Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Mateo
I can’t breathe for the full moment it takes Cat to start speaking, terrified of what she’s going to say. All these years, I thought it would be something so simple, so stupid, that if I ever got this chance, I’d be able to hear her reasons and go on with my life.
But now I’m not so sure. The look on her face isn’t shame, or embarrassment. It’s fear.
“Your…your father found out.”
It’s all she needs to say. My eyes fall closed and my heart breaks all over again. But this time, it’s not her betrayal breaking it—it’s mine.
Even when I found the pictures in her bag that proved she still loves me, I refused to allow myself to imagine for a second that my father could have had something to do with her sudden change of heart.
What a damn fool I’ve been.
“He…he told me I could never speak to you again. He threatened my mother’s job, her visa.” She pauses, waiting for me to speak, but the words stay trapped below the shattered remains of my heart.
She goes on, and I can hear the panic enter her voice now.
“I was scared, Matty, you have to understand. I was young. I didn’t know any better.
And then I went to college, and the more time that went by without hearing from you, the more I started to think maybe it was for the best. I mean, you were going to find someone better, someone from a good family, just like he wanted. I…”
“He sent you to college?” I don’t know why I ask, there are more pressing questions I need the answers to.
Cat’s face crumples and another wave of tears pours from her mournful eyes. “Yeah. He bought me off. Threatened me and bought me off. And I went along with it.” She waits, but I’m still processing and can’t speak. “Can you ever forgive me?”
The soft plea, straight from the mouth of the only woman I've ever loved, finally breaks more words free. “Jesus, Cat. It’s not me who needs to forgive you. Can you ever forgive me?”
Because the truth is, I should have realized. I know damn well who my father is. I know he wanted someone different for me. When this woman, who I love and trust with my life, disappeared off the face of the planet, I should have known to ask him…blame him.
“What do you mean?” she asks.
I look back up from my hands to find her face stricken with confusion.
“I should have known. I just believed him when he told me you’d run off.
That you didn’t want me. I never should have lost faith in you.
I let eight whole years go by. Eight wasted years that we could have been together.
I should have found you, no matter where you were.
Oh, Cat. How can I ever make this up to you? ”
I watch the relief on her face turn back to sadness and cold dread crashes over me.
“You have to let me go. Even though you know the truth, you still have to let me go. Be a doctor and find the perfect society wife and live your life.”
“What? Fuck no. No way that’s happening. No way I’m letting you go again.”
I reach for her but she scoots away.
“Mateo, your father’s threat still stands. I need my mother to be safe, to have her job here. I need to find a job that can support us both by the time she’s too old to work. I can’t risk her future, my future. He’s too powerful, too vindictive.”
Her words hold weight. I, too, know just how far the man will go to get what he wants. But this time, he’s come up against a far more formidable enemy than an immigrant housekeeper and her daughter.
I won’t be intimidated so easily.
“It’s not you who’s going to be taking risks this time, kitty. It’s me. I’m going to protect you like I should have been doing all along. No one will ever threaten you or your mother again. And no one will ever touch you. Not when you have me.”
Even if my words aren’t enough to convince her to stay here in bed with me, the storm will buy us at least another day before my promises have to be put to the test.
And by then, I’ll have a plan.
“I want to believe you,” she says, voice unsure but hopeful.
“That’s good enough for now. Let’s get some sleep. This will all look brighter in the morning.”
I curl her into my arms and pull the blankets over us. Cat falls asleep quickly, the peaceful look on her face setting at least part of my mind at ease.
She’s going to trust me. She’s going to allow me to take control and fix this situation so we can finally have our happily ever after.
I just hope I’m strong enough to pull it off.