Lethal Obsession

A New Day

**One Year Later**

I'm genuinely happy. Finally...

Kale told his side of the story to detectives and we were all cleared of charges after giving sworn statements. The department saw it as breaking and entering and self defense. After doing a ton of digging, the authorities found a shit storm of priors against Nate, Paisley and Jeff. Nate's uncle was arrested for covering up all of Nate's mess. I guess some of the truth finally came out but we will truly never know everything that happened since my memory still fails me.

We don't talk about Nate or the past anymore. It's better that way as we are just focusing on the future with our little boy, Blake. Kale is an amazing father and it seems that he just has a knack for parenting. We had a paternity test done, even though Kale was against it as the results never mattered to him. He always said he would treat the child as his own and it didn't make a difference, but he finally complied after my persistent insistence. After everything I endured with Nate, I just needed to know if I still had a part of him with me. It came back that Blake is biologically Nate's. It didn't make a difference to me either in the love and devotion I will always have for Blake. Funny thing is, Blake reminds me so much more of Kale than Nate...at least the things I remember or have heard about Nate, anyway. 

Ultimately, Nate's body was never recovered. They scoured every inch of the vast forest surrounding what was once a beautiful cabin with so many memories, both good and bad. I don't ever say it but I feel like I'm being watched from a distance and I know Kale senses my insecurity. He keeps telling me it's just my anxiety and PTSD kicking in. Maybe he is right. I try to keep my unwanted emotion pushed down as deep as I can as to not let it discourage me. Since a body was never recovered and because Blake is actually Nate's, it makes me weary and unsure about Nate and his whereabouts. 

Anyway, lets get back to Kale and I! He got his job back with Santa Mira Swat and I am a stay at home mom! I wanted to go back to the department but I didn't want to miss a moment with Blake. Maybe in the future, when he gets older, I will go back or maybe even try something new! I moved into Kale's house and we sold mine especially after having Blake. We know our love for one another is forever and grows stronger everyday. Plus, after he proposed and I said 'FUCK YES', we knew the timing was right.

*****

I watch as Kale holds Blake in his arms lovingly as he gazes down at him with a smile. I hate to break up his special moment but we have to get to the park before the sun goes down! I walk up to Kale and place my hands on his shoulders. "Babe, we have to get going."

He doesn't take his eyes from Blake for a moment before nodding in agreement to my request.

I grab the picnic lunch I packed and a blanket before heading out the door with Blake and Kale. When we get to the community park, Blake's eyes light up like it's Christmas morning. When we put him down on the ground, he attempts to run up the grassy knoll toward the slide. He stumbles a bit as Kale and I giggle at him. Blake is fearless and never gives up, just like his daddy. Kale easily catches up to him and picks him up to put him on the toddler swing. I stand back with amusement and watch the two smile and interact with one another. 

A cold breeze hits my body and blows through my hair. I look around the park at all the kids playing as their parents peer at them every now and then. I hear an ice cream truck coming down the road at the bottom of the knoll.

Kale calls over to me. "Can you go get him a popsicle, please?"

I grin and nod then head down the small hill to the street where the ice cream truck is parked. A storm of kids start to follow my lead so I better hurry or I will be waiting in a long ass line full of indecisive children! I put a little pep in my step and get there first. Thank God! I purchase the cherry popsicle for Blake and turn around toward the large crowd of children to head back up the hill. Suddenly, someone in a black hoodie looking down at their phone bumps into me and keeps walking with no 'I'm sorry' or anything! What a dick! I turn back toward the person and yell, "Excuse you!" The person turns his head to the side with a smirk, peering at me from the side of the hoodie. I know that face, that smirk, that demeanor, that walk. Just to be sure, I look down at his hands and see the tattoos. I run up the hill as fast as my feet will take me and start screaming as tears begin to fall, "KALE! IT'S NATE!"