Love Survives(107)

She was grinning until they appeared. Then I watched her silliness vanish.

I stood up first, making sure Kat was behind me. In all honesty I wasn’t sure if she was going to pounce. I knew, probably more than me, that she had major issues with all of his lies. The fact that he’d hid being sterile was just the icing on the cake. She was livid. He’d cost us so much time apart. For me, I didn’t care anymore. I’d do anything to be with Kat even if that included waiting for her to divorce a husband she didn’t love. Yeah, all of it derived from my brother’s actions, but I couldn’t exactly divorce him.

When I first looked at my brother I wanted to laugh. In the years that I’d been away he’d changed. He looked older, but thin, while I’d grown strong. If I would have thrown a punch he may have died. That’s how much of a difference there was.

B came running out from around the corner and everyone looked at her. She froze when she saw me and then another man that looked pretty similar. Branch didn’t have to say anything because the shock was written on his face. He took off his glasses and peered down at my beautiful daughter. “You’ve got to be kidding me?”

“Her name is Brooklyn after her father.” Kat’s tone left nothing to the imagination. She was rubbing it in big time.

Branch looked down and scratched his head. When he looked back at Kat, he held out his arms. “I think we’re here to make amends, Katy.”

She didn’t respond to his gesture.

Melissa seemed just as shell-shocked. Everyone stood there silent for a few seconds. Then B went running toward my mom. “Mom-mom, yook.”

She pointed to Branch.

My mom scooped her up. “B, this is your uncle. His name is Branch. Can you say Branch?”

“Banch.”

Branch laughed, and then he did something that neither of us would have expected. He held his arms out for her. “Hey, little cutie. Come here and say hi.”

She peeked over my mom’s shoulder to look at me. I smiled and motioned that it was okay. We watched her, being taken into Branch’s arms. He hugged her with more love and affection than I’d ever seen him have. I put my arm around Kat and kissed her on the top of the head. My brother, who was still in awe over her, finally looked in our direction. “She’s beautiful.”

B made it all easier. Melissa and Branch were captivated by her, and she seemed just as interested in them.

Kat finally spoke to her old friend. “It’s been a long time, Mel.”

They then hugged. “I missed you so much, Katy.” It was nice to see her relaxing. I knew this was something she’d really been upset about.

“I missed you, too. Obviously a lot has happened.”

“It’s nice to see you, Branch,” Kat stated while looking at my brother. It was weird how I didn’t feel threatened at all. The truth was finally out. I had my girl, and nothing would take her away from me.

“I don’t get a hug?” He asked.

Kat was brutally honest. “I’m not ready for that yet.”

Branch let out an air-filled laugh. “It’s okay. I guess we all need to warm up to each other.”

“Yeah, something like that.”

I pinched Kat on her back. “Don’t mind her. She’s gotten bitter in her old age. I think it has something to do with motherhood.”

“Am I the only one here that thinks this is completely insane?” Kat was losing her cool while I cracked jokes.

Branch laughed. “It’s only weird if we make it that way, Katy. Look, we’ve all moved on now and clearly it’s for the best. Whatever you have against me needs to be worked out. We were a family before, and we’re even more of a family now. Look, Mel and I are getting married. You’ve got a kid that I don’t think any of us knew about. You’re obviously with my brother now. We wouldn’t have come today if we knew it was going to make you so mad. If it makes you happy, we can leave.”

Kat looked around the room at everyone who clearly loved her. She seemed conflicted. Then I saw that look I recognized too well. Before I could stop her she said what was on her mind. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I did. I’m sorry for lying about my feelings. I’m sorry for hurting everyone in this room, especially Brooks. All of this could have been avoided if none of you ever loved me.” When she was finished she hauled ass upstairs.

“Are you going to go after her?” Branch asked me.

“She’s not mad at me. Just give her a second to calm down. This is a lot for her.”

“What about you?” He asked. “You have a freaking kid. What’s up with that?”