CHAPTER 22

 

“That baby is going to be born soon,” Abby remarked as Cate climbed down the step-ladder. Although they had a cleaner who came once a week, Cate had been busy scrubbing the kitchen cupboards when Abby had let herself in through the back door.

Kian had already left; he had an away game against Houston the following night. Although she was doing much better, he still hadn’t been comfortable with leaving her overnight. He’d accompanied Cate to her last appointment with Dr Chen, who’d tried her best to allay his fears. But he’d only reluctantly agreed to go after Nate had promised that he would take really good care of her and that he’d text Kian with regular updates.

When Cate had first found out that Abby was staying next door at Eric and Allison’s house, she’d thought that it was a little strange. It wasn’t like Abby was a member of their family or one of their close friends, Layla was their son’s nanny but the more time she spent with Abby, the more she realised what a powerhouse she was. She reminded Cate of her older sister Remy, who had this uncanny ability to get you to agree to do something before you realised what it was you were actually agreeing to. Cate had found this out to her cost when she’d been roped in to babysit her two hyperactive nephews.

Cate shook her head and switched on the kettle, “I’m not due for another couple of weeks.”

“You’re nesting,” Abby gestured to the kitchen cupboards, which were now so clean that they sparkled in the morning sunlight, “that baby is coming soon.”

Cate poured Abby a mug of herbal tea and they sat at the kitchen counter. “I want to throw my son a birthday party.” When she saw Cate’s panicked expression, she patted her hand, “not here, sweetheart. Eric has already offered to host it at his house.”

Cate felt like she had whiplash. Eric had made it very clear that he didn’t want Nate here in Seattle so why would he offer up the home he shared with his wife and son for Nate’s birthday party?

“Allison is going to be working that night,” Abby continued, “she doesn’t mind us having the party as long as it’s all tidy again when she gets home the next morning.”

Cate was only half-listening. Surely Eric must know that Nate still had feelings for him?

“Cate?” Abby put a hand on her arm, making her jump and spill hot tea all over her wrist.

“Sorry,” Cate went to the sink and ran her wrist under the cold water tap.

Abby chuckled, “I was just saying that I haven’t thrown a birthday party for Nathaniel since he was eight. We were stationed in Germany at the time. Layla is going to take care of the food and drink; she’s really a wonderful cook, you know? I just need help with the decorations. Will you come to Target with me this afternoon?”

Cate nodded. Although the nursery looked so much better than it had done a couple of weeks ago, she still needed a couple more things.

“Wowzers.” Abby and Cate had been trudging up the steep hill from the waterfront to Target when there was a chorus of loud cheers and cat-calls behind them. They turned around just in time to see a whole pillion of naked bike riders. Abby quickly reached for her glasses which were hanging on a chain around her neck. “I can see now why Nathaniel and Layla like it so much up here.”

As they came out of Target laden down with shopping bags, Cate’s phone rang.

It was Nate. “Um, Cate, you need to come home.”

Cate tucked the phone in the crook of her neck and picked up her shopping bags, already hurrying downhill towards the ferry terminal. “What happened?”

In the background, she could hear Lola whimpering, “Mum!”

“Lola’s sick. I think Mateo might be getting it as well. There’s a nasty stomach bug going around; they’ve closed the school.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Cate quickened her pace.

When they got home, Abby took the bags of decorations from Cate. “I’m really sorry…”

“Nonsense,” Abby shooed her towards the house, “you go. Your children are sick.”

When she walked inside the house, there was an unmistakable stench of vomit. She went upstairs and found Lola, Mateo and Nate in the middle of hers and Kian’s bed. Nate looked apologetic, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know where else to go. They’ve both been sick in their own beds.”

From the looks of it, they’d both been sick all over Nate as well. “Why don’t you go and grab a shower?” Cate pinched her nose. “I can handle it from here.”

“Are you sure?” Nate stood up. He was cut off by the sound of Lola retching, she clutched her stomach and another burst of brown sludge covered the sheets. “Mama!” Mateo cried. He was covered in vomit; it was all over his clothes, his hands, caked in his hair.

“Please go,” Cate pushed Nate towards the door, “before I change my mind.”

“Up you get,” Cate said to Lola. She picked up Mateo, pulling the vomit-covered sheets clear off the mattress and walked into the master bathroom. She put them all in the bath and turned on the shower, making sure the water wasn’t too cold.

“Mum!” Lola looked wide-eyed at Cate. She and Mateo were both drenched.

“Stay there,” Cate warned. Trying not to gag herself, she stripped the dirty sheets off both of their beds and opened the windows to let in some fresh air before going downstairs to put them in the washing machine. Before she went back upstairs, she picked up fresh pyjamas and a couple of buckets from the cupboard underneath the sink.

