Chapter 4

Kate and Sara exchanged glances, both frozen. Especially Kate — she'd overheard James making dinner plans with Miranda, saying he'd pick her up at seven. But it was now past eight, and here he was. Could a date really be that quick?

The man had been all over her like some kind of animal that morning, and she'd assumed he wouldn't be coming home tonight — that he'd probably be satisfying his urges with Miranda.

Kate's mind couldn't make any connections at that moment.

"A symptom of what? Didn't you two hear me?"

"Well, aren't you turning into quite the gossip! We're in a hospital, kid! All we talk about is symptoms, diseases... that sort of thing." Sara said, covering smoothly.

"For someone who's dying, you've got a pretty sharp tongue!" James said, walking closer to Sara.

"Is that any way to talk to your mother?! Get over here so I can smack you."

James glanced at Kate, shrugged, and sat on the bed, letting his mother give him a few light slaps on his hand.

"Ow! That actually hurt! What are they feeding you in here? You're getting strong."

Kate couldn't help but crack a small smile. Sara and James had a slightly comical dynamic. It was to be expected, since Sara remained irreverent even on her deathbed.

James looked at Kate and caught her smiling. She tried to hide it but wasn't quick enough. James gave her a half-smile, and Sara said:

"See, Kate? No respect — he's never respected me. You're laughing while I'm correcting him!"

Sara crossed her arms and looked away, playing hard to get.

"Well, I... I'll leave you two alone. I need to go do something." Kate said, heading for the door.

"Do what? Your shift ended already." James said, brows furrowed.

"Leave your wife alone, James! You can't be so controlling — men who control too much end up getting cheated on!"

"Cheated on?!" James's good mood vanished in an instant. He went serious and looked at Sara, then at Kate, then back at Sara.

"Boy, it's just an expression! Kate isn't going to cheat on you — don't be so possessive! How many times do I have to teach you?" Sara grabbed James's hand and looked him in the eye. "And Kate, dear, go on and do that thing."

Kate looked at Sara in confusion, and Sara mouthed the words silently:

"Pregnancy test."

"Test? What test? What are you two hiding?" James hadn't caught all of it and was completely lost between the two of them.

Kate turned beet red, her eyes went wide, and she slipped out of the room quickly, avoiding any further commotion.

"Mom, what are you up to? You can't be scheming — you know you're in no condition for that."

"Don't worry, son." Sara said, stroking his hand. "It's just girl stuff. And you? How are you? I liked what you did today — coming all handsome and smelling nice to pick up your wife at the hospital. You're becoming quite the gentleman."

"Oh, that? I came from an event, that's all, Mom."

"Right... Have you been drinking?"

"No."

"Let me smell your breath."

"Mom!"

"Come on, boy!" Sara gestured.

Giving in, James let her sniff his breath.

"Good Lord! Just one whiff and my nostrils are on fire. You need to stop drinking, son! How are you going to take care of Kate if you're an alcoholic?!"

"I'm not an alcoholic — you're exaggerating! I just like to sip and savor. I'm not drunk, see?"

"Son, you know I'm not going to be here much longer, and I want you to be happy and take care of Kate. She's such a good woman, with a heart of gold, and she needs to be loved so badly, son. I want to go in peace. Don't do anything stupid — don't hurt that girl."

James let out a long breath, lost in thought, then kissed his mother's hand and said:

"Everything's fine, okay? Don't worry about it."

"It better be, or I'll come back and haunt you!"

"I'm telling you, aren't I?"

"Listen, do me a favor — take Kate out to a romantic candlelit dinner. Book the whole restaurant for her. Buy flowers... no, buy chocolates! Chocolate is much better. Give her foot massages, because she's such a hardworking woman and she must come home with tired, swollen feet. And if Kate gets pregnant, treat her like a queen, you hear me?"

James rolled his eyes and said:

"Here you go again with this children talk. That's not going to happen, okay? People can be happy without children, Mom..." James stood up, paced back and forth, and scratched his head. "Kate and I aren't going to have children, but I'll still fulfill my obligations to her."

At that moment, Kate walked back in. She lowered her head, realizing that she and James had different goals. Kate genuinely wanted children — she wanted to finally feel like she belonged to a family.

Sara looked at Kate expectantly, hoping for some sign that she'd taken the test.

Catching on, Kate gave a subtle shake of her head, indicating that this time the result hadn't been positive.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***