Four Letter Word..

Chapter Thirty Eight

The week went by in a blur. Jason got kicked out of Hawkins High after Jonathan told the head he was hiding drugs in his locker. I was on my way to my second family therapy session with Mom this morning. The first had gone really well and I felt like we were definitely getting somewhere. I was going to bring up Dad today. I wanted to talk about him with her. I wanted to know if what he'd told me was true, that she wouldn't allow him anywhere near us or to his own son's funeral. I sat down in the chair in the room we had family therapy in and Dr Green came in with my Mother. She hugged me and I hugged her back "How are you doing Mom? You look better every time I see you" I told her, she smiled at me as she sat down
"Was there anything in particular either of you wanted to discuss today?" Dr Green asked. I looked to Mom who shrugged "Actually I wanted to talk about Dad" I bit my lip hoping this wouldn't make her freak out. She looked tense for a moment "Ok.." she said. I wasn't going to mention college. I'd only talk to her about moving to California if I got accepted. "I know what Dad did was wrong" I spoke "But. At the end of the day he's still my Dad and he has every right to be a part of my life" she nodded
"I know... I guess I just didn't want him to be apart of your life out of spite" I nodded, completely understanding where she was coming from. It was awful for all of us when Dad left. "Like I told you before, I was afraid that when you saw what kind of life he had you and your Brother would leave me" I could see where she was coming from "Would you be ok with seeing Dad again?" I asked her, cautiously. She bit her lip at the question but nodded slowly "It would be weird to see him again"
"But you'd be ok with that Nina?" Dr Green interrupted. She looked to him
"I guess, it wouldn't be so bad. It's not like we haven't spoken to each other over the last ten years"
"In that case, how about we take it slowly?" Dr Green suggested "Maybe start with your Father coming to one of these sessions?" I looked to Mom hopefully and she shook her head
"No I don't want him to see me like this. When I'm better, outside of here then yes sure" I tried not to show my disappointment "Mom, he already knows you're in here" She looked at Dr Green
"This is your recovery Nina, it's your choice"
"I'll need to think about it" she replied looking at me
"Ok, how does that sound to you Katrina?"
"Yeah, whenever you're ready Mom"

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Jennifer and Stacey had weekend cheer practice this afternoon so me and Steve, who'd offered to help me out went to my Mom's "Wow, is this really how you and Nina were living?" Steve asked me "Fraid so" I switched on the Kitchen light
"Kat you're gonna need a skip!" I shook my head
"Dad just told me to grab whatever me and Mom want to keep and then he said he was getting professionals in to come and sort it out" Steve looked at me oddly
"I get that, but where are you going to keep the stuff? You know Penny probably won't have room at her place" I sighed " I tell you what, we can borrow my Dad's Van and then, we'll keep it in my garage. There's plenty of room"
"Really? Your parents wouldn't mind?"
"No of course not.. Look I'll head home and pick up the Van"
"Ok. I'll make a start here then" Steve left and I looked around the room sighing. There was so much shit everywhere. Billy's rucksack and other belongings were lying on the sofa still. I needed boxes. I grabbed the keys for the lock on the shed that was in the backyard. I'm sure I'd seen some boxes in there. I pulled out four large moving boxes and struggled back into the house with them. I'd start on the Kitchen as that was the easiest room. I heard a Car pull up outside and assuming it was Steve returning with the van already I headed to the front door "You took your time" I stated as I swung the door open, only to be greeted by Neil Hargrove. I was speechless "Hello Katrina, I've been told Billy left some of his belongings here" I stared at him, anger starting to build "What are you doing here?" I asked him my fists clenching
"To get my son's belongings" Neil let himself in and closed the door behind him
"I don't know how you can even call him your son. You treat him like garbage" I told him
"You have no right to talk to me like that" he told me
"Where is Billy?" I questioned him
"Never you mind. All that matters is that you aren't influencing him any longer" I swallowed
"I was never the issue though was I Neil" he didn't seem to like me calling him by his first name "Who do you think you're talking to?" I got closer to him before I answered
"Only Hawkins, Indiana's biggest piece of shit!" as soon as the words had left my mouth I regretted them. Neil grabbed me by the shirt and shoved me against the closest wall "And you wonder where Billy gets his aggression from?" I questioned slightly breathless after having the wind knocked out of me before his hands moved to wrap around my throat. I couldn't breathe. Suddenly Neil's grip loosened and he fell to the floor, Steve was stood there, baseball bat in hand. I looked down at Neil Hargrove on the floor as I got my breath back "Shit..."
"Are you alright?" Steve asked me
"Do I fucking look alright?. He tried to fucking kill me"
"What was he even doing here? I thought he had a restraining order against you?" Steve asked
"Yeah. Hopper told me if I go anywhere near him there would be serious consequences" I grabbed at my throat still feeling like I was choking. Steve bent down and turned Neil over checking for a pulse on his neck "He's still alive.. But what are we going to do?" I looked down at him, he was bleeding out on my Mom's Kitchen floor "He might be alive now but he's losing a lot of blood" I grabbed a towel from the work top and tried to stop the blood flowing from the back of his head where Steve had whacked him "We should call an ambulance" Steve started to look panicked "No. no. We can't call an ambulance. Hopper will have me arrested. He has a restraining order against me remember?" Steve stood up pulling at his hair "Lets just get him in your Car and drop him outside the hospital"
"Kat that's crazy!" I grabbed Neil's limp legs
"Shut up and just grab his head will you Harrington. Help me out here" Steve grabbed his arms and we lifted Neil up carrying him out to the front yard. We put him down just outside of Steve's Dad's van "We'll take the Van at least that way we don't get blood all over my Car" I rolled my eyes as he opened the back doors. We picked Neil up again and put him in the back.