Savior
Chapter 96
-xx-
"Catie," Derek offered as he stepped in to the living room. The brunette was curled up on the couch under the blanket that usually drapes the back of the furniture. Her make up had been washed off and her neat ponytail was replaced with a messy bun on the top of her head.
Her eyes were red and puffy from finally letting out all of the emotion after returning to the apartment from the courthouse. She had barely said a word since they stepped inside; her mind was running in over-drive. She would flash back to the night in the bar, and then cut to Jade's face as Cate sat across from her in court.
The smug look on the blonde's face made the bile rise in the back of Cate's throat. She was proud of herself; proud of the agony she put Cate through.
"Cate," Derek repeated as he held out the cup in his hand. "Tea?"
She shook her head. "No thank you," she mumbled.
"You need something, baby," he crooned. "Do you want to talk?" he asked as he placed the mug on the coffee table. Derek moved her legs over just the slightest so he could take a seat next to her.
She shrugged and snuggled further in to the oversized blanket. "About what?" she asked meekly.
"Anything," he replied, not missing a beat. "Today? Or the amazing events coming up over the next few days?"
"Cancel it," she muttered.
Derek reached for her hand under the blanket; the blank stare on her face was startling. "We're not cancelling our wedding, Cate."
Again, she shrugged.
"What's going on?"
"I hate her," she muttered. Those three words caused the waterworks to start once more. "I never thought I could, but I hate her."
Derek pulled back the blanket and slid in to lie next to her on the couch. He pulled her body next to his and let her cry it out.
"Why would she do that to me?" she cried. "We were friends."
She knew she sounded pitiful at the moment, but everything was jumbled in her head. Cate just wanted to shut off her emotions – even for just an hour. She needed a break from everything.
She sniffled. "I should have never pressed charges against Cole," she continued as her fingers played with the fabric of his t-shirt. "If I didn't, this never would have happened."
"He could have killed you," Derek reminded softly. He watched her purse her lips together and shrug. "Maybe not in that parking lot, but you heard Seth – they weren't giving up."
Cate nestled her head against his chest and sighed. "They'll never stop," she murmured. "Cole is out in a few months, and God only knows what he's been planning."
"We'll put a stop to them," Derek replied. "I promise you that, Cate. That family will never hurt you again."
"You can't promise that," she said with a sigh.
Derek pulled her closed to him. "One way or the other, baby, they will never bother you." She ran a hand over her face as she took a deep breath. "And there is absolutely no way we are cancelling our wedding – it is just five days away."
Cate could not help the smile crossing her face.
"You said it yourself – they're not taking this from us," he reminded her of what she said when she returned home from the hospital. "The best revenge is to show them how happy you are."
"We are," she corrected. "We're a team, right?"
Derek grinned against the top of her head. "You're damn right we are," he answered before pressing a kiss to her head. "We're going to order something for dinner, and then you are going to relax for the rest of the night."
"But," she began but was silenced when Derek placed his finger over her lips.
"No buts," he said softly. "I don't get much time with you between now and Saturday, so I am taking full advantage tonight." Cate slowly tilted her head up to face Derek. "Me and you, a bottle of wine and some Netflix is just what the doctor ordered for tonight."
She was not going to argue; it seemed like the best possible plan after the day they had.
-xx-
"Cate," her sister called from the pedicure chair a few seats down from her. "Earth to Cate."
The brunette forced a smile to her face. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Sarah offered a sympathetic smile from the seat next to her. "I'm sorry we couldn't make it in a few days early," she offered.
"Thanks," Cate replied. "But I had the best support system there, and I know you guys would have been there."
Desiree nodded. "In a heartbeat," she answered, supporting what her older sister said. "But," she began as she lifted her glass of wine. "There are two days until the most important day of your life - you and that damn brother of ours."
"He really is the best," Cate retorted. "He's been my rock this week."
"I believe it," Desiree answered. "He's always been our pain in the ass, but he has a heart of gold."
Cate let a content smile settle across her lips. She tapped her aluminum foil wrapped fingers against the arm rest of the pedicure chair. After an hour long massage the day before, and a hair appointment with her sister earlier in the day, a night at the nail salon with her bridesmaids was the perfect ending.
She fumbled with the glass of wine in her hand but succeeded in taking a sip. She settled back against the massaging mechanism as she listened to her mother call out the schedule of events for the next two days. Helena loved being in charge, and Cate was more than willing to give her the satisfaction of feeling like she was running the show. It was less work for her at the moment and her mind was already working in over time.
"Shelby is dealing with all of the deliveries to the vineyard," her mother continued. "The ceremony starts at 5, so we should be leaving the hotel by 3 o'clock. Does that work, Cate?"
The brunette nodded. "Yup," she mumbled. "Fine by me."
"Cate has the bridal suite at the hotel, and Jackie said she'd stay with her tomorrow night-"
"I'm fine, Mom," Cate argued. "I actually prefer the silence."
Helena pursed her lips together at her daughter's words. She normally would fight to stick with her plans, but she knew Cate wanted the time alone. "Okay," Helena mumbled.
"I'll be with Mom and Maddy if you need me, Cate," Jackie offered as she stood from her pedicure chair to go get her manicure done. "And we're all doing a late lunch together before we get ready," she added.
Cate laughed as she could see her mother add things in to the lists on her cell phone. She always joked that her mother's lists had lists, but everyone knew Helena was the most organized person around. "Shelby set us up at the restaurant down the street after the ceremony rehearsal at the vineyard." Cate watched the ladies in the room nod at the mention. "She has really been the best to work with. Great choice on the location, Cate."
The brunette grinned at her mother's words. "They've been exceptional," Cate added.
"I didn't think it would go off without a hitch," her mother admitted. "The time restraint was very tight, but everything is working out perfectly."
Cate nodded. "You all have been amazing help, too," she responded. "I'm so grateful for you all."
The ladies all broke in to different conversations as they moved through the different parts of the salon.
-xx-