Love Me Anyway

Chapter Fourteen

Maya

"Bella, are you ready to go?"
I turned and saw Carina standing in the doorway with my bag.
"Yeah. Can we go say bye to Vic first?"
"Of course." She held out her hand and I took it. I squeezed it tighter with every step to her room.
"Do you want me to go in with you?" Carina asked.
"I'm okay. I'll just be a minuet." I stood on my tip toes which hurt a bit, and pressed my lips against her's.

I walked into Vic's room, which Andy had decorated with stuff from home.
"Hey." I whispered.
Vic turned and looked at me. "Hey."
"How you feeling?" I sat down in the chair next to her.
"My heart is fucked up."
"I heard." I nodded slowly.
"Did you know he was in love with me?"
"Who? Dean?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Yeah."
"No, I mean. I had suspicions. But he never said anything." I shook my head.
"Yeah. He was in love with me. And I didn't know." Vic closed her eyes for a moment.
"He's dead. My best friend is dead." Vic whimpered.
"I know. I know." I took her hand and squeezed it gently.
"I'm glad you're okay. I don't think I could handle losing both of you in one day." Vic opened her eyes and looked at me.
"I don't think I could handle losing the two of you either." I felt a tear run down my face.
"How did Cat take it?"
"We're on our way home to tell her now. I don't think it's gonna go too good." I sighed.
"Can you bring her to see me? Please? I need to see my baby."
"Of course, Vic. We'll bring her tomorrow. Okay? Get some rest." I stood up, leaned down, and kissed the top of her head.
I turned to walk out of the room.
"Maya?"
"Yeah?" I turned and faced her.
"I love you."
"I love you too Vic."

At home

We walked inside and heard a baby crying.
"Who's baby?" I looked at Carina.
"Jo's. She offered to watch Cat while I stayed with you last night."
"Mommy!" Cat came running up to me and stopped when she saw the bandages on me.
"Mommy hurt?"
"I'm okay baby. Come here." I squatted down and Cat gently gave me a hug.
"Hey you two!" Jo came walking in carrying a baby.
"Hey Jo. Thanks for watching Cat."
"It's no problem. The girls had fun, didn't they?"
"Yes! Except when baby Luna pooped. It stunk." Cat made a face.
"I'm gonna head out. Let me know if you all need anything." Jo grabbed the diaper bag by the door and walked out with the baby.
"Hey Cat, let's go sit down. Mommy has to talk to you real quick." I stood up and took her hand.

"Was I bad?" Cat asked as we sat down on the couch.
"No honey. You didn't do anything wrong. Um... you know how Mommy is a fire fighter, right?"
"Uh huh." She nodded.
"Well..." I looked to Carina for support and she grabbed my hand.
"Mommy was in an accident yesterday at work." Carina said gently.
"But you're better?" Cat looked up at me.
"Yeah. I'm better baby."
"Can I go play now?"

"Not yet baby. There's something else we have to tell you."
I took a deep shaky breath.
"Caterina, Uncle Dean and Auntie Vic got hurt yesterday too."
"Oh... are they okay?"
"Auntie Vic is okay. She's being taken care of by Aunt Amelia." Carina said.
"What about Uncle Dean?"
"Um... Cat. Uncle Dean is in heaven now."

Cat sat there and stared at me.

"Cat? Baby?"
"Is he coming back?"
"No baby. Uncle Dean isn't coming back."
"But, he'll always be there with you. Just because someone goes to heaven, doesn't mean their spirit goes to heaven. Their spirit stays here with you." Carina quickly added.
Cat looked down at her hands, and looked back up at us.
"Are you okay baby?"
Cat nodded slowly.
"Do you wanna stay in here with us?" Carina asked.
Caterina shook her head no.
"Do you wanna go play in your room?"
Cat nodded, stood up, and walked off.

"We need to make an appointment with Diane." I sighed.
"Andy's already taken care of that."
"God. I don't even know what to do right now." I rubbed my face with my hands.
"We take it one day at a time. That's all we can do."