38. Kate
Everything took on a surreal vibe.
What just happened? This kind of stuff only occurred in movies. Had she accidentally fallen into a dream about a soap opera?
Hugo was by her side. Why was it Hugo and not Elias?
‘Where’s Elias?’ she murmured.
‘I have no idea. I think he left.’
‘Why would he leave?’ she asked, dazed.
‘I don’t know the guy very well, but he seems like the type to take off when things get hard.’
Kate wanted to defend Elias, but if he had left, maybe Hugo was right.
Levi came over. ‘What do you want to do?’
‘Can you… can you just send everyone home? I don’t think I can deal with any more of this right now.’
She then hurried off to the bedroom and shut the door behind her.
She climbed onto the bed and curled up in a ball, burying her face in a pillow. How could Elias just leave her to deal with his mother? And her mother? While Hugo, the so-called King of Red Flags, was still here providing support.
There was a gentle tap at the door.
‘What?’ she called out.
It opened, and Kate briefly emerged from under her pillow to see who it was. Hugo. Of course. He closed the door again and came to sit beside her on the bed. Kate wanted to protest that it wasn’t appropriate for him to be there with her, but none of the day’s events had been appropriate. Besides, at least he was checking on her.
‘I’m sorry I caused you any angst,’ he said, rubbing her back.
‘Why did you accept my mother’s invitation to come here?’
‘Because I meant it when I said we were friends. I want to share happy moments with you, and I thought today would be a happy moment.’
Kate snorted. ‘Clearly you thought wrong.’ She sat up. ‘But also, why would you buy a freaking designer pram and what was with the hamper? You should have guessed that would rattle Elias.’
‘Why? I just thought the pram looked cool. It’s unique. And the hamper was nothing.’
‘Both of them were ridiculously overpriced for things that will only be used for a year or two.’
‘I’m sorry. I should have thought.’
‘Now you’re making me feel bad for not being grateful.’
‘Not at all. Elias said you already had a pram, so I’ll return it.’
Kate didn’t want to tell him that they didn’t actually have a pram yet, but she also thought the one Hugo had bought was too much. She couldn’t imagine wheeling it around Brisbane and enduring the looks from passers-by. She hated obvious displays of wealth.
‘Thank you. I don’t want you spending your money on me. And I know you’ll probably say you have more than enough to go around, but that’s not the point. I want us to have a normal friendship. One where we buy each other coffees, not prams that presumably cost thousands of dollars.’
He chuckled. ‘Okay. Noted.’
‘Do you think everyone has left?’
‘I can go check.’
‘Please.’
‘I’ll be back in a minute.’
He left the room, and Kate sighed. She pulled her phone from her pocket and looked at the display. Elias hadn’t even left her a message. The least he could do was text her.
She dialled his number. He had some serious apologising to do.
But he didn’t answer. The call went straight to messages.
What the hell was wrong with the guy?
She threw the phone onto the bed, and all her insecurities came racing to the surface. Elias may not have cheated on her, but he had abandoned her and their baby the second things got tough. He couldn’t stand up to his mother, and he couldn’t make her feel safe and protected. What was the point in having a partner if they couldn’t be by your side when you needed them?
Hugo returned. ‘Everyone’s gone home except Levi and Alexis. They’re just tidying up a little, and then they’ll leave too.’
‘Thanks for checking.’
‘Can I get you anything? A cup of tea? One of those fancy mocktails I saw out there?’
‘No. I think I just need to rest.’
‘You want me to stay?’
Her heart contracted. That’s what Elias should have been asking.
‘Actually, I’d like to be on my own. But I appreciate the offer.’
‘All right. You know where I am if you need me. And my phone is always on. Call or text anytime, even if it’s late.’
Kate nodded.
Hugo gave her a concerned look before leaving the room.
Kate pulled the pillow back over her head and burst into tears.
* * *
At some point,she fell asleep, and when she opened her eyes, the sun had gone down. Wow. She must have really needed that nap. A quick check of her watch revealed it was 9pm. Okay. So not really a nap. More like a full eight hours.
Now she was going to be awake all night.
She stumbled out into the living room and saw that everything was almost back to the way it had been this morning. The streamers had been taken down, and all the food and drink had been put away. The only sign that anything had happened was the pile of baby gifts on the dining table. The pram was gone.
Kate felt awful. All these people had come with presents for her child, and she’d given them an embarrassing spectacle in return.
Wait. What had happened to Elias? Was he still out?
A quick search of the house answered her question. She was alone. She picked up her phone and saw there were no new messages or missed calls. Seriously?
At that moment, the phone beeped in her hand.
She clicked on the message.
Hugo:
Just checking in. Are you OK?
Not for the first time today, she wondered why it was Hugo making all the effort. Had she been right in trusting him the first time?
She sent a quick reply assuring him she was. Even though she wasn’t.
She then called Elias’ number. It went to messages again.
After a few moments staring at the wall, she jumped into action. She returned to the bedroom and pulled Elias’ bag from the wardrobe. She then stomped around the house, picking up everything that belonged to him and shoving it in the bag… all his clothes in her room and the laundry… his toiletries in the bathroom.
She then zipped up the bag and dumped it outside the front door.
Back inside, she pulled out her phone and sent him a text.
Kate:
You are not welcome back in my house. Your stuff is out the front. Do not attempt to see me again.
She stabbed the send button and collapsed to the floor.
She was done with Elias.
She was going to have this baby on her own.