Chapter Twenty

"Where are you taking me?" Colin asked, his voice almost bored.

"Where do you want to go?" Kevin asked.

Colin stared at the stranger beside him. "Look. Cut the crap. I know my father sent you so why don't you just take me to where he is. We can go a few rounds before I take off again. I want to get this over with." He sounded so sad, Kevin's heart was breaking.

"I guess you really don't know who I am then." Kevin said with a bit of a smile. "Trust me. The last place I'd bring you is to your father." Kevin replied.

Colin's patience was wearing thin. "I'm not playing 20 questions. Why don't you tell me who you are?"

Kevin looked at him with concern. "Are you hungry? You weren't at the party long enough to eat anything."

"Who are you?" Colin demanded, ignoring him.

Kevin pulled up near the Pizza Shack. He stopped the car and put it in park. "C'mon. Let me buy you something to eat and I'll tell you what you want to know.

*******************************

Kate moved to sit on the porch swing, smiling a bit when she saw Danny nearly dragging Maggie to the car.

So much had happened in the last couple of weeks. She almost didn't know who she was anymore.

"Penny for your thoughts." Abby said as she walked onto the porch. She moved to sit beside her.

"Hi." Kate said with a sigh. "I don't know if they're worth that much."

Abby smiled. "Sure they are. A lot's going on lately, huh?"

"You could say that. Did Mom send you?"

"Yes. Your father burned the last batch of burgers and she's dealing with it. She doesn't want me to help her. She seems to think I'm as inept as he is."

"You two work hard keeping up your reputation." Kate laughed. "Dad's pretty much hopeless, but I know for a fact you can cook if you have to."

"But why should I?" Abby grinned widely. "Take my advice. Find yourself a man who cooks, sweetie. It's a live saver."

"I'm going to take a break from finding one I think." Kate laughed softly and then stared at her lap.

"Katie?" Abby put her arm around her shoulder and held her close.

"I don't know why I feel this way." She said, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Because. You've loved Danny for a while. It's not easy to be the one who's left behind."

Kate shook her head no. "This is the problem. I'm not crying over Danny, Aunt Abby."

"It's Colin then?" She asked as she ran a hand over her hair.

"Yeah." Kate looked up and faced her, trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. It was hopeless. They just kept falling. "How is that possible? I barely know him."

"Sometimes it just happens like that. When you least expect it."

"Not for you though. You knew that you belonged with Uncle Cam forever." Kate sighed.

Even after all this time, just hearing his name made her heart beat faster. "Yes. I did. But that's not how it usually works." She promised her.

Kate didn't understand. "Sure it is. Grant knows he loves Chloe. He's always known."

"And look how happy they are together." Abby said with a smile. "He knows what he wants but he's scared to death about doing something about it. I'm sure it'll work out eventually but that's a whole other problem. We're talking about you now."

"Aunt Abby, a few weeks ago I thought I was supposed to be with Danny. I was sure of it. It made sense, and even though Dad likes to tease him he really liked him. I don't understand why…"

"Why Danny found someone else?" Abby asked. "Because, honey. It wasn't meant to be. He's not the one for you."

"Shouldn't he be?" Kate was so confused.

"Did you love him Katie? I mean really love him - so much that you couldn't bear to be away from him for a second?"

"I thought so." She took a deep breath and tried to clear her head. It was full of thoughts of Colin. She guessed that was her answer.

"But now, just a few weeks after he's gone, you're crying over someone else. I know it mostly sucks, but this will be really a good thing I think."

"He's gone." Kate said, softly.

"What?"

"He's gone, Aunt Abby. Colin left. He came rushing into town and he made me care about him and now he's gone. I just can't shake this feeling that I'll wonder where he is forever."

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"Thanks for the pizza. Now can you please tell me why you care so much about my eating habits?"

"Colin." Kevin sighed. "I still can't believe she named you that. It means a lot to me."

At least that was some sort of clue. Colin was starting to get a bit freaked out. "You know my mom then?"

"Yes." Kevin said with a smile. "I know your mom."

"You're her - wait." Realization washed over him. "You're her dad."

