Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 107

Kathline's Point of View.

The swirling North Sea waters build up in ferocity, crashing against the promenade, spraying those brave enough to walk alongside the iron railings. I stay beyond the grass area, safe from the turbulent sea, as I inhale the salt air. The metaphor does not escape me, as I stare out, my mind feeling as troubled as the wild waters.

I came here first thing this morning, in a bid to escape the drama back home. My home, once a peaceful haven, had turned into something else, and only one person was to blame. Liv. I spend my days listening to her tales of 'woe is me', sympathising or at least trying to. Her constant need for attention has worn thinner than toilet paper. I cannot even sit and cuddle Davey anymore without some drama unfolding. The tears fall, or she suddenly has a bout of pain. If I am honest, I am not sure how much more of this I can take. The annoyance is real, and how I have held my red head's temper I have no clue, but then another wave crashes over me. Guilt.

The woman has been to hell and back, but then she is dancing around the belly of the beast, wanting to take him back. Davey is exhausted. Day two, of the third time off shift since he brought her back from hospital, is once again spent dealing with her amateur dramatics.

Other than the soft play, we have had no time, together as our newly formed little family. The stress is beginning to take its toll on our relationship.

Is it wrong for me to want to kick her out?

What would Davey think of me if I insisted his formally battered and bruised sister leave?

What would that decision mean for our relationship?

Just when I felt like things were going well, this all happened, and the strain is beginning to cause a chasm between us.

I make my way up towards Roker light house. In the distance, I spot a heavily pregnant woman, hair as red as my own, lighting a Chinese lantern and with a bowed head watching it float out to sea, before wiping tears from her sad eyes and turning on her heel heading in the opposite direction.

I let out a breath. It feels to me my 'hair twin' is letting go of her problems. Maybe that is what I should do. Shout them out to the rough waters, all my pent-up frustrations. After all, the sea won't judge me for feeling like this about my boyfriend's sister, who was hospitalised only three weeks ago. I may look like a crazy person, but voicing them out loud may help me feel better.

I stand screaming at the waters, passers-by looking at me as if I have lost the plot... maybe I have, because feeling this pent up is not healthy.

After five whole minutes of screaming towards the sea, I take another deep breath, then I look over my shoulder, to see if any passers by had phoned the men in white coats. Thankful I am alone, am I ready to go home and face the day?

I am not sure, the thought of more drama makes me want to run far away from the place that was once my sanctuary. I cannot continue like this. I may sound like a b***h. Hell people may think I am just that, but I need to talk to Davey. If he cannot understand why I want his sister to leave, then maybe he is not the person for me after all.

With a renewed determination to sort this out, to speak with him. I headed to the car, before I second guess my resolve, and make the 20-minute journey back to my house.

As I walk in through the front door, already I can hear Liv crying out to Davey that he cannot understand how hurt she is, how a love like she had with Kev is a one-time thing. How it is not simple to walk away. "Kathline, tell him!" Liv cries out to me before I can even get my coat off.

I close my eyes, taking a long, frustrated breath to calm my temper, but unfortunately, this time it is not working. My anger bubbles up from my stomach and before I can stop myself it boils over.

"No Liv, I will not tell him. I am fed up to the back teeth of this s**t. Do what you want, go back to that bastard if you need to, but I know one thing, you cannot remain here." My annoyance spills from my mouth. Great, I let that spill even before I had a chance to talk to Davey about how I feel and why.

"Davey, are you going to stand there and let her speak to me like that?" Liv shouts in dismay and anger.

"No Liv, I am not." Davey said, as a look of triumph appears on Liv's face, her tears from earlier completely dry.

I glance up at him, is he really going to defend his attention-seeking sister against me? I hold a breath, ready to tell him to pack his bags as well, because I just need peace.

