Many days passed and Catherine reached the eighth month of her pregnancy. Rose moved with her husband, they moved to the mainland, and Catherine and Steve could no longer rely on her help. Steve was helping Catherine with the household chores and was asking Caroline to help as well. He was sweeping the house while Catherine went for a short walk down the street with Lyla.
Don went downstairs to talk to Steve. He hardly spoke to Catherine and sometimes ignored Steve's attempts to insert him into the new family context. "Dad, I need to talk to you."
"Okay, but make it quick. I still have to go to headquarters," Steve replied.
"I want to serve my country in the Navy."
Steve stopped sweeping when Don said that. He sat down on the couch and ordered Don to do the same. "Have you thought about this enough? I've come close to death several times."
"I have, and I'm pretty sure that's what I want for myself," Don replied.
"All right. If that's what you want, I support you, son. But you know you need to study harder and improve your grades, don't you?"
"I know," Don replied. He paused for a moment and then was honest with Steve. "I want to live my life, I want to have my own house, I don't like Catherine and I don't like your daughter."
Those were harsh words for Steve. "Liz hasn't even been born yet, how can you say you don't like her?" Steve asked without losing his cool. He was already tired of arguing with Don over the months.
"I know how I feel," Don replied.
"Okay." Steve agreed. He didn't know what else to do about Don. He didn't want his relationship with Don to be the same as the relationship he had with John McGarrett. He hoped that Don would at least come back to visit his family for the vacations.
Steve got up and continued sweeping while Don went to the kitchen to get an apple. A few minutes later Catherine arrived with Lyla.
"Did you go four times down the road?" Steve asked her.
"No, we went twice and then I stopped to talk to the neighbor of the third house. Her baby was already born. Lyla was delighted with the baby," Catherine answered him and sat down on the couch.
"The baby is beautiful, Daddy!" Lyla said to him.
"Really daughter? But I'm sure he wasn't any more beautiful than you were when you was a baby."
Lyla smiled at Steve and hugged his legs and then sat down next to Catherine.
Steve moved closer to Catherine and kissed her on the forehead. "Your doctor won't like to hear that you're not following her recommendation to walk."
"Well, she won't know unless you tell her," Catherine told him.
"I'll tell her," he smiled as he said it.
"You traitor," Catherine said after returning his kiss.
An hour later Steve left to go to headquarters and Catherine was in the kitchen preparing lunch when Don walked in with a shirt in his hand. "You stained my basketball team shirt!"
"Me? No, I didn't."
"You did! I have a game tomorrow. What do you think you are? I can't stand to look at your face in this house anymore!"
"Don't yell at mommy!" Lyla told him. The girl became angry.
Catherine was speechless, she had not expected such aggression.
Caroline was in the bedroom and heard Don yelling at Catherine. She quickly got up and went to the kitchen. "What's going on?"
"He's accusing me of staining his shirt. I didn't do it, Carol," Catherine said to the girl.
"Daddy's doing your laundry, Don. In fact, you should be doing your own laundry," Caroline told her brother.
Don ignored Caroline's words. "You cheat on my sisters, but you don't cheat on me. You only treat them right to keep my father stuck with you. He's only with you because of your daughter. He chose my mother over you, he doesn't love you! You wouldn't even be here if you weren't pregnant."
"Stop it Don!" Caroline ordered.
Catherine was very hurt by Don's words and couldn't hold back her tears. She left the kitchen and went to the backyard to cry. Lyla went with her and tried to console her. "Don't cry, Mama." Neighbor Lidia was tending the plants in her yard when she heard Don yelling at Catherine and then saw Catherine crying in the yard. She walked into Steve's yard. "Catherine, are you feeling sick?"
Catherine sat down in her chair and put her hand on her stomach. "I can't take this much hate anymore," she said to her neighbor.
"Caroline!" Lidia called out and Caroline walked over to them. "Get her some water, please."
"Okay," Caroline quickly went to the kitchen and got Catherine some water. Then she went back into the house and called Steve.
Catherine vented to Lydia and cried a lot. Lyla was startled to see her crying. "Mama, don't cry. I love you."
Catherine stroked Lyla's head. "I love you too, honey."
Caroline returned and looked concerned for Catherine. "Are you feeling better? Daddy should be home soon."
"Did you call him? He must have been busy, Caroline."
She was right to call, Catherine. Steve needs to know what happens at home when he's away. How long are you going to put up with this quietly?" Lidia told her.
A teenager came from Lidia's house and called out to her.
"This is Edward, he's my stepson and he's come to live with us," Lidia said to Catherine and Caroline.
"Nice to meet you," Edward said to Catherine and Caroline. Caroline blushed when Edward looked at her. "Nice to meet you too," they replied.
Steve arrived a few minutes later. He saw them on the beach and walked quickly over to them. "Catherine, are you feeling unwell?
"Hey Steve. I'm better now, I'm sorry you had to leave work in the middle of the day," Catherine replied.
"I took care of Mommy, Dad," Lyla told him.
"Great honey. Thanks for helping take care of mommy."
Steve also thanked Lidia for her help. "Thanks a lot, Lidia."
"You're welcome, Steve. That's what friends are for. Now that you're here I'm going back home. If you need anything just call me."
"Okay. Thanks again," Steve replied.
Lidia and Edward went home and Steve crouched down beside the chair where Catherine was sitting. "Tell me what happened," he asked as he stroked her belly.
"Don had a fight with mommy," Lyla told Steve.
"Let it go Steve," Catherine asked him, but he looked at Caroline. Caroline told Steve everything.
Steve was angry and Catherine tried to ease the situation. "I was upset but I'm over it."
Steve stood up and looked in the direction of Don's room. Don was listening to music, and it was very loud. Steve went into his room and turned off the stereo. "Let's talk now!"
Don didn't respond and turned the stereo back on. Steve then pulled the plug on the stereo and Catherine and the girls were startled when they heard the stereo falling on the grass in the backyard.
PS: Thank you for your review in the previous chapter.
