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YESTERDAY'S DREAMS
Chapter Two
It was everything Katheryn could do to keep from calling everyone she knew as soon as she had returned home that night as she showed Molly the ring and had a bit of a private celebration with her best friend. She was elated that she and Molly had moved back into their apartment again. It was like old times. And Katheryn wouldn't change a thing. But she knew for sure no one else would forgive her for waking them up past midnight. Instead she resolved to keep everything as quiet as possible. She knew it was a bit conniving. But there was a part of her that enjoying a bit of sneakiness.
As Sunday came, Kath could sense eyes on her a bit more than usual and could only imagine what everyone was saying. But as she figured, Reverend Jones let the news slip and encouraged the congregation to pass on their congratulations to the newly engaged couple. But there was still plenty of close friends she had yet to surprise.
Pulling up to the H.O.P.E. center first thing Monday morning, Katheryn's smile was as bright as the sunshine above her as she hoisted a few boxes in her arms and made her way up the sidewalk to the center. She turned sideways, barely able to get off a knock or two before Alex answered the door, laughing and helping her with the boxes.
As the two women found their way to the back of the center where the donations room was, Katheryn deposited her load on a table and ran a hand across her forehead. "Well, looks like I got my workout in for the day before lunchtime."
Alex chuckled. "Oh, but now we have to stock all the items."
Katheryn sighed. "Don't remind me."
"So did you have a good weekend? I heard you had a date," Alex pried with a playful smile dancing on her lips as they walked across the hall to the office.
As soon as Katheryn could stop and turn to face Alex, she extended her hand and waited for a response, her own playfully grin ready to explode.
Alex's eyes widened and her mouth gaped open. "Oh my goodness! He finally asked you!" She reached in for a tight embrace. "I'm so happy for you two!" She drew back suddenly. "Have you set a date?"
"No," Katheryn laughed. "But I don't think either of us want to wait long. I know I don't want to steal any of your and Walker's thunder. We'll probably wait until after you guys tie the knot. Or we'll elope."
"Nonsense! Don't worry about us, Kath. I'm sure Walker would agree with me. You agree on whatever date works with you both. I'm just so happy you're getting married!"
They hugged once more before hurrying to the next room where Josie was and telling her the good news. Before long most of the kids staying at the daycare had huddled around "Miss Kathy" with a chorus of oos and ahs, making the moment just that much more perfect for the soon to be Katheryn Sandoval.
"I know it was rather last minute. But I really wanted to do something special for you guys. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh, not all," Katheryn beamed as she took her and Carlos' coats and hung them by Walker's front door before the twosome followed Alex into the living room. Instantly a sensational smell wafted from the next room and paraded by Kath's nose before causing a smile to brighten her face. "Mmm! Something sure smells good."
"You can thank Marta for that," Alex quipped.
"Table's all set!" Trivette announced, sticking his head around the corner.
Carlos glanced around. "Hey, where's Walker?"
"Oh, running late as usual," Alex sighed. "But he should be here any second. He said don't wait for him."
Katheryn and Carlos had just begun to relax on the sofa when they heard someone bounding down the stairs and looked to see Molly straightening the hem of a shirt that curiously looked familiar to Kath.
Molly noticed her best friend's expression and rolled her eyes mostly aggravated at herself. "I spilled coffee all over my favorite blouse, and Alex was kind enough to lend me an extra shirt she had stowed away in one of the bedrooms."
"Oh, really?" Kath eyed Alex from across the room. "Already moving in are we?"
Alex swatted Kath on the shoulder as she walked past Katheryn. "Not yet. But over the years things get lost here and there when you stay for a night or two." She gave Molly a quick look over. "Oh, it fits you perfectly. It was always a bit big on me. Why don't you keep it?"
"No, I couldn't. It's yours."
"Hey, no argument, Molly Mason. Keep it as a welcome home gift."
"Speaking of," Carlos piped up. "You never did tell us the real reason you decided to come back."
"Does it really matter?" Molly seemed to be brushing Carlos off. "I wanted to come home. Is that not good enough?"