"I am going to go upstairs and grab a suitcase and pack it for you. Kathline and I have done more than enough to try and help you, but you throw it back in our faces. You cannot even stand for us to be sitting together. You need to sort yourself out, and here is not the best place for that. This is Kathline's home, and you go on as if she is the one who is the guest. Andy needs his mam and dad there for him. When we are not working, we want to spend our time bonding as a family. But you cannot even bare the attention we give a six-year-old. I was done with this s**t a couple of weeks ago, now finally so is Kathline. So, no Olivia, I am not going to stand here and let Kathline speak her mind, I am going to agree with her, and get you moved the hell out of here, today." Davey shouts, then takes a step beside me, wrapping his arm around my waist.

The sheer relief I feel is almost overwhelming. He feels just as I do, I am not the b***h from hell.

"What!" Liv screeches back at Davey.

"You are not even the annoying kid's father! You are turning your back on me, your REAL family, just like before, which put ME IN HOSPITAL! It is all your fault, and you are kicking me to the curb, no thought about how I am still injured!" Liv shouts back. "Bull s**t, you ended up in hospital because you remained with that man you love so much. Davey has helped you time and again, but still you do not learn. My son is NOT annoying, he is in his OWN HOME, unable to play because you have a headache, or your ribs hurt. You are perfectly healed, the doctor said so on your last visit. But here you are, using a situation which you helped create by remaining with a man who clearly doesn't love you, but uses you to feed his gambling habit, to try and manipulate your brother. You know, I anguished over this decision, but it is as clear as day, you just love the drama. Now, I would have helped you, but guess what, sort your own mess out, because I am going to work, to provide for my AMAZING SON." I shout at her, anger boiling over. How dare she say that about Andy?

"Where am I going to go?" Liv shouts, followed by a barrage of those tears she likes to shed, in order to get her own way.

"Don't know, and to be quite honest, I don't care!" Davey growls at her.

Liv stomps up the stairs, taking them two at a time. I guess her arms, legs and ribs are not hurting her now! The slam of the bedroom door echoes around the house.

Davey nuzzles his head into my neck.

"I am so sorry Kathline; I should have got her out of here a couple of weeks ago. But I felt s**t every time I thought about it. I thought you would think I was a cold-hearted bastard." Davey mumbles into my neck.

"I am sorry too, I should have sat down and had a chat with you, like I planned. Not just lose my temper." I sighed, laying my head against his chest.

"Thank God Andy is at school," Davey sighed back. His love for my son makes me feel warm inside..

"Yes, I need to log on to work, I cannot take another day off." I tell Davey, my employers have been brilliant since Andy was in that fire, but that is over 8 weeks ago now, and I need to get back into the office. But today, I will once again work from home. I tilt my head up and look up at Davey, as he moves my hair back from my face, then places a soft warm kiss on my lips.

"I love you, Kathline. I will replace somewhere for her before the end of the day." He whispered his promise to me.

As I go and log on to my laptop, I begin to make a dent in the emails from Tracey. Then I began to dictate replies to solicitors working on behalf of the vendors of the homes we have exchanging contracts this week and bury myself into getting the home buyers of Sunderland moving again.

I hear Davey in the kitchen, as he makes a call, not sure who to, I am far too engrossed in my work to listen. Maybe I no longer care, because all I need is for Liv to be gone.

I am not sure how much longer I work, when a cup of tea arrives at my desk, along with a plate of biscuits. Davey stood, looking handsome as sin, smiling down at me.

"Liv has a place. She is moving into Josie's house. I am heading out to pick up the keys." He grins at me.

Relief washes over me, happy his sister will be out of my home tonight, and grateful that I have not just kicked her into the streets with nowhere to go.

"Does Liv know?" I asked him.

"Yeah, she tried to argue that she had no money. But I told her I had paid the first month's rent, and I would stock up her food, but she needs to replace a job and get on with her life." Davey grinned at me.

I smile up at him, thanking everything that is holy for this amazing man.

"So I am going to pick Andy up from Mel's for you when you have finished work, and you will get your 'glad rags' on. We are going out for a family fun night, just the three of us." He continues. "Thank you." I whisper to him.

"The pleasure is all mine." He grins down at me, placing another kiss on the top of my head, before turning on his heel and leaving me to my work.