deep breath and tried again. "You can't put yourself in danger like that and think it's nothing."
"Agreed - Rafe. But I'm not in danger from Livvie." Alison insisted.
Rafe laughed bitterly. "You are kidding me - right?" He stared into her eyes and lowered his voice. "Alison - Livvie lives to hurt you."
She shook her head. "I know she's done terrible things to me. Trust me. I will never forgive her for some of them." Tears filled her eyes and Rafe knew exactly what she was talking about. He reached for her hand and kissed it gently. She sniffled back tears and continued. "But Rafe - I don't think that's why she's here. I think she needs her family right now. Plus - I don't really think she'll want to hurt the baby."
"If she comes within ten feet of Katrina…" Rafe's voice shook as he said the words.
"Shh. I know. Believe me I warned her already." Alison tried to calm him. "But I meant her baby - not ours."
"Wait - what? Her baby??" Rafe was stunned. "Are you saying she's pregnant??"
"Yeah." Alison looked at him, confused. "You didn't know?"
"No. I didn't know -" He admitted. "..and you know what? I'll believe it when I see it - Alison. I don't know what she told you but I'm pretty sure she's lying."
"She didn't tell me. I guessed. She nearly fainted - right in front of me."
"Maybe she hadn't eaten lately." Rafe's mind was spinning.
"Rafe. I know morning sickness when I see it. I'm sure it's true - Livvie's pregnant."
"And it's Caleb's baby right?" He asked then.
Knowing Livvie is wasn't an unusual question. Alison nodded. "I'm pretty sure. At this point – who else's would it be?"
"This cannot be happening." Rafe ran his hand over his face. As he looked over at Alison holding their daughter his heart began to race.
Alison began to worry as she started at him. He looked like he was about to lose it. She tried her best to reassure him and calm him down. "Rafe. I know it might be shocking - but you know - I actually think it's a good thing."
It was as if he didn't even hear her. He moved closer and ran a hand over Kate's head as he whispered. "This is exactly what I was afraid of."
"What?" Alison asked, her heart beginning to pound.
The look in his eyes made her really nervous. "This is not the life I wanted for her. I don't want her to have to do this." He said softly as he took Kate in his arms. "I thought this battle would end with him and me."
************"
"I'll just stay here Dad. It's OK." Livvie insisted.
Kevin was far from convinced. "Nonsense. You need to get out. Just meet me for lunch later."
"Dad. No one wants me here. You know that."
"I want you here and the hell with the rest of them. Livvie. You can't stay holed up here forever. It isn't good for you" He added "…or the baby." He walked over and held her hands in his. "Meet me at the Recovery Room at noon. OK? We'll have lunch and if anyone even looks at you sideways they'll have to deal with me."
"OK." Livvie finally, reluctantly agreed. "I will."
************
"Rafe. Livvie's mortal. Caleb's mortal. They're not vampires anymore. Kate won't have to deal with them at all." Alison ran her hand down Kate's back and stared into his eyes as she spoke the words.
He sighed as he gazed over at her, amazed as always by her boundless optimism. "That's one of the things I love most about you. You really – truly believe that."
"I believe it because it's true." She insisted. "Caleb didn't even come with her."
"And you think he let her leave knowing she was carrying his child?" Rafe asked. He shook his head and held Katrina tighter. "No. I'm sure she kept it from him."
"Maybe she did." Alison thought it made sense, judging how Livvie had acted in the park. "But – OK. So if Caleb doesn't know then what are you worried about."
"He'll find out soon enough – and then…"
"And then what – Rafe?" Alison asked. "Then what? You'll teach Katrina to kickbox? Place her and Livvie's baby in the playpen together and let them duke it out? What?"
He turned away from her and put Kate in her swing. It was her new favorite thing. He usually loved watching how her face lit up as he placed her in it and turned it on.
"It's not a bad idea." He said, his voice serious as he turned to face Alison again.
She sighed again. "Rafe. You're ridiculous. You're fighting something that's not even here."
Rafe looked at her – his eyes lethal. "Please don't start that with me again Alison. Caleb is deadly. He can't be trusted."
"I agree. But he's not here Rafe."
"His child is."
"Not even close. And when Livvie does have the baby – Rafe – it'll be just that. A baby. Could you ever consider the fact that maybe if things were different Caleb wouldn't have turned out the way he did? Like if your mom hadn't died – how your life would've ended up."
"I wouldn't change a thing about my life." Rafe promised as he crossed to her and pulled her into his arms. "If things had worked out differently – I'd have had a harder time finding you."
"I guess we could thank Caleb somewhat for that huh?"
"That's the only thing I'll ever thank him for." He promised.
"Rafe. C'mon. "Let" me go talk to Livvie. I promise I'll be careful. I can find out more information than any of you. Livvie used to be my best friend. I saw a glimpse of the old her the other day. Maybe I can catch her again."
Rafe wasn't convinced. "It's too dangerous."
She batted her eyelashes at him and gave him a smirk. "If you tell me not to you know I'll sneak out and do it anyway."
"Alison." He said, completely exasperated.
"I'll take that as a yes." She smiled up at him.
He knew she was right – but that didn't mean he liked it. "BE CAREFUL." He gripped her arms tightly and stared into her eyes.
"I will be." Alison said as she rose on her toes to kiss him. "I promise."
************
Livvie tiptoed into the Recovery Room – hoping that Kevin would already be there. No such luck. She lurked near the doorway until a beautiful girl appeared, her eyes kind as she spoke to her.
"Hi! Welcome. How many?" Imani asked.
"Umm. Two. I'm meeting my dad." Livvie said shyly.
"Right this way." Imani led her to a table by the window. "Come in out of that doorway. It's almost April but there's still a chill in the air. We've got a new menu so take a look. Someone will be right over to take your order."
"Thanks." Livvie mumbled.
Just then – Jack walked out of the back room. He could barely believe his eyes. "Well, well, well." He said, his voice full of hatred. "Look what the cat dragged in."
