42. Kate
When her phone beeped, Kate was surprised to see it was Alexis checking in. She hadn’t heard from any of Elias’ friends since the baby shower, and she assumed they’d all rallied around him and abandoned her.
But this message proved her wrong.
She quickly replied.
Kate:
Sure. Name the time and place.
Alexis wrote back with a request for an hour’s time at a local café. Kate promised to be there and headed for the shower to freshen up. It was well after eleven in the morning, but she’d been hiding out in her room since she’d woken up. Hugo was still staying at her house, and the subtle hints she’d given him to leave were not working. As a result, she was starting to feel stifled.
Ever since she’d become pregnant, the easy friendship she’d previously shared with Hugo had morphed into something awkward. He still acted the same as always, but she was different. She didn’t know if it was her sister’s warning, or the fact she was pregnant with someone else’s baby, but she knew they wouldn’t be able to go back to how they’d been.
And the longer he stayed in her house, the harder it would be on him when she finally sent him away. She wasn’t even sure it was viable for her to have any connection with him in the future, but she didn’t want to hurt the guy.
She quickly washed up and put on some makeup. It was the first time in days she’d made any effort with her appearance.
Her face was a little pale, but hopefully she wouldn’t scare away anyone who looked at her.
After changing into a comfortable black dress, she grabbed her handbag. ‘I’m just going out for a bit,’ she called to Hugo, who now seemed to spend all his time in her living room.
‘Where are you off to?’
‘Just to stretch my legs.’ She wasn’t sure why she didn’t want to tell him she was seeing Alexis. Maybe because he’d insist on coming too.
‘You want some company?’
God, no.
‘I’ll be fine. Thanks.’
‘Call if you need anything.’
‘Will do.’
She hurried out the front door and breathed out. Why was it so claustrophobic in there?
It was only a short drive to the café, but when she arrived and saw Alexis standing out the front, she suddenly felt a million times better.
Alexis smiled warmly and stepped forward to give her a hug. ‘Hey. How are you feeling?’
‘Good now.’
Alexis ushered her inside, and they sat at a table in the corner. ‘I was worried. When you didn’t get in touch, I thought you might hate us all.’
‘Why would I hate you? I thought you hated me! Well, maybe not hate, exactly. But since I’m no longer with Elias…’
‘But I got Levi to pass on the message when he dropped by.’
‘Hang on. When did Levi drop by?’
Alexis furrowed her brow. ‘Um, the day after the baby shower?’
‘I didn’t talk to Levi then.’
‘But he talked to Hugo.’
‘What?’
‘He didn’t tell you?’
‘No. The only person who came to the house was Elias. Hugo said Elias told him he was picking up his stuff, but then he forgot to take it. And he…’ She trailed off.
Hugo was the one who said Elias wanted to end their relationship.
But if he hadn’t…
‘Why did Levi come over?’ she asked carefully.
Alexis shook her head. ‘I knew you would have responded if you’d received the message.’
‘What message?’ Kate’s chest tightened.
‘Elias was in an accident after he left the baby shower. He’s okay, but he does have a broken leg.’
The tight feeling intensified. ‘He was in an accident?’
‘He made us promise not to tell you because he didn’t want to worry you, but Levi thought you should know.’
‘And now Elias thinks I don’t care about him.’
‘That freaking Hugo. Look, I’m sorry, Kate. I obviously don’t know him as well as you, but if he deliberately avoided telling you important information, that’s a bad sign.’
‘I agree.’ She jumped to her feet. ‘I need to talk to Hugo.’ She paused. ‘Wait. I should go see Elias.’
‘Who do you want to see first?’
‘I don’t know! I don’t want Elias thinking I don’t care about his wellbeing, but I also don’t want Hugo hanging around my house if he’s been lying to me. Do you think if I called Elias he’d answer?’
‘Not at the moment, but only because he asked me to buy him a new phone. His other one got trashed in the accident. Why don’t you come with me to buy one, and then we can stop by your house to talk to Hugo before I take you to Elias?’
‘Okay. Yes. That sounds sensible. I think.’
Kate wasn’t sure what was considered sensible anymore. Her mind was a blur.
