Pairing Hearts |louis tomlinson|

Chapter Thirty-Three

I woke up the next morning with a pounding headache. My head was still in Louis' lap and he was sleeping against the headboard. As the events from last night came back to me so did the tears. I left the bedroom quietly and made myself breakfast before going to sit on the patio to eat. I could barely eat two bites before I felt sick. As I set the still full bowl on the table, I heard Louis talking to someone as he came to find me.
"I don't know," he said, "she got out of bed, so hopefully better."
"There you are love," Louis said from behind me. I didn't want him to worry, so I tried my best to wipe the tears before looking at him.
"She's not better," Louis replied before holding the phone out to me. "It's Karen."
I took the phone and turned away from his worried eyes.
"Hello?" I asked and found my voice was raspy from the crying.
"Oh Kate sweetheart, I'm so sorry," she sighed.
"It's not your fault," I answered swiping at the tears under my eyes. "I'm the one who should be sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. All you have done is accept my kids and me into your home and try to repair the relationship with your father for our sake. You have so much love in your heart and I'm sorry your father is taking advantage of that."
Louis walked back onto the patio with a bowl of yogurt for himself. "Did your kids..."
"You don't need to worry about that," Karen replied. "If your father didn't want his kids to be scared of him, he shouldn't have harassed you drunk last night."
I tried to hold in the sob as reality sets in. I ruined this family. I know Louis is watching me carefully and I feel like I'm going to be sick. "I'm sorry."
"This isn't your fault," Karen said. "We're taking him to therapy tomorrow. We're going to help him through this. You haven't done anything wrong, okay, please believe that."
"Okay," I said half-heartedly before hanging up.
"Are you going to finish your breakfast love?" Louis asked softly.
"I'm not hungry," I said handing him his phone back and standing up. "I'm going to go back to bed."
"Kate..."
"I don't feel well," I answered picking up my bowl. Louis let out a sigh but nodded letting me go back inside.
--
The week wasn't any easier and Louis knew it. "Babe, what's going on at work?" He asked as I pushed my food around my plate.
"One of my student's dads just died from cancer yesterday," I answered feeling my headache come back. I set my fork down and pushed my plate away. "He was the income provider and now the boy doesn't know if he can afford college and his grades are slipping because none of his teachers will cut him a break and..."
"Come here," Louis sighed getting up and moving to my side of the table. I was instantly wrapped in his arms.
"Will you eat a little bit more?" He asked rubbing my back.
"My stomach hurts," I answered and he sighed. "And my head."
"Should we go to the doctor tomorrow?" Louis asked worriedly.
"No, I need to go to work," I answered. "It's Friday, then I'll have the weekend to sleep."
"Okay," Louis sighed. I knew he didn't like it, but I wasn't planning on giving him a choice.
"I'm sorry I'm making you worried," I said into his chest as he finished his dinner.
"You apologize too much," Louis replied stroking my hair.
"I love you," I answered.
"I love you too," Louis smiled.
--
Friday night I was asleep on the couch and Louis had gone grocery shopping, when there was a frantic pounding on the front door. I woke with a start rubbing my eyes as I made my way over. I opened the door to find a tear-stained Bailey standing on my porch with Bella in her arms.
"Hey what's wrong?" I asked worriedly.
"I just can't do it," she sobbed. "I'm so tired and she won't stop crying and my husband went to a hotel room because he couldn't take the crying. Can you please just watch her for the weekend? I'm scared I'll hurt her if I'm alone."
"Yeah, of course," I answered letting her set Bella in my arms.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she sobbed.
"Hey it's okay," I said shifting the sobbing baby, so I could touch Bailey's shoulder. "I'm always here for you."
"Thank you," she said and she looked so relieved. "I promise I'll get her on Sunday."
"Just call me okay," I said. "Are you going to the hotel?"
"No, I'm just going to go home and sleep."
"Will you call Marcy?" I asked biting my lip. "Maybe you should stay at her place. She can take care of you."
"Yeah okay," Bailey nodded as Bella let out a blood-curdling scream. I was handed a diaper bag filled with food and diapers and toys before Bailey was gone. I bounced Bella in my arms as I called Marcy.
"Hey what's up?" Marcy asked.
"Bailey just dropped off Bella crying and told me to watch her for the weekend because she couldn't take it anymore and her husband left. Can you please watch Bailey this weekend? I'm worried about her," I said as Bella sobbed in my ear.
"Kate, are you sure you can handle that right now? Louis told me you were struggling this week," Marcy said worriedly.
"I'm fine, I promise," I told her. "Just please check on Bailey."
"Alright, but call me if you need something. I can take care of Bella."
"I'm fine," I assured her before hanging up. After changing and feeding her, Bella finally fell asleep. Louis walked through the door as I held her.
"Is Bailey here?" He asked putting the groceries on the counter.
"No, she dropped off Bella. They were both crying and Bailey said her husband had gotten a hotel room because he couldn't take it. She said she just needed a weekend. Marcy is taking care of Bailey," I said looking down at Bella. Louis gave me a worried glance but didn't say anything.
"I'll set up the pack and play," he said before walking out of the kitchen. A few minutes later he came back and brought me to the spare bedroom.
"She sleeps through the night now," I told him as I laid her down.
"Are you alright?" Louis asked brushing my hair back.
"I'm fine, I promise," I told him.
"Okay," Louis sighed kissing my cheek. "Help me put away the groceries?"
"Okay," I nodded following him back to the kitchen.
"Marcy said you talked to her," I said as I put things in the fridge.
"Yeah, she called me because you weren't answering your phone and she thought you were mad at her. She has a good bullshit detector, so I just told her everything," Louis shrugged.
"I'm sorry. I know I'm putting you through a lot right now," I sighed.
"I told you last night you apologize too much and I meant it," he answered with a cheeky smile. I couldn't help but smile as well.