Chapter 7: Beauty & Grace

Katie felt nothing but contentment when she opened her eyes and saw Elliot sleeping beside her. Bonnie had finally gathered up the courage to tell their mother about her pregnancy, so she was out of town for the week, and Ben was back in Washington working on the apartment complex his crew had designed until Friday. So that meant Elliot and Katie could be alone; which was still the only way they indulged in their affair – alone. No one knew; they didn't speak about revealing it to anyone. They just enjoyed each other's company; and when they were alone it didn't seem wrong at all.

Elliot's arm was draped around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him, and the blanket covered both of their naked bodies just above their waists. The chill in the air made Katie curl inwards, closer to the heat emanating from Elliot. He stirred as her cool skin met his and opened one of his eyes, a broad smile spreading across his face as he registered she was there. "Morning," he mumbled, tightening his arm around her shoulder and leaning in to gently kiss her lips. "Is it early or late?"

"Ten." Katie answered as a cool shiver ran across her skin; the apartment was always more cold than it was hot. "You have to leave?" She asked, already knowing the answer. If he'd had to leave; he'd be gone already.

"Nope." Elliot brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Kid's come over for dinner tonight; I get 'em til tomorrow."

Katie opened her mouth to answer but was cut off by her cell phone ringing loudly on the nightstand beside her. With a groan, Katie reached over and blindly felt around until she found the her cell and checked the ID before she answered. "Hey, Bonnie," She said, pulling the blanket up around her chest and sitting up. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Everything's fine, Katie," Bonnie said with a laugh. "You have to stop thinking the worst when I call you."

Considering the fact that her pregnant sister had been beaten to a pulp by her ex-boyfriend, Katie felt she had every right to be concerned; but she said nothing about it. And at least Bonnie was laughing. "How's mum?"

"Excited, she's digging out our baby albums now," Bonnie lowered her voice into a hushed whisper. "I didn't tell her about... y'know... my attack..."

Katie's eyebrows knotted together, her sister had a broken arm, it was obvious something had happened. "What did you tell her?"

"That I fell down some stairs," Bonnie said; her voice still quiet. "At the apartment. And the baby's father just ran out, so if she asks you'll go along with it, okay?"

Katie sighed hugely; she was hardly in the position to define right and wrong lying naked in a bed with another man. "Of course." She could hear Bonnie sigh with relief. "When are you coming back?"

"The weekend," Bonnie replied. "Mum wants to take me baby shopping; so clear some space, okay?"

Katie smiled. "I will," Behind her sister's voice Katie could hear her mother calling out.

"Yeah, coming Ma!" Bonnie hollered. "I gotta go; she's found something exciting. Call me tomorrow, ok?"

"I will. I love you."

"You, too."

With a loud exhale, Katie hung up and set her phone down.

"Everything ok?" Elliot asked; tracing his fingers up and down Katie's bare back.

"Yeah; I think she's fine." Katie swivelled back into the bed and sat back against her pillows, tucking the blanket under her arms. "I think I'm more worried that she's not fine and is hiding it or something... but really I think she's okay."

"She'll only get better." Elliot said, rolling onto his stomach with a pillow nestled under his head.

"I never thought she'd have a baby before me," Katie said wistfully. "Course, she was always more steadfast than I was. Puts her mind to something; and does it. Like with the drugs; she quits cold turkey; that's it. She makes a decision; and she sticks to it." She smiled. "When I was fifteen; she made me enter this beauty pageant thing."

Elliot grinned. "You were a beauty queen?"

"For one epic year." Katie said dramatically. "I was Miss Teen Summer – and even though I maintain I won because they could make a whole bunch of gags with my last name, Summers for Summer was one of the lame headlines." She rolled her eyes. "Bonnie was adamant it was because I was the prettiest, I was the most talented, and no one could convince her of anything else," Katie turned to Elliot and straightened her back, trying to remember her winner's speech. "I stood like this," She tilted her head to the side and pretended she was holding a bouquet of roses, as she had been on the day she won. "And I had the flowers in my arm here, and Bonnie had written my acceptance speech." She cleared her throat. "In my role as Miss Teen Summer, I will dedicate my reign to helping the needy, and solving world hunger," She found it hard to keep a straight face, Elliot was already laughing. "For the creation of a better earth; for every man, woman and child."

"Oh, my God," Elliot laughed into his pillow. "Of course you won!"

Katie giggled and slid back under the covers closer to him. "Well, there were only like four other girls in my category, and we all won something. 'Course I was only a teenager, no licence... so by the time I was done opening mini-malls I had about two weeks to work on hunger and world peace."

"What was your talent?"

"I counted cards." Katie said. "My mum taught Bonnie and I when we were little. I think that's why I won. All the other girls had the staples, y'know singing, one had a baton." Katie rolled her eyes. "I was different, that's what Bonnie kept saying, "you're different, you'll win." She sighed. "She was right... she's my little sister and she screws up; but she's still right more often than not."

Elliot sighed and shuffled closer to Katie. "She know about us?"

Katie echoed his sigh and leant against his chest. "No. I don't know what to say." She closed her eyes as Elliot ran his fingers through her hair. The same response could be said for Ben; what would she say to him? Nothing; that's what. She was too cowardly to admit to Ben she'd cheated on him.

Eventually she would tell Bonnie; it was her sister; she told her everything, and she trusted her baby sister to keep tight-lipped about the whole affair; but then she would have to admit that it was wrong. Katie knew it was wrong; but she was past the point of caring. Elliot's divorce was coming through; he was looking for a bigger place for his kids... he was preparing for a new life. But Katie? She still pretended to be faithful to Ben. She loved him; and she was breaking his heart without him even knowing it.

xxx