Page 70 of Worth the Vow

“It does matter,” I say, my eyes tearing up as my voice breaks with emotion. Turning to his family, I continue. “You’ve treated me like family, and that’s something I’ll always cherish. I’d never do anything to jeopardize that. I respect each and every one of you, but you all need to know I’d never do what Savannah did. I’d never mistreat Dominic or have an affair. Our marriage might be unconventional, but we took vows, and that’s important to both of us.”

Luca stands and offers a hand to Dominic. “I’m sorry, man. You’re right. We need to be more trusting of you, and respectful of your marriage. I’m sorry, Kate. Obviously I know nothing happened between me and you, but I jumped to conclusions based on your reaction. I’d hate to see my brother get hurt again.”

I offer a small smile as I take deep breaths and try to calm my nerves. One tear slips down my cheek, and I discreetly swipe at it before standing. “Excuse me.”

“Katharine, wait —” Dominic starts, but I walk swiftly out of his reach and into the house. I’m not sure where to go, since the basement is ripped apart. Normally I’d escape into my bathroom, turn on the shower, and quietly sob into a towel. Looking around, I quickly walk upstairs, sneaking into Dominic’s bedroom, through his bathroom, and into his closet. Using the light of my phone, I climb behind two large suitcases. Wrapping my arms around my legs, I bury my head down and let the tears fall.

I’m so tired of wishing for a family. For the unconditional love I got from my mom. For anything to replace the deep void in my heart that’s been empty since she died. I knew I shouldn’t have gotten comfortable here. I’ll always be the one they don’t fully trust.

I just want to be loved. Needed. Wanted.

I’m beginning to realize that it’s never going to be in the cards for me. As I cry silently, listening to murmured voices below me move around Dominic’s house, I again ask my mom for help. “Give me a sign. Please. I’m so tired of doing things alone, Mom. If I’m meant to be with Dominic, please send me a sign.”

I’m not sure how many more hits I can take.

And I’m definitely not prepared for how quickly I get that sign, when the closet door opens slowly, and Dominic’s head peeks in. “Katharine.”

Dominic

Watching Kate run away has me furious at my family. What the fuck were they thinking? They know Kate. They know she’d never do anything like that article is suggesting.

“Every single one of you better apologize to her in the next twenty four hours,” I demand.

“We didn’t mean to hurt her,” Alex comments, “but you’re right. Even when we accidentally hurt someone, we need to acknowledge that.”

Alex glares at our dad, who rolls his eyes. “I will always side with my kids, and expect the worst out of everyone else. I will not apologize for that.”

“Dammit, Dad!” I explode. “You can’t be an asshole and justify it that way!”

“I didn’t really say anything to her, Dominic Andrea,” Dad booms. “In fact, all I spoke about was your general lack of luck when it comes to good women.”

“Ahh,” I say sarcastically, “Thank you for clarifying that. Because it almost sounded like you were saying Kate wasn’t a good woman. My mistake.”

“Dom, let’s table this discussion when everyone isn’t incredibly tired and sensitive,” Mom interjects. “In fact, since you’ve barely gotten any sleep this weekend, let us take the kids again. Aspen needs a do-over sleepover anyway.”

“Actually, I was going to say I’d take them,” Luca says. “We just got furniture for one of the guest rooms that is perfect for kids. Two sets of bunk beds.”

“Don’t let Aspen be on the top bunk,” I blurt out.

Luca chuckles. “Already assumed as much. I’ll take them for breakfast in the morning as well. Give you a late morning to do … whatever.”

Subtle.

“Daddy? Did I just hear Uncle Luca saying we could spend the night at his house?” Sienna asks hopefully. She has Aspen on her back, Carter by her side, and they all have the same expression on their faces.

“As long as you want to go,” I say, and they all shriek with joy. “Sienna, go pack an overnight bag for you and your sister. Carter, go pack one as well.”

Luca grabs Aspen from Sienna and puts her on his shoulders. “You ready for this, Princess Aspen?”

Aspen giggles gleefully. “You haven’t called me that in so long!”

Luca looks at me and mutters, “Hard to say it now because of Stone.” Stone Dixon calls our baby sister, Arianna, Princess, and once we overheard them in Arianna’s office at Everlasting getting a little frisky, the word Princess took on a different tone.

Within fifteen minutes, everyone is out of my house, and I go in search of Kate. If the basement wasn’t a mess, I know she’d be hiding in her bathroom. She thinks I can’t hear her in there, but I can. I’ve heard her crying more than once, but didn’t know what to do. Would she accept anything from me? Would she get angry at me, thus making her stop crying? I never knew, so I never took a shot. But today is different.

It’s not just the upset nanny. It’s my wife, upset by my family and a piece of trash gossip article calling her morals into question. Now I have every right, and expectation, to go to her and make her feel better, in any way I can. Yesterday she just needed to be held. Today it might be ice cream, alcohol, or something else. Whatever it is, I’m determined to figure it out and make it right.

When I don’t find her in my office, I quietly walk upstairs and into my bedroom. Knowing her affinity for bathrooms, I enter mine — well, now it’s ours, and fuck, do I like the sound of that — and hear a sniffle coming from the closet. I carefully open the door, hearing the sniffle again. “Katharine.”

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