Page 70 of Degrees of Innocence
“Katie, I saw the tabloids already. What’s bothering you?”
Leave it to my mom to get straight to the point. Well, I guess there’s no time like the present to have this conversation. “I’ve been struggling with how to tell you about Chase for a while now. I don’t know how to say this without making you feel bad, but when I was younger, I remember you dating a man named Steve and listening to you cry on the other side of the wall after you guys broke up. Shortly after that time you had to leave your job, and I had to leave my school and all my friends. I remember all that stuff, so it’s been really hard for me to trust men or even have good relationships with them. I have always steered clear of getting involved with someone I work with because of it, but I didn’t know who Chase was when we first met. I had no clue he was in charge of Prestian Corp when we first started dating, and it really threw me for a loop when I found out. But the fact is, I love him and I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know how you would feel about me dating someone I work for after everything that you have been through.”
“Katie, I am so very sorry. I never realized that you heard me crying at night or that you thought Steve and I were dating. While you’re right, he was my employer, we were just the best of friends and he helped me through a very rough time in our lives.”
“Mom, I thought you were dating all this time,” I say.
“No, he was the glue that held me together when I needed it the most. It’s a long story Katie and I will tell you about it someday,” she says.
“So, you probably already know if you have read the articles in the tabloids, Chase is rumored to be part of a global drug trafficking organization. It doesn’t sound like he was indicted, but he’s avoided conversation with me about it and I really don’t know if it’s true or what to think. I thought the reason someone was targeting me in Aruba had something to do with the criminal activities referenced in the papers,” I say.
She takes my hand and holds it for a few moments, the turmoil in her eyes a reflection of her internal conflict. “Sweetie, I was very young when I met your dad and quite principled as a young lady. Your father was tall, dark and handsome and he absolutely swept me off my feet. We fell in love with each other almost immediately and he treated me like a princess. There isn’t anything that he would not have done for me, and I know he would have absolutely adored you. We were not married long when I overheard a conversation that was not meant for my ears. I learned your father was the eldest son of the East Coast crime syndicate. I always thought he was a successful businessman on Wall Street, and he never told me any different,” she says, pausing and looking out the window.
“Mom, I need to hear this,” I say, urging her on.
“A week later I learned that he gave the order that killed two men and I didn’t even think, I ran. I changed my looks, identity, and locations multiple times before I felt safe that I would not be found. My parents had passed away the previous year, so I didn’t have anyone to turn to. I started a new life in a different city, but I never in a million years suspected I was pregnant.”
My heart aches for the young woman who is my mother. “Mom, I am so sorry. You must have been petrified,” I say.
“Katie, I know this is all probably coming as a complete shock, but I had to tell you. I can see the same contemplation and doubt in your eyes about Chase that I had with your father. As much as I tried to stop loving him, I couldn’t. I have never felt a flicker that compares to the love I had for him, and I don’t want you to throw your relationship with Chase away until you consider what loving him without having him in your life would be like.”
There is a brief pause, and she fidgets with her hair. “You see, I learned years later that the two men your dad put a hit out for were targeting our family and he was trying to protect us. I knew I couldn’t go back though because even if your dad took me back, members of the different crime families would want me dead for things they presume I know.”
There is a pregnant silence, and I know I should say something, but the effects of the medication are making me drowsy, and the words just don’t come in time.
“I’m so very sorry, Katie. I was young, no family to confide in and scared to death. I just ran,” she says, wiping the tears from her face. “I don’t expect you to forgive me for keeping your father from you, but I needed to tell you so at least you have all the facts as you consider a life with or without Chase,” she says, leaning in close to me.
I hug my mom tightly. My head is swimming trying to absorb everything. My mom has spent the best years of her adult life pining away for a man that she left because he was a criminal. That love apparently never diminished.
“Sweetie, why don’t you try to rest? Chase will be back shortly and Jenny was going to stop back in after work,” she says.
