Imperfections Emerged (The Imperfections #4)

Chapter 1

Nick

“Hey, cuz, what’s up?”

“Hey, Ava, Mom wanted to know if you were bringing a date with you to the banquet next month. If not, she has someone she would like to introduce you to.”

“Why didn’t Aunty Allison call me herself?”

“She did. She said she’s been calling you for days.”

“That can’t be right. She called me last week and we talked for like an hour. Hold on, let me check my phone.”

I shuffle through the papers on my desk till she’s finished.

“Whoops. I know what the problem is. I mistakenly blocked her number while trying to block this guy I went out with; their numbers are similar. I’ll unblock it and give her a call later.”

“Great. I’ll let her know. Later.”

“Wait! Do you know who this guy is?”

“No idea.”

“I’ll go out with him if she wants. I trust Aunt Allison’s judgment when it comes to men, but I’m not bringing a date with me to the charity banquet.”

“Okay. Is there something else? You know I don’t care who you bring or don’t bring.”

“Is Chris going to be at the banquet?”

I sit back in my chair and smile. I see what this is about.

“Well, is he going to be there?”

“I think so.” I’m messing with her; I know he’s going to be there.

In a no-nonsense twang she says, “Don’t play with me, Nick. You know.”

“He’ll be there.”

“Do you know if he’s bringing a date with him?”

“How am I supposed to know?”

“You’re his best friend.”

“Ava, you know we haven’t talked as much since he found out Cat and I were together the first time.”

“Cat said he was over at your house yesterday, how bad could things be?”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“Know what? Did you guys get into a fight?”

“Not us. The rest of his family, yes.”

“What happened? Cat didn’t mention anything to me…she didn’t exactly sound like herself though.”

“What do you mean?”

“She sounded tired and distracted. I thought it was her being pregnant. I asked her about Chris and she said he came over last night and she was up late.”

“That’s all she said?”

“Yeah. She said she would tell me about it later. She was on her way to work, and she didn’t want to be late again.”

“It wasn’t just Chris that was there, Ava. Her damn family was there.”

“Whaaat? No wonder she sounded out of it. They must’ve wrung her dry.”

“They did more than that. Every time I think about it my head starts pounding.”

“What did they do? I hope you didn’t get into a fight with them?”

“Only after I found her in the bathroom crying and she told me her mother suggested she get rid of the baby for Kate’s well-being.”

“She did what? How dare her! I hope you didn’t hit anyone. Did you?”

“I wanted to. Jay and I almost got into it.”

“Poor thing. No wonder she sounded like that. I know she wanted them to accept the pregnancy like Chris has.”

“As far as I’m concerned, them not being in her life is the best thing for her and my child.”

“I know you think that.”

“No, I know it’s best.”

“They’re not all bad. You spent a lot of time over there growing up, being friends with both Chris and Cat, even Jay. They care about each other.”

“Come on, Ava. So what she said is okay?”

“Hear me out before you cuss me out. I am in no way agreeing with what she said. I’m saying they need time to adjust to this new situation. There is a lot going on, and this is a very unconventional situation. She’s not in a good place with her family, but she loves them. You don’t, but she does.”

“I don’t want them near her, as all they do is hurt and disappoint her.

They have had their chance. They don’t have to like me, but telling her daughter she should have an abortion so she doesn’t hurt her other daughter’s feelings is—well, it’s fucked up.

They put all the blame on her for things going wrong.

Everyone had a part in the unraveling of that family, things they didn’t deal with when they should have, starting with her mother. ”

“I’m going to advise you to keep the door open for reconciliation with her family.”

“I didn’t ask for your advice, Ava.”

“You didn’t ask, but I’m giving it anyway because I can stand back from the situation and see it clearer than you, the people who are in it. So I’m giving my unsolicited advice.”

“Whatever.”

“She’s going to be estranged from her family because she chooses to be with you and she loves you.

That’s a lot to ask of anyone. The family you have may not be the one you would have chosen, but family is family.

When it all comes down at certain points in your life, you’re going to need your family, even the worst of them.

Don’t make her choose between you and them.

Try to help her find her way back to them, leave the door open for reconciliation or else it might come back to bite you in the ass one day. ”

“Her family doesn’t deserve her! Look at how they’re treating her.”

