“Lots of things have changed. Like you being home. How long are you staying?”
“I’m here,” she replied. “I mean that I’m staying here. I’m home for good. Rachel is helping me look for a house.”
“I’m sure your mom will like having you close.”
He didn’t say that he would like it, but then she didn’t expect that he would. Yet, there was a spot deep inside of her heart that wanted him to be happy for some crazy reason. They hadn’t been a couple in over a decade, so she wasn’t sure why she cared. Ego?
“She does, although she swears she liked New York City. I think she’s just saying that to make me feel better.”
“I saw her a few weeks ago at the supermarket. She looks to be in great health now.”
“She is,” Cat said. “We’re all so relieved.”
“I’m glad she’s doing better. Your mom has always been a terrific person.”
Yes, she was. During all of the treatments, Cat had been scared to death about losing her mother.
“I heard you sent over food and visited. That was so thoughtful of you. I know my mom appreciated it.”
“I was happy to do it.”
Since they were talking about parents… This was the time. She wasn’t going to get a better setup, and this was something she needed to do. She should have done it years ago.
“I want to say that I’m sorry that I never reached out to you when your mom disappeared. Your mother was always so sweet to me and treated me like family. I should have called or sent a card or something. I’m sorry that I didn’t.”
Tate didn’t say anything for a long moment, and the time seemed to tick away as she waited for his response to her apology.
“Yes, you should have.”
Cat didn’t know what she’d expected, but she hadn’t anticipated that he’d agree. She couldn’t argue, however, because she’d been in the wrong.
“That’s why I’m apologizing,” she explained, fumbling for the right words. “I feel bad about the whole thing. I was out of the country when it happened, and I meant to do something, but then some time passed, and it just seemed too late.”
“That’s fine,” he replied with a shrug. “You were working.”
She wasn’t sure how to deal with his unemotional state. The Tate she’d known would have either assured her it was okay or told her he was angry. Not this in-between stuff.
“I really am sorry. Truly.”
“Okay. I believe you.”
Tate didn’t appear angry. That she could have handled. If anything, he appeared…slightly amused.
“You don’t seem to. I’m apologizing here.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Are you? You’re not acting like it.”
“How do you want me to act?” Tate had tilted his head in question. “Do you need me to say some specific words? Do you need me to help you feel better about yourself and the decisions you’ve made? Because I’m not going to be doing that, Kitty Cat. You’re going to have to do that all by yourself.”
Kitty Cat. The nickname he’d given her about a hundred years ago. No one else had ever used it. Just him.
The mere words from his lips were like a dagger to her heart. In the past, he’d said them with love and laughter - now, it was more like disdain.
“I don’t need you to make me feel better,” Cat denied. “It’s just clear you aren’t accepting my apology.”
“Is it important to you that I do? I’m puzzled by that. Clearly, what was happening back here wasn’t all that important to you, right? After all, you could have sent an email or a text. You could have sent a letter or used the phone and called me. You could have sent a card or a basket of muffins. You chose to do none of those things. Let me use that word again, Cat.Chose.It was your choice of what to do. You made an active choice.”
