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Waking with a start, Katie pressed her hand to chest to feel the rapid beat of her frightened heart. A knock on the door made her jump and she slid her hands through her hair.

“Okay, calm down,” she whispered. Sliding out of the bed, she moved slowly toward the door. Her stomach felt heavy and she cupped her hands under it as she walked.

“Hello?”

“Katie, it’s Curtis,” a very sad voice called out.

Opening the door, she peered out to see the young man’s swollen and tear-stained face.

“Curtis, are you okay?”

“I need to talk to you, okay? I need advice. ”

“Okay, come in,” she said.

“No. No. Not here. I need fresh air. I’m just. . . ” He shook his head. “I can’t talk about it here. Meet me up on the wall on the corner of Morris and Main in like fifteen minutes?”

He looked so sad and pathetic, Katie couldn’t refuse. “Okay. I’ll get dressed and meet you there. ”

“Okay,” he said with a sigh. “Just don’t tell anyone okay? I’m way embarrassed about what is happening and I don’t want people talking. ”

Katie nodded. “Okay, hon. I understand. ”

Curtis tucked his hands into pockets and lowered his red face. “Thanks, Katie. You’re a good woman. ”

“Thanks, Curtis. I’ll see you in fifteen. ”

“Okay. ” He looked at her sheepishly, then walked away, his head down.

With a sigh, she shut the door and rubbed her eyes. She was exhausted but sleep would have to wait.

4. The Last Night

Travis unlocked the door to the room he shared with Katie and stepped in as stealthily as possible. He had seen how weary his wife had been at dinner and he wanted to make sure not to wake her. He was surprised to see her up and shrugging into t-shirt.

“Babe, what are you doing up?”

Pulling the shirt down so her face popped into view, Katie groaned.

“Curtis came by. He looked like shit. He says he needs to talk so I told him I’d meet him in a few minutes at the corner of Morris and Main. ”

Slightly frowning, Travis moved toward her. He admired her long legs and smiled at the swell of her belly above her bikini underwear. She leaned over to reach for her jeans and he gently stopped her.

“You’re exhausted. You have dark circles under

your eyes and, honey, your eyes are bloodshot as hell. ”

Leaning against him, Katie sighed and tucked her hands into the small of his back. “He just looked so upset. I felt so bad for him. I know things have been rough on him with Bill dying and Linda not being with him. ”

Kissing the top of her head, Travis sighed softly. He laid his cheek on her soft hair and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her in his arms. As tired as he was, he could stand here forever holding her. “I’ll go talk to him. ”

“Travis, you’re tired, too,” Katie protested. She gazed up at him in a way that made him feel as if he could fight a million zombies and win.

“I would love nothing more than to lie down next to you and feel you in my arms as we sleep, but you’re right. Curtis is having a rough time right now. I think Bill may have been the closest thing he had to a best friend and he’s gone now. I saw the last fight between him and Linda. It was harsh. ” Travis gently pushed her down on the bed. “So you sleep and I’ll go see if I can offer him some brotherly advice. ”

Katie started to refuse, then sighed as she lay back on the bed. One hand draped over her pregnant tummy, she gazed up at him sleepily. “Okay, okay, I won’t fight you. I’m too tired anyway. ”

Lifting her legs up onto the bed, Travis leaned over and kissed her belly, then her lips. “I’ll be back soon. I’ll take a shower, then climb into bed.