Chapter Four-Hundred-Nine
“Kori Mortenson!” Isabel exclaimed as she walked into the diner and found her preparing to open up the diner with Ashley sitting at the bar watching her as she feeds Bella.
“Isabel Patterson!” Kori exclaimed in return and she turned to look at her best friend to find her standing there looking none too pleased.
“Do you want to explain to me why you sent Wiley to stay at Chris’s house for the remaining of your trip?”
“Not really,” Kori insisted while wiping down the tables.
“Well too bad, you are going to tell me because I just sat and listened to Chris give me an entire ear full about how annoyed he is with this situation.”
“Why is he annoyed? He’s missed having Wiley live with him.”
“That is not why he is annoyed. He can’t understand why his best friend has been kicked to the curb by his girlfriend and Id kind of like to know the same thing.”
“Because I had sex with Scott last night okay?” Kori blurted out and she looked up at Isabel and met her eyes as tears flooded her own. “Okay? That is why. Now I would appreciate it if you didn’t yell at me and lecture me about it because I feel horrible enough as it is.” Isabel stood rooted in her spot, her jaw hanging open as she stared at Kori feeling a mixture of shock and disbelief.
“You…what?”
“I know you heard me so I’m not going to repeat myself.”
“…Why…how…” Isabel stuttered, and she went on over and gently grabbed Kori making her stop cleaning and forcing her into one side of the booth before sitting in the other. “Talk to me sweetie…how did this happen?” Kori sat there in silence for a long while as tears streamed down her face and she stared fixedly at the wet rag that now lie in the middle of the table before speaking.
“Last night when we got back from the barbeque Ashley and Nick took their kids upstairs for bed, Scott put Spencer to bed for me and then left. Then Wi…Wiley wanted to go upstairs to bed and I told him to go on up without me because I wasn’t quite ready yet. I was so tired of smiling and pretending that everything was okay and I really didn’t want to make love to one man while thinking of the other either. So he did, he went upstairs without me and I waited until I heard him getting in the shower before grabbing my hoodie and going for a walk…I really needed to be alone, and I really needed some fresh air. I ended up going to the park. I was sitting there minding my own business when out of nowhere, Scott shows up. We were having a very heated discussion…we were arguing, I ended up crying, then he touched my face in attempt to comfort me…and that was it for me. I was long gone…all I could think about is how badly I wanted more and…I sort of jumped him right there…and one thing led to another…and it just, sort of happened.”
“At the park?” Isabel asked and she couldn’t contain her slight amusement at that information.
“In a tunnel on the Jungle Gym,” Kori added softly. “We really didn’t care where we were at…just that we desperately wanted each other.” Isabel sat there in silence for a long moment just processing this whole situation.
“So…so what now? I assume since you sent Wiley away you are choosing Scott?”
“I haven’t chosen anyone yet.” Isabel arched her eyebrow at her. “I sent Wi away because I knew it wasn’t fair to either of them if I made love with one man at the park and then came home and crawled into bed with the other. I don’t know what to do Izzy…I feel horrible for what I’ve done to Wiley…I was up half the night crying and I puked a few times too because of how much I was crying…and I just feel sick to my stomach. Wiley…he’s wonderful, and he doesn’t deserve what I did to him at all. I love him I—“
“—Do you Kor?” Isabel interrupted and Kori looked at her to see the sincerity in her eyes and knew she wasn’t trying to be judgmental or mean about it. “Cause…honestly sweetie if you loved him you wouldn’t have had sex with another man and you wouldn’t be going through this huge delimma either.”
“Of course I do,” Kori insisted. “I know it in my heart – there is no doubt in my mind that I love him…”
“Maybe you do,” Isabel replied after a long moment. “But maybe you just aren’t in love with him like you are and always have been with Scott. Yes you and Wi are cute together…he is such a sweet guy and he’s been nothing but good to you. But you and Scott…you two just have this amazing connection together…as much as I love Wiley; I can’t deny what I’ve seen between the two of you. You have such a strong chemistry…and you are drawn to him all the time both physically and emotionally. Sometimes you don’t even realize it, but I’ve seen it – everybody has seen it.”
“As strong as that connection we share together is, he hurt me…I don’t know if I can ever trust him again. I’m afraid to give him my heart again…”
“That was a long time ago Kori,” Isabel insisted gently and she reached over and took hold of her hand and rubbed her finger lightly over the back of it. “Five years ago…you two were just kids…kids make stupid choices. I think he’s grown up a lot since then – well, at least that’s what I keep hearing, obviously I didn’t know him back then, but I think he deserves a second chance. He fought so hard for you…I don’t think he’ll take you for granted this time. He doesn’t seem that stupid.” Kori sat there in silence for a long while, eventually turning her head and gazing out the window in attempt to hide how broken up she is right now. Isabel got up and moved around the booth so that she was sitting beside her and she slid her arms around her shoulders. Kori turned and leaned into her resting her head against her shoulder.
