Chapter 91: Do You Love Him?
Grandma knew Victoria well. On the outside, she was cold, but she could also be a very rational woman, "You know your mother would do anything in the world to protect you," she explained.
Groaning at her contradictory thoughts, Cathryn tried to settle her nerves down and breathed in and out a few times. Cathryn somewhat felt relieved by listening to her grandma repeatedly speak about her great-grandchild. "I'm so glad, I can talk to you about it now. I've kept it hidden from the family for so long. It weighed heavy on my heart." Now that her grandma knew, Cathryn felt much more relaxed.
"So tell me about the father. Do you love him?" She removed her hand from Cathryn's belly and waited for her response.
Cathryn was so surprised. She didn't know how to answer. She froze, and the thoughts flashed through her mind. "Um, I don't know," she replied.
"I have seen many men in my life, and I have never meant anyone as kind and caring as Keith." Cathryn felt relieved hearing her grandma talk about him in this way. "He is self-sufficient in both financial and emotional aspects of his life, yes?"
"Yes! He has done so much for me, Grandma. I don't know how I can repay him," Cathryn said with a serious tone in her voice.
"Do you not see how much he cares for you? He holds you in his heart. Look what he did for our family and me. He doesn't even know me," She took Cathryn's hand in hers.
"Do you really think he cares about me in that way?" Cathryn questioned her.
"Of course I do! No matter what issues you two have, I know they will be resolved over time. I'm not trying to pry. This is between Keith and you." Grandma paused and looked towards the window, "You're pregnant with his child. You must feel some kind of connection with him?" Grandma remarked.
"Yes, there's a connection, but will we have a future together? I mean, he will always be in the baby's life. I just don't know if he wants me in his life after the baby is born," Cathryn replied.
"It's only human nature for you to try and protect yourself. Relationships are not easy. All you can do is follow your heart. Change is a result or consequence of an action. This is the path of life. In time, you will find all the answers," she said, trying to reassure Cathryn.
Cathryn's grandma had grown up not knowing how to read and write. When she met her husband, he taught her how to do both. Since his death, grandma has read books all the time. She spoke with such deep meaning.
Cathryn smiled and said, "You asked me if I love him, and I think I do, but does he love me?"
Grandma smiled back, she was always so proud of Cathryn. She reached out and touched Cathryn's face. "My dear, you are a beautiful and kind woman. What man wouldn't love you?"
Tears came to Cathryn's eyes as she heard her grandmother speak these words. She was speaking from her heart. Cathryn laughed and hugged her Grandma. It wasn't long after, and her grandmother fell asleep. Cathryn lifted the blankets and tiptoed to her bed.
Cathryn lay in bed thinking about Keith. She hadn't seen him in over a week. He was so busy with work. Even when he did visit, he was mainly on the phone. Cathryn couldn't help but miss him. "Keith, I wish you were here," she whispered softly.
The next morning when Cathryn woke up, she thought she was dreaming. "You look so peaceful and beautiful. I've missed you so much," Keith spoke softly as he kneeled down beside the bed. Cathryn woke up rubbing her eyes to the sound of Keith's voice.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake up," Keith said apologetically.
Cathryn never said a word. She just stared into his eyes. She blinked once and blinked again and said, "Am I dreaming?"
"You tell me," He kissed her on the cheek. "Did that feel like a dream?"
Cathryn giggled, "No...." She remembered the conversation she had with her grandma and never finished her sentence.
"What's the matter? What are you thinking?" Keith asked.
"I was thinking how wonderful everything has been since I met you," Heat built in Cathryn's cheeks, but she couldn't help it.
Keith was surprised and wasn't sure how to reply, "I feel the same way." The last thing he wanted was to push Cathryn away by telling her how he really felt about her.
"Why are you here? I thought you had a lot of work to do?" Cathryn couldn't help herself. She was grinning like a child.
"You should know by now that you always come first? I came to see you, and I wanted to be here when the doctor looked at your grandmother's reports," He no sooner got the words out of his mouth and the doctor came in, and they stepped out of the room to talk.
Cathryn couldn't help herself. She kept peeking through the doorway at Keith. She felt like a teenager in school. All these emotions were stirring inside of her. Cathryn looked at Keith carefully and thought, 'He looks so tired. Has he not been getting any rest?' Keith came back into the room and sat down on the bed.
"You look tired. You should have called the doctor instead of making a special trip to see him. You've already done so much for me. How can I ever thank you?" Cathryn asked.
Cathryn never forgot about the night they spent together, and the night he spent in the hospital with her. She had woken up next to him, and his touch had always been soothing to her. That first night had changed her life. Keith had changed her life.
"There's no need to thank me. After all, we are a little more than friends." He messed up Cathryn's hair in response.