“How are you feeling now?” Cate asked when she walked back into the bathroom.

“Cold,” Lola scowled. At least they were both clean. “Come on then,” Cate said softly, “let’s get you changed.” She handed Lola a bucket, “if you think you’re going to be sick again, use this.” While Lola was drying off, Cate scooped Mateo up out of the shower, “bad Mama!”

Cate removed his wet clothes, dried him off and changed him into clean, dry pyjamas. “Sick!” Mateo cried, patting his little tummy. Cate quickly reached for the bucket again.

She took them downstairs and settled them at either ends of the sofa, with their buckets on the floor in front of them. She tucked the wedding quilt around them and put on a Disney DVD. Usually Lola would protest that they were just for babies but she must have been sick because she just lay there, quietly watching the movie.

“How are they?” Nate asked when he came downstairs; his blonde hair was still damp from the shower. Cate was loading yet more washing into the machine.

“I’m hoping it’s just a twenty-four hour thing,” Cate shrugged. “Thanks for looking after them.”

“Nonsense,” Nate grinned, “it’s my job.”

After she’d finished loading the washing machine and made up all of the beds with fresh sheets, Cate was exhausted. Nate offered to warm up some of the vegetable lasagna his sister had made earlier but Cate shook her head. It didn’t matter how many windows she opened or how much she cleaned, with every breath she took in she could still smell vomit.

She suggested Nate spend some time with Abby and Layla next door. He reluctantly agreed as long as she promised to text him every half an hour to let him know that she was OK.

Cate walked into the lounge; the DVD had almost finished so she put on another one and curled up on the sofa with Lola and Mats. Even though they were both asleep, they shifted so that they could cuddle up to Cate and she gently stroked her fingers through their inky-black hair. Lola slept like Kian, staying in one position the whole time whereas Mateo was a wriggler like her, he chattered away in his sleep; sometimes she could make out words but other times his lips were just moving silently.

They both dozed off and on, waking just long enough for Cate to try to get them to take some sips of water. At least they hadn’t been sick again.

When Nate came back, he helped Cate carry Lola and Mateo upstairs. Cate settled them both in hers and Kian’s bed and switched on the baby monitor while she ran the bath. The ache in her lower back was getting worse – she’d pushed herself too hard today with all the washing and cleaning – she hoped it would be soothed by the lovely, hot water.

Cate had just got in the bath when her phone rang, it was Liv. “Guess what?” Liv squealed. Before Cate could answer, Liv yelped, “I’m pregnant.”

“Shut up,” Cate was so excited she almost dropped her phone into the soapy bath water. “Tell me everything.” She didn’t even know her sister and Jax had been trying.

“We weren’t exactly,” Liv giggled. “I mean we’d talked about it, we were going to wait until after the tour finished… But then there was this really kitsch hotel in Antwerp, it had a water bed and…”

“Ew,” Cate giggled, “I don’t want to hear about you guys having sex, that’s just gross.”

“Hey,” Liv protested, “at least you didn’t have to read about my sex life in the Sunday papers.”

“I definitely think…” Cate teased, enjoying the banter with her sister, “you should follow the trend of naming your baby after where it was conceived. I think baby Antwerp has got a nice ring to it, especially for a girl.”

“No,” Liv said, “don’t tell Jax that, he’ll take you seriously. He likes weird names.”

“Seriously Liv, I’m so freaking happy for you,” Cate brushed away a stray tear which trickled down her cheek.

“So, that’s not all,” Liv said, dragging out the suspense.

“You’re expecting twins?” Cate suggested.

“No,” Liv giggled. “Now that we’re having a baby, Jax doesn’t want to live in L.A. anymore.”

“Oh,” Cate felt her stomach drop. “Are you moving back home then?”

“I was thinking when this tour’s over, you could return the favour and you know, show me around Seattle… especially since we’re going to be moving there.”

“What?” Cate yelped, sitting up so quickly that water sloshed out of the sides of the bath. “Are you serious?”

“Absolutely freaking serious,” Liv laughed. “Jax needs to be on the west coast for his music but he hates all the fake bullshit in L.A. One of the producers he’s been working with recently has got a studio in Seattle so it’s perfect.”

There was silence on the other end of the phone, “you’re pinching yourself, aren’t you?” Liv asked Cate. Cate looked at the small, purple bruise forming on the inside of her elbow, “yeah.”

“I’ve missed you, Liv,” Cate sagged back against the bath, trying really hard not to cry.

“I’ve missed you too, sis,” Liv replied, “just think next time you see me I’ll be all fat and pregnant and you can get your own back for all those times I said you looked like a hippo.”

“Hey,” Cate yelped, “you never said I looked like a hippo!”

“Maybe not to your face,” Liv laughed. Cate heard noises in the background, “That’s Jax, I’d better go.”