"Of course it is," Katheryn assured. "We just were curious if that was really the extent of it."
"Well, it is. And let's leave it that way. Please," she asked, a smile almost begging Katheryn to let the matter go. Meanwhile, a set of car lights danced through the window and alerted everyone. "That must be Trent," Molly announced and eagerly made her way to the door to welcome him in, her hurrying steps telling the others she was almost glad for the diversion.
Trent gave Molly a brief kiss before he surrendered his leather coat and joined the others in the living room, shivering away the cold. "Boy am I glad this day is over."
"Why?" Kath asked curiously. "What was Butch's big surprise?"
"What? Carlos didn't tell you?"
Kath shook her head.
Carlos cleared his throat. "Well, we aren't sure if it was his doing, but when we got there this morning there was at least a dozen women waiting for us in the office."
"All of them were either crazy or severely unqualified," Trent explained. "But the last one was excellent. We hired her on the spot."
Carlos rolled his eyes. "I still think we may have rushed into it. Although she seemed to know her stuff."
Trent scoffed. "Carlos, she was wonderful. Her name's Kimberly." He noticed the curious looks from the girls. "You all will see. I think she'll work out great."
"Well, I hate to interrupt," Alex nudged her way into the conversation. "But dinner's ready, you guys."
The six places at Walker's table were quickly filled up. But Carlos and Katheryn didn't seem to mind. They found themselves alone in the kitchen after a while, talking odds and ends while the others were caught up in their own conversations over dinner. Walker arrived just as dessert was being served and everyone was dispersing back into the living room. He and Alex were snuggled on one end of the sofa while Trivette claimed one of the two arm chairs. Trent took the other chair while Molly helped clear the table for Kath and Carlos to wash the dishes after dessert.
Katheryn was stacking the last dish away in the cupboard when she heard a cell phone ringing from the living room. She could faintly here Trent's voice answering it as the rest of the house fell silent. The call was rather short, terse, and one-sided. She knew something was amiss and quickly discarded her apron.
"That was the police. Mrs. McNulty is in the hospital."
"Oh my God," Alex responded, a glazed panic over her face. "What happened?"
"They didn't say. You want to ride over there with me?"
"Absolutely."
"Carlos?"
"I'll go pick up Tommy and meet you guys there," Carlos said. "He'll probably want to be there for Joseph."
"Yeah, he will," Trent agreed, turning to the girls.
"I'll make sure they get home safely," Walker assured Trent before he hurried off with Alex close behind him.
Katheryn was busy watching them speed away from the driveway at the window when Molly's hand on her shoulder stirred her to turn around. "I wanted to insist on going with them. But I think it's best if we stayed behind this time until we know what's going on."
"Yeah, you're right."
The ride home in Molly's car was a quiet one. Millions of thoughts raced through her mind. Mostly it felt slightly different when Carlos raced off that time. They were engaged now. What if he had to chase down some criminal tonight? What if he was hurt? It was silly to even think about. She knew that. But it didn't stop a trace of worry from working its way into her mind. She knew nothing was different really. But everything was different.
Glancing over at Molly, she watched her deep in thought as she drove them home and wondered what she was hiding. She knew it couldn't be something big or bad. But she knew there was something troubling her best friend and she had to sort it out before she nearly snapped at them like she did tonight.
"Molly?"
"Yeah."
"What's wrong?"
"Oh," Molly cleared her throat nervously. "Just, um, just worried about Trent. That's all."
"Molly Mason, I know you're lying to me."
Molly let a few moments of silence pass, knowing she was defeated before she chose her words. "I never really explained to you why I left so suddenly after that young man was murdered right in front of me. I figured you all would understand me needing some time alone. And you did. But I really blamed myself for his death. Like I could have done something. I know it's silly. But I really feel like I was to blame. I felt so guilty. I thought visiting a relative would help. But it didn't. In fact, she made me feel worse. That's why I started looking for my own place. But then I realized I needed to come home. But then when I came back all these feelings of guilt came back. I feel like I was the one that pulled the trigger. It's stupid…"
"No! It's not stupid. It's normal to feel that sort of guilt. It means you care. But you can't let it take over you." Katheryn wasn't sure if she was allowed to say what she wanted to say next. But she hoped Trent would understand. "Molly, have you talked to Trent about what happened to him as a boy?"
