9. Chapter 9
Kaitlyn
I wake up snuggled in Gray's arms with my back to his chest and him giving me light kisses on my shoulder.
I groan, "I don't want to go to brunch."
"I know, Starshine, but let's get this over with, because I can't wait to come home and spend the day with you."
Turning in his arms to face him, I say, "Let's just skip to that part, and spend the day in bed." Then, I run my hand down his chest on my way to wrap it around his thick cock, but he stops me right before I get there.
"Let's get in the shower." He says, pulling me to the bathroom after him, and I just groan.
He takes care of me. With care, his hands glide up my body, cleaning me, and then he washes my hair.
It’s wonderful, because I don't have to do anything.
He lets me wash him, but stops me from playing around.
When we get out, he dries me, like I'm the most precious thing in the world, and even helps me get dressed.
I didn't realize how much I needed this right now, but Gray knew. He always knows.
On the drive over, he doesn't let go of my hand, and when he finally parks, he looks at me.
"Let's go in there and try to get through brunch. As soon as we’re done eating, I’ll get us out of there. If you absolutely want to leave before then, just tell me, and we’ll go."
I nod, knowing Gray will always watch out for me, and I need to just get this over with. One more deep breath, and then we head up to the front door. Gray knocks, and my dad opens the door. He's so happy and smiling, while pulling me in for a hug and giving Gray a big one, too.
"Come in and sit down," Dad says.
We walk into the living room, and Linda looks almost murderous. I assume it's because she knows that we uncovered her lie, but we haven't called her out on it. I don't see the point, as she isn't worth that kind of energy.
"This is a family breakfast, so no guests," Linda snaps.
"I said it was okay this once." My dad says softly, and I bite the inside of my cheek, trying not to scream.
Helen saunters out to see what’s going on, and her eyes narrow on Gray.
"I wish you would have told us, and I'd have made more food." She says in a fake sweet voice.
"It’s my fault. She told me." My dad says, taking the blame once again.
The tension in the air is so thick, that you could cut it with a knife. Gray squeezes my hand, letting me know he's okay, and pulling me away from the edge.
Grayson stays within arm’s reach of me the whole time. When we sit down on the couch, he wraps an arm around me, holding me close, as Linda and my dad start talking about someone I don't know.
My dad tries to draw me into a conversation, but Linda takes over every time, and by the third time, I can tell my dad is noticing.
Sending him a pointed look, I make my opinion known, before looking away.
Gray kisses the top of my head, an action that doesn't go unnoticed by Linda. Though, it seems to make her angry.
Finally, we’re saved by Helen, calling us all to the table. Gray is a perfect gentleman, pulling out my chair, and then taking a seat next to me as close as he can get. Resting his hand on my thigh under the table, calms and distracts me.
"So, how was the wedding yesterday?" My dad asks.
Dana invited my dad, but she made it clear that Helen and Linda were not invited. To keep the peace, my dad decided not to go, or even mention the invitation to them. It’s sad, because Dana spent so much time here growing up. Well, until Helen and Linda entered the picture, anyway.
"Dana really knew what she was doing. It looked like a winter wonderland." I smile really proud of her, because she planned the entire wedding herself.
"I'm sure it looked good for a small-town wedding," Linda says, rolling her eyes.
I open my mouth to say something, but Gray squeezes my thigh, stopping me. I take a frustrated breath, forcing a smile and ignoring her.
"Her now sister-in-law catered it, and the food was amazing. I'm begging her to get the recipe for that chicken dish we had," I say.
"Doubt it was as good as Mom's dish, being she didn't hire a professional," Linda says under her breath, but still loud enough for all of us to hear.
This time Gray steps in. "Her sister-in-law is a professional caterer and has done several events for my company." He turns to look at my dad. "She was the one who catered the company anniversary party last year."
"Oh, that was the best food I’ve ever had,” Dad says. “But she’s stuck on not handing out her recipes. Her biscuits were so flaky, and I haven't had biscuits like that, since you mother used to make them for me." Dad turns to me with a smile on his face.
Since he's looking at me, he misses the pure hatred on Helen's face. Grayson doesn't, because he just smiles at her.
"I wish I had taken more interest in cooking with her, before she passed," I say without thinking.
My dad stands and leaves the room, so the mask Helen was wearing falls, and she downright glares at me. The mask is back up, when my dad reenters the room.
He sits back down next to me, hands me a book, and it takes a moment for me to realize what it is. When I do, tears fill my eyes, and I can't stop them.
"What is it, Starshine?" Gray asks softly.
"My mom's recipe book. All in her handwriting." I run my hand over the cover, before opening it and finding the French toast casserole she used to make every Christmas morning.
This brings back memories of Zion, smashing my mom's ornament, and it's enough to stop the tears and let anger seep in. I close the book, reaching over and hugging my dad.
"Thank you," I tell him.
Linda and Helen are rude and snotty the rest of dinner, and my dad either doesn't realize it or is ignoring it. By the time brunch is over, I'm just done with them.
