I'm there, right by your side

26 - Healing

"Darling. What's wrong Katherine?" Mr Pulitzer said immediately hugging his daughter when he saw her crying still, "come sit down and let's talk." They all sat in the living room. Jack and Joseph on either side of Katherine. Jack rubbed her back to help her.

"Okay. So first I'm getting stressed and worried about the renovation on Friday next week. There's still so much to be prepared and I'm worried I won't get it done in time, or even on the day it won't be finished by the time the newsies come home. Second is Christmas. I want to spend it with everyone but I know that's not possible. I want to be here with my family, but also I want Jack here. I would love to be with all the boys for Christmas and I'm sure you do too Jack as that what you do every year. Also Davey and Les will want to join newsie Christmas but still has their folks back home and also Davey will probably want to be with Clara but she has her parents. I know I can't see everyone on Christmas Day. But I want to spend Christmas with everyone too and it's all a bit much." She said breaking down already having not gotten to the hardest parts.

"I'd love to spend Christmas with your family Ace, if they will have me here. And I'm sure Davey and his family will want to all be together. We can spend Christmas Eve celebrating with all the boys, and probably Clara too, then spend the night here and Davey and Les will go home, Clara doing what her parents and herself decide is best along with Davey."

"We'd happily have you spend Christmas Day with us Jack. You're more than welcome. I'd love for you both to be here. Ralph's girlfriend, Francesca, will be here too so it would be lovely to have all of the family including both relationships." Mr Pulitzer said.

"Okay." Katherine said softly. "Those were actually the smaller things. The first other thing is about you J. Ever since you were given the all clear from the doctors I've felt really lonely. And it's broken me a little. I knew I shouldn't have gotten used to having you at my apartment 24/7, but I did. I loved getting to spend every evening cuddled with you before falling asleep. I loved waking up in your arms. And not getting to do that has been difficult for me and upsetting. I know you've been away from the boys for a month, but they had each other. I've had no one since you got better. With selling and both our other jobs I've barely seen you this week and I feel like I've lost you a little." She said feeling horrible for telling him this.

"I'm sorry you feel that way. I didn't mean for that to happen Ace. I guess I got so excited about being able to spend the night with my newsie brothers, I forgot about how you'd be back at your place, alone. I know we've also both been super busy this last week. I genuinely didn't mean to hurt you in the way I have and I'd do anything to make you feel better Kath. Anything."

"Really you'd do anything?" She said softly. "Because...I want you to move in with me. Like officially. Not just you staying at mine. I want us to share the apartment. You can still go spend the occasional night at the lodge. But I want to spend every night sleeping beside my boyfriend." Jack sat in shock. He wasn't expecting that.

"But the boys. They need me Kath."

"They need to learn to take care of themselves Jack. And I know they can because they survived the last month. You'll still be with them everyday selling papes. You'll still hang out with them. You just won't be with them at night quite so often. A lot of the boys are the same age you were when you became their unofficial leader. Maybe it's time someone else took on that role. Maybe Race. He's almost 16 now. He could do it. Or even Specs."

"I think that's something I need to talk to them about. I love you Ace. But they are just as much my family as you are. They're my brothers. I really do Wanna live with you Kath. Of course I do. I just have to take them into account."

"Okay then." She said wiping her eyes and turning her back to him so she was facing her father. "And the last thing, which made everything worse was that from tomorrow I won't have a job. My paid internship contract with The Sun has ended and they don't have space to hire me as a full time employee." She said crying again. Joseph held her close.

"Mr Pulitzer. I told you as the strike ended to sign your daughter before someone else did. You even said yourself that she's a talented writer. Nows your chance." Jack said, his mind still focused on what she'd said about living together.

"Katherine. I told them they couldn't hire you full time. And there's a reason for that. And that's because I want you as part of my team. Ralph doesn't want to be a journalist or reporter, he wants to be the publisher and he's got dreams of starting his own company. I want The World to stay within the family. And the only way that may be possible right now was to ensure you were working here. So Katherine? Will you become a reporter for The World?"

"Of course I will. On one condition. I get treated equally to everyone else here. I don't wish to just be given the social page stuff because I'm a girl. I don't want to get every single amazing story because I'm your daughter. That will be too much work, and unfair on your other employees. I just want to be equal."

"And equal you shall be." He smiled.

"Thank you father."

"You'll start the week after the renovation. I want your first piece to be about that. You won't have to travel so far to get to work. You'll be able to work with Jack on some pieces. What do you say?"

"I'd love to work with you Father. Thank you." She hugged him tightly and smiled. She then hugged Jack but not so tightly. She was still upset with everything regarding him and how he was barely around.