Mrs. Independent

Chapter Fourteen: Ice Cream

Chapter Fourteen: Ice Cream

Joshua

I watched as the time passed. We were let in to see Claire, who was awake but loopy. She's agreed to go to rehab. I heard from Katherine when she got to Salt Lake City, and I haven't heard another word since.
It's been four days.
Claire hasn't asked about my wife, but she keeps looking at my kids. I know she's curious.
I'm worried about her. I'm scared.
I should have gone with her.
Katherine is little. She's only five foot three. I'm almost an entire foot taller than her. I could protect her.
I should be with her. I should be there.
I feel sick to my stomach because I don't know where she is. What if she's dead in a ditch somewhere? Her phone goes straight to voicemail when I call her.
I'm dying to call the police and report her missing, but that could make things worse for her.
I'm just angry at the world. She isn't that person anymore. She hasn't been for over twelve years, and she's done so much to remedy what she did as a teenager. She doesn't deserve this.
"Daddy?"
I look down at Bryson, who is sitting on the floor with a few blocks he's been stacking.
"Yes?"
"When is Mama coming home?"
Claire's eyes snap to my son and I see curiosity take over. The family looks at me sympathetically and I swallow nervously.
Truthfully? I don't know when she comes home.
"Soon buddy, soon." I say.
"But Mommy always takes us on her business trips." Caiden frowns.
"I know, but this one...she couldn't bring you guys."
"Why not?" Claire cuts in.
We all look at her.
Nobody answers. She sits up slightly.
"Where is Katherine?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose.
"Katherine found out who Grant is." I say finally.
Claire just stares at me.
"And?" She presses.
"And she made some deal with Alex-"
"She made a deal with Alex?"
Her heart monitor speeds up and she sits up all the way. "What kind of deal? No, Alex wants to kill her Josh, if Katherine went after Alex-"
My stomach drops.
"This was part of his plan." Claire says. "They knocked me out and made me overdose on purpose to draw her out. If Katherine went after Alex-" she cuts off. "Did she go after Alex?"
"Yes."
Claire looks like she's about to start screaming.
"No. No, it's a death sentence. Alex has basically an entire army against her!"
"Let's all just calm down." Liam stands up. "I hate to be rude here, but Katherine doesn't need anybody. She's been through this before. She knows what she's doing. Though she may be stubborn, she is one of the smartest people I've ever met. She's level headed and she's brilliant. She wouldn't walk into a situation blind. She knows what's coming for her and guaranteed, she has a plan. So can we please stop assuming the worst? Katherine is fine. She'll be back in a few days."
I press my lips together and stay silent.
Liam is right. Kathrine is brilliant. She must have some sort of plan.
"Katherine may be smart," Claire snaps at her older brother. "But it's one brilliant woman against fourteen blood seeking men."
I frown.
"She should have let me go with her."
"No." Claire says. "Katherine wouldn't risk the life of somebody she cares about. On top of that, having you there would be a distraction. She would be worried about you and end up getting herself killed."
We all stay quiet after that, and I know letting Katherine go alone is the best.
She's smart. She knows what she's doing.
But I can't help and think the worst. What if she's been taken? Tortured? Raped? Murdered?
The mere thought of her in pain makes my heart ache. I didn't even like it when she went into labor. I hate seeing her hurt. I hate seeing her cry.
Even when she's on her period and cramping, I sit there and rub her back.
I just want her to be happy.
I just want her home.
I didn't even get to be with her for a full twenty four hours before this happened and she left again.
I lean forward and bury my head in my hands.
Dammit, I feel like I'm going absolutely insane.
Where is my wife? Is she okay? How dangerous is Alex?
Fuck, I hate that guy so much.
The person he knows is not the person she is. She never was that person.
Katherine was never a bad person. I believe that with my entire body. She's an incredible woman. She just got sucked into a mess to hide her pain, and now she's being dragged through the mud for it.
But she's selfless, and I know she would die to protect her family.
She would die to protect somebody she hardly knows. She's just that person.
Just knowing she's struggling alone breaks my heart. I want her back home.
I need her back home.
I need to talk to her. I want to hear her voice.
Being in California was different because she was home safe and I spoke to her every day.
But it's been days without speaking to her.
And I told my kids their Mom will be home soon.
But what if she's not?
Katherine is a good sibling. She's a good daughter. A good boss. She's an excellent mother and an incredible wife.
She doesn't deserve this.
Restless, I run my hands along my jeans.
"Why can't I go after her?" I ask impatiently. "It'll be better for her-"
"It's going to distract her." Claire says. "And not so deep down, I know you know that."
I pick at a string on my jeans, frowning.
"I know I didn't know her back when...she was with Alex." I clear my throat. "But she was never a bad person. I just, I know it. She was just sad and trying to hide her pain. She's a great person and she's one of the strongest, most selfless women I've ever met. She doesn't deserve this."
Sophia, Katherine's Mom starts rubbing my back.
"You're right."
"What does Alex want, Claire?" I ask.
"I told you what he wants."
He wants her dead.
"No, I refuse to accept that."
"Well that's what he wants. There's only one thing he wants from her more."
"What is it?" I ask.
"Her." She says.
"Her?" I repeat.
"He wants her, Josh. He wants her the way you get to have her."
I feel like I'm going to be sick.
"You don't think he would...force her, um, to do something, do you?" I ask.
"Let's not think negatively." Liam says.
"I think he would try." Claire says, ignoring Liam. "But she's not stupid. She's smart. She doesn't walk into situations blindly. You know. You've seen her sit down and prepare for a meeting for an entire day to tweak her speech and ensure nothing can go wrong. She knows what she's doing, and I have no doubt in my mind that, if she succeeds, she's going to come back without a mark on her."
"If she succeeds."  I whisper.
"It's a fifty fifty chance." She says gently. "The only thing to do is hope."
"And pray." Sophia says. "I think we should pray."

