Ruthless Revenge

Chapter 12

I hummed a silly tune that I recently heard on one of Kieran's Youtube videos as I lifted the laundry out of the dryer and into my laundry bag. I lifted one of Kieran's shirts to my nose and sniffed the wonderful scent of fabric softener. It was a scent I would never get tired of.

I took the rest of the clothes from the dryer then closed the laundry bag. I placed it over my shoulder and started walking down the dimly lit hallway towards the living room where Kieran was currently watching TV.

As I got closer to the room I could hear laughing, a man's laughter. Holden's laughter.

An odd sensation hit me in the belly. Something wasn't quite right. Holden couldn't possibly be here. He's in Atlanta, he said he wasn't coming back until next week.

Oh, don't be silly, Kat, I scolded myself. You've been hearing things lately, allowing your imagination to run away with you. There is no way Holden could be back from his trips so soon. Could he?

Plans change all the time, of course, he could.

With the thoughts running through my head I walked faster toward the room, praying that I was only imagining things.

As I reached the entrance my steps halted.

Oh, no.

I wasn't imagining things. Holden was here and he was standing in front of Kieran. I immediately went into a panic mood. Holden was here. He was standing in front of his child. The child that looked like a replica of him. The child that he didn't know was his. The child that he didn't know existed.

Holden and Kieran. Father and son.

I watched for a while as Holden dealt with Kieran. He was gentle, loving, and caring, and Kieran responded to that. My eyes rested on them as they interacted. My heart ached.

Kieran could have had better interactions like this with his father if the circumstances had been different. If the world wasn't so cruel then Kieran would have known that the man smiling at him was his father. What the hell am I going to do?

Before I could process my thoughts Kieran shouted, "Mommy!"

My heart jumped as Holden turned and made eye contact with me. His face didn't give any clues to what was going through his mind. Could he see the resemblance between himself and Kieran? Could he tell that Kieran was his child?

I looked between the two. Yes, it was obvious.

From the dark thick hair and blue eyes to the shape of their faces.

Yes, it was obvious.

I prayed to God he doesn't see what I see. And I prayed to God that he didn't see the terror in my eyes.

Act normal Kat.

Act normal Kat.

Do not panic!

I repeated the statement like a mantra, forcing the air in and out of my lungs.

I plastered a smile on my face and looked at Kieran."Hey, baby."

I glanced at his father and cleared my throat to find the strength to speak to him, "I didn't hear you come in."

He ignored my question and asked one of his own. "Is he yours?"

"What?" His question caught me off guard, not at all what I expected.

Holden took a tentative step in my direction and I, just as hesitantly, backed away from him. "Kieran.. is he your child?"

"Yes, I ... of course. He is." I answered honestly. I couldn't possibly lie, especially with Kieran being in the room. He probably even asked him why he was here already.