Shoutouts: TKGGgirl- Yeah, Kat is Tommy's booty call, although they are more than that, they're lovers. Despite the fact that Tommy is married to someone else. Thanks for reviewing.
Wondergirl4you- I'm glad that I can make your day by updating. Nikki will start to show her true colors pretty soon here. So glad that you are enjoying my story. I started this a while ago while on a writer's block for Bonds of Pink and never got around to posting it. So now on a writers block on For Your Love I guess I will post it. LOL Anyway, thank you for taking the time to review. They always make my day! BTW I added the story of how the affair started, just for you. It originally want's in here, but after your review I felt I should put it in. Hopefully it's to your liking!
Fudge2428- Yeah I figured Kat and Tommy could use some backing. Although as you will read in this chapter, Tina isn't 100% behind them. If you recall from George and Tommy's discussion, George cheated on her. So she knows how Nikki will feel if she finds out… or when she finds out LOL. Enjoy!
Zeopurple- As always glad to hear from you, my "official" reviewer. I'm glad to see that I could make it realistic for you. I actually saw a blanket just like I described while baby shopping for oldest a few years ago. Also I just realized after reading your review that I use that same break up scene more than once. They always break up because of Anton. Go figure. Guess I think that's how it really happened LOL. Hope you enjoy!
"We're back guys!" Tina called as Nikki and her walked into the house.
"Hi mom." Tommy greeted taking the shopping bags out of her hands. "Did you ladies have fun?"
"Oh you should see all the great things we got for Katherine. I told her that she has to let me know if it's a boy or girl as soon as she knows. Then I can go shopping for clothes." Tina was so excited.
"Your mom was hoping that you and your dad would go put together the crib for Kat. That way she doesn't have to try and do it herself." Nikki said.
"I suppose we can do that. Is she home now?"
"Yeah, we dropped her off at her house. She said that she was going to go put away the new clothes we got for her." Nikki said.
"I'll get Dad and we can go put that crib together while you two get dinner going, We'll be back soon." Tommy replied before going out to the backyard to get his dad.
Tommy took a deep breath before ringing Kat's doorbell. He still wasn't sure what to say to Kat or what she would say to him.woun
"Hi guys. Tina said she was going to send you over." Kat greeted with a smile. Tommy knew, however, that it was not a genuine smile.
"Where's the crib?" George asked.
"I already hauled it into the baby's room," Kat replied pointing toward the hallway.
"You shouldn't be hauling around things like that Kat! You should be taking an easy!" Tommy exclaimed.
"Tommy, relax. It's fine." Kat replied.
"Haven't you read your pregnancy books? A woman should not strain herself during pregnancy. Any extra strain can harm the baby."
"That's true Tommy, but the doctor said that if I was able to pick something up before I was pregnant than it's not an extra strain. So hauling the crib back to the room was just fine." Kat and Tommy both shook their heads at each other. This was an argument neither would win. "I really appreciate you coming and putting the crib together for me."
"Not a problem Kat." George said as he started heading down the hallway. Tommy stood in the living room with Kat, staring at his feet.
"So Kat, can I talk to you for a minute?" Tommy finally said.
"What about?" Kat raised an eyebrow.
"I… Dad and I had a talk."
"A talk about what?"
"About you and me."
"Tommy there is no you and me anymore." Kat replied trying to hold back the tears. Tommy reached out and took her hands. She tried to fight back but the more she resisted the closer Tommy pulled her to him. She finally stopped fighting and looked into his eyes.
"Kat, I know this baby is mine." Tommy said. Kat's eyes widened. "You're four months pregnant and you left me two months ago. Why are you lying to me?"
"Tommy… I can't… Nikki…" Kat stuttered.
"Don't think about Nikki, just think about yourself for once. Tell me the truth."
"It's… I…" Kat closed her sapphire eyes to hold back the tears. "Yes Tommy, it's yours." she barely whispered.
"See was that so hard?" Tommy smiled as he hugged Kat. He gently kissed her forehead.
"It was harder than anything I've ever had to do." Kat said against his shoulder.
"Why did you say it was Rocky's?"
"It was his idea!" Kat replied. "I didn't want to destroy your marriage. I can't be the reason that Nikki's life is in shambles."
Tommy put his finger under her chin to raise up her face. He looked into her eyes. "You are all I care about Katherine. Don't worry about Nikki, I'll be the reason, not you."
"Well if you two are done, I'd like to get this crib put up." George said breaking into the conversation.
"Dad." Tommy shook his head as he released Kat.
"George, did you…"
"I heard all of it." George said with a smile. "But it's nothing I didn't already know." He gave Kat a wink.
"I told you I talked with my dad." Tommy grinned.
"George… I…"
"Katherine, I know what you want to say. Don't worry about it. While I may not condone what you and Tommy did, it is in the past. Right now you are pregnant with my grandchild and we have to focus on that. If we focus on the affair, the joy of the baby is lost."
Kat bit on her lower lip trying to hold back the overwhelming surge of tears. Tommy once again came to her side of wrapped his arms around her. She felt so safe, so loved in his arms. She knew in her heart that his arms were the only arms she belonged in.