“And you do?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re the man that slept with her sister and got her pregnant then she got pregnant by you the same month. As a matter of fact, if I have my math right, on the same day her sister loses her baby.” She says the last part like it’s a big secret no one should know about.

“That’s not fair, A—”

“What’s not fair? That I’m speaking the truth? This is how her family sees you. To top it off, you dumped Kate and now you’re sleeping and living with her little sister. Wolf in sheep’s clothing, remember that. In their minds you’re going to do the same thing to Cat, you can’t be trusted.”

“I love Cat. I would never do anything to hurt her again, to see the pain and betrayal in her eyes when I told her about Kate and me.” This is why I can’t tell her about Paige.

Nothing happened, but I don’t know if she’s going to believe that.

I put my arm on the desk and rub my eyes. If her family only knew…

“I know you wouldn’t hurt her, but they don’t. Can you honestly tell me if you were Jay and the rest of her family you wouldn’t feel the same way, Nick?”

“All I know is I don’t want her hurt anymore. She’s cried enough for loving me. I’m not letting her go. We’re her family: me, her, and this baby; if you don’t want to be a part of it, get the fuck out of the way.”

“You don’t have to say anymore. I hear you.”

“Good.”

“I’m going to call Aunty Allison now. I’ll check on Cat later in case she wants to talk.”

“Bye.”

I decide to go home early to see Cat. I can finish working at home. I have one stop to make first.

I ring the doorbell and just the person I came to see opens the door.

“What are you doing here?”

“Believe it or not, I came to see you.”

“What for? We have nothing to say to each other.”

“I have plenty to say. If you don’t want me to say it out here where someone might hear, you should let me in.”

Staring daggers at me, Mrs. Reed moves out of the way and I walk into the living room.

She stands in front of me with her hands folded.

She wants me gone as fast as possible. She doesn’t need to worry; I don’t want to be here with her either.

This is not a social call, so I get straight to the point.

“In all the years I’ve known your family, Mrs. Reed, you were there, but you weren’t present, you were wrapped up in yourself.”

“You don’t know a thing about me.”

“I do. There isn’t much I don’t know about you and your family.

You came from nothing and married a hardworking, determined man who could provide the status and money you wanted.

You’re not a nice woman, but you pretend to be, and you’re good at it most of the time.

” Her face puckers, and her hands drop to her side like she wants to slap me.

I guess I know more about her than she wants me to.

“How dare you!” She hisses at me between clenched teeth.

“No, how dare you come into my home, disrespect the love of my life, and tell her she should kill my child.” I stare back at her with as much unbridled hostility.

“Did anyone tell you to kill your children when you were whoring around with another man?” Her mouth drops open with shock before she snaps it shut.

“I never said—”

“Shut the hell up, I know what you said and what you meant. Didn’t come here to have a discussion with you about what you meant or didn’t mean.

I couldn’t care less.” She snaps her mouth shut, eyes bulging while I give her my brand of honesty.

She’s not accustomed to the men around her speaking to her like this.

I don’t give a damn. Maybe if one of them would have talked to her like this sooner she wouldn’t be such a bitch.

“I don’t know what either one of my daughters saw in you.”

“Stay the hell away from Cat. It’s not good for her or my child.”

“Your child. She’s not your property, she’s my daughter. If I want to speak to her, I have that right. I don’t need your permission with anything concerning my daughter. I’m her mother.”

“Why don’t you act like it?” Instead of being a raging heartless bitch.

“Get the hell out of my house!” She raises her voice. “You’re not good enough for her.”

“Neither are you.”

I turn to leave and see Sophie in the doorway, looking distressed, fidgeting with her apron.

I like Sophie; she was always nice to me when I came over.

Once, she caught me looking at Cat’s legs when she was wearing a short jeans skirt and bending down in front of me back in high school.

She gave me that look: “you better not even think about it.” I take the scowl off my face and manage a smile so she’ll stop looking worried. I know Cat would want to see her.

“It’s nice to see you, Sophie. I wish it could be under better circumstances.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Mr. Nicholas.”

I smile for real at the formal use of my name. “Please, Sophie, we’ve known each other far too long for you to start being so formal. It’s still Nick.”

She nods her head and smiles.