An Intangible Pattern - Fate Bound.

Secrets in the sock drawer

Cat felt peevish. Quite why she had left packing to the last minute was a mystery to her, she was never this disorganised before becoming pregnant. However, everything seemed to be going wrong and there was little time to fix it. She rummaged around her closet pulling together a selection of clothing that would look acceptable and dumped them into her suitcase.
She opened a drawer and cursed. All her socks were in the washing machine.
"Hey," said Alex, knocking on the bedroom door, "Everything alright?"
"Ugh, fine. I just forgot to put the washing in the dryer last night and everything went musty and now I don't have time because our appointment is at eleven and I can't find a single pair of socks." Cat vented breathlessly, "And on top of that I have the most horrendous morning sickness."
"Just take some of mine. What else do you need?"
"I left my design portfolio downstairs."
"I'll go get it, is there anything else?"
"My phone charger is in the office, could you bring it up as well?"
"I'll be right back," Alex said and left the room.
Cat sighed and went down the hall to Alex's room. She opened the drawer and helped herself to a few pairs of socks but stopped as one of them seemed to be folded around something. Curiously, she unwrapped the bundle and saw that inside was the empty box of an emergency contraceptive.
She blinked in surprise. As far as she knew, Alex had never given any indication of being sexually active; she'd never even mentioned dating.
What? When? Who? When?
She half considered confronting her, but lost her nerve as soon as she heard Alex coming up the stairs. She folded the box back into the socks and dropped it in the drawer.
"Found it. Should I put your portfolio in your suitcase?"
"Uh, yeah. Just put it in the top compartment with my laptop, thanks." Cat replied innocently, unsure how to behave after uncovering her sisters secret.
If she wanted me to know she would have said something. Maybe she's just embarrassed. I don't have time right now, I'll try and get it out of her when I get back.
She acted as though nothing had happened, however her mind was racing.
But who? She's barely left the house.
Her first thought was Ben. After all, they got on well and spent nearly every day together, so there was plenty of opportunity.
She quickly dismissed this idea. Ben hated being touched and at any rate, he was an omega: even if he were Alex's lover he couldn't get her pregnant, so why would she need a contraceptive?
Noah or Graeme? Unlikely, she avoids them both like the plague. But then who does that leave? Is it someone else entirely?
A poisonous thought slithered into her mind and her heart plummeted.
Arthur?
She glanced at Alex, who was carrying the heavy suitcase down the stairs before her.
No they wouldn't do that to me, surely?
She hadn't seen any change in either of their behaviour, nothing to suggest they were having an affair. She was certain she could trust them both...wasn't she?
She stepped out of the house and saw that Arthur was busy packing the car. He glanced up and beamed at her.
"Oh! I was just about to come get you, here let me get that for you." He said good naturedly and took the suitcase from Alex.
"Thanks," said Alex gratefully, as he heaved the case into the trunk and wiggled it into position.
"Are we all ready then?" he said to his wife with a cheerful smile.
"About as ready as I'm going to get," shrugged Cat.
Arthur opened the passenger door for her as Alex wrapped her arms around her and kissed her cheek.
"Everything will be alright. Call me when you leave the midwife and let me know how it went."
"I will. I'll see you in a couple of days," replied Cat.
"Drive safe. Love you," said Alex, as Cat got into the car.
"Love you too."
She pulled her seatbelt across her and waved goodbye to her sister, as Arthur started the car and pulled out of the driveway.
"Are you ready?" he asked brightly. "Today's the day! We get our first look at our baby. God! It sounds so strange to say it out loud. It still doesn't feel real."
"I just hope everything is ok," she answered apprehensively.
"Hey..." soothed Arthur, squeezing her knee, "... everything's going to be fine."
Cat's brow wrinkled and she put her hands over her abdomen protectively, "What if it isn't?"
"It will be, but even if it isn't, which it won't be, we'll deal with it, ok?" he smiled reassuringly.
Cat took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
If I leave it, it will just drive me crazy!
"Arthur, I'm going to ask you something and I need you to be one hundred percent honest with me." She said slowly.
"What is it?"
"Would you, or have you ever, slept with Alex behind my back?"
"What!" Arthur burst out in disbelief, he took his eyes off the road and stared at her bewildered, a twitch of a smile playing at his lips as though expecting her to shout 'Just kidding!'
She continued to stare at him, grim faced.
"No! Not ever! Christ Cat, she's like family!" he insisted, his eyes flicking between her and the road, "Where is this coming from?"
"It's nothing."
"Nope. You can't just hit me with a question like that and then tell me it's nothing..." Arthur said irritably, "...what's going on?"
"I don't know if I should say."
"Too late, it's out there now!"
"I found something in Alex's drawer. Something that suggests she's been seeing someone."
"Alright, and that brought you to the conclusion it was me? I won't lie, I'm a bit put out by that."
"I just wanted to rule it out."
"Have I done something that would make you think I would be unfaithful to you? What about Alex? Has she ever done anything that would make you think she would betray you? That woman would die for you."
"No," said Cat in a small voice. Inexplicably and with great irritation, she felt the urge to cry creeping up on her.
Arthur shot her a glance and took a breath.
"Let's just pull over and calm down."
"No, we'll be late if we stop." She sniffed.
"We can spare five minutes." Said Arthur and pulled into the next layby.
As soon as he stopped the car and set the handbrake, he unclipped her seatbelt and drew her into an embrace.
"Come here you idiot!" He said gently, squeezing her in his arms.
A sob escaped Cats lips and she buried her face into his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I know I'm being silly but I couldn't help it!"
"It's alright."
He held her tightly until she calmed down. When they finally broke apart he kissed her forehead and studied her eyes, gently sweeping wet strands of hair off her face.
"You ok?" he asked attentively.
She sat back and wiped her tears away.
"Yeah, I'm ok." She mumbled.
"Listen to me..." Arthur pleaded, "...I don't want anyone else. I like Alex but I have never ever seen her that way. Nor anyone else for that matter. I want you and only you. Got that?"
Cat nodded mutely. He sighed and pulled a packet of tissues from the side compartment by his seat. He handed her one which she gratefully took and blew her nose.
"Thank you." she said stuffily.
"It's fine. I'd rather you said something instead of stewing over it. Just talk to me ok?"
She nodded.
"Should we get going?"
"Yeah, let's go." she sniffed.
Arthur started the engine and smiled at her as the car sputtered to life.
"Good, cos I was really looking forward to having you all to myself this weekend. Do you want to put on some music?"
"Ok." Cat agreed and turned the dial on the radio.
"...man's body has been discovered in the Hackney borough of London early this morning. The man is reported to have been shot. The metropolitan police are urging the public to come forward with any information that could..."
Cat frowned and turned the dial until a jaunty tune came on.
"Tune!" grinned Arthur. He began to sing along, "And best of all, I got my baaaby, best of all I got my Baby... Come on Cat, it's a road trip! Sing with me."
Cat laughed a little and cracked a smile like sunshine breaking through a raincloud. Faltering a little she joined in with the song.
"Nothing's gonna bring me down!"