"I'm going to help Dad set up the crib. We can talk later." Tommy said before placing a gentle peck on Kat's lips.
Kat sat at her kitchen table staring out the window as the wind made the tree branches sway back and forth. George was so understanding, he almost seemed happy for her and Tommy. What about Nikki though? Tommy had said not to worry about her, but she did.
"Kat, the crib's done. Come see." Tommy called from the second bedroom. Kat made her way to the nursery. Tommy was grinning from ear to ear as he stepped aside to show Kat the crib. She gently ran her hand across the headboard. She loved the dark cherry wood finish and sleigh bed design. Tina had been right, it was the perfect crib for her.
"Whenever you want to paint, let me know. I'd be happy to help Tommy with that." George said.
"Thanks George, I really appreciate it."
"Not a problem Katherine. Just make sure to let me know ahead of time. I do have a few hours to drive."
"Sure thing Dad." Tommy said. "We should be getting back. I'm sure that dinner's ready now." George nodded as he began gathering up the tools. "I'll talk to you later." Tommy said to Kat before kissing her once again.
"I missed that." Kat said sheepishly.
"Me too." Tommy grinned once again.
"Let's move it Romeo." George commented as he started walking out of the room.
"Bye Kat." Tommy said. He let go of Kat's hand and followed his Dad out to the truck. Kat looked back at the crib in the middle of the room. Her hand drifted to her stomach once again. Her baby was going to have their Dad.
She went across the hall to her room to call Rocky. She had to let him know that he was "off the hook".
"Hey Kat." Casey greeted cheerfully.
"Hey Casey. Can I talk to Rocky?"
"Sure."
"Hey Kat, what's up?" Rocky's voice drifted over the line.
"I just wanted to let you know that Tommy knows the truth."
"He does? How'd that go?"
"It went really well."
"What made you decide to tell him?"
"He confronted me. He knew and I couldn't keep lying to his face. You should have seen the smile on his face…"
"So what about Nikki?"
"I don't know, he told me not to worry about her."
"I'm happy for you Kat." Rocky said. "I hope that this is the right choice."
"I don't know if it's the right choice, but I can't keep lying about it anymore. I really appreciate everything that you have done for me Rocky. You are really the best friend anyone could have asked for. Casey is really lucky to have you in her life."
"Thanks Kat." Rocky replied. "Oh Casey had something that she wanted to ask you."
"Hey Kat. I've got a really important question for you."
"Okay."
"Would you be my maid of honor?"
"Are you… He finally… congratulations! Of course I'll be your maid of honor." Kat grinned. "When are you guys going to get married?"
"Well we still need to decide on a date but I'm moving to Angel Grove next month. I got that job at the Herald!"
"Oh Casey that's fantastic!"`
"Thanks, I'll let you know when we decide on a day. I would like a summer wedding, but it depends on our jobs and my family's vacation times…. Blah blah blah… Lots of things to take into consideration. So it may be a while."
"Take your time. Whenever you decide I will be here."
"Thanks Kat. Let us know if there's anything you need. We're behind you a hundred percent."
"Thanks Casey, that means a lot to me. Hope you guys have a good night and congratulations again."
"Thanks Kat, Good night to you too." Kat hung up the phone. She tried to push to thoughts of Nikki out of her head as she made herself some dinner. Could she truly be happy with Tommy while Nikki had her heart shattered?
Tommy sat on his porch alone after dinner silently watching the sunset. He knew that he had made up his mind, he wanted to be with Kat. The only problem was how to tell Nikki.
"Mind if I join you?" Tina asked from the doorway.
"Sure Mom." Tommy smiled as he moved the paper off the other chair.
"Tommy, when are you going to stop lying to yourself?"
"What?"
"I saw the looks you were giving Kat last night and how you were trying so hard to avoid her. You still love her, don't you?"
"Mom, I…"
"I spoke with your father."
"What did he say?" Tommy said waiting for the worst.
"That you still do love Kat. You want to be with her."
"I suppose you're going to try and talk me into staying with Nikki?" Tommy asked.
"I love Katherine as if she were my daughter, but you are married to Nikki. You have to think about her feelings as well. You should give Nikki a chance to give you what you want. Otherwise you've done nothing but use her."
"That isn't what I was doing…"
"Hush Tommy, I'm speaking now. It doesn't seem like that to you, but from Nikki's perspective that is what you have been doing… Why did you marry Nikki?"
"I… well… I was told Kat was engaged to someone in London. I thought that I would never see her again so… Nikki was nice. You two seemed to like her. I enjoyed being around her. It seemed the right choice at that point."
"So, you married her because Kat was taken, now you want to divorce her because Kat is available…"
"That's not how it happened."
"That's how Nikki and anyone on the outside of this will see it." Tina explained. "I also wanted to let you know, that being a step parent isn't the easiest thing. It's almost as hard as being the adoptive parent. Remember how you used to tell us 'you're not my real parents anyway'?" Tommy knew that his Dad hadn't told her everything. She didn't know that it was his baby.