“I know you feel bad for what this is going to do to Wiley, but just think about what its going to do to him if you hold onto him when your heart obviously still belongs to someone else. If he’s going to have you, he deserves to have all of you don’t you think?”
“Yeah, but I just…”
“I know you are scared and you are holding onto him because he is safe. But that’s not fair to him honey…either let him go and be with Scott or stay with Wiley…you need to make a decision. But if you choose to stay with Wiley, please make sure its what you truly want.”
“I need to finish getting ready to open the diner,” Kori insisted softly.
“Why don’t you let me do that and you sit here and get yourself back together?”
“No,” Kori shook her head. “Thanks for offering but I really need something to keep me busy,” she insisted. Isabel looked at her for a couple of moments, and then silently crawled out of the booth so that Kori could get up as well. As soon as she did, she grabbed the wet rag and went back to washing the tables and Isabel wrapped her in her arms for a brief hug, kissed her cheek, and then pulled away and went off to help open.
“Hey Ashley, how are you and baby Bells this morning?” she asked while looking down at the infant in my arms and making faces at her causing Bella to smile hugely.
“We are doing all right,” Ashley replied as she smiled down at the baby in her arms lovingly.
“That’s good to hear. What time did your sister come down this morning?” She asked quietly.
“I have no idea,” Ashley answered while looking over at Kori with great concern in her eyes. “Bella woke me up at four in the morning wanting a bottle. So I brought her down here and found her up, dressed, and already working.” Isabel shook her head as she too glanced over at Kori who had her back to them.
“We should probably take turns keeping an eye on her,” Isabel whispered and Ashley nodded quietly in agreement. After sitting there watching Isabel do things in silence for a few moments, Ashley opened her mouth to say something when an abrupt cry from upstairs interrupted her.
“ASHEE! ASHEE! NO!!!!!!” Dakota cried shrilly. Ashley sighed and looked at Isabel who was looking at her in return with concern.
“That would be my Kota havin a night terror…take Bella will you?” she asked and without waiting for an answer she handed the baby over to her before getting up from her stool and rushing up the stairs. Isabel hugged Bella close to her as she watched Ashley disappear in her room. She looked at Kori then who was staring after Ashley with worry in her eyes. It’s horrible that Dakota has to go through with this.
“Does she have these night terrors often?”
“Yes,” Kori nodded while momentarily forgetting all about her Wiley or Scott delimma. It suddenly doesn’t seem so important compared to what that poor four year old has to endure all the time. “Ever since Ashley was kidnapped by Sean they’ve become beyond Nick and Ashley’s control. The situation has completely traumatized her. In her heart and mind Ashley is her mommy you know? So you can imagine how scary this whole thing is to her. Ashley can’t go too far without her panicking.”
“That’s awful…isn’t there anything that they can do about it?”
“Nick plans to start taking her to therapy sessions when we get back to Florida. He’s hoping that if she talks about it, it will help her.”
Meanwhile, when Ashley got into the room she hurried over to the bed where Nick was already sitting up with Dakota in his arms as she screamed and cried and thrashed about. Nick is calling out to her and trying so desperately to wake her up. Nothing he is doing is working however and the helplessness is evident in his eyes. Ashley crawled into bed and over to Nick where she sat in front of him indianstyle. She gently shifted Dakota so that she is straddling her lap with her head rested back against Nick’s chest.
“Kota baby, come on” Ashley pleaded. “Wake up sweetie, you’ve gotta come out of this.” Dakota shrieked and whimpered as she continued to thrash about and flail her arms like she were fighting to get away from something.
“NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!” She shouted and then suddenly began to sob her heart wrenching sobs that always manages to break the heart of every single person in the room. She began to sob like she was being tortured. “NOTS MY ASHEE! NO YOU WON’TS TAKE MY ASHEE!!!”
“KOTA PLEASE” Ashley pleaded loudly over her sobs, as tears formed in her own eyes upon feeling helpless herself as her heart ached for her to wake up, for her to be okay. “Kota please wake up, please. You need to come back to us honey, you aren’t there!” Nick gently grabbed onto her arms and held them down so that she could no longer hit him or Ashley and Ashley gently cradled her face in her hands. “Nicky do something, please” She pleaded helplessly as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“What do you want me to do honey? I’ve tried everything!”
“I don’t know, but she’s scaring me! I want her to wake up, now!”
“And you don’t think I don’t?”
“Daddy, sing to her” Sarah spoke up suddenly as she sat beside them watching the whole thing with worry in her eyes. Nick looked at her with an arched eyebrow.
“What?” he asked, not really comprehending the very random suggestion. “Honey I don’t have time for—“
“—No Nick, she could be onto something. Do it – sing to Dakota.” Dakota stared at the both of them incredulously for a moment, and then down at Dakota.
“I guess you were lost
When I met you
Still there were tears in your eyes
So out of trust
And I knew
No more than mysteries and lies
There you were wild and free
Reaching out like you needed me
A helping hand
To make it right
I am holding you all through the night…”
He sang, and he stopped briefly to see that she was no longer thrashing about in his and Ashleys arms so he continued after hugging her closer to him protectively and leaning down to sing softly in her ear.