"I think it's best we get going," Gray says, glaring at Helen.
My dad nods and walks us to the door. On the front porch, I hug him, and then decide to stand up for myself.
"Thank you for Mom’s cookbook. It means everything to me. But I know you aren't as blind as you’re pretending to be. That right there with how they acted today, and how they treated Gray is the reason I don't visit."
Without another word, I turn and walk to the car and don't stop, until I get there.
Grayson
All the way to the truck, she’s almost emotionless. Then, no sooner than I get in on my side, Kaitlyn seems to snap out of it.
"I need to go apologize to my dad," she says, getting out and heading back to the house.
Her father looks sad, even tired, as he nods and allows her inside. I should have gone with her to avoid Linda and Helen from ganging up on her.
The minutes tick by, and the longer she’s in there, the more uneasy I get. I'm about to get out and go check on her, when she finally comes out with a stunned look on her face.
She climbs into the car, and not a word is spoken the whole way home. No matter how much I try to talk to her and distract her, she never answers.
When I pull into the driveway, she makes no move to get out of the car.
"You’re starting to freak me out, Starshine. Are you okay?" I finally ask.
"You said you never touched Linda." She says, barely above a whisper, but I hear her loud and clear.
"I didn't, and I never will." I try to reassure her. I thought we were past this.
"She said you’re Zion's father." She drops the bomb, and then runs inside.
What the fuck just happened?
I sit there stunned for a moment, before I make a quick phone call, and then I follow her and find her in our room packing.
"It's not true, and I'm going to take a DNA test to prove it. Let's go." I say.
She doesn't move, and I start to panic, thinking that she’s going to believe the girl who does nothing, but cause problems for me. In a moment of insanity, I pick her up and toss her over my shoulder. Then, I carry her back downstairs to my truck.
"Grayson, stop it! Put me down!" She yells.
"No, I'm not going to let you run around thinking that brat of a kid is mine, when there’s no possible way," I tell her, trying to keep my anger in control.
I'm angry, but not at her. I’ve never so much as looked at Linda as anything more than Kaitlyn's little sister, and I'm pissed she’s using this to try and break us up yet again.
Once I have her in the truck, I head over to her dad's house, trying to get my anger under control, but I fail.
I all but drag Kaitlyn up the front porch steps and pound on her dad's front door. He answers, surprised to see me, but one look at my face, is all he needs to step aside.
Linda, Helen, and Zion are in the living room. At least, Linda has the decency to look a bit scared.
"I never fucking touched you for even so much as a hug. You trying to say that monster is mine, well, it’s complete bullshit, and you know it. You’re using this to break Kaitlyn and me up again ." I yell the last part.
That gets her dad's attention, as I take a deep breath.
"But I will do the responsible thing, and I’ll take a DNA test to prove it. Let's go, we are settling this now."
"No, it's Christmas, and we have things to do," Linda scoffs.
"Too bad. I called in a doctor, paid his exorbitant fee for a holiday call, and paid for a rush order, so we’ll know within forty-eight hours what a liar you are," I say.
"Not. Today." She grits out.
"Either you go now, or I’ll take you to court for a court ordered DNA test, and when it comes back negative, like we both know it will, I’ll sue you for slander, paternity fraud, and anything else my lawyer can make stick," I say.
It's a bluff, as I'm not sure I can sue for anything but slander, but I can sure as hell bury them in legal fees and have a social worker up her ass for years. I have the money to do so, and I will happily do it to pay back all the horrible shit they’ve done to my sweet Kaitlyn.
"Linda, you made this accusation, so you owe him a DNA test." Her dad says in a stern voice.
"But let me make this clear, if after this stunt the test comes back negative, and the way you’ve treated my daughter this last week?
There will be serious consequences for you both.
" He clenches his fists and looks at Helen.
"Kaitlyn has never once complained about you two, until today. But that’s my daughter, and this is a direct attack on her, and I won't stand for it. Now, get moving," he says in that military voice he uses at the office.
Her dad escorts Linda to the doctor and not a word is spoken.
Kaitlyn won't speak to me or her dad. Linda won't talk to anyone other than Zion, who is a world class spoiled brat. I feel sorry for the boy’s father, if it ever comes to light who he really is.
Though, I doubt Linda actually knows based on the rumors around base about her.
We are in and out of the office, and I make sure to pay extra for the quickest test we can get, and we all go our separate ways. Kaitlyn is quiet all the way to the house and won't even let me place my hand on her knee for comfort.
When we walk into the house, she turns to me and says the first words she has spoken in over an hour.
"I'm going to head back to the cabin tonight. I need some space to think."
Her voice is wobbly, like she’s on the verge of crying. I want to tell her no, and that she has to stay here with me. That I can make her forget all about this, but I know I need to give her this space, until the test comes in.
She's here for another five days. We have time. Maybe, a night away from me will give her enough space to clear things up. Then, when I get out of work tomorrow, we can have dinner and fix this.
I watch her walk out of the door, taking my heart with her. If I had known what tomorrow would bring, I wouldn't have let her go so easily.