Lessons To Learn (chapter 32)
Chapter 32
It was 9pm and Rick hadn't come over yet, he wasn't picking up her calls or replying to any of her texts either. She was getting real impatient and mostly angry. If he wasn't coming, he could have just told her. Still she gave him the benefit of the doubt and waited a while longer. At 10pm, she grew mad. She thought to herself she'd try calling him one last time, after that, she'd just got to bed.
This time however, he picked up. She was just about to ask him where the hell he was when she heard his voice, low and sleepy, and so groggy
"Kate, hey..."
"Rick?" she had to confirm, he didn't sound like himself
"Yea, I'm sorry, I overslept"
She couldn't help but be worried. He sounded…unwell
"Are you alright? You don't sound so good"
"I'm not feeling to good either" he said
"Sleep it off, maybe you had a tiring day or something"
"No no, I was feeling unwell since the last lecture of the day, but I thought after I take a nap I'll be fine. Kate I've been asleep for the past 3 hours and I'm only feeling worse. I think I've got the flu"
"Are you feverish?"
"I'm not sure"
Just then Kate heard Martha in the background 'Rick? Are you home?'
"Mother's here" he said to Kate.
"Yea yea, ummm… you rest... We can talk later… or tomorrow if you're feeling better"
"yea. I'll text you"
Kate waited for while but received no text, she assumed he'd fallen back asleep. Kate was worried for him, but knew it may just be a passing flu, he may feel better and she'll see him at college the next day. She hoped for it at least. She just wanted him to be alright.
The next morning, Kate woke up, and out of habit turned around to wake Rick up with a kiss. But on seeing her empty bed, she remembered. He was at home. She quickly reached for her phone to check for any texts and found none. She was a little more worried now. But decided maybe she should just wait a while, she may see him at college.
At college, her eyes first travelled to his usual seat in the class, but found it empty, that's when she realized he probably skipped all his lectures today. She wondered now whether his flu had worsened. And she began to feel a bit more worried for him. A part of her just wanted to see him.
After all her lectures were done, she sent him a text "Rick, hey, how are you feeling? I thought I'd see you in college today. Are you still feeling unwell?"
She wasn't expecting a prompt reply, but it came anyway
"Kate, I'm sorry, I was supposed to text you this morning, but my mother rushed me to the doctors and I left my phone at home. The fever got worse overnight. Anyway, I'm on medication now, so I'm sure I'll feel better soon. I was wondering, could you come over after college? I'm missing you your pretty face and I could do with some company, I'm kind of tired of my mother coming in every 10 minutes and asking how I'm feeling"
Kate smiled at the message. She missed him too. A lot. And there was such a strong part of her that wanted to go over to his place and see him, and sit with him and just give him company, he was probably bored out of his mind. But there was also a part of her that was a little weary of facing his mother.
She thought about it a lot, but finally replied "I'm glad you got diagnosed. You'll be better in no time. I'm missing you too Rick, how's about you get better soon, so that I can see you sooner, and we wouldn't have to miss each other so much"
"Come over Kate, I could really do with your company"
Kate was driving home and as much as she feared what his mom thought of her, she desperately wanted to see him.
And then another text from him read "if you're staying away because you don't want to face my mother, rest assured, she does not judge you for loving me"
Kate knew what she wanted to do. So she said a small prayer to herself that she would not die of embarrassment in front of his mother, and the she turned the car and drove on over to the Rogers residence.
"I'll be there in 10" she sent him in a text.
Kate stood outside the front door, not really sure what she was doing. She was going to walk into her own grave, she knew it. She feared just one thing… what if Martha really didn't like the idea of a relationship between a teacher and a student, but for Rick's sake, was acting like she was okay with it… she wondered what Martha must think of her… she wondered what Martha would think of her if she knew they started off as a 'friends without benefits' arrangement, and then grew in love.
Kate took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her nerves
'You're here to see Rick, stop over thinking things' she told herself on and on in her head as she lightly knocked on the door.
The door swung open and there stood the elegant Martha Rogers. Kate had intended on saying 'hi' or 'hello' or some kind of greeting, but nothing came out of her parted lips. She was a nervous mess.
"Katherine, darling… I should've known you'd come to see him" Martha said while pulling her into an embrace.
Kate was caught off-guard. Rick's mother was hugging her, real tight.
"Hello Martha" she finally said
"I'm sorry, I know you and Rick had decided to keep it on the quiet, but I saw the signs, I can tell when my sons in love, and I made him spill the beans"
A blush rose to Kate's cheeks "I… uhhh…"
"Come in darling, Rick's asleep, but can I get you something to drink until he awakes"
She said as she led Kate into the kitchen to be seated at the kitchen counter
"No thank you Martha, I just had something at the college"
Martha sat beside her and smiled. Although Kate was a little more comfortable, she still was a bit nervous
"Now now Kate… I hope you're not feeling awkward or something cause I know"
Kate chuckled
"I'm sorry, I'm just… how are you okay with it? I always thought you'd be the kind of person to disapprove of it completely"
Martha placed her hand over Kate's and said "under normal circumstances I would. But I've seen the way he looks at you Kate, and I've seen the way you look at him. There's more to you'll then you'll know. My son cares for you, and the very fact that you came here even though you were afraid of what I might think about all of this, shows me just how much you care about him. I'm not usually one who would buy this, but I'm convinced my son loves you with all his heart."
Kate was looking at Martha, and all she really wanted to do right now was hug the woman for understanding her. But then they heard a sound from the bedroom
"Ahhh, he's awake"
"Why don't you go in there and see him, I'll make him some soup till then"
Kate nodded and got off the stool to go see him, but then she stopped and said
"Actually Martha, if you don't mind, can I make him something?"
Chapter 33- Link here- http://caskettastic.livejournal.com/10549.html