Stay With Me - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 33

Karla slowly pulled away from her, giving her a comforting smile even though she wanted nothing more than to break down crying with the young girl. It was clear that she'd been through a lot, she could feel how skinny Kath was when she hugged her. She could feel her spine and the bones in her arms, feel her ribs. She was determined to help Kath put weight on for her own sake and for the sake of her unborn child. She dreaded to think what her wound looked like, but she knew she'd have to have a look at it, later on, to see whether she needed any dressings on it or whether it was healed enough to continue being uncovered. "Come inside, honey, you're freezing." Karla urged, wrapping an arm around her and she rubbed her arm as she guided Kath inside. Rommel hung back with DJ and Miles, giving each of them a hug.

"She'll be okay," Rommel said softly and DJ just nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak without crying as he watched how overwhelmed Kath was to have a mother who cared. It was the first time she was experiencing affection from family and it was the most beautiful and saddest moment that he and Miles had ever witnessed.

"She's so scared," DJ said quietly and Rommel nodded.

"I can tell, but we'll assure her she has nothing to be scared of." Rommel tried to comfort his son. It had been months since they had last seen each other since as they used to live on the other side of the country, but their reunion celebration had to be put on hold slightly so that Kath could be a priority - not that any of them cared about that.

"Do you have any things out in the car, sweetheart? We can get that packed away in your new room." Karla said, keeping Kath close to her side by keeping her arm around her but Kath shook her head.

"I d-don't have anything." Kath breathed and Karla sighed, kissing her temple.

"We'll go out in a little while and get you some things then, huh? Some clothes and essentials, some prenatal vitamins, too." Karla said and Kath's eyes widened, shaking her head.

"No, no... that's too expensive-"

"You'll soon learn it's useless arguing with my wife, it's easier to just agree," Rommel said with a comforting smile but it was clear that Kath was wary around men. "We still have to unpack our pictures and things, so you'll be able to help if you want to! We want to redecorate some of the rooms, you can give an opinion." Rommel said and Kath looked around the hallway they were all stood in. The house looked bare, but the couple had only just moved in. The walls were all painted a bright white color, it made the place feel cold but it wouldn't take much to make it a homely place. The house was much bigger than what the couple would need, but they found themselves relieved they'd bought such a nice, large home in a family neighborhood now, since as they had Kath living with them and they were going to be grandparents for the first time.

"It must be a big deal if my Dad is letting you give an opinion on how to decorate," Miles smirked, laughing when Rommel shoved her playfully and she pushed him back. She'd never felt like an adopted addition to their family, she was never treated any differently to DJ or JC. She was their daughter and nothing anybody said would change that.

"Do you want to head straight out to get some things for you or do you want to have a drink first?" Karla said and Kath looked to DJ, blinking back her tears. Even having a choice and being asked what she wanted to be was brand new to her and it was overwhelming her.

"Are you thirsty, baby girl?" DJ asked softly, taking the choice away for the time being since as having to choose was a bit much for her and Kath slowly shook her head. "Then we can head out, right? We'll go to the Mall... you can hang out with Mom and Miles and be girly and get clothes." DJ teased, smiling when he saw her visibly relax slightly as she cracked a smile and he kissed her forehead.

"I've never done that before." She admitted.

"Oh, you'll have to get used to some girly time! You'll be begging for it if the little one is a boy, believe me." Karla said dramatically and Kath bit her lip, not knowing what to say.

"We'll take the drive around the neighborhood here, see if there are any places for sale we can look at," DJ said, taking Kath's hand in his own as they all walked out of the house together.

"We?"

"Of course, 'we'! It's gonna be your house too, baby." DJ assured her, kissing her head. "It'll be our house... of course you get a say in it." He said softly and Kath cracked a small smile.

"Where's JC?" Miles asked her parents.

"Oh, he isn't coming over until dinnertime. He has some things to set up at his new office or whatever, but he'll be here at around seven." Rommel said, all of them piling into Rommel's car to head to the Mall - another first for Kath.