She followed Alexis to a phone shop a few doors down, watching impatiently as the cashier rang up the sale. And all the way back to her place, she wondered what she would say both to Hugo and Elias when she saw them. It was a bit much to process. Had Hugo lied? And what was actually going on in Elias’ head? Would he have contacted her if he hadn’t been in the accident? It wasn’t like he was in a coma. He could have borrowed someone else’s phone to get in touch. And she wasn’t sure what to make of him getting everyone to promise not to say anything because he didn’t want her to worry. Surely a normal relationship involved worrying about your loved one’s wellbeing.
As they drew closer to her house, she noticed a car parked behind Hugo’s in the driveway.
‘Isn’t that Levi’s car?’ Kate asked.
‘Yes. Damn that guy.’
‘Why?’
‘I texted him while we were at the phone shop to let him know what happened, and he must have decided he needed to talk to Hugo too.’
Kate wasn’t sure if she was pleased or annoyed. She found it sweet that Levi was looking out for her, but it might alert Hugo to the fact she knew what was going on, and it would give him time to come up with more excuses.
She climbed out the of the car and marched up to the front door. It was ajar, and she could hear voices.
She turned and looked at Alexis, holding a finger to her lips to warn her to stay quiet. They crept down the hall, and Kate peered around the corner into the living room.
Hugo and Levi were talking.
‘What the hell, dude?’ Levi said.
‘What?’
‘Tell me you didn’t lie to Kate about me visiting the other day.’
‘I didn’t think it was in her best interests. She was stressed out because of your mother, and I worried it might affect the baby. You told me Elias wasn’t dead, so what good would it have done to tell Kate? To be honest, it probably would have been better if he had died. At least then, Kate wouldn’t have to worry about having a deadbeat father for her child, and she could have moved on.’
Kate heard the crack as Levi’s fist made contact with Hugo’s jaw. ‘That’s my fucking brother you’re talking about. Don’t you fucking dare wish him dead.’
Hugo took the punch better than Kate expected. She’d never seen him in a physical altercation, but he reacted in a surprisingly calm way.
‘I just know I’d be a much better choice for Kate’s partner than that guy.’
‘No, you wouldn’t.’ Kate flew into the room and stood in front of Hugo. ‘Get the hell out of my house now.’
Hugo looked at her. ‘Why? I didn’t do anything wrong.’
Kate snorted. ‘I’m not even going to go there. You are not worth the breath it would take to explain how wrong your actions were and continue to be. If you’re not out of here in ten minutes, I’m calling the police.’
‘Kate…’
Levi stepped between them. ‘Stop talking, mate, and get packing.’
Hugo shook his head. ‘This is fucking ridiculous.’
‘You’re ridiculous,’ Levi said. He looked at his watch. ‘You have nine minutes left.’
Hugo turned and stalked to the spare room, muttering to himself.
Alexis rubbed Kate’s shoulder. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I will be as soon as he’s out of my house.’
‘I can call someone to change the locks this afternoon?’ Levi offered.
‘Actually, that would be good. I wouldn’t put it past Hugo to have made a copy of my key without me knowing.’ She turned to Alexis. ‘Can you take me to Elias now?’
‘Of course.’
‘I’ll stay here until Hugo leaves,’ Levi said.
‘Thank you.’
She headed back to the door. Alexis had left her car at the café, so they both climbed into Kate’s. Kate turned to her. ‘Do you want me to take you back to your car first? Or do you want to come with me?’
‘Actually, I was thinking, maybe you should go alone?’ She pointed to the new phone, which was sitting on Kate’s backseat. ‘You can give that to Elias for me.’
‘I…’ Kate wondered if she should insist Alexis come along, but then she realised it probably would be better not to have an audience when they spoke. ‘Okay. Is he at my hospital? Which room?’
‘Yes, your hospital. Level seven. I can’t remember the room number, but I’m sure you’ll find someone you know to tell you.’
‘I’m sure I will.’ She smiled uncertainly and pulled out onto the road.
After dropping Alexis at her car, she continued on to the hospital.
It was strange going back when the sun was out and she wasn’t on a shift. She also had no idea what to say to the patient she was about to visit.
She parked in the staff area and made her way to the hospital’s entry.
And paused.
He was there, sitting in a wheelchair and gazing up at the sculpture he’d designed. The female doctor that her dad had said looked like her.
She inhaled deeply and walked over.