Chapter 53 - Newt vs Leroy - Part 1 of 2

Day 53 - Rolled 17 - Sick toddler

Kaitlin didn't sleep well at all and got up to make coffee. Leroy didn't either. They were both worried about Ben and then Maddy woke up sick. Kaitlin was glad Leroy had spent the night or he wouldn't have been able to be there with her last night when Reid called and then to help take care of Maddy throughout the night.

Leroy sat down at Kaitlin's sketch table drawing up ideas for a client to keep himself busy. Reese left to go get Brooke and Dakota watched cartoons while Sam and Hailey played in the playpen. Sam and Maddy were still sleeping. It was relatively quiet in the apartment with the only sound the occasional squeals of delight from the babies playing with each other and the ambient sound of the TV in the background.

Kaitlin was sitting at the table playing with her coffee, watching Leroy and thinking about Ben when the phone rang. She hoped it was Reid saying he was on the way. But it wasn't.

Newt…not now, she thought. She didn't want to deal with him while she was trying to figure out what to say to Ben he got home. She swiped the phone to answer the call.

“Hi Newt. Can we talk later? I'm really busy right now,” she said hurriedly.

“No. Kaitlin, I am still in town. I am staying with Reid. Ben is here with me..."

"NO!" she screamed into the phone and Leroy got up and rushed over to her.

"Hey, calm down. He's fine. I am bringing him back to you. Don't worry.”

“Where's Reid? I thought he had Ben. Why did he leave him with you? Why are you still here?” Kaitlin couldn't think straight and knew she was rambling.

“Reid was called to the police station this morning to sign some paperwork regarding his release. I offered to bring Ben to you. He wasn't keen on going with Reid to the police station. Anyway, I thought while I was there, maybe we could talk about the terms of the divorce, get that started,” said Newt.

“Wait! You're coming here?” she asked in a panic as it sunk in that Newt was coming to the apartment. She didn't want him in her apartment but she didn't know why.

“Yes Kaitlin. Didn't you listen? I'm bringing Ben home. We will be there in 10 minutes. I want to get things between us settled before I go back. I gave you some space and I needed some time too to think about things after our meeting.....I am ready to get this over with. And, Kaitlin, do you think maybe you might let me see Maddy while I’m there.” 

“Maddy’s napping,” she said too quickly, “And what did say to Ben?”

“He’s right here sitting next to me in the car. When I get there we can talk more. But, I did tell him we are getting a divorce. He wasn't happy but he understands,” said Newt.

“Leroy is here. He was worried and stayed with me,” she said flatly, hoping he wouldn't come inside if he knew Leroy was with her.

“I don't care. We still need to make some decisions. He can be a part of it Kaitlin. Hell, he needs to be a part of it. You two have a kid together.”

“See you in a minute,” she said with a sigh and hung up. She turned to Leroy. Leroy who was always there for her.  She could tell by the look on his face he knew the gist of the conversation and was none too pleased.

Leroy started in as soon as she hung up. “So he just gets to just waltz in here after spending the night with Ben, asking to see Maddy. Do you think for one second that Reese is going to like this any better than I do?” he spit out as if the words tasted bad.

Kaitlin desperately needed Leroy to be calm or she would lose it. She took a deep breath, put her hands together to stop them from shaking and looked him in the eye. “Ben ran away from me last night, right into his father’s arms. It sounds like they connected and if Ben wants to see him, I can’t stop it now even if I wanted to," she said fighting back tears, "Please - Leroy - don’t make a scene. Help me get through this. Newt wants to discuss the terms of the divorce. And he wants to see his daughter. Put yourself in his place. It’s been two years. Maddy won’t even know who he is. But Ben does.”

The buzzer sounded interrupting their conversation. “Kaitlin. We’re here. We're on the way up," came Newt's voice over the intercom.

She swung around to look at the door and Leroy pulled her back close to him. He whispered, “I'm sorry Kate. I just don't like seeing you upset....I love you. It's going to be okay.” Together they waited and for father and son to walk through the door into her tiny apartment that just seemed to get smaller and smaller as the seconds ticked by.


Go To Chapter 53 Part 2

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