“I’ll be the one, I’ll be the one
Who will make all your sorrows undone
I’ll be the light, I’ll be the light
When you feel like there’s no where to run
I’ll be the one…
To hold you and make sure that you’ll be all right
Cause my fear is gone
And I want to
Take you from darkness to light…”
He stopped singing then as they finally had her under control somewhat. She is no longer thrashing about and fighting with them, but she is still lying there whimpering and sniffling. Nick made brief eye contact with Ashley before she looked back down at Dakota as she cradles her face in her hands gently. She leaned down and placed delicate kisses on various parts of her face and kissed her tears away as Nick brushed her damp blonde hair off of her forehead. They sat there hugging her close to them both protectively and comforting her for a long while until she finally relaxed and was sleeping peacefully again. The two of them sat there watching her sleep in silence for a long while and then Ashley shifted so she was sitting on Nick’s outstretched legs comfortably as they both continue to hold Dakota the way she was. She looked up at him and he cupped her cheek in his hand before leaning forward and brushing his lips lightly over hers before tucking a strand of her hair back behind her ear. He looked into her teary brown eyes with concern in his own.
“Are you all right?”
“No,” Ashley insisted softly and he heard the tremble in her voice. “I’m far from it Nicky.”
“She’s all right baby, she’s gone back to sleep.”
“No she’s not…she is not all right. I hate this. I hate what this whole situation with Sean has done to her…she’s four years old Nick. The fear she goes through every day is unfair and heartbreaking.”
“I know,” Nick replied softly.
“I just wish that Doctor Johnson never rescued me…then I wouldn’t have come into our lives and turned it completely upside down and Sean wouldn’t be apart of your lives either. Dakota would be a happy little girl instead of traumatized…its all my fault.” Ashley sniffled.
“It is not your fault and you know it.” Ashley looked away from him stubbornly. “You coming into our lives was the best thing that’s ever happened to us. You came at just the right time. You made me a very happy man baby…and Kota…well I’ve never seen her so attached to another person other than myself before the way she is with you. You are so important to her. You are so important to Sarah, and you’re so important to me. Neither of the three of us could imagine the rest of our lives without you in it.”
“An’ if you didn’t live you wouldn’t have been here to become Bella’s mommy either,” Sarah spoke up softly.
“That’s right,” Nick added while wrapping an arm around Sarah and leaning over to kiss the top of her head. “Bella would be an orphan right now if it weren’t for you. You welcomed that baby into your life no questions asked and gave her the kind of love that she deserves – just like her biological mother wanted for her. She is your pride and joy, can you look me in the eyes and honestly tell me that you aren’t happy that you didn’t miss out on being here for her?”
“No…I can’t…” Ashley answered softly and she gazed at him quietly as endless tears fell from her eyes and he brushed them all away with his finger before resting his forehead against hers and gently running his fingers through her silky brown hair. “I love you,” he reminded her softly.
“I love you too…” she whispered. “But Nicky we really need to do something about Dakota…”
“I know and we will I promise. I’ve called and made an appointment with Anthony, Ellie, and Josh’s therapist. I’m taking her to see him the day after we get home.”
“Kay…can I come to the sessions with you?”
“Of course you can what kind of question is that? Kota will want you there,” he reassured before lightly rubbing his nose against hers. The two of them sat there together in a long silence as they watched Sarah go through the process of going back to sleep. Nick turned his attention entirely on Ashley then when she finally had fallen back to sleep and continued comforting her as he can just sense a lot of unsaid thoughts circling in her head.
“Why were you up so early anyway? Hmm?”
“Bells wanted a bottle. Kori was up when I went down there getting the diner ready to be opened – it was four in the morning.
“Why was she up so early?”
“She’s an emotional wreck right now with the whole Wiley or Scott delimma. She was up all night crying.”
“Well where was Wiley?” Nick asked with concern in his eyes.
“She told him to go stay at Chris’s house. She told me and Isabel in confidence so as my duty as her sister I’m not allowed to tell you why.”
“Who has Bells?” he asked after a long moment.
“I sort of threw her at Isabel in my hurry to get up here to Dakota. I should probably go check on my baby…” Ashley answered softly and at those last words Nick could see that same worry in her eyes that she had during their earlier conversation. Which means, she’s worrying about Bella now for some reason, he knows that much. Little does he know, she’s already come to terms with what she must do the moment they get back to Florida.
“In a bit,” Nick insisted and she arched her eyebrow at him. He gently lay Dakota in bed beside Sarah being careful not to wake her up and then he slid his arms around Ashley and pulled her closer so that her legs were wrapped around his waist. He scooted out of bed with her then and brought her into the bathroom and shut the door. He sat her on the counter and cradled her face in his hands before bringing his lips down onto hers and claiming them for his own. Ashley slid her arms around his neck and returned his kiss appreciatively.
Author's Chapter Notes:
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