When All Seems Lost

Chapter 6 Hemmed In

The morning after

Baze was worried. He had promised himself to give Cate at least 24 hours before he contacted her, unless she contacted him first. A restless night had been responsible for his change in attitude. He couldn't shake the memory of how Cate had looked when they last spoke: Ashen, lost, barely able to hold it together. Her face had invaded his dreams. She had morphed from the Cate at the reception, into a sixteen-year-old Cate in a hospital bed, having their baby….alone.

He had awoke in a start, shaken by the dream. Cate was capable of considerable bravado. But the previous night she had been very vulnerable. He had seen a glimpse of that sixteen year old when he looked into her eyes. He was afraid of what the new day would bring, and he vowed he would do anything and everything within his power to protect her.

The need to see Cate was overwhelming. Baze quickly showered shaved, and dressed He was finishing his first cup of badly needed coffee when the phone rang.

"Hey. Have you had breakfast? Everyone is gone. Mom and Abby were going to start working on wedding present returns at my house; or so they said. I think they wanted to give us a chance to talk. Could you come over now?

Cate's voice was low and tentative. Baze found himself visualizing that sixteen-year-old girl again. His heart swelled with compassion and love.

"No, I haven't Cate. How do you feel this morning. I was worried about you last night."

Yeah, I lost it after the reception. Threw up in Mom's yard. Mom, Abby and Lux had to treat me like a baby. Got me cleaned up, in the bed and sedated. The sleeping pill did wonders. I'm a little shaky and scared of what lies ahead, you know. I won't break again, but I need your support."

"You know you have that. Could you hold down some food?"

Thought you'd never ask. Get some of those breakfast burritos and a cappuccino from-"

"McDonald's," Baze completed her sentence with a chuckle. "I remember from the road trip. You hang tight and I'll be there in a little while."

"K. Hurry up. I'm starving and lonely."

Baze sipped his mocha latte while Cate wolfed down her third burrito. Anxious or not, all the butterflies were definitely gone from her stomach. The little sighs of pleasure she made while she ate were driving Baze crazy.

"Cate, sweetheart, I know you are enjoying your food, but those noises you're making are giving my libido fits."

Cate cocked one eyebrow at him. He was holding a pillow over his groin. She rolled her eyes.

"I don't believe you! You have that little control over your body at a time like this?"

"Guilty! I'm in love with you! You are cute and sexy, even when you have bed head and are wearing sweat pants and a top that are too big for you!"

Cate smiled at his declaration and his obvious embarrassment and discomfort. This was a side of Baze she wanted to get to know. The man who spoke from his heart; not the smooth talking playboy who loved to raise her ire.

"So I get under your skin? Is that it?" she asked.

"You have from the minute I laid eyes on you. I was the idiot who screwed everything up."

"Not everything," Cate replied softly. " No one held a gun to my head to make me get in the back of your mom's mini van. I enjoyed myself, even if you were, um, a little 'speedy'."

"Cate, I-"

"No, let me finish." She held up her right hand. "I've forgiven you for the way you treated me after we slept together. Your note yesterday said it all, and I believe you. We are starting over. The slate is clean."

Cate slipped off the bar stool she had been sitting on, and sat next to Baze, laying her head on his shoulder. He closed his eyes, savoring the moment. Both of them had almost dozed off, when their reverie was interrupted by the phone.

"Hello? Oh. So Mom told you I was here. Now? Baze is here. You expected as much. I guess you're right. I had hoped to at least have a day before we had to get into everything. The Oregonian, you say? Trina? Oh no. Bye."

"Ryan?" Baze asked, his eyes searching Cate's troubled face. She nodded as she sat back down on the couch next to him. She turned her body a little, so she could look directly at him. She nodded in response to his question.

"Trina knows what happened yesterday. We made the front page of the Oregonian. Ryan's not sure if she got her information from the paper, or if someone called her. She's furious, and she's called an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning. Ryan is on his way over."

Baze released a long, slow, breath. "I can't say I'm really surprised, Cate. I'm just sorry it's happening so fast."

Brown eyes locked with blue. Cate seemed to gather her resolve from those eyes she loved so much. They were what had drawn her to Baze the very first time she looked into them.

"Just for the record, I don't care about the radio station, and my job. Oh, okay, I care, but I care a lot more about our future together with Lux. There is no more Cate and Ryan. I'm in good shape financially. I'll just take a break for awhile. Maybe I'll go back to school. I've always wanted a chance to report serious news.

Baze stared at her in amazement. The vulnerability and the strength; they were what made Cate, who she was, and he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

"Close your mouth, Baze, and just hold me."

"Yes Ma'am."

Cate snuggled into his chest, while Baze silently said a prayer of thanks for the chance of making a life with this women and their child. Let the chips fall where they may. They would survive, no matter what.