Book Two in the "Alcaraz Duology"
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Catalina Alcaraz is a single mother with a past that she doesn't wish to revisit. She has managed to become a successful doctor and to create a life of her own desp...
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Cata hasn't seemed to be in a decent mental state since she killed Kane's mother.
She's been strangely quiet. I am unable to discern her thoughts or emotions regarding her father's situation. I just know that she is anxious which is a sign that she cares.
We have been waiting for news for several hours now. I even went with Marco to get pastries and coffee for the women. Cata didn't want anything, but I still bought her tea to help her relax and a sandwich in case she is hungry.
I have just arrived, and I see that she is seated a bit further away from the women.
She's zoned out, subconsciously shaking her leg in anxiety. I take my seat beside her and stop her by placing a gentle hand on her leg to get her attention. I give her the sandwich and the tea after she looks at me.
"It's tea. Drink it." I make a gentle, tentative demand and she complies.
"Does it mean he cares?" She quietly asks after a few moments of silence.
I stare at her intently, trying to get into her thoughts. I want to know what she is thinking. "What do you mean?"
"He jumped in front of the bullets. Did he do it because he cares for me or perhaps just for Orion? Or do you think he did it to try and prove something?" It's clear now what is going through her head.
It's clear to me now that her issues with her father are greater than I initially thought. I see that a hurt little girl who merely wanted her father's affection and approval still exists within her.
"He cares about you." I answer with seriousness.
"He may not always show it. Like how he didn't visit you while you were in the hospital but that was because he thought you wouldn't want him there."
"But I did." She speaks before I can continue. "I wanted him there even if it was just to get a look of disapproval from him. I wanted to know that he at least cared a little bit that I might have stayed dead that night."
"He wanted to be there, I can assure you of that. He simply didn't want his presence to annoy you or hurt you further. He was there all night until morning. He waited to leave the hospital until he was certain you were still alive." I can't believe that I'm defending him after everything, but I'm just doing it for Catalina and her intelligent mind.
Cata breifly remains quiet. "How can you defend him after everything he's done and said about to you?"
"I simply want you to be okay. I want you to be calm and at peace despite what may happen." It's the best I can explain it.
She takes a sip of the tea without saying anything more, and then she makes us share the sandwich. Everything is done in silence until she can no longer sit still and gets up from her seat. I watch her pace around for a moment and then I finally see it. I instantly get up to approach her as tears begin to threaten to stram from her eyes.
