If I'm There - A Noah Sebastian Story

Chapter Seven - Like A Villain

KAT'S POV
When I finally got home I was relieved to see my own bed, my own shower, my own everything. I got my laundry unpacked and done, and placed my suitcase back in the closet. After a few minutes of sitting down and relaxing I decided that maybe it was time to shower. When I walked it, there it was. Leaking faucet, drip drip drip. I shrugged it off, thinking I'd get to it later after a few YouTube videos and a possible trip to the hardware store. Maybe someone would be willing to assist in fixing it if I looked lost in the aisles... I checked my phone to see if Noah had called yet, but he hadn't. Maybe his plane hasn't landed yet.

As I laid in bed that night, feeling the loneliest I'd felt in a while, I could hear the faucet in the master bathroom dripping. Drip, drip, drip, drip... The neighbors dog wouldn't stop barking. Someone's car alarm was going off. The spot next to me was cold and empty. What if someone tries to break in? My mind spiraled and reeled out of control. Finally, I just decided to turn on the TV. If I wasn't going to sleep, I may as well be entertained.
The next day I stayed home and took it easy, and waited by my phone for any call or text from Noah. It was pathetic how I was hung on him even though I didn't want to be. When he finally called I let it ring a few times, just to make it seem I wasn't desperately staring at my phone every second of my day so far.

"Kat I am so sorry. When we got home we all just went straight to bed. It was a long day. Our flight got delayed, it was just a mess." I let a yawn out as I waited for my coffee to cool down. "You seem tired. Are you doing okay?"

"I just didn't sleep last night. My faucet in the master bathroom is dripping, the neighbors dog barked all night, and some assholes car alarm wouldn't stop."

"I'm sorry, love. Why don't you call Chris? He's in the Scranton area."

"Chris isn't going to know how to fix a faucet."

"Yes, he will. See if he can fix it. You can wait until I get out there in a few days, but that's a lot of sleep to lose."

"I'm not calling Chris."

"Alright, that's it, what's your problem with him?" I choked on my coffee and spit it back out.

"N-nothing, I don't have a problem with him at all." I grabbed a few paper towels and began cleaning off my countertop. Noah chucked over the phone.

"Alright, keep your secrets. I'll find out." Oh, I pray he doesn't. He'd never see me the same again. Or Chris. "At least call a plumber."

"I can fix it myself!" I insisted.

"Let me know how that works out for you, baby. I gotta go, but I wanted to make sure you were okay. If I need to I can come out tomorrow, I don't mind."

"I'll be okay, really. I'll talk to you later, though." We hung up and I decided to tackle the leaking faucet myself. I stared at the tools, not knowing what to grab or use, and frankly, feeling defeated. I picked up what I thought I needed, but ultimately wound up crying on the garage floor. I hadn't sorted through any of his tools since he passed. The decision was made. I couldn't do this. So, I dialed the only person I knew who would be home at 10am.

"Hey, Kat. Haven't heard from you in awhile-"

"I'm sitting on the floor of my garage crying and holding a wrench. There's no time for pleasantries, Christopher. Can you please come fix the sink?" I heard Chris chuckle over the phone, and then he sighed.

"I'll head over there. I'll see you in a few minutes."
Within thirty minutes Chris was at the door, breakfast in hand and ready to hopefully fix my sink. I let him in and sat the food on the counter, then followed him back to the master bathroom.

"I told you to come fix my sink, not bring breakfast," I said as we walked back. He gave me a shrug and walked into the bathroom.

"I figured you might be hungry."

"Yeah, well, I'm not. Can you just fix my sink? Please?" He rolled his eyes at me and looked at the faucet, then opened the cabinet doors. He started to do a few things, and I just sat down on the edge of my bed, texting Noah.

Noah: How's the sink thing going?
Me: Terrible. I called Chris.
Noah: See! Aren't you glad you went on that cruise? You were able to connect with a new friend in your area. Just don't let him woo you like I did ;)

I shook my head and sighed heavily at his last message. If only he knew.
"So, did you tell Noah?" Chris asked, breaking me from my thoughts. Was he insane? I could never tell Noah.

"No, and I'm not going to." Chris went to lift his head up but wound up hitting it instead. I let a cackle out and he sat up.

"I wasn't talking about that, I was talking about what happened to your husband. You've been a closed book ever since, I just want you to be happy." Chris got up and walked over to me, then sat down. "All I care about is that you are okay. You know that." His hand landed on my knee, and I looked down at my hardwood floors. "I know you're being eaten alive by guilt, believe me, so am I, but I care so much about you. However, with that being said, I know Noah is good for you. I am urging you to open your heart up to him. Believe me, he is much better for you than I was." Chris got up and left without eating breakfast, leaving me with my thoughts of those few nights we spent together last year. The messy bed, the heavy breathing, the screams of pleasure. Though they shouldn't be painful memories, they were. They sent chills down my spine. It killed me to keep it inside, but should anyone know, I'd be the villain.

I was doing the dishes when Noah called again, this time to FaceTime. I gladly accepted the call. He was laying on his bed, one arm behind his head, smiling. Even I had to admit, he was pretty cute.

"What are you doing, beautiful?" He asked as I loaded the dishwasher.

"Oh, just doing the dishes that didn't get done before the cruise. What about you?"

"Laying down, taking it easy. Did Chris fix your sink?"

"Y-yeah. He fixed it." Noah smiled and shifted around in frame.

"I was thinking maybe I could go ahead and come out tomorrow? I know you say you're okay, but I just don't believe it. I could just drive, it's about a six hour drive from Virginia." It didn't take me long to agree to that idea at all. Anything to keep any thoughts at bay. Any distractions. I'd take all of it.
As I sat on the couch I intensely stared at the flag and letter and picture. I got up and grabbed the photo down from the mantle, clutching it in my tattooed hands. My guilt made me fee as though he was judging me, as though he were angry. Maybe I was being punished for not seeing what I had. If there was a God, that surely would be a harsh punishment for cheating. Right? I took a deep breath and placed the picture in a box along with the flag and letter. I couldn't bring myself to look at it anymore. All of this was over now. It's a chapter closed. A book closed, even. It was time to start a new one.