Steve and Catherine had been together for three months since she moved to the island, but Steve had not yet made it clear to the children that he was dating seriously. He wanted to take her to meet the kids, but they were afraid they'd hurt her. Don and Caroline realized he was different, happier and smiling more.
Catherine was understanding, she understood that they couldn't go out together every weekend, but Steve didn't want to keep their relationship hidden any longer. Christmas was approaching and he wouldn't let her spend Christmas alone. He took advantage of dinner time to tell his children that he was dating Catherine and that the relationship was serious.
Don looked at Steve with anger in his heart. "Don't think you're going to put another woman in this house."
"She's coming to spend Christmas with us, Don," Steve told his son calmly.
"If she comes through that door, I'll go out the other door," Don pointed to the door of the room.
"You don't even know her, Don. Why all this anger? She's a nice person."
"I don't want to meet anyone! I already told you that!" Don got up angry and scared Lyla.
"Don't do it, Don. You know Lyla can't be scared," Caroline asked
"Sit down now!" Steve ordered.
Don did not obey and went up the stairs toward his room. Steve also got up and went after him.
"You're not going to blackmail me emotionally. I deserve to be happy again. Catherine comes for Christmas, period.
Steve left his son's room and returned to finish breakfast with the girls. Caroline was holding Lyla and trying to calm her down.
"What happened?" Steve asked.
"You and Don scared her and now her heart is pounding. She can't take her medicine for four hours. You know she can't be scared, Dad."
Steve took Lyla out of Caroline's lap and hugged her. "I'm sorry, baby. Daddy didn't mean to scare you."
Steve kissed her cheek and took her to the backyard to calm her down. He walked around the yard with her on his lap and sang her favorite song a few times.
Lyla slept in Steve's lap after her heart calmed down. He put her to bed and kissed her forehead. "Good night, baby girl. Daddy loves you."
Steve sat on one of the chairs on the beach and called Danny. He told Danny everything and wanted to know his opinion. " You think I was too hard on him, Danny?"
"No, I don't think so. He can't be in charge of your life and your home, Steve. You're his father and not a schoolmate. You command and he obeys, that's how it has to be."
"It's really hard. I'm happy with Catherine and he doesn't want to accept that. I have a right to be happy, Danny. In a not too distant time they will grow up and go away and I don't want to be alone. I want to grow old next to Catherine."
"He even has the right not to accept your decision, but he has to respect it, Steve. And Catherine is a good person and they will learn to like her."
"I hope so, Danny. Thank you for listening to me."
"You're welcome, Steve. I'll be here whenever you need me."
The next day, at lunchtime, Steve went to the house where Catherine was living.
"Hi, I wasn't expecting to see you today," she said and hugged him and kissed him at length.
"I thought we could go out to lunch. What do you think of that?" Steve asked.
"I made lunch just now."
"Great, we can have lunch here then. You know I love your food," Steve replied.
"Then come," Catherine pulled him into the house.
"Cath, I want you to go spend Christmas with me and the kids. What do you think of that?" Steve asked while they were having lunch.
"I'd love to meet them, Steve. Have you told them about me?"
"Yes. I want them to know you, but I'm also afraid they'll hurt you."
Catherine smiled. "I've dealt with bandits and terrorists, I won't be afraid of two teenagers, Steve."
"Well, that's good, Cath."
"I guess I don't have to worry about Lyla's rejection, right?"
"Lyla's a sweetie and she's gonna love you."
"I also think I'm going to love her. I need to buy the gifts for them, Steve. Tell me more about them, tell me what they like." Catherine was excited because she was thinking that she would spend Christmas alone and now she would spend Christmas as a family.
"What about me? I'm not getting a present?" Steve asked her.
"Of course you will," she leaned over and kissed him.
"I already have a present for you, too," Steve told her.
"I look forward to my present,"
After lunch, Steve returned to headquarters and Catherine left home happy to do her Christmas shopping.
Thank you for reading!
