Stranger Things Have Happened, I Know

Ch 54

*~*Dave's Point of View*~*

They say that admitting you have a problem is the first step. But now what? I wasn't sure where to start. I needed to apologize, but she was refusing to let me even talk to her. I woke early the next morning with JD and took him downstairs to get him a bottle. I opened the refrigerator and realized that there were no bottles, that I would have to wake up Kate to feed him. I felt awful. Bouncing him on my shoulder, I carried him back upstairs and into our bedroom.

“Kate?” I whispered. She stirred and opened her eyes, blinking repeatedly and looking around as if she wasn't quite sure where she was. “JD needs to eat, there are no more bottles.” She rubbed her eyes and nodded, sitting up and propping the pillows up behind her. She held out her arms, not looking at me, not speaking. I handed her son to her.

“Hey sweet pea,” she whispered, lifting her nightshirt and cradling him against her. I sat on the edge of the bed, but Kate continued to ignore me, instead looking down at JD, stroking his soft little hair.

“Kate,” I started, “I'm miserable. I miss you.” She flinched and pursed her lips.

“Dave, I can't talk to you right now,” she said, so quietly, I could barely hear her.

“Please, Kate, we need to talk,” I said, inching closer to her on the bed.

“No, you need to talk,” she said, finally looking at me. “And I could give a fuck about what you want right now.” I snapped my head back as if she'd slapped me. She held my gaze for a moment, her eyes cold, her features impassive.

“Kate, I…”

“Kate, I,” she mimicked, shocking me with the cruelty in her voice. I squinted at her. Had I done this to her? I took a deep breath.

“OK,” I thought to myself. “She's angry, give her some space.” Aloud, I told her I'd wait until she's ready. She laughed.

“You don't get it, Dave,” she said, shaking her head. “It's not me that needs to be ready. It's you.” I was about to ask her what the hell that meant, but she sighed and jerked her head towards the door. “Go check on Hayden, will you?” I slumped where I sat, defeated. I gave her one last imploring look, but it had no effect on her. I stood and left the room and went to check on Hayden. I placed my hand on her forehead and felt no signs of a fever. Her eyes popped open.

“Hey Princess,” I whispered. “How do you feel this morning?”

“Hungry!” she said, with a smile.

“Ok, let's go get you some toast,” I said, lifting her out of bed. “We still have to take it easy on your belly. We don't want you getting sick again.” I took a few steps over to Violets bed and gently rubbed her back. She stretched and sat up.

“And good morning to you, Violet Mae,” I said with a smile. She rubbed her eyes and crawled out of bed, taking my hand and following me downstairs. I got the girls fed and they sat on the couch with a blanket watching cartoons. A little while later, Kate came down with JD and joined them on the couch. I watched them from the easy chair opposite them, my mind working a hundred miles an hour, trying to figure out what I could do to get Kate to forgive me.