2 years later

“I can’t wait to see you either!” she said to Quinn over the phone. After saying their goodbyes she hung up. She was excited to visit Quinn and Tara for the holidays. She hadn’t seen much of them in the past two years. Her parents thought it would be a good idea for her to spend some time in their country house with fresh air. After about 6 months, she’d started working again, but this time from home. After 6 more months, she took up a job at the sub-office in the nearby city. She loved her stay here but she was ready to get back to the city and the life she was used to. It was almost Christmas time and she shuddered at the memory of what had happened four years ago. Shaking the thought off, she checked to make sure her suitcases were packed and ready to go, then she told her driver she was ready to go to the airport. After a couple of hours flight, she landed in LAX. Her parents already had a driver waiting for her, and he took her to her parents’ mansion. “Catherine, dear. How have you been?” her mother asked. Catherine smiled, “Good, mom. How are you?” “I’m doing well. Come, your father is waiting.” Catherine spent the next hour chatting with her parents, then retired to her room to sleep.

The next morning, she got ready to hang out with Quinn and Tara. From what she’d heard, Tara had a family now. She was excited to meet them. But today was girlfriend day. “Catherine, your guests are here,” the butler told her. “Thank you,” she said before hurrying down the stairs. She threw her arms around Quinn and Tara, drawing them into a group hug. The three of them took the next ten minutes to exchange “I missed you” and “how have you been”, then they scuffled out of the door and into the car she’d had waiting. “So what are we going to do today?” Quinn asked, practically bouncing in her seat. “I want to end the day with some drinks,” Tara said. Still the drinker, even with young children. “But no picking up guys for you,” Catherine said. Tara chuckled, “Yeah. I don’t think Wes would like that.” Wes was her husband. Catherine refused to let the sorrow show that she’d missed the wedding. “Let’s do some last-minute Christmas shopping,” Quinn suggested. “I like that. Then we can get something to eat.” “I’m onboard.” With somewhat of a plan in mind, they headed off.

Their first stop was the mall where they did some last-minute shopping. They stopped for lunch in the food court a couple of hours later. “Okay, so what do you guys want to do now?” Catherine asked before taking a bite of her cheese dog (corn dog filled with cheese instead of meat). “Well,” Tara said with a grin, “the elementary in the neighborhood I live in is doing a Christmas play in half an hour. My little Toby is playing Jesus.” She was oozing happiness. Quinn looked at Catherine, “I’m fine with that. I could use a minute off my feet.” Catherine nodded, “After we eat, let’s go.” After they ate, they headed to the school per Tara’s instructions and only arrived 5 minutes late. “You’re late,” a man whispered to Tara. She turned to Catherine, “Cath, this is my husband Wes. Wes, this is one of my besties, Catherine.” Catherine shook his hand, “Nice to meet you.” “Likewise. Tara’s been talking about your visit nonstop.” Catherine chuckled, “I should hope so. We haven’t seen each other in a long time.” Wes turned to the stage and pointed to the baby in the car seat that had been artfully decorated to look like a manger, “That’s our son, Toby.” “He’s so cute!” Catherine said, a twinge of envy piercing her heart. She wasn’t a husband and children like Tara.

After the play, Catherine, Quinn, and Tara talked for a while and caught up and Catherine got to meet Tara’s family. Toby was the cutest baby she’d ever seen. He was the only baby she’d seen upclose and personal. She wanted a little Toby like him. After catching up, they went to their respective houses, changed, then met up and headed to the club. “Is this that one club I went to before?” she asked as they stepped out of the car. “It is,” Quinn said. “Does the same bartender work here?” Quinn smirked, “Looking for round two are you?” Catherine nodded, “He was a decent lay.” “You might be out of luck,” Tara said. “Why’s that?” “I’ve been a few times over the last year and he’s never taken any woman anywhere.” “Maybe he waits until closing time.” Tara shrugged, “The way he jumped at a chance to be with you mid-work, it seemed like he did that often.” “Or he’s waiting for my return.” They laughed and went inside. It was just like she remembered it. Her eyes went straight to the bar, and there he was. He chose that moment to look up and their eyes met. She expected him not to remember her, but from the look his face took on, he did, and he wasn’t happy she was here.

