Him & I

Tell Me You Love Me

Through the ups and downs
Baby, Imma stick around
I promise we will be alright, alright
Oh, tell me you love me
I need someone on days like this I do
——Tell Me You Love Me, Demi Lovato

Grayson shut the door behind Jack and Joan and turned to see Cait, tears streaming down her face, on the couch. He'd heard what Jack had said to her, had already anticipated that he and Cait could help with this situation. He'd realized that right away. But Cait wasn't focused on the present yet. She was processing her anger over something that happened a long time ago.

"Do you want to go up to bed?" Grayson asked her softly. "Maybe get some sleep and deal with this in the morning?" He gently wiped her tears.

She shook her head. "I don't think I can sleep," she whispered.

"Cait," Grayson sank down beside her, "please talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking. I've learned the hard way that keeping things in isn't healthy."

She sniffled softly. "My father has never asked for my help before. He always handles everything. And tonight he asked for my help with his, his . . . " She stopped and shook her head.

"His son," Grayson finished. "Your brother."

"He always wanted a boy," she said bitterly.

"I don't think that has anything to do with it," Grayson sighed. "Your father couldn't love you any more than he does. You just said it yourself. He always takes care of everything for you. He's been there for you, Cait. And he's loved every minute of it. But you're an adult now. You and I are starting our life together. And your father has another child. A child that needs him."

She was still quiet, so Grayson kept talking. "The circumstances suck. And because of that, your dad is going to have to devote a lot of energy to your brother for a while. It isn't going to be easy. And it's not clear whether Joan will be on board, although that looks a little more promising than it did a couple of hours ago. But we could help too."

"And if I can't?" she asked quietly. "If it's nothing but a reminder that my father isn't who I thought he was?"

"Your father is human, Cait."  Grayson shook his head at her.  "You put him on a pedestal that he didn't ask for.  He wasn't married to your mother at the time.  She was gone.  It's not fair to hold that against him.  Did you really think he hadn't been with anyone until Joan?"

She didn't answer that.  "You think I'm wrong to feel the way I feel, don't you?" She finally met his eye.

"There's no right or wrong here, sweetheart," Grayson sighed.  "Feelings are what they are.  You shouldn't apologize for them.  But you also shouldn't let them control you.  You need to think rationally too."

"But you're on his side."  She shook her head.  "You agree with my father.  You think that I should jump on board and help raise this kid."

"There are no sides!"  Grayson was starting to get annoyed and was trying not to let it show.  "There aren't.  And you should know by now that even if there were, I'd always be with you.  This isn't about siding with your dad.  It's about you and me.  How can we live with ourselves if we turn our backs on your father and your brother? You'd regret it, Kitten. Someday you would."