Chapter 4: Gradual Discovery
"Kat, babe," Patrick said earlier the next day, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I have to be off. The Morgans won't leave me alone until they sell!"
Kat looked exasperated.
"They were here last night and you were on the phone with them the entire day yesterday discussing their stupid house, which if Imay point out, nobody wants to buy because of the incompatibly high price they set to it! Must you go again?"
"Sorry sweetie, I wish there was an alternate." He said, placing a strand of her hair beshind her ear. "Business is business. I hope our angel's knees heal soon!"
Kat stared miserably at him as he strode off. He spends three quarters of his time at work and one at home. On so-called holidays it's half and half. This wasn't what she bargained for!
She needed someone to confide in.
She dialed Bianca's number.
"Hello!" Came Bianca's unusual cheery seductive voice.
"Bianca, seriously!" Kat scolded, surprised at her sister's tone. "Don't you check caller's ID? I'm not your boyfriend calling…"
"Oh Kat hi," Bianca said, a little more stiffly. Was that guilt in her voice? "I just wasn't expecting you to call. You hardly ever do so you see."
"Well, I'm sorry."
The doorbell sounded.
"Kat, I'm a little busy. I'll call you back later, k? Luv ya!"
She hung up before Kat had the chance to reply.
Kat stared at the phone for another minute, her mind in a whirlwind. They didn't expect her to put two and two together?
She shakily went over to her daughter's bedroom. She was sound asleep cuddling a stuffed elephant she had called "Blinkey." She never went anywhere without it.
Her heart tightened in pain as Kat stroked her baby's hair. How could he do this to an innocent child?
There was only one way to confirm this.
She reverted to the Morgan's number on her caller ID. She pressed redial. This is something she should have done ages ago.
"Morgan residence," came Mrs. Morgan's voice. "Is that you, Mr. Verona?"
"Hi. No, it's his wife Kat." She said acidly. "I just wanted to have a word with my husband. I can't reach him on the cellphone for some reason."
"Your husband?" She said, completely confused. "He isn't here! Nor did he inform us that he is coming over. Why, should he be?"
Kat didn't let her emotion affect her voice.
"Oh no no, my mistake! He should be over at the, ah, Fenmore's! Do forgive this misconception. Have a nice day!"
Kat felt her sobs shake her body after she hung up. How could she be so stupid as to let her husband get away with cheating on her all along? The number of hours he spent at 'work' should have aroused suspicion ages ago! How could she, of all people, get cheated on? And Ambrosia…
She breathed deeply and tried to keep her composure for the girl, whose footsteps she could hear approaching.
"Morning Mama!" She said, clutching Blinkey tightly to her chest. "I'm up! Can you help me wash my face? If I trip again my wound will bleed more and then it will hurt and…"
"Sweets," she said, trying to hold her tears from pouring. "Go… watch Barney! It's on now. The TV is already switched on to the channel. I'll come primp you up when I'm free."
The girl cheered.
"Barney! Barney!"
She skipped off to the living room.
For the sake of her daughter more than anything, she had to take the last step to confirm It.
She dialed her father's number.
"Good morning, sugar." His voice came.
"Hi father," she said in a voice no louder than a whisper. "What's up?"
"I'm at the hospital, having just received a phone call which urged my immediate aid, for apparently a set of triplets were to be delivered. Only, when I arrived here… there wasn't any woman in labour with such! No one knows who made that call! I would currently like to get ahold of the wise guy who came up with this prank and shred his his skin to pieces!"
"Oh," Kat said, trying to suppress a sob. She knew exactly who had made that phone call.
"Durting my haste, I noticed that Patrick was arriving at our place. I didn't have time to say anything nor check if you were with him. So why aren't you?"
"I… sent him off to borrow something Bianca kindly offered. Look, Dad, I have to go. Call you later. Bye!"
She shut the phone and wailed.
Her husband… and her sister! How could she be so stupid as not to notice? The sound of Barney's songs drowned her voice as she screamed "Traitors!"
Even shrews aren't made of steel when it came to heartbreak, so she allowed herself to let it out.