Understanding Caitlyn -Chapter 10-

Ten1

Caitlyn smiled at Kyle as they waited in the dimly lit Italian restaurant for Kyle’s father. Kyle looked down at his watch then sighed loudly. “Ugh. Fuck it!” he exclaimed and stood up. “He was suppose to be here forty-five minutes ago! Let’s go hon. I’m tired of waiting.”2

“Are you sure? He might be on his way now,” 3

“He’s not coming. Let’s just go.” Kyle’s intense green eyes lit up with anger.4

“Maybe another time then-”5

“Caitlyn, can we just GO?” he interrupted her and started walking out of the restaurant to his truck, Caitlyn followed behind him, shrugging to the waiters. Kyle got in his truck and slammed the door with force. He started the car and hit the steering wheel. “God damn-it!”6

“Kyle,” Caitlyn said as she shut the door in the truck. “It’s no big deal, calm down.” 7

“It IS a big deal Caitlyn.” He said, his voice calming down a little. “I want him to meet you, baby.” He told her then pulled her into a kiss. “Let’s just go.” Kyle pulled out of the parking lot, tires screeching as he turned into the traffic.8

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~9

“Where are you taking me?”  A frightened ten-year-old Caitlyn said, looking up into the plain brown eyes of a lady. She stood outside on the bright sunny day, surrounded by policemen and the lady in a suite. She saw her mother screaming at the policemen, and her daddy crying in grief.10

“Jackie” is what the lady told Caitlyn to call her.11

“Caitlyn, do you like living here?” The stranger asked Caitlyn.  12

Caitlyn looked down then looked up at the house, at her mother and met eyes with here. The same familiar blood shot eyes glared out, shooting darts, silently telling Caitlyn she better not spill the ‘secret‘. Then Caitlyn looked at her daddy, she meet eyes with him then he looked down shamefully, leaning against the door.13

“Yes, I love my- my mommy and daddy,” Caitlyn lied and a sob irrupted. She ran past Jackie and ran towards here mother and daddy, she was caught by a police officer.14

“LET MY BABY GO!” The mother yelled and tried to reach her, getting held back by two officers. “THAT LITTLE SLUT IS MINE!”15

“DADDY!” Cait yelled and screamed and kicked the police officer that held her in a hug.16

“Come on baby girl,” the officer said to her, holding her with one arm now that she stopped kicking. He held her against her as if she was his own daughter, careful not to touch the bruises he saw on her arms. He didn’t even want to look for the other bruises. He silently prayed for the little girl as he set her in the seat of the police car, facing her to look at him. Her tears streaked down her face, her hair was wild. “Listen, Caitlyn, can you hear me? Caitlyn.” He tried to get her attention. She was sobbing hysterically. “Listen baby, can you listen to me?”17

“Uh-huh” Cait said between sobs, she nodded.18

“We’re going to make sure you’re safe now, okay? Does your mama beat you?” he asked gently, tears welled in his eyes at the thought of anyone hurting this sweet little girl. 19

Caitlyn sobbed and threw herself against the policeman, she cried and cried. “I don’t know what to say!” She told him.20

“Just tell the truth sweetheart. Just tell the truth, nobody will get mad at you.” He told her then looked at her. “Just nod or shake your head no, baby. Does your mama beat you? Does your daddy?”21

“My daddy loves me!” she yelled. Then said, “I don’t want to be here anymore! I want to be with Willy!”22

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~23

--24

“Hey, I thought you two were going to dinner?” Keri asked as she turned off the vacuum, Kyle and Caitlyn walked in the door. 25

“Got canceled.” Kyle said shortly then took off his shoes. “What do you want to do, Punk?” Kyle said, using her new adopted nickname. Caitlyn smirked at the nickname, remembering the first time Caitlyn saw Kyle.26

“I dunno-”27

“Caitwyn! Caitwyn!” Amber came screaming down the steps from upstairs.28

Kyle sighed deeply and loudly, Caitlyn looked at him and shrugged then picked up Amber and twirled her around. “Whatcha’ doing Ber?”29

“Nothing’” she said in her innocent voice. “Hi Kyle!” She shrieked loudly, Kyle winced then turned around and took a deep breathe30

Caitlyn noticed that Kyle looked irritated. He tried and hid it, but she saw it.  She set Amber down, and asked her to go upstairs, and then Keri took a fighting Amber upstairs.31

“Kyle, what’s wrong?” She came up from behind Kyle and wrapped her arms around his stomach.  “Tell me,” she pleaded, her face nuzzling his back, then wrapped her arms around him from the front. Kyle gratefully put his own arms around Caitlyn and laid his forehead on her hair, kissing it.32

“Just shit, that’s all”33

“Want to talk about it?” 34

“Not really”35

“It’ll help,” Caitlyn said, then grinned after Kyle said nothing. “This is where you’re suppose to tell me ‘no it won’t, the problem will still be there after.’ “ Caitlyn said sarcastically. “Remember? That’s what you use to tell me,” she said quietly now.36

Kyle laughed slightly at that, remembering it all too well. “You were a tough one to crack,” he winked at her then kissed her. “It’s nothing babe, I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”37