Not Letting Go

Chapter 23

Kate kept going down the same street for blocks and didn't notice anything around her, including a couple who gave her a dirty look. As she passed by, they whispered to themselves, but she was soon far past them.

The blonde just kept walking until she came to a three-way junction and having to make a decision of which way to turn made her stop. She braced herself against the stoplight, now realizing she was out of breath. As she waited to recover, Kate burst into tears, but forced herself to cry quietly. She didn't want to draw too much attention to herself. Crying was bad enough. After settling down and wiping the tears away, Kate got out her phone. She looked at it and went straight to her favorites and found Anne's name, then started a text. She actually wanted to talk to Lynn first, but their parents felt she was too young for a phone. Anne would be great to talk to as well, she thought, but Kate stopped before texting. She remembered wondering what her sister thought of her, what both of them thought of her now. She had to put away that worry and it was time to face it.

Have I really lost all of my family? Please let me keep my sisters, let them still love me. At least one?

Kate felt her eyes watering again. She ignored it as she started texting. Kate had to know now.

Kate: Hey, Anne. Can we talk?

There was no response for a while and then she saw it.

Anne: Anne is not here. You are not to contact your sisters anymore. They do not need your sinful influence. I am changing her number today. Do not come back until you have found God again.

Kate burst into tears and slid down to the ground, no longer holding back her cries as she sobbed and trembled, holding the phone against her head, which bowed low until it touched the cold ground.

I really have lost them now..God...please...help me...

She wept until there were no more tears and just knelt in silence. When she saw that a person in the distance might have noticed her, she quickly composed herself. Kate sat up and began walking the opposite way, back where she came from. A thought came to her and she searched through her bag.

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Hours later, it was almost seven. Max had just arrived at The Hot Spot with the other girl and once inside they parted.

"I'll see you in a minute."

"Sure thing, chicken wing," the girl said and walked over get in line at the front counter.

Max looked around and searched the room. There was no Kate to be found, but no Victoria either at least. Max still felt full of anxiety. She did not want to just hope and so brought out her phone. After considering her words, she sent a text to Kate.

Max: Are you still coming?

She stared at her phone for over a minute and there was no response. Max decided to just put it away. She frowned and walked over to the manager, a tall middle aged woman with brown hair. The woman smiled when she saw Max and asked, "Ready?"

"Not really, Cindy."

"You'll be great, don't worry about it."

"Thanks. I guess I better get up there."

"You better. I pushed everyone up to make sure you got in first."

"Yeah, thanks again for that."

"Well I had to after hearing your story. Maybe my whiny girls can see I do have a heart after all." She said, referring to the cafe's employees and winked.