When I wake, Jenny and my mom are catching up and Chase is working in the corner on his Mac. He looks up, and our eyes are drawn together. There is so much left unsaid between us. He has changed clothes and my travel bag is lying next to his chair. I attempt to sit up in bed and catch my breath at the excruciating pain that jolts through my shoulder. Chase is by my side instantly.
“Easy there, Baby. Let me raise the bed for you,” he says, adjusting it into a sitting position for me and repositioning the pillows underneath my arm.
“I thought I might not get to see you again tonight,” Jenny says, coming over to take my hand. “We were all so worried about you. I should have insisted on going with you to Matt’s apartment,” she says.
“It’s not your fault, Jenny. Mark is clearly troubled and it wasn’t the first time he attempted to hurt me. We just didn’t know it was him. I had no idea he was in a relationship with Matt or we might have made the connection,” I say, trying to ease the worry from my best friend’s face.
“Well, Mark certainly won’t be coming after you now. He’ll be lucky if he ever gets out of prison for what he’s done. Chase said the guy that tried to poison you confessed everything to the Aruban police, so with that and the attempted murder of both you and Matt, I would imagine he’ll get a life sentence,” Jenny says. She spends a little more time chatting and then leaves when the nurse comes in to let everyone know visiting hours are up. “I’ll stop by and see you tomorrow once you get home and settled, as long as that’s all right with you, Chase,” she says.
“Of course, it is, Jenny. You’re always welcome in our home,” he says.
She gives me and my mom a hug and is out the door just as the nurse returns to let her know once again that visiting hours are up. She grins at me and waves as she scoots behind the motherly nurse.
The next morning is filled with a flurry of medical staff moving in and out of the room, checking my temp and blood pressure, taking care of my dressing, giving me instructions and scheduling appointments. Chase helps me get dressed being careful to avoid as much movement to my shoulder as possible while we have the room to ourselves. Soon, Jay and a couple security guards come into the room to help us with our stuff and escort us to the car when it is time to leave. “Jay, I heard what you did for me. I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay you for saving my life, again,” I say.
“Kate, you don’t have to thank me. I’m just glad that we figured it all out in time. We need to talk about getting your security schedule in place, though. We haven’t taken our eyes off of you, but now that things have settled down I’d like you to have your own team. You’ll get to know the guys and begin feeling comfortable with them over time,” he says.
“I’ll try not to cause you too much grief over it, Jay. If I do, just tell me to quit being such a pain in the ass,” I say. I start to laugh, but it hurts my shoulder and Chase narrows his eyes at me as he helps me out of bed.
I crinkle my nose at the wheelchair that has been brought in, preferring to walk out of the hospital on my own, but end up succumbing to the nurse’s reiteration of hospital policy. My mom continues to fuss over me as they get me situated until the driver arrives to take her back to the airport. She bends down to hug me before she leaves and Jay, Matt, and Sheldon accompany Chase and I down the hall. “Let’s get you home, Baby,” Chase says.
As we exit the hospital, the paparazzi are in an absolute frenzy and have canvassed all the entrances to the hospital. Matt and Jay clear a path as Chase wheels me toward the awaiting limousine. The reporters bombard us with questions and cameras flash around us. “Is it true that Kate Meilers was shot in a lover’s quarrel? Is it true you were charged with drug trafficking last year? Is it true Mark Powers from Martel Design was having an affair with Kate Meilers’ boyfriend, Matt Lenton?” Chase helps me into the limo and Jay pulls away from the crowd. I sag into the leather seat, overwhelmed, trying to keep my emotions in check.
Chase pulls me close, kissing the top of my head. “We’re going to stay at the condo in town until after your follow-up. I made an appointment for you in three days. After that, we can decide where you want to stay while you’re recovering. I saw Nate in the crowd. I don’t think he could get through, but I’ll ask him to contact me sometime this week. When he does I’ll give him an exclusive with a detailed account to release to the public and put this to rest,” he says.
“Chase, we have more paparazzi camped out at Prestian condo, I’m going to call for backup,” Jay says.
