His chocolate brown eyes were hypnotizing. Blond hair, strangely matched with his eyes, framed his face with charming curls. She had always known he was hot, but up close he became irresistible. How could she say no to the cutest and most popular guy in school?
"So," he prompted, "will you go?"
"Yes," she answered breathlessly.
"Great," he grinned. "Pick you up at eight?"
"Okay," she agreed, still trying to breathe.
Tears pooled in Kate's eyes as she drove. Memories attacked her mind, breaking out of the remote corners where she had chained them. That night, in particular, kept surfacing. She had just turned sixteen when Dominic Fleming asked her out. She had thought it would be the best night of her life.
"L'Endroit? That's the ritziest restaurant in town!" Caitlin exclaimed.
"Only the best for you, babe," he smirked.
She gazed at the menu in awe, unwilling to admit she couldn't read any of it. She was shocked by the prices, too. Finally, she meekly ordered the cheapest meal and hoped it would be something she liked. He kept smiling at her, his eyes twinkling. She blushed, flattered, but wished in a way he would quit staring. She was growing steadily more aware and uncomfortable of how her body filled out her dress.
"Watch this," he winked, motioning to a waiter. "We'd like a bottle of your best wine."
The waiter gave a brief nod and moved off. Caitlin stared at Dominic. His grin widened as he misinterpreted her gape.
"My dad owns Thumbelina's," he explained, invoking the name of the large grocery chain in hopes of impressing her.
"But…you're only 17," she whispered, the question apparent in her voice.
"Oh, that." He waved a hand dismissively. "They know me here. I've only had to use this once." He produced a driver's license with his picture but, apparently, someone else's information.
"Oh," she smiled nervously, a very tiny alarm bell sounding in her mind. She was a little impressed, though. Using false ID to buy alcohol was daring, rebellious. She kind of liked the bad boy Dominic was turning out to be.
The wine came and Dominic popped the cork expertly. She almost objected to his pouring her a glass but kept silent, not wanting to look prudish. Watching carefully as he downed his glass, she managed to imitate his attitude and took a small sip. The stuff was nasty, but she choked it down anyway. Before she knew it, she had downed a whole glass.
Kate pulled into the parking lot of a large professional building. She took a moment to check herself in the mirror, hastily wiping her eyes and brushing her hair into a more presentable shape. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she slowly opened the car door and walked toward the building.
Caitlin grew increasingly uneasy as Dominic became more inebriated. She had imbibed only the one glass of the wine, but he had downed most of the bottle. His previously charming grin as beginning to look more like a leer and she found his eyes drifting from her face to her…other assets. Realizing that this date was not going to get any better, she decided to end it.
"Dominic," she began hesitantly. To her surprise, he beat her to it.
"Hey, babe, let's get out of here," he suggested, his words ever so slightly slurred.
"Okay," she agreed, relieved.
The air was chilly as they emerged from the restaurant and Dominic put his arm around her. She appreciated the gesture, but something wasn't right. Suddenly, his mouth was on hers. The alcohol on his breath gagged her as she struggled to free herself from his grip.
"What are you doing?" she gasped as she wrenched away.
"Come on, doll," he slurred lecherously. "You know you want to."
"No! Take me home, please," she begged.
"Home? But we're having such a great time."
"Take me home right now, Dominic Fleming." She meant to sound decisive and firm but she was struggling not to cry and her voice quavered as she spoke.
He glared at her for a moment, then grinned. "Okay," he nodded, "whatever you say."
She definitely didn't like his grin at this point, but she had no other way home. Slipping into the passenger seat, she tried to sit as far away from him as possible. She was so preoccupied with keeping an eye on his wandering hands that she didn't notice where they were until it was too late.
"This isn't the way to my house," she said, her tone coming out somewhere between admonishing and curious.
"It isn't?" he teased, gloating. "Oops."
He pulled the car onto a deserted stretch of country road and she realized with dread that this was The Place they all talked about at school. She had actually been looking forward to coming here, someday and with someone special, but tonight was not the night and Dominic was definitely not the boy.
"Don't be scared," he reassured her. "I come here all the time."
"No," she pleaded as he began undoing his clothes. "I don't want to do this."
"Trust me, you'll love it," he smirked, reaching toward her.
"No!" She pulled at the door handle, but it was locked. By the time she had unlocked it and tugged again, he had her by the arm. "Let me go!"
"I'd say I like a girl with spirit," he grunted, "but it's way too cliché."
"Please, no!" she cried, sobbing now. But he was bigger than her, and stronger, and the alcohol in her system was slowing her down.
The fight was too much for her.
Kate approached the receptionist tentatively, unsure of what to say.