______

A few more days passed and now it's been a week and two days since she left. Claire was transferred to rehab and we all were forced to go back to our houses.
And aside from having the kids around and the puppy that I picked up from Ryan's house, it's quiet.
The little ones are in bed and I'm sitting on the couch with the puppy and a bowl of pretzels, flipping through the channels emotionlessly.
I pause on one show, one show that makes my stomach drop and my heart shoot up into my throat.
One show that brings me back to the start of Katherine and I's relationship, and I stare at the TV blankly and watch as Friends flashes on the screen.
And there have been so many nights where the kids have been in bed and she sits with me and we watch friends reruns and either she's laying with her head in my lap, or her feet are in my lap. Or she's sideways and so and I and I've pulled her body against mine.
And I just want to talk to her. I want to know she's okay. It's been a week and two days.
So where is she? What's taking so long?
I look down at the puppy.
"Do you think Mama's okay?" I ask her.
She looks at me and raises her ears.
"Lick if you think she's okay." I hold my hand out and she turns her head away.
I frown.
"Puppy." I mumble. "I don't want to be a single father. I want my wife."
The puppy turns her head to me and sets her snout on my lap. I hold out my hand and she licks it.
I nod quietly and turn to the TV.
After a few seconds, I have to change the channel. I put on cartoons, sighing.
A moment later though, I hear footsteps.
I glance over my shoulder in confusion.
A pair of blue eyes stare back at me. Short messy blonde hair is shoved out of the way by a small hand.
Caiden stands there in a white t-shirt and a pair of blue white and black plaid pajamas pants. His cheeks are tear stained and she's clinging to a teddy bear.
"Hey," I say gently. "What's wrong, little man? Why are you crying?"
He sniffles and walks over to me, stopping in front of the couch. His bottom lip puckers out and more tears fall.
"Auntie Claire said Mommy is going to die." He sniffles. "Is that why Mommy isn't here? Is Mommy dead like how my fish died?"
My heart drops.
I reach out and pull him into my lap.
"Mommy is not dead. Your mother is the strongest person I've ever met, okay? She's okay."
"Then why hasn't she called? Where did she go? Mommy always takes us on her business trips."
"Mommy is very busy and that's why she hasn't called. Mommy is perfectly fine, okay?"
"I miss her." He sniffles. "I don't like it when you guys aren't together Daddy. It's not the same. You and Mama complete each other."
I swallow.
"I miss her too, buddy. She'll be home soon."
"Do you promise?" He turns around in my lap to look at me. "Do you promise Mama's gonna come back?"
I look at him sadly.
"I promise."
He still doesn't look happy.
"Do you want some ice cream?" I ask.
"But it's past my bedtime. Mommy said we can't have ice cream after bedtime."
I smile.
"I think Mommy will forgive you if you have ice cream after bedtime just this once." I smile, poking his belly. "I'll even let you have chocolate syrup and sprinkles."

______

The end of this chapter made me sad
~Sam