Love's Sins (Sequel to Silent Cries)

Chapter Ten - Nice To Meet You.

Katherine's POV

The younger man before me looks at me with frightened eyes, like he's seen a ghost actually. It makes sense that he's looking at me that way, after all, my son was a spitting image of me. He takes a few steps back, now standing up straight and the fear in his eyes is replaced with a divine distaste for what he sees. I try to open my mouth and utter words to him but nothing comes out. I hate how anxious new people make me.

"Hey Bry, I got the duct tape to seal up a few more boxes.." Says a light and friendly female voice from behind me. When I look over my shoulder at her, I receive the same awe struck look that Bryan had given me, but with more curiosity than anything in her hazel eyes. "I-Is this?.." She whispers, stepping past me and over to Bryan's side with a look of confusion spreading across her pretty features. Bryan must be just as speechless as I am because all he can manage is a nod.

I need to say something, anything.. But what do you say to the ex lover of your now diseased homosexual son that you abandoned for detox and rehab? Well I think anything would be better than just standing there like a post. I cross through the threshold, looking down and studying the floor until I reach the window overlooking a small garden. Greenery has always been a thing of beauty to me so this makes the knot in my stomach unravel just slightly. "I think there's no need for me to introduce myself. Judging by the looks on both of your faces, you know very well who I am." I say, a bit too sharply for my taste.

"What do you want, Katherine?." Bryan asks, hesitating just slightly on my name. This is just as uncomfortable for him as it is for me. Leaning up against the window, I look over at him and the redhead through my brown ringlets. Bryan's expression has changed from that of a frightened child's to one of a man of stone and I cringe. Rory's father gave me that very same look many times and it never quite sat well with me on anyone else.

"I think you and I both have a right to closure." I stutter, noting the quizzical look on his face and figuring out that he hasn't the faintest idea at what I'm getting at, I press on, "You knew my little boy as a man, I knew him as a child. I feel you deserve to know more about his past, especially after all that he put you through." I finish. Bryan's face twists into a death glare, "He's not your little boy.. Not after all that you put him through." He spits, tears of rage glistening in his dark eyes.

I know I shouldn't be angry at him but I can't stand it when people say things about subjects that they clearly no next to nothing about. "That's a lie. I loved that boy to pieces, I wasn't the one that beat him up or used him. The very fact that you're implying that I didn't love him or anything of the sort just shows how little you know." I snap, smirking at his recoil. The girl beside him takes his hands in her's, stepping in front of him and looking from him to me. "Bryan, maybe you should hear her out. She was his mother after all." She says, a look of worry and begging on her face.

"Fine.." He breathes in surrender and sending my heart into overdrive. I'm glad that he is willing to listen to my side of the story. I cross the room and stop when I'm a couple feet before him, he's very tall and easily towers over me but for once I don't feel threatened, the look in his eye suggests for peace and not violence. I extend my hand, looking up at him and pressing my lips together into a line. After some slight hesitation, he takes my hand and squeezes it awkwardly.

"I'm very happy that you are willing to at least hear me out. It's nice to meet you, after hearing so much much." I smile sweetly, making a grin crack out across that stone cold face. I'm betting that his smile was one of the things that Rory loved the most about him. He releases my hand after a moment, turning on his heel and heading over to a plastic wrapped couch across the room and taking a seat, patting the spot beside him in invitation. I accept it gingerly and make my way over to the seat.

"So.. What all would you feel comfortable with sharing to me?" He asks lightly. His tone claims he has reserves on accepting my presence here but his eyes portray his eagerness and desire for whatever closure that I have to offer him. This should be very good for the both of us. I cross my legs and lean back into the couch, the wrap crinkling beneath me. It's going to be very hard to figure out what all I should say.

"Well, I guess I could start from right before I had Rory." I sigh, staring up into space and recapturing the mental images necessary in order for me to begin unraveling my past tale. The redhead clears her throat, grabbing at my attention and driving curiosity at who she is into me, I look at Bryan expectantly. "That's Joan. She's a close friend of mine from back home and has been staying with me since before Rory passed." He states, gesturing over to her and earning a giggle from her. "It's nice to meet you Katherine." She beams at me, little dimples popping out of her cheeks. I look over at her, "Pleasure's all mine."

After that, I admit to Bryan and Joan that my parents had consented to have me come down here if I had wanted. They told me that I could take whatever I wanted that once belonged to my son and I couldn't pass that up. It was also an added bonus that Bryan would be down here today and I thought it'd help us both if we could exchange a few words if any at all. We both had one thing in common and that was love for Rory.

I was devastated as soon as I heard that he had taken his life. I was left distraught in the facility I was staying in on the court order, crying for hours on end and refusing meals on several occasions. My heart throbbed and my guilt at being away from him in the times he needed me the most chipped away at me. I couldn't bare the thought of showing my face at his funeral, completely sure that I would have a mental breakdown in front of my son's casket. No parent should ever have to bury their child or see them dead from suicide of all things.

I was finally deemed stable and healthy enough to sign out of the rehabilitation center that I'd stayed in off and on since Rory was a teenager. Every time that they tried to release me, I always would wind up back in there for a relapse or further break down from the past agony that corrupted my soul. I suppose that Rory had a right to hate me for all that I had put him through, but if he could've remembered everything that had happened when he was younger, before the drugs got hooks on me then he'd have probably seen me differently.

Joan eventually leaves us alone in the near empty apartment room after strong hints from Bryan. I'm nervous to open up to someone I don't even know about my past demons but I know that I need to do this, not just for myself but for Rory and Bryan.

"Where do you want to start?" He asks, regarding me with calm eyes. I straighten my spine, looking him over calmly, it was now or never and my nerves wouldn't ruin my chances.

"I'll start with the day I found out I was pregnant with Rory."

Author's Note.

Okay, so this chapter is going to be kicking off the next several chapters in the book. They are all going to be flashback chapters from Katherine's POV at important events in her and Rory's life.

I'll be updating once a week from here on out, unless something comes up. What did you guys think of Katherine? Would you say she was similar to Rory? And what did you think of Bryan's reaction to meeting her? Was it justified?

Please do leave a like and or comment if you felt this chapter deserved it. I love interaction with you guys. Next week will be taking place in the past when Katherine finds out about her pregnancy.

Until next time.. Stay strong.