"I'm here to see Mr. Tomkins," she said quietly, not elaborating.
"You're Miss Todd?" the receptionist confirmed. At Kate's nod, she ushered her down a hallway to an office with an impressive oak door. Engraved on a familiar brass plate next to the door was the name: Randy Tompkins, J.D., Family Law. Kate took a deep breath and entered the office.
"Ah, Kate," came a smooth voice from behind the large oak desk. "It's wonderful to see you again. Please, have a seat." The attorney indicated the soft-looking armchairs in front of his desk. Kate took one, gratefully, and waited for him to continue.
It was a month after The Incident that she knew. She wrestled with herself, wondering if she should tell Dominic. She had a pretty good idea of what he would say and she could never do it. She had been raised Catholic and gone to Catholic school for ten years. She would have to hide it, then, not only from Dominic but from everyone. Her family could never know.
She began wearing baggier clothes, claiming that they were more comfortable. When they asked why she was eating more and tiring easily, she said it was a growth spurt. Doctors' appointments masqueraded as visits to friends' houses. After four months, she had become quite an accomplished liar.
She started wondering what she would do with the child after she was born. The doctor had told her it was a girl and against her better judgment, Caitlin had started playing with names. She liked Grace, and perhaps Elizabeth after her grandmother. Grace Elizabeth, then. She knew she could never keep Grace; after all, that's why she was hiding her in the first place. Adoption was the only option.
She found Randy Tomkins through her doctor. Familiar with the plight of young girls like herself, the doctor told her that Mr. Tompkins was a kind and sympathetic man who would help her find the best arrangements for her daughter. Caitlin had worried about the fee (she could only go to the doctor because of a pro-life charity that paid her bills) but the doctor had reassured her that Mr. Tompkins often took pro bono cases like hers.
"Any questions?" Mr. Tompkins finished, watching Kate's face carefully.
"Um, yeah," Kate started hesitantly, still shocked by the news. "Why do I get her? Since her…since the O'Neills are dead, shouldn't the state get custody?"
"In most cases, yes," the lawyer confirmed. "But if you remember, we drew up special papers for you and Grace. Legally speaking, you became her guardian as of her adoptive parents' death. Of course, you can always put her back up for adoption."
"No, no." Kate shook her head. "That's not what I meant. The only reason I couldn't take her the first time was because I was sixteen and not in a position to raise a child. And my parents, of course…" She trailed off.
Mr. Tompkins nodded understandingly. "Yes. Well, then, if you're ready, just sign here and she's all yours."
Kate stared at the line on the paper, pen poised to sign just as she had fourteen years ago.
"Kate, I'd like you to meet the O'Neills," Mr. Tompkins said in his warm voice as he led her into his office. "They'll be adopting Grace."
Caitlin shyly shook the proffered hand of the large redheaded man. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. O'Neill."
"Ed," he boomed, smiling broadly. "And the pleasure's all mine."
"Mary," his rather smaller and quieter wife introduced herself. "Do forgive him. He often forgets he's indoors."
Caitlin smiled at the woman's wink She liked them already, and she had become immensely distrustful since The Incident. She sat down, next to Mr. Tompkins and across from the O'Neills, in one of the comfortable armchairs that dotted the office.
"So, what do you want to know about us?" Ed O'Neill began.
Caitlin began with some basic questions. Catholic? Yes. Home? Mid-size and in a great neighborhood. Job? He was a geologist and she a substitute teacher. Then she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind since Mr. Tompkins had first told her he had found an interested couple.
"Why do you want Grace?"
They didn't answer immediately. After a few moments thought, Ed spoke quietly. "We've always wanted children. When we found out that we couldn't have any, we were devastated. We heard your story, though, and it was an answered prayer. We knew that God had finally given us a child."
Caitlin watched them for a long moment. Finally, slowly, she nodded. Mr. Tompkins smiled kindly and handed her the first of many papers to sign.
Kate finished her signature with a shaky flourish, slightly numb with the implications of it. She had a daughter. How on earth was she going to do this?
Mr. Tompkins interrupted her thought process with a quiet inquiry. "Would you like to meet her?"
Kate looked up, startled. "She's here? Now?"
Mr. Tompkins nodded, studying Kate's face carefully. He didn't want to push her too far too fast, but she was strong. He wouldn't do it if he weren't sure she could take it.
Kate swallowed hard, then nodded determinedly. "Okay."
Mr. Tompkins smiled encouragingly as he paged his assistant on the intercom. "Could you bring Grace in, please?"
"Right away, Mr. Tompkins," came the tinny, distorted voice.
Kate heard the door open behind her and took a deep breath. Turning slowly, the first thing she saw were her own eyes staring back at her.