Page 86 of Reinventing Cato
Cato walked into town, bought a pay-as-you-go phone and had lunch in a café. He could have reset his iPhone to factory settings, which should have got rid of the spyware, assuming it was there, but he wasn’t sure that was the right thing to do.
While he was eating, he sent his new number to Vigge.At least he’d know that no one was monitoring their conversations.
After that afternoon’s rehearsal in which, miraculously considering his mood, he didn’t incur the wrath of the conductor, he hurried home and was met at the door by Sam.
“Louise is in your room.”
“What?”
“She sort of bulldozed her way in. Pedro opened your door for her. She’s not easy to say no to.”
“Well, you should have,” Cato snapped and strode up the stairs.
“Sorry,” Sam called after him.
Cato shoved open his door. “What do you want?”
“A word,” Louise said quietly from where she sat on his bed. She quickly tapped something into her phone and dropped it in her handbag.
Just go the hell away.
“Please.” She gave him one of her looks that was supposed to make him cooperate and instead only made him annoyed. He closed the door and sat at his desk.
“I’m guessing you know why I’ve come.”
He probably did, but he stayed silent.
“We want you back, Cato.”
“We? Really?”
She tightened her mouth.
“You want me to get you pregnant. Would you still want me back if that didn’t happen?”
“Yes. But I’d still want a baby and if you won’t or can’t give me one, then we’ll find a sperm donor.”
Cato shrugged. “Then find a sperm donor.”
“But we want you to be the father. Please. It would make us so happy if you came back. I promise things would be different.”
“In what way?”
“Better communication. We’d make sure no one’s left out, take turns to be the centre of attention, be kinder, more considerate. I’d try harder.”
He swivelled in his chair. “Did you practise that speech?”
She took a deep breath. “Don’t be unkind, Cato.”
“So how would the taking turns work? Me on Monday, you on Tuesday, Max on Wednesday?”
“If you want.”
Cato rolled his eyes. “You can’t take turns to be the centre of attention.”
Louise glared at him. “And you can’t comprehend how much it hurts to want a child.”
Her voice had become shrill and Cato could almost hear her telling herself to tone it down.
