Chapter Nine
By the next morning, Katie felt almost human again. Since they’d lost both their backpacks back at the barn, the hospital had provided a change of clothing for them. Jason’s pants were too short and his shirt looked like it had been popular in the eighties, but they had showered and were both smelling a great deal better than they had yesterday.
Airlea had come in and checked on Jason through the night. Katie had actually ended up talking to the woman for several hours and by morning, her opinion of her had changed.
Katie was quick to judge people and sometimes had to admit that she was wrong about certain types of women.
Gorgeous, busty, raven-haired beauties tended to put Katie on edge. Airlea was different; she was so kind. During the night, Airlea had helped Katie with some Greek and Katie had helped her with some English. They’d laughed and at one point, Katie had explained everything that had happened to them over the last few days. Airlea had hung on every word as if she’d actually gone through everything herself.
It was the first time Katie had felt like she wasn’t being judged by who she was related to. Actually, Katie didn’t even think Airlea knew her full name. If she did, she didn’t hint at it and that was just fine by Katie.
She found out that Airlea wasn’t an Emergency room nurse like Katie had thought. Instead she was a physical therapist for children. The young boy, Michael, had been her patient.
“You wouldn’t know to look at him, but this time last year, Michael couldn’t walk or speak. He’d been abused so much by his father that he’d been in a coma for two months.”
Katie’s heart broke a little for the young boy. Then Airlea smiled. “But he is doing well now, and has told me he wishes to be a doctor when he grows up. With the help of the hospital, and a new program we started, he might get his wish fulfilled.”
That was when Katie realized she’d been wrong about the woman. Airlea had even helped Katie fill out and file the paperwork to get their replacement passports.
“Usually it takes twenty-four hours, but I know someone who can push it through quickly. Hopefully, they will be ready by tomorrow.”
“That would be wonderful. We really do need to get to Italy as quickly as possible.” Katie was going to miss her new friend when they left.
She had tried to get some more sleep that night, but every time they came to check up on Jason, she just found herself not able to fall back asleep. Jason, however, had pain pills that kept him blissfully snoring for most of the night.
At nine the next morning, the police arrived to take Jason’s statement. The two young officers tried to explain what they could do for them, but after they left, Jason and Katie both knew there wasn’t anything they could really do. After all, they had a good description of the men, but nothing else. Jason did know their names, Mikolas and Raul, but the police officer told them that they were very popular names in Greece. If Jason had gotten a license plate number or their last names it would have been more helpful.
“I couldn’t even see their faces clearly at that point.”
Katie realized what kind of pain he must have been in, running through the streets, carrying her over his shoulders. She looked at him now and could see he was almost back to his old self. His coloring had returned and his eyes were back to their sparkly, light blue color. Yesterday, they’d been dull and she knew he’d been in a great amount of pain.
The doctors released them and Airlea told them where they could find everything they needed for the remainder of their journey, including the ATM and American Embassy.
“My friend says that you just need to answer a few questions to get your temporary replacements. It shouldn’t take long. Just ask for her at the front desk.”
Airlea had given them her friend’s business card.
When they left the hospital the first stop they made was to the ATM, where Katie pulled out a credit card and proceeded to get enough cash for ferry tickets to Italy, some new clothes, food, and anything else that might come up.
“Where did you hide that?” Jason asked, leaning against the ATM. He had a large bruise and a big knot on his forehead and looked damn sexy. The medicine the doctors had given him was easily taking care of the splitting headache he had.
His forehead had been covered with a white, square bandage earlier, but after leaving the hospital, it had been the first thing he’d discarded. His blue eyes sparkled again and she could tell that he was feeling a little better.
“I have an inside pocket on my pants that I’ve been keeping this in, just for emergencies.”
“Well, thank God for that. I didn’t want to have to call your family and ask for money to get us to Rome.” Upon hearing about her family, her cheerful attitude darkened.
“Don’t.”
“You know,” she turned on him, “have I told you how annoying it is that you know me so well?”
He pulled her close. “Kat, it’s because I know you so well that I can tell that at the mere mention of your family, you get upset and start over-thinking everything.” He kissed her on the forehead as they started to walk to their next stop.
They walked into the US Embassy to get their replacement passports, making sure to ask for Airlea’s friend. After almost four hours of answering more questions than they could count, they left with temporary replacement passports. Upon leaving the embassy, they were swarmed by news stations that had obviously heard that she was there. She kept her head down and a tight hold on Jason’s arm. There were so many flashes from the cameras, she swore it took her half an hour to see normally again.
They fought the crowd and finally hailed a cab, which drove them to the small row of shops that Airlea had assured them would have some great clothing shops, as well as a place to get a decent meal and buy their ferry tickets.
She hated dealing with the press. They somehow made her feel inadequate and inferior, almost like she was back in high school, being judged by everyone. She knew the news of her being free would, no doubt, reach all the corners of the globe by nightfall.
“I hate reporters.” The simple statement made Jason smile.
“Well, at least the news will clear up that you are indeed a free woman.”
She turned, and crossing her arms, looked at him with question and laughter in her eyes.
It dawned on him what he had said, “No – not like that.” She watched his face turn a light shade of red. “I mean that you weren’t kidnapped.” She could tell he was struggling to explain himself.
“It is so much fun to mess with you, Jason.” She smiled and started walking towards a large shop that had clothes in the window.
“We could use the reporters to our advantage, you know.”
Katie stopped and looked at him.
“Katie, you’re in the spotlight, and if you remain so no one will try to grab you again.”
“No, I don’t want to be in the spotlight. I can’t stand being in the spotlight. Spotlight! More like microscope. No.” Shaking her head, she continued walking. “Besides, I think we’ve lost them.”
She smiled at him.
He stopped her just outside the store. “You know how I took it, how I was after my father died. You could see my mood swings before they happened. Why won’t you let me be here for you, the way you were there for me?”
She sobered up and looked at him. “Jason, my mother didn’t die in some huge plane crash. She wasn’t taken away from me quickly and tragically. No, my mother chose to lie to everyone who loved her for years, twenty-six years to be exact. It wasn’t just a one-time lie; she continued to go behind our backs and live a double life. Being married to two men, raising two different families. Who does that?”
“Men, usually.” She knew he was trying for humor but the moment was gone.
“You know what?” She turned to walk into the shop. “You’re right.”
As they started shopping, she looked over at him and continued the conversation. “If it had been my father, I
don’t think it would have received as much news hype as it did. But because it was Kathleen Derby, socialite, they flooded the news every day with every aspect of our lives. Then everyone I trusted betrayed me to any network that would pay them enough.” She flipped through the racks of clothes, looking for shirts and pants as he did the same across the aisle in the men’s section. “Well, I handled that, but then I saw you.” She stopped and looked off into the distance. He walked over to her, took her by the shoulders, and just looked into her eyes.
“Katie?” His voice snapped her out of the deep thought.
“What is your relationship with Katie Derby?” she asked.
He looked down at her with question in his eyes.
“What is your relationship with Katie Derby?” she asked again, pulling away from him slightly.
“Wait, what is this all about?”
“What is your relationship with Katie Derby?” she repeated a little louder.
“Katie, please.” He looked around the small shop and noticed the sales clerk was staring at them, strangely.
“It’s a simple question, Jason. One I’ve been waiting over a year to hear the answer to.”
“Is that why you left?”
“No!” She tried to push him away.
“Katie,” he held her still and looked into her eyes, “you are my best friend. You’re the little girl I’ve loved since I rescued you from the swimming pool, the one person who’s been there for me no matter what. The girl that’s grown into a woman I love for so many reasons I couldn’t possibly list them all in one lifetime.”