Chapter Thirty-One:

Work was progressing quickly on The Bait Shop. She'd have to think about hiring staff for the grand opening soon. Instead of feeling excited, she felt lethargic, distinctly unenthusiastic. It hadn't been like Ryan to leave her sleeping and she wondered where he and Mia had gone. They still hadn't returned by the time she'd showered, ate a singular breakfast and headed here to see how much progress was being made. The team of constructors that Ryan had hired were confident it would be completed to her requirements soon.

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His car was parked in front of his house as she pulled up beside it. For a second she just sat and looked at it. She and Ryan would have to talk about this all soon. He'd proposed to her and that had sent her into a mild state of panic. She didn't question how much she loved him, because she did with every part of her but why make it legal? She thought that they were perfectly happy as they were. Then her conversation with Julie had happened, and when Ryan had asked her to marry him she had wondered why because he hadn't given any inclination of wanting to be married. She sighed and got out of the SUV and went into the house.

Ryan was in the kitchen, an ignored cup of coffee in front of him. For a little while Kate stood in the doorway and looked at him. Her heart ached for him. Why couldn't she just walk to him and into his arms like she really wanted to? He turned his head and looked at her and she froze. Then she took a deep breath and went into the kitchen. She poured herself some coffee and for a moment they just looked at each other.

"We have to talk about last night," he reminded her and she sighed quietly.

"Do we?" she watched him stand up. He walked towards her.

"You know we do," She looked into his blue eyes.

"I've been thinking about what you said. I know Julie said something to you at the Wake. You changed right after that," she glanced away at the mention of Julie Cooper.

"And talking to Sandy this morning…" she glared at him.

"You talked to Sandy about this?" her voice rose and he frowned.

"Yeah, I talked to Sandy. Why wouldn't I?" he demanded. Kate folded her arms.

"It's private, between you and me," Ryan shook his head and took a step backwards.

"Oh no you don't. Don't pull that diva thing on me," she looked at him again.

"What 'diva thing'?" she demanded to know.

"What you're doing right now…acting offended because I talked to Sandy about our problems. Just because you weren't close to your parents, don't assume that I have the same attitude with Sandy because it won't work. I know what you're doing" Kate straightened up, her hands now on her hips, stinging at the remark he'd made about her parents.

"Okay Ryan, tell me what I'm doing" her voice was low, furious.

"Julie said something to you at the Wake. I talked to Sandy and I think I know what she said to you and you had that in your head when I proposed to you. Well you were wrong and now you're backing off and you want to run!" he accused her and she opened her mouth to argue but nothing came out. He went to her, grasping her shoulders.

"She's wrong Katie and you believed her," Kate shrugged in response. A silence fell between them. She lifted her head when she heard him sigh and he let go of her.

"She just lost her daughter, she's also found out that I'm the father of her grand daughter. She wanted custody and I refused to give it to her. You know this, and yet you still believed her," He looked at her. She felt a lump rise in her throat, tears shine in her eyes. He seemed to be struggling internally with something.

"I'm not great with words Kate, but you're all that I want. I've been in love with you since High School, that senior year," she stared at him with wide eyes.

"Why didn't you say something?" it was his turn to shrug.

"You were leaving to achieve your dream, how could I stop you doing that? How many people in this life get to do that?"

"You could've come with me,"

"And do what? In the end it all worked out for the best, you made it in your world and I made it in mine," She stared at his face. He looked defeated, tired. The urge to go to him was strong, almost overwhelming but she held back.

Chapter Thirty-Two:

He thought that he would be scared at the prospect of raising Mia alone. As the days eased into each other, he realised that Marissa had been right, Kate had been right. He could do this. He remembered Sandy saying to him once that he didn't have to be the parent any more with regards to those around him that he cared the most about and it had been a relief to him but with Mia, it all came rushing back and in a good way. They got to know each other better, discovered things in common, that she loved her cereal dry, that she possessed a very sharp brain and an equally strong will.

He watched Kate with her. She was a natural with her, had patience and they got along famously. But he was scared to death that he was losing her. She was remote, even polite to him and that was as good as a slap in the face to him. He watched the smile she bestowed upon Mia and his gut clenched as he longed for the same.

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He took Mia to see her grandparents as he promised that he would, once things had simmered down from before the Wake. He stood in the lobby of the huge house and watched Mia follow her grandfather into the kitchen with promises of treats and gifts. Julie stood beside him, watching them go.

"She reminds me so much of Marissa at the same age," she sighed and Ryan didn't respond immediately, just looked at her.

"I need to talk to you," he said in a low voice. Julie frowned, sensing the underlying anger.

"Of course. What about?" she watched him push his hands into the front pockets of his jeans and momentarily rock back on his heels.

"Not here. Outside," he suddenly decided that he didn't want to be holed up.

"All right…this way" Julie answered.

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He stood beside the pool and stared into the crystal blue water. Julie kept her distance but was curious all the same.

"What do you want to talk about that we couldn't say inside?" she demanded. Ryan swung around.

"I don't want Mia to hear what I have to say to you, after all, you're still her grandmother," His tone was even but Julie wasn't stupid enough to take it at face value.

"What is this about?"

"Kate. And what you said to her at Marissa's Wake," he replied. Julie folded her arms and arched one eyebrow.

"What's the matter honey, did she turn you down?" Ryan took a second to tamp down the fury that threatened to rise at her taunting. He wasn't going to lose his temper and give her the ammunition she wanted.

"No she didn't, she needs time to think things through," he responded. A faint smile crossed Julie's lips.

"Then she has doubts. Because she would've accepted you immediately if she didn't,"

"Doubts you helped to put there yourself!" he retaliated. He strode towards her.

"Thanks to you, she now thinks that I have an ulterior motive for wanting to marry her. No matter what I say to her, she has that in her head and she's doubting me now,"

"That's not my problem Ryan. I guess I hit a nerve with her,"

"I want you to stay the hell out of it, do you hear me? This has nothing to do with you!"

"Where Mia is concerned, it has everything to do with me," Julie responded calmly.

"Not this time. And if you go any further with your insinuations, I can take it to court and you'd be lucky you'd get supervised visitation rights with Mia," he kept his voice low and watched her eyes widen.

"You wouldn't dare!" she hissed. Ryan took another half step closer until their faces were barely inches apart.

"You push me hard enough, you'll be surprised," he whispered.

"To you I'll always be that kid from Chino, but I am Mia's father and I won't give her up no matter what you do or how hard you try" Julie stared at him with still wide eyes. The anger then seemed to evaporate out of him and he took a step backwards.

"That's all I'm going to say on the matter," he told her, turned and walked away.