"Mom, I…"
"I know you didn't mean it, but it still hurt when you said that. Facts are that Kat's having a baby, and you'd have to go through that someday. Why would you want to torture yourself with that responsibility when Nikki is sitting right here wanting to give you a child of your own?" Tina explained.
"Mom there's something I should tell you…" Tommy took a deep breath as he glanced at the doorway. "Mom, Kat's baby is my baby."
"What?!"
"I'm not proud of it! Kat and I were having an affair."
"Thomas James Oliver!"
"Mom, I love Kat. I couldn't stay away from her. When she moved back to Angel Grove… I'm drawn to her."
Tina reached out and slapped Tommy across the check. "I can't believe that you would do this! I raised you to be better. I know that you love Kat but having an affair! Thomas how could you?"
"I didn't mean for things to go this far Mom."
"I know exactly how Nikki will feel. Betrayed, hurt beyond belief, shattered. Take your pick Tommy, anyway that you choose she will not be okay."
"Mom, I know how you feel about this. Dad told me about the affair, but I can't help that I still love Kat. I didn't mean to betray Nikki. It's not fair to her either way though. I can't keep holding Nikki while I think about Kat." Tommy argued.
Tina remained silent for a while before finally shaking her head. "Well, Tommy you need to set things right. I may not always agree with you or like what you do, but you are my son and I still love you. You have to do right by your child, my grandchild. Wither you go with Kat and the baby or stay with Nikki and take care of the baby is your choice."
"Mom…"
"I can't talk to you right now Tommy. I can't believe that you would do this to yourself. This isn't fair to Nikki or to Kat. I thought I had raised you better." She started back toward the front door. "I can't tell you what to do Tommy, but I do have my opinion. You should give Nikki a chance, but it's your choice." She disappeared into the house, Tommy was pretty sure that she was going to talk to his Dad.
Tommy sat on the porch a while more deep in his own thoughts. His mind kept drifting into a daydream about him and Kat with their baby. It was a daydream that he used to have all the time before Kat left him. Now that dream was within his reach. They were having a baby together and they wanted to be together. All that remained in his way of that dream was Nikki.
He hadn't really truly wanted to get married to Nikki, but when he was told that Kat was engaged… Nikki was there. He's parents liked her. She got along with his friends. He enjoyed being around her… Well most of the time anyway. She was bossy and seemed almost stuck up. Still she did have her good qualities.
Seeing Kat back in Angel Grove had been almost a dream in itself. He couldn't believe that she was back and single. He hadn't meant for things to turn into an affair but it was way too easy to slip back into their old relationship.
Flashback…
Tommy sat on the floor in Kat's new house watching Kat put things away on the shelf. He had spent all day helping her paint her living room being that he was the only one with the day off.
"I think I'm going to shower and wash all this damn paint out of my hair. I still can't believe that you 'dropped' your paintbrush on my head."
"Hey it was an accident."
"Sure it was Tommy."
"Well you splashed me with the paint." Tommy teased back.
Katherine just laughed as she tried to undo her necklace. "Damn, I think there's paint in the clasp. It won't come undone." Tommy laughed as he stood from the floor and moved over to her.
He reached around behind her and worked open the clasp. "There, that wasn't so hard. You just needed to get a better grip on it." He become painfully aware of how close they were at that moment. His eyes connected with hers and it seemed all time held still. He still had his hands around her neck with the clasp in his fingers. He realized at the moment that he had never stopped loving this woman.
Tommy bent his head the short distance and claimed Katherine's lips with his own. His fingers released the necklace and immediately wrapped around the back of her neck and shoulders pulling her closer to him still. Katherine responded with a soft moan and deepened the kiss even more.
They remained that way, pulling each other closer as if trying to pull the other into their very soul. Tommy finally broke free of their heated kiss.
"God I've missed you." Tommy said in a deep husky voice. Katherine smiled and claimed his lips once more. Again Tommy broke the kiss after a few moments. "Kat, baby, I need you."
"I need you too Tommy." Kat whispered as she nibbled on his ear which she knew drove him crazy. Tommy all but lost his mind with desire for Katherine. He scooped her up into his arms and made his way to her bedroom all the time she nibbled on his neck and ears.
All that mattered to him was the beautiful blonde in his arms. For the moment there was no world outside that room. There was no Nikki waiting at home for him. He felt that he belonged there laying entwined in the sheets with Katherine. It was that feeling of belonging that kept him coming back to her over and over again for the last year.
End Flashback…
"Hey honey, you going to come in? I was going to dish up some dessert."
"Nah, I'm not hungry right now. Maybe I'll get some later."
"What's on your mind Tommy?"
"Nothing Nikki. Go ahead and dish some dessert up for my folks."
"You didn't even ask what I made."
"It doesn't matter, I'm not hungry anyway."
"Fine Tommy, have it your way! I'm so sick of trying to be the good little wife." She snapped before going back inside. Tommy rolled his eyes. Sometimes her temper got on his nerves.
Tommy remained on the porch for another hour before deciding to head in the house. He had decided to tell Nikki they were done, after his parents left. Two more days.