Stay With Me - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 34

Kath stayed close to DJ and Miles as they made their way around the Mall, she couldn't remember ever being somewhere so huge and with so much choice but it made everybody smile as she slowly started to come out of her shell when it came to giving her opinion on clothes - which ones she liked and which she didn't.

"No regrets in leaving your degree, then?" Rommel asked DJ as the two men stood outside the fitting rooms. Miles and Karla had gone down the hallway with Kath to give their opinions.

"I only did the degree as something to fall back on if my career online didn't work out, but I make enough money now that I'm able to afford a house by you guys without too much of a mortgage and we can pay off that mortgage in less than a year. I have connections to plenty of places if something were to go wrong, that I can find a new job in the gaming industry quickly... you're not disappointed, are you?"

"No, I'm not... I'll admit, I was at first when you said you'd quit on the phone and that Miles had as well... but having met Kath now and seeing how you two are with her, how she is with you... it's taking all my willpower not to call that Dean myself and give him a piece of my mind. Kicking out a pregnant girl with nowhere else to go!" Rommel scoffed and DJ nodded his head, sighing.

"Yeah, and I know the baby wasn't planned and we're still young, but I promise you that I'm gonna do right by them. I'm gonna be a good father-" Rommel laid a hand on DJ's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Son, I know... you've always been a family man, I have no doubt in your skills as a father. You're a good man, son, we raised you that way. No child of mine is one that hurts people." Rommel said and DJ nodded in agreement, smiling at the sight of Kath coming out of the fitting room area.

"Hey, gorgeous." DJ greeted, pecking her lips and he chuckled at her blushing. "You find something you like?"

"Yeah, just... underwear stuff," Kath mumbled, making him laugh. "It'll be more comfortable for me when I get more pregnant, too," Kath said and DJ nodded.

"Mom found it, right?" He guessed, chuckling to himself as Kath nodded.

"Hey! My old job comes in useful sometimes, Daniel." Karla playfully scolded. "Now, let's get this paid for and I think we have enough clothes now that we can go to the drugstore and get your necessities there and then go home to get you settled in, huh?" Karla said and Kath nodded in agreement. As much as she'd found it incredible to be at the Mall, she didn't feel entirely comfortable with Karla and Rommel spending money on her when she had only known them for a couple of hours. She was determined to pay everybody back, she just had no idea how she was going to do that.

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Kath looked around her new bedroom. It was bigger than she expected it to be and she had a king size bed all to herself with cream sheets, she was glad for the firm mattress since as she still struggled to sleep through the night in Miles's dorm - spending six years sleeping on the concrete outside and then going to a soft bed was a difficult transition. She even had a small balcony space, only enough space for a chair and a small round table, overlooking the backyard where there were a large pool and lawn, outdoor furniture and a grill. It was the perfect family home, she found it overwhelming to know that it was where she'd be staying.

"That's all your things packed away - your prenatal vitamins are on the shelf in your bathroom-"

"I have my own bathroom?" Kath cut Karla off, shocked and Rommel chuckled, opening a white door next to her closet.

"You have an en-suite, honey. Our bedroom does too." Rommel said and Kath took a deep breath, completely stunned and DJ smiled, kissing her temple and they all headed downstairs to the living room. The walls were bare, no artwork or photos up yet because they hadn't been unpacked but most of the room looked relatively finished besides it needed a coat of paint to make it more personal to them. DJ and Miles sat on the couch with Kath to make her more comfortable, Karla and Rommel sitting across from them all and Kath was about to say something when the front door opening and closing cut her off.

"It'll be JC," Karla assured Kath. "In here!" She called and Kath held onto DJ's hand out of nerves to meet his brother, but her jaw dropped and her eyes lined with tears when she saw him in the doorway. He froze at the sight of her. "JC, this is Kath... it's a long story." Karla said but DJ looked to Kath when he felt her start to shake.

"K, what's wrong?" He asked softly, but there was an edge of worry in his voice.

"It was him." She choked out.

"What?"

"It was him! He raped me when I was pregnant!" Kath sobbed.

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