"You're a smart kid." Kevin replied. "Yes. That's true. I guess that makes me your grandfather."

"Kevin Collins." Colin said then.

"Yes." Kevin nodded.

"She loves you, you know." Colin said, suddenly uncomfortable. Talking about his mom was easier than dealing with all the rest of it. "But she loves him more than both of us."

Kevin hoped it wasn't true but he knew better. "She always has. I thought that might change over time."

Colin could tell him it was impossible. "He won't let it. He controls her."

"But not you." Kevin said as he stared in his grandson's eyes.

"No. Never me." Colin's vowed.

*************************

"If it's meant to be, he'll find you again." Abby promised.

"Sure." Kate wasn't convinced.

"You don't want to argue this with me, or your mom for that matter. From what I hear, Colin's still in the U.S. Getting him back here is a piece of cake, Katie." Abby laughed.

Kate laughed back. "Good point. I just wish I knew why he ran out of here. I know Dad's scary but I don't think that was it. Something else happened."

"Do you have his number?" Abby asked.

"Uh huh." Kate replied.

"So." She leaned in an kissed her temple as she whispered. "Call him."

"I don't know if I want to talk to him. I'm too angry."

"So. Call him and let him have it." Her love for arguing was showing. "It'll be fun."

Kate finally smiled again. "Aunt Abby, you have some very unconventional ideas."

"Yeah. But they work. Go call him. If you fight, you'll have to kiss and make up."

"Not a bad plan. Aunt Abs." She smiled wider.

Abby agreed. She stood, wanting to go back inside to see if she could pick a fight with Cam. "Stick with me kid, I've got tons of them."

*****************************

"I want to help you. Will you let me?" Kevin asked.

"I need to leave here. I can't stay." Colin looked at him desperate.

The last thing Kevin wanted him to do is leave. "Why? I have a place for you. I want to get to know you - if you'll let me. My father, he left me a cabin. Please. Stay there. Take some time and relax. Let someone take care you for a change."

It sounded too good to be true. He wanted to say yes, but he knew it was too dangerous. Colin's voice was choked as he replied. "I can't. I need to stay away from Katrina."

"OK." Kevin didn't understand.

Tears brimmed from his eyes grandson's eyes. "She can't know who I am. She'll hate me. I couldn't bear it if she hated me."

"Colin…"

He couldn't stop talking. "She's so beautiful. Isn't she beautiful?" Colin didn't need to hear his answer. "She is. She's gorgeous, and funny and sweet. She's everything I ever wanted. But it doesn't matter. None of it matters because her family's legacy is to destroy mine. So as much as I want it to, this won't work. If she finds out she'll look at me and see him. And she'd despise me. I can't - I wouldn't be able to deal with that."

So that's what happened. Kevin realized. He found out where he was. He didn't blame the kid for running.

Colin stood and looked out at the water. "Wherever I go, no matter how far, eventually, that's what happens. It always happens. People look at me and see him."

"I don't. I don't see him at all." Kevin promised. "He'd never care what someone thought of him." He smiled as he added. "Especially a Kovich."

Colin was shocked and speechless. No one had ever said that to him before. No one had bothered to pay much attention to him in a very long time. He thought about staying, and getting to know his grandfather. He wanted to, for the first time in a while he wanted to stay someplace. He felt like he belonged. Katrina did that for him first, but now he found his family. Colin was torn. His first instinct was to say no, because it was just easier. But, somehow he thought Kevin would understand better than anyone.

Kevin saw him weakening. He tried one last time. "Please, Colin. Stay."

"It's not far?" Colin asked. He didn't have to promise too much. Maybe he'd just stay there for the night and get some sleep. The motel was pretty awful. This place had to be better.

Kevin's heart filled with hope. "Far enough so you can take some time to think things through, but really? No. Not far at all. C'mon. I'll take you there now."

They started to walk towards the car. "Thank you - um - I'm sorry." Colin was a bit embarrassed. "What should I call you?"

Grandpa seemed a bit presumptuous to Kevin. He suddenly had an idea. "My wife calls me Doc."

"Doc." Colin said, trying it out. He gave his grandfather a smile, feeling better than he had in hours. "That'll work."