She has her nerve coming here, Jackson thought, She ditched her child so she could bar hop? He knew he was glaring and she deserved it. What kind of mother hands their child away and out of their life? She and her friends, the two she’d come with before, came to the bar. He wished he could toss them out; but he didn’t own the club. One of her friends raised her eyebrow at him and he glared at her too. She motioned for time to come over. He wished he was serving someone so he could put it off, but he couldn’t. He hadn’t really thought about what he’d feel when he saw her again, but neither had he expected this anger. Maybe he was being irrational and she had a good reason for handing off their daughter. Or maybe she was a partier. But what took him back was the confusion on her face when he walked over. “What do you want?” he asked in a clipped tone. “Haven’t got laid in a while?” one of her friends asked. He knew it was a joke yet it only served to anger him more, because no, he hadn’t gotten laid in a long time. He clenched his fists. A hand settled on his shoulder. “I’ll handle this,” Jacob said. He nodded and walked away.

Catherine was so confused. What put him in such a bad mood? Or was it her? What had she done? From their time together five years ago, he’d been the one who left without a backwards glance, not her. Did he not want to see her again? She expected maybe awkwardness, but not full blown anger. The man who replaced him looked similar, so she assumed they were brothers. And he didn’t look too happy to see her either. Exasperated, she threw her hands into the air, “What did I do?! Why are you both so mad at me?” He slightly rolled his eyes like it was obvious, “What do you want?” “Maybe we’ll take our business elsewhere if you two are going to be assholes,” Tara said. He looked at her, “Then take it elsewhere.” Catherine was taken back. She should sue them. But what good does that get her? They’d only hate her even more. She sighed, “We’ll have shots, first.” Tara looked at her, “What?! We’re leaving.” Catherine shrugged and fiddled with her napkin. She felt tears prick the back of her eyes. She didn’t know why they hated her, but whatever she’d done, she knew she probably deserved it. And that made her feel bad, because all they’d been was nice to her. And one had given her the best night of her life. “Excuse me,” she said, sliding off the stool. She went to the restroom to get herself together.

From the back, Jackson watched Catherine dash to the restrooms. He could see her glossed eyes and knew she was about to cry. Dammit; what had Jacob said to her? As much as he couldn’t stand her, he couldn’t stand a crying her more. He turned to Jacob and glared at his back. He wasn’t supposed to make them cry. Her two friends were chiding and glaring at him. One got up and went after her. He sighed; this was getting out of hand. He went back to the front and went over to Jacob and the last remaining friend. “...been through enough! We were just having a girls’ day. We don’t need your crap!” she said. He ran his hands through his hair, “I think it’s best if the three of you leave.” She glared at him, “No shit, Sherlock. You’ve been treating us like crap since we walked in. I should sue both your asses!” Jackson shook his head, “I just wasn’t expecting to see her today. I apologize for my behavior.” He couldn’t have her, let alone Catherine, suing this club. His dad would have his ass. She sighed, “What do you have against Catherine? She’d never hurt anyone intentionally.” Jackson shook his head, “I don’t think she did it to hurt me.” She gave him a puzzled look but Catherine and her other friend returned. Her other friend glared at him. Catherine’s eyes were red and puffy. Dammit. She wouldn’t look at him either. “Let’s go Tara; we’re taking our money elsewhere. And I’m never coming back,” the friend who’d gone after Catherine said. Tara looked at him then nodded. The three of them left the club. Jacob sighed. “Why the hell did you make her cry?” Jackson hissed. “I didn’t! She just started crying. You know how women are,” Jacob said. “That’s sexist,” a lady sitting at the bar said. She seemed to have overheard everything. Jacob sighed again, “I have no idea why she’d even think to come here!” Jackson shrugged, “How would I know?”

After they left the club, Catherine wasn’t in the mood to party so she had Quinn and Tara drop her off at home. She made it to her room unnoticed then locked the door and flopped on her bed. The waterworks opened and she couldn’t stop the tears. She didn’t know why she was so upset about him but she was. She didn’t even know what she’d done. She ended up crying herself to sleep that night.