Conversations In the Storm

Chapter Eight - A Birthday and a Break-Up

Caroline had been planning this birthday cake for her brother for months. She knew it was foolish, it wasn't as if things were going to magically fall into place now that she and Nick were a couple, but eventually Adrian was going to warm up to her. He would realise that she wasn't going anywhere, and some day - soon, she was sure of it - he would accept her as a friend.

She didn't know what it was, but Nick had been a pain all night. For someone who was usually so sweet and sensitive to her own moods, it seemed a nasty contrast. But she had shrugged it off, perhaps something had happened at work or the kids had been giving him a hard time. She hadn't seen the kids for a couple of days. Sophia had been looking after them, and tonight they had spent most of the evening upstairs. By now they would be fast asleep.

Nick had been staring at her, and she'd felt vaguely unsettled, but she continued to ignore it. She could trust Nick to talk to her about it when he felt ready. After replenishing the chip bowl, she decided it was time to track down the candles.

But before she could announce that it was about to be cake time, Nick pulled her aside.

"I need to talk to you, Care."

"Later, Nick. I need to put the candles on the cake."

"No, Care. We need to talk right now."

Nick didn't seem like himself. He was clearly in a mood, he was shifty and somewhat agitated.

Caroline gasped as he gripped her elbow and dragged her roughly into the kitchen.

Shaking herself free, she looked at him in annoyance.

"What is your problem, Wilkins? That hurt!"

Nick's hands were clenched at his side, and she felt a prickle of premonition.

"Explain to me what the matter is, or I won't bother to talk to you. I mean it."

"You're a stupid fool, Caroline. Do you know that?"

She gasped in surprise.

"What did I do? What did I do to deserve that?"

"You're bending over backwards to co-host a party for a brother who..."

He shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Quietly, he mumbled something and she stepped closer.

"What? What are you saying?"

More forcefully than he meant to, he repeated what he had said.

"We need to end this right now. You and me, we need to be over."

For what seemed like ages, Caroline stood frozen, completely unprepared for this. Tonight, while he hosted a birthday party for his best friend, he was breaking up with her, a crowd of his closest friends in the next room.

"Wh-why? What did I do? Why would you do this now?"

"You'd prefer me to wait? You want me to continue with a facade, to strap on a fake smile and pretend? I'm tired of pretending. And I realised just now I can't take it a second longer, I can't pretend that everything is okay."

"So tell me. Tell me why things aren't okay. This isn't like you, Nick."

"Caroline, I already have two children. I can't look after you as well."

"Who says I need to be looked after? Have I ever asked you for anything?"

"You're a child yourself, Caroline."