Bradin just walked away from Kaitlin after kissing her. Tears were down his face as he thought about his life and what he was losing. He hated the fact that someone he actually likes can't be with him. He wanted to know why.
"Bradin!" a female voice yelled. He ignored it. He continued walking until someone ran in front of him and began rambling on. It was Kaitlin. He covered her mouth to shut her up because she was confusing him. "Slow down," he said.
"There's something that you need to know," she said.
Kaitlin's parents, Ethan, and Alex were at home waiting for Kaitlin to return. The front door opened. Kaitlin and Bradin walked in. Kaitlin's parents stood up not believing what their daughter was doing. They walked up to her.
"He has to know why I can't be a part of his life anymore," Kaitlin told them.
They nodded and let them by. Ethan ran up to Kaitlin. "Mommy!" he yelled jumping into her arms. Bradin realized that Ethan was the kid he saw at the beach. He looked at Kaitlin.
"Remember what I told you happened at Spanish Cove?" she asked. "Well, this is the result of what happened. I had Ethan."
Bradin stared at her blankly not knowing what to say. Then, one question popped into his head. "Why can't you hang out with me?" he asked.
"Social Services will take Ethan away from me if they find me hanging out with you instead of taking care of Ethan. They don't think that I've done a good enough job for three years. I can't lose Ethan. I'm sorry I chose him over you."
"That's bullshit," he said, "They can't do that."
Kaitlin wasn't expecting this reaction from Bradin. She was waiting for him to yell at her and call her names and ask why she kept the secret from him.
"I played with Ethan and Alex yesterday for about an hour," he told her, "He's a great kid. And, I'll help you save him from getting taken away from you."
"I don't get you," Kaitlin said.
"He's trying to save you from getting hurt by Ryan," her father said.
"Ryan is doing this?" Bradin asked.
"Yes. He's not allowed to see Ethan. He thinks that since he can't see him, then no one can take care of him."
"And, that's why he hit you," Bradin said to Kaitlin who was in tears at this point, "I really want to help you."
"You can help her by staying away from her for the rest of her life," her father said.
Kaitlin stood there holding Ethan and listening to her parents and Bradin argue. She put Ethan down and ran up to her room and slammed her door.
"Mommy," Ethan said as he began to cry.
Kaitlin's mother picked him up and said, "It's okay, sweetie."
Kaitlin lied in her room thinking of her life. The only thing that entered her mind was something that would hurt everyone in her life. But, she wanted to do it. She couldn't take the tears. She got up, walked over to her door, and opened it to find Bradin holding Ethan. Ethan was crying into Bradin.
"Mommy," Ethan said reaching out to her.
Kaitlin took her son into her arms and looked at Bradin. He placed his hands in his pockets and looked back at her. Neither of them knew what to say to the other. Kaitlin stepped forward.
"I'm sorry," she said.
He shook his head. "Don't be," he said softly.
Kaitlin let Bradin into her room. Bradin sat on her bed as Kaitlin held Ethan in her arms as she lied on the bed.
"He looks so much like you," Bradin said as he looked Kaitlin in the eyes.
"I get that a lot," she said.
"Mommy," Ethan said.
"Yes?" she asked looking down at him.
"Read me a story," he said rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"I can do it," Bradin offered. Kaitlin smiled and pointed to a book that was lying on her desk. He took the book, lied next to Ethan so that he Ethan was in between Kaitlin and him, and began to read Power Rangers.
"He loves the Power Rangers," Kaitlin said.
"I thought so," Bradin said smiling at her.
Kaitlin's parents walked up to her room around ten to see how the three were doing. They found them, all three of them, sleeping on Kaitlin's bed. They looked at each other, closed the door, and left them to sleep.
