Page 9 of Fighting for Family

“Fine,” Kassie relented. “I don’t know what has kept Victoria, but if I have to make a call for her to return and make you eat, I will.”

“I recall not too long ago, you didn’t feel like eating,” Catherine reminded Kassie.

Sighing, Kassie took her best friend’s hand. “A long time ago, you begged me to trust you. You brought Leo into my life. The man irritated me with every fiber of my being. You sent him to care for Emma and me. He asked me to watch over you, and I’m doing a lousy job of it.”

“No. You and Samantha have kept me sane. The others have done everything in their power to help me. I have meals for days. My kids have fresh, clean clothes. The grans provide sitter service. My house sparkles. I need to keep busy. Yes, I’ll have some bad days, but I have to move forward. As much as I wish Leo might walk through the door any minute, reality reminds me to think about the kids. It’s not good for them or this baby.”

“We’ll do it on a trial basis. You’ll eat small meals and follow Dr. Greene’s directions,” Kassie said firmly.

“Deal,” Catherine said, feeling relieved Kassie didn’t fight her harder. Staring at her bedroom walls only reminded her of Leo. How he liked to massage her feet and then slowly climb up her body, pressing heated kisses in his path. When he reached her neck, he nibbled and dragged his scruff along the sensitive skin, making her body melt under him.

“Catherine?” Kassie said her name again, jolting her from the memory.

“Yeah?”

“We have the meeting with Mr. Harold. I’ve asked him to come to my office since you’re already here. Whiskey’s coming over, and Chase will meet us there.”

“What did this man want?” Catherine asked.

Shrugging, Kassie helped her off the exam table. “I don’t know. He called and asked for a meeting. I guess we’ll find out together.”

Catherine took her purse, and they walked down the hall. “Will we have time to talk with the team?”

“They’re calling us at my house. Michael and Lizzy will bring the kids over there. We’ll have a family dinner. All the team’s wives will come. I asked one of the new charge nurses to hold the fort down for an hour. Addyson misses Hollywood. I can’t leave her out.”

“No. I’m glad she’s coming,” Catherine said as they rounded the corner in time to see Whiskey and Chase entering Kassie’s office. Chase greeted them and held the door as they entered. The women sat on the couch as the men took the leather chairs.

“Do you have any idea what this Mr. Harold wants?” Kassie asked Whiskey. “Joe said he’s a lawyer, a good one.”

Whiskey shook his head. “I have no idea. After we speak with the team, may I have a few minutes? I have a few things to go over with you.”

“Of course,” Kassie said, glancing at Chase. “Do you mind, Catherine?”

“No,” she said as Randy knocked and entered, rolling a cart into the room. “I thought you might like a snack during your meeting. Catherine, I brought you a glass of milk and decaffeinated tea.”

“Oh, thank you, Randy,” she said, moved by his gesture. “I appreciate it.”

Randy sent her a sympathetic smile, the one she seemed to get from all the residents of Serenity Mountain. Leo’s presence left a hole in the town, and no one knew how to deal with it except for making kind gestures and giving her the same smile as Randy.

“Thank you,” Kassie said.

Randy left the room, and Kassie filled a plate with all of Catherine’s favorites and handed her the milk.

“Eat and drink,” she said firmly.

Catherine rolled her eyes. “You know, you resemble Victoria when you do that.”

Chuckling, Chase reached for a cookie and poured cups of tea while they waited for their guest to arrive. “Don’t knock it until you try it. When Tori acts out, or the twins won’t go to sleep, Kassie mimics Victoria, and they stop the behavior. It cuts the bargaining time and listening to screaming children down by half.”

Catherine knew Chase told her the story to make her smile. She let him think he succeeded. A knock on the door alerted them to their guest’s arrival. Chase greeted the man and shook his hand, letting him enter and take the seat closest to the couch.

“Thank you for meeting with me today. I’m sorry for all the cloak and dagger. I’m afraid I’m not used to doing what my client requested of me.”

“May I ask who you represent?” Catherine asked him curiously.

Mr. Harold smiled. “I represent your husband, Mrs. Armstrong.”

“My husband?” she exclaimed, holding her stomach. “Sir, my husband died almost three months ago,” she said, her voice cracking.