Kate's Nervous Breakdown

A week had gone by, and as much as Allen tried to stay away from Bree, he could not. They found ways to be together. They’d go to the park. They would have lunch and they’d meet at a hotel.

On July 3rd, Kate approached Allen as he sat in his office, “How long are we going to be like this?” she asked.

He looked up from his computer, “I don’t know.”

“My parents are having a cookout tomorrow for the fourth.”

He stared at her as if she had three heads. “So you want us to go to your parents’ and pretend as if everything is fine.”

“Things can be fine again—”

“Again? Things have not been fine.”

“I’m willing to admit…asking you to sleep with Bree was wrong.”

He chuckled and nodded, “Yeah,” he said sarcastically.

“Damn it Allen. I’m trying. Could you just meet me halfway on this?”

“Fine, I’ll go with you. We’re only staying for a couple of hours.”

She smiled, “Thank you,” she said before walking off.

Allen grunted. He had already promised Bree that he’d go with her over to Nicole’s place. He hoped that a few hours with Kate at her parents would suffice and he’d get to Nicole’s house before nightfall.

Morning. Bree got up early for her workout. Once it was complete, she received a call from Ciara. She answered cheerfully, “Hey, how’s it going?”

“Good, things are good.”

There was something in her voice Bree detected. “Are you sure? Demetrius isn’t acting up?”

“Girl no, he’s been great. But, last week, he and Terrell got into it big time. It was a mess. He came to the house to tell me that he wasn’t giving me anything in the divorce and he got loud and crazy. Demetrius walked in just as he was about to swing on me. They fought throughout the living room. Demetrius choked him out. When he finally woke up, he could barely walk straight.”

“Sweet Lord. I went away for a few days and chaos ensued.”

“Girl. Now he’s talking crazy. I’m a cheater. Cheaters don’t deserve anything in a divorce.”

“And what about his trifling ass. He can have a stadium full of seats.”

“For real. I was just hoping you would support me if I needed statements from witnesses.”

“Of course. “

“I’ll be sending out invites to my baby shower; I hope you can make it.”

“I’ll be there.”

The call ended. Bree couldn’t believe what she had heard. Yet, it was bound to happen. She started her car and headed home.

When she arrived home, she prepared for a day with her friends. She looked good in her shorts and halter top. All she and Nicole had talked about was having drinks, and eating good food, and surprisingly, Bree was interested in trying double penetration with Allen and Steve.

Nicole told her about the experience and Bree wanted to see for herself or was Nicole just exaggerating. Her cellphone sounded. It was Allen. His voice sounded sad as he spoke, “Hey, um, I have this thing with Kate for a few hours, but I’ll be over later.”

“Oh, okay. Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I promise. It’s just a few hours.”

“Okay, babe. I’ll see you then.

***

Kate’s parents’ home was filled with family. Teenagers talked on cellphones, adults were out on the patio and Kate’s father was on the grill. He looked at Allen with a scowl.

Allen’s sentiment for him was bout the same. Her father often said rude things. Kate’s mother hugged them and invited them to food and drink.

The minutes ticked away. Allen looked at his watch. He had eaten and listened to enough stories. He was ready to go. He looked at Kate, “Are you ready?”

Her father chimed, “Why are you in such a hurry? We haven’t even done the fireworks.”

“Dad’s right. We have to stay for the fireworks unless there’s somewhere else, you’d rather be.”

Inside…he was fuming. He nodded and sat in silence. Kate smiled and continued talking with her family while eating.

One of the brothers brought up that they had seen Marlene their cousin. Immediately Kate’s father blurted, “I don’t want to hear anything about that strange woman in my house. I tell you it’s unnatural and goes against everything in the Bible.”

“Really, like what part?” asked Allen.

He turned to him and almost seared through him with his eyes, “Are you questioning my religion?”

Allen shrugged, “I’m questioning you, sir.”

“You know I never liked you.”

“I assure you; the feeling is mutual.”

“Allen!” Kate exclaimed, “Don’t speak to my father that way.”

Allen rolled his eyes.

“Let’s all calm down,” said Kate’s mother.

“I’m calm. It’s him. I don’t see what my daughter saw in you.”

“Enough Frank!” his wife said.

Immediately he closed his mouth. Allen stood, “Kate, I’ll meet you in the car,” he said before he left.

The drive home was quiet. It was nearly 10:00 pm when they arrived. Allen saw his brother sitting on the porch as he pulled up, geesh what the fuck, he thought. The garage door opened, the car rolled in and Mark entered.

Allen looked at him, “What are you doing here?” he asked. Kate gave a head nod and continued into the house.

Mark smiled, “I thought you two would be home cooking up some good food like last time.”

“Now is not a good time Mark.”

“The old lady not feeling so good?”

Allen’s face crumpled, and Mark threw up his hands, “It was a joke.”

“No one’s laughing. Look there’s no food here. We ate at Kate’s parent’s house.”

“Ok. I guess I’ll head out. Do you think I can get—”

“Get out.”

“Fine.” He left the garage and Allen hit the button to close the door before going inside.

Kate was waiting for him in the kitchen, “It was rude of you to speak to my father that way.”

“Your father is an ass.”

“He is not.”

“Yes. He is. You know I don’t understand how a woman as free as you could have a dad that’s all…”

“All what?”

“He’s homophobic and why? It’s not like gay men are bothering him and the gay women certainly aren’t.”

Kate scoffed, “Why don’t you just say what this is really about. The reason you’re angry.”

He shrugged.

“You’re angry because you couldn’t go fuck Bree tonight. Lord knows you haven’t touched me since New Orleans. Is this how it’s going to be?”

“If you think the reason, I went off on your dad was because of me not being with Bree tonight you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

He began to walk off, “Where are you going?”

“If you must know. I’m going to fuck Bree.”

Kate ran over to him, “No please don’t. I’m begging you. Stay with me. I need you. You don’t understand. You’d never understand.”

He saw the distressed look on her face. This was serious, “What is it?” he asked with concern. The way she cried scared him. Loud sobs, tears, snot, her face red, “I never told anyone about this. I never told anyone. He told me never to tell.”

“Tell what?”

“He, he said it would fix me,” she was hysterical, “he said it would. It was supposed to make me normal. Not like girls. He said…he said.” She sobbed uncontrollably.

Allen was at a loss. He didn’t quite understand. He could only hold his wife and comfort her in her time of distress.