25th of December 2013.
10:56pm.

Kate reached for the red mug in the dish drier,the same the the kettle began to whistle. Moving swiftly, bit quietly so as not to disturb Kelsia and Fredo who went to bed early, she prepared tea for herself.  When she was done, she went to sit down on the breakfast stool; she placed the mug on the breakfast table.

Ever since Fredo's ex- wife visited, Kate was unable to think straight or even concentrate. As much as she wanted to know what they discussed, she didn't ask because she didn't want Fredo to think that she was prying. But still, Kate felt uneasy.

What if his ex-wife never left and Fredo was cheating on her? What if his wife left him because he cheated? What if...

Kate sighed again. That should be none of her business,right? She was leaving soon anyway. Fredo's ex-wife presence,meant that she would have to leave too. But Kate didn't want to leave. Her heart hurt at the thought of her being away from Fredo and Kelsia; the two people that have come to be important in her life.

Maybe she was over thinking this. Maybe Fredo's ex-wife only came here because Fredo didn't send her the money he promised.

Ughh!

"I'm only over thinking this." She murmured to herself.

"Over thinking what?" A voice, Fredo's, said from the doorway.

Startled, Kate yelped as she jumped off her seat. "Gosh, you scared me!"

Fredo joined her. "What are you doing down so late? I thought you went to bed already."

"I couldn't sleep." Just to keep her hands busy,Kate reaches for her mug. "You?" She threw him a side-long glance.

"Same." He sighed.

"Wife trouble?" She said in a bored voice,even though she really wanted to know.

Fredo nodded. "Yeah. Sancha,my ex-wife, left me with our three months old daughter to run away with her lover."

"What does she want now?"

"Our reconciliation."

Kate hid her hurt. Of course this was bound to happen any time. What was she thinking to fall in love with a married man?

Fredo must have seen the hurt, because he took the cup out of her hand,placed it on the breakfast table and cradle her hands between his,so she had no choice but to look ar him.

"I don't love Sancha, anymore." He said softly. "She is the mother of my daughter and a woman I once love. She made me love and gave me happiness,even though it was brief."

As much as she wanted to break down and cry her heart out,Kate didn't do as much as bat an eyelid. Instead, she waited for the 'I still love my wife' part. The sooner he said it, the earlier she would leave.

But the problem was that she didn't want to go anywhere.

Kate wanted to stay by Fredo's side forever, she wanted to be mother to Kelsia. She wanted to be the one to make them happy.

So much for happy ending. She thought bitterly.

"Do you still love her?" Please say no.

"No, I don't." He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. "I don't think I would be loving anyone any time soon."

Kate hid her sigh of relief. At least he didn't love Sancha anymore. "She's beautiful."

Fredo smiled. "Sancha is a very beautiful woman. You know, I always wondered how I was lucky enough to marry her at that time. Many guys in college were always after her."

"What were you like in university? I bet girls chased after you too?"

"Yeah. But at that time,I was too busy studying to chase after booze,girls or parties."

Kate laughed. "The image of you wearing big glasses and wearing baggy clothes is funny. I never pegged you as the bookworm type."

"Really? What do you peg me as my dear pegger?"

Kate beamed at him. "Someone who rides Harley power bikes,wears skinny jeans, lip rings, has tats, and had the fuck me smile. You know,the whole bad boy package?"

"No piercings, I hate power bikes, same for skinny jeans. As for the fuck me smile," his lips turned up at the corner and his eyebrows went up a notch.

Kate doubled over in laughter. "You- you look ridiculous."

Fredo beamed at her. "And maybe you can search me for the tats? Who knows, I might have one hidden somewhere."

"Naughty you." Kate licked her lips. All traces of laughter gone from her face. "Fredo, there's something you should know."

Fredo didn't like it when Kate's face turned serious. "What is it?"

Kate licked her lips again.  "I- I..." It's now or never Kate. "I love you."

"You love me?"

Darn! I should have just kept shut.

"It's... Huh..." Kate squealed when she was suddenly yanked out of her seat into Fredo's lap. Before she could recover,his lips covered hers and he gave her a toe curling kiss.

By the time they came up for air,Kate decided to let out all of her secrets. If Fredo trusts her enough to let her into his life, bed and home, then he would also believe her when she tells him the whole truth. Maybe he would even help her.

"Fredo, I have something else to tell you," she leaned back so she could see his face. "About my past. I-"

"Your past is what it is,Katherine, your past." He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Your future is what you should focus on now."

"It's really important that..." She was silenced by his lips on hers. By the time he released her lips, Kate had forgotten what she was about to say before.

"That's better." He grinned at her wickedly. "Now, how about you start searching for that tat I told you about?"

She grinned up at him. "Let the search begin."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
26th of December 2013.
07:07am.

Kate yawned as she sat up in bed. Her body was still a bit sore from all the activities she and Fredo did till early morning.

It was one helluva tat search.

Fredo was the one who returned her back to her room,sometime during the morning,murmuring about not wanting to give Kelsia a wrong image or something.

The door flew open. Kelsia ran in and jumped on her bed with a big smile. "It's boxing day!"

Kate grinned as she enveloped the little girl in a hug. She dropped a kiss on Kelsia's hair. "Happy boxing day,Kel. And good morning to you."

"G'morning." Kelsia squirmed out of Kate's hug. "I'm very hungry. Can I have more of the pudding daddy made last night?"

"Yes. But only if I get my sugar,you brush your teeth and have your bath."

Kelsia pouted. "All that for just pudding?"

"It's not just a pudding," Kate pouted too. "Your daddy made it for you especially."

"I..."

The sound of the door bell cut of whatever Kelsia was about to say. It was then that, Kate remembered what woke her up in the first place.

"Let's go get the door."

Kate got out of bed tiredly. After slipping her feet into her satin kidskin slippers, she and Kelsia went down stairs to answer the door. The first thing Kate saw,was the police car,that was sitting in the driveway. Her eyes fell on the three uniformed men on the second steps and finally they came to rest on Sancha who was staring at her well manicured nails with a bored expression.

"Hi,Katherine Downings," Sancha gave her a sinister smile. "Or should I say Allegra Dante."

Kate grabbed the door jamb to hold herself upright. Her heart began to race faster. Bile rose in her throat as her fear heightened.

"You not only murdered your parents, but you also killed the people who took you in."

"What?"

Kate turned around to see a shocked Fredo standing at the landing of the stairs. She herself blanched.

"You heard me." Sancha grinned triumphantly.

"Your nanny slash lover, is a murderess."