Finding Katherine {Complete}

8

Courtney was late. Again. For the third time this week. I took a seat on the bench and sat.

It was 20 degrees and it's the middle of December. Thank you Courtney.

I could feel my toes getting cold in my boots, I pulled my hood up. I didn't even realize someone had sat next to me, untill they coughed.

"Kelly." I gasped. I knew that voice.

"Cayden?" He pulled down his hood. I engulfed him into a hug. "I've missed you." His hair was dyed black and short, no longer his blond locks.

"I've missed you too Lynnie."

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. I looked around and Courtney still wasn't here. He can't be seen by Courtney.

"I came to tell you the plan."

"Plan?" Oh please don't.

"We plan on getting Carter, and then were heading into Canada. Dad has a friend. I've been talking to them everyday. They gave me a cell phone." He handed me one. "This is yours." I slowly grabbed the black flip phone from his hand.

"When?" I panicked. It was almost Christmas. Then New Years. Then my birthday. February 10th. I would be 14. It was unbelievable. I'm not sure if I want to leave. I don't want to leave. I love this life. Chris doesn't hit me, I have a sister, I'm so happy here.

"I don't know. They haven't found Carter quite yet." I saw Courtney's car pull around the corner.

"I have to go." He grabbed my arm.

"Be ready." He got up and disappeared around the corner of the building. I stood there frozen.

"Kay!" Courtney called. I turned my head and saw her waving at me. I ran toward the car and got into the warmth. "I am so sorry." She gushed. "There was an accident on 5th and I couldn't find a detour."

"It's alright." It's not alright. What do I do.

I leaned my head against the head rest and watched the winter wonderland around me. I needed my own plan. And fast.

~~

"Wake up Katie!" Zac ran into my room and dove onto my bed. He landed on my stomach. Oh Zac, your a hand full.

"What's up kiddo?" I said smiling at him.

"It's Christmas Eve! Santa comes tonight."

"Yes he does. Now get out and let me change." I noticed the red sweater on my dresser. I threw on some dark jeans and the red sweater.

"Courtney?" I knocked on the wall.

"What's up?"

"Do I have to wear this sweater?"

She laughed. I didn't notice she had walked into my room. She was wearing an identical one but it was green. "We all have them. We wear them today and tommorow."

"Oh my." She laughed. I threw the red sweater on and we headed downstairs.

"You two look so identical. It's almost scary." Tara told us as we sat down for breckfast.

I looked at Courtney. We both had our blond hair in pony tails and we didn't have our ears pierced. Liam sat down next to me in a red sweater as well. Dad walked in carrying Zac on his back. They both had green sweaters on. "Where's your sweater mom?" I asked her. She froze in place. I knew why. It's because I called her mom.

"Oh I didn't want to make breakfast in it." She grabbed her red sweater from her chair and pulled it over her head. "This is wonderful."

Courtney stood up, "I would like to make a toast." She winked at me. "We all got what we wanted for Christmas this year. Kelly. New and Improved. Katherine. To Kelly." We all raised our glasses.

"To Kelly." We said in unison and then we clinked our glasses of orange juice together.

"Grandma and Grandpa are coming in tonight around four. So Zac and I are going to set up the guest room. And I assume that Barret and Seth are coming tomorrow for breakfest?"

Liam smiled with a mouth full of omelette. "Yep." He mumbled.

"Don't talk with food in your mouth." Mom swatted his head with the morning newspaper. We all broke out into laughter. It was decided, I didn't want to leave. The problem now, how do I tell them.

~~~

"Katie?"

"Come on in." Christopher walked in.

"I don't mean to intrude, Courtney said you'll respond to anything."

"Yeah. I like Katherine. Give me a year." I smiled at him.

"That's great." He put his hand on my shoulder. "But I want you to tell me what's wrong."

How did he know? "I'm okay. I promise." He raised an eyebrow. I took a deep breathe. "I saw Cayden the other day."

"Cayden." He sighed. "He probably wanted to see you."

"I don't want to think of the past." I looked at him. "Is that selfish?"

"Not at all." He leaned against my headboard and I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"I've never been a dweller on the past." He hummed. Im not sure if he was listening. "Beth had always told me that she wanted a baby girl." He looked at me.

"She told me that I was adopted. She wanted to save a princess." I smiled at the memory. "I was her princess." I sniffles. "But I didn't realized I was a captured princess." My tears were coming faster down my cheeks.

"Hey hey." Dad pulled me into a side hug. "Your out found princess. And we love you even more. Your becoming a strong young lady, just like Courtney."

"Courtney. She's amazing." I added.

"She truly is. She took care of Zac, while I took care of Tara and Liam. She had to do things that a seven year old shouldn't do. I can never thank her."

"She reminds me of Cayden." He looked at me and wanted to continue. "They're both very compassionate towards the people around them. I have to stop thinking about them." I mumbled the second part. I decided then, I was going to tell Christopher everything.

"Can I tell you something?" I asked him.

"Of course. What's up?"

"It's about Cayden."

He sat up straighter. I moved off my bed and grabbed the box beneath my bed. It had photos of Cay, Carter and I, and the phone. I put the box on the bed.

Chris looked at me and opened the box. "What's this?" He asked.

"It-It's a phone they gave me." I whispered.

"Have you seen Cayden more than once?" He asked. I'm surpised at how calm his voice is. I'm suprised I haven't been slapped yet. This makes me love my dad even more. Dad.

"Beth walked into the library and chatted with me during study hall."

"What?" He rasied his voice. I'm anticipating the slap.

"Yeah." Three... Two... One... I was pulled into a hug.

"I'm so sorry Katherine." He's sorry? I don't understand. I should be the sorry one.

"I'm sorry too dad."