"Yeah," Molly nodded. "He was really rebellious. But Walker straightened him out."
Kath shook her head. "But did he tell you what caused him to be rebellious?"
Molly shook her head.
Kath hesitated. "I—I don't know if it's my place. But I think you should ask him about that. I think he can understand a little bit about what you're going through better than I can."
"Okay," Molly replied vaguely, trusting that Kath knew what she was talking about. "I'll try. But, um, thanks for butting in. I actually feel a bit better already." She hinted at a smile.
"I'm glad." Katheryn's mouth offered the same genuine smile in return as they parked in front of their apartment simply glad to be home but absolutely sure that they wouldn't get a wink of sleep that night. The fact that they also knew their respective menfolk were going dangerously undercover within the next day or so didn't help matters much at all.
"Ah! It's so good to be home!" Murphy announced, his arms outstretched towards the curb outside of the Dallas Fort Worth airport entrance until Collins rammed into him from behind. The twosome tumbled forward into boss Flores only for him to simply push them back and give them a nice stare down the spectacles as he looked over the two blithering idiots with disapproval. Murphy chuckled, "Ah, sorry, boss." But he then turned around and gave Collins a stern stare down himself that threatened him in every way possible, the poor man shrinking back and nearly running into Rivera, Reed, and Lee who had filed up behind them.
"Well, according to my communications with the appropriate military personnel," Flores thundered behind to his comrades, "The treasured box we unearthed, including everything inside is being transferred to Lackland Air Force base by this afternoon. Then it's getting a minimal army escort to our company's headquarters where we will be expected to treat it with the utmost respect and consideration. There will be around the clock security on this bad boy and dozens of military folk in and out of our presence on a daily basis. Our goal will be to see that we identify what the hell we dug up out there in Korea. Got it?"
"Yes, sir," the men saluted in unison, mostly a sarcastic gesture to show how much they looked forward to working with the military. It wasn't that they were against them. They were just afraid of how much they'd really be able to do their jobs with Army officials breathing down their necks.
RING! RING! RING! This is Molly and Katheryn. Leave a message and we'll get back with you. Ciao!
"Kath, it's me. Sorry I didn't call you when I got home last night. It was pretty late. Figured you'd be in bed. Me and Trent have an early morning ahead of us at the computer warehouse today. So we probably won't be able to call for several hours. Love you, Kath. See you tonight."
Katheryn barely made out the traces of Carlos' gentle voice as she stirred on the sofa, nearly coming awake. Carlos had already hung up by the time she was actually alive. Kath sat upright and gently inched herself out from under Molly in order to replay Carlos' message as she refilled the coffee pot from last night. After playing the message one more time for good measure, Katheryn looked herself over. She was still in yesterday's clothes, and it was far from appealing. Yet pouring herself a steaming cup of morning comfort, Kath managed to push the negative thoughts from her mind and find her favorite spot next to the window to watch the sun rise over Dallas. Half way through the cup, she finally was able to smile and prepare herself for whatever the day had in store.
By the time Katheryn returned from a well-needed shower and dressing in some fresh clothes for the day, Molly was already up and fixing some breakfast.
"Hey," Kath sighed. "You didn't have to fix anything."
"Nonsense," Molly insisted. "Gotta have a good meal to start the day."
"If you say so," Kath winked and played Carlos' message one more time. "You know, I think I'm going to call Alex and see if she needs us after last night."
A quick phone call revealed that tragedy had visited the McNulty household in the worst way imaginable. Alex had done all she could do for Sarah at the moment and had returned home herself to recharge. As Katheryn had figured though, Alex did need someone to handle a few things at the center while she handled a deposition later that afternoon. With a full stomach and refreshed attitude, Molly and Kath headed out to the H.O.P.E. center to begin the day's work.