15

Pablo and Isabel were making their inaugural trip to Spain. Katie had warned them that the weather was nothing like they were used to, and Isabel was relishing the thought of shopping for warmer clothes. Despite her offer of them staying at her house, Pablo wanted to experience the full effect of the resort. For this reason the staff weren't forewarned of who was booked into the best suite of rooms.

Ramon borrowed her car to head to the airport to pick them up. Katie was in her office embroiled in her plans to tour the resorts with her mentor and friend when she heard the commotion of them arriving. She logged off the computer and rushed out to be embraced in a huge bear hug from Pablo. Tears welled as she felt the safety and the familiarity of his strong paternal arms.

Pulling back he held her at arm's length, "You look very well!"

She nodded, "I am good, surprisingly so." Her hand was resting protectively over her ever growing abdomen.

"I was so sorry to hear about your father Katie. Especially at this time it's very difficult for you." His hands held her arms as he looked at her intently, looking for signs that she was ok, that she was coping.

"I was with him when he passed Pablo, we made our peace......again."

At that moment Isa arrived, "Katie, Katie, Katie! Look at you! You look so well!" She was engulfed in more hugs again as her surrogate mother appeared beside Pablo.

"Was your journey ok?" she asked them as they prepared to check in at reception, the staff suddenly on high alert at the fact that Katie knew the guests so intimately.

Pablo nodded, "it was uneventful. But we did bring someone with us, knowing that you're going to be taking some time out, and that Ramon is running around with his head in the clouds. I thought you could do with some reliable help!"

She looked at him confused before Pilar burst in through the hotel doors.

"Pilar!" Katie hugged her friend, so pleased to see her, then turned to Pablo. "Who's looking after Acapulco? Not that I'm gutted to see her here!"

Pablo smiled, "you were right in that she is an absolute asset, but so are you. I'm able to keep an eye on Acapulco, but I want you to have proper support here!"

"I don't know what to say!" she announced before hugging Pilar once more, "other than bienvenido a España!"

Later that evening they all met for a meal, chatting and catching up on old times. Pilar was the life and soul of the party, and frequently through the evening Katie thanked Pablo for the gift of her to the Spanish branch of the business. Hours later and much further into the night, Pablo thanked her back, for convincing Ramon to come clean, to be honest. He knew how much her influence had helped him be honest, and Pablo was only saddened that he hadn’t felt he could be honest years before.

Over the next few days, they all headed on a whistle stop tour of the four resorts, culminating in an extended visit to Madrid. Isa shopped until they all dropped, but encouraged Katie to allow her and Pablo to buy for Katie's unborn baby. Whilst she was at first reluctant, by the end of the trip she'd accepted arms full of gifts.

Once they got back to Malaga she found that Pilar had already settled into working. She should've known. So whilst Ramon took his parents to meet Antonio, she sat with her friend and explained the basics of the company.

Pablo and Isabel stayed for ten days. During that time they'd endured themselves to all the resort staff, so it wasn't just Katie and Ramon that missed them when they left. Isabel made Katie promise to call more often, both her and Pablo treated the impending arrival of Katie's baby as a first grandchild.

Sitting in the office the next morning, she felt a presence near the door, looking up she saw Pilar watching her.

"I think you're amazing Katie." Katie was stunned, unable to respond. "You're sitting there heavily pregnant, after all that's gone on this last year and you still work at the highest rate I've ever seen. You're like a machine."

Katie smiled, "whilst I'm working I don't have to think!" 

Pilar nodded knowingly, "I saw Xavier before I left."

"How is he?" The question was expected, but Katie was so over him it was unreal.

She shrugged, "you know him, as enigmatic as ever. He swears he's stopped seeing Martha, he wanted me to tell you he'd do anything to have you back."

"I'm divorcing him." She retorted a little too sharply.

Pilar nodded, silent for a moment, then she asked, "Does he know about the baby?"

Katie shrugged, "I haven't told him, but then it's not his, you do know that?"

Smiling she nodded again, "you told me that. What are you going to do when the baby comes? Are you taking time off?"

Sitting back, Katie linked her hands across her abdomen and sighed, "I'll do as much as I can. I'm really glad you're here to help though. Ramon is like a loved up buffoon, it'll be months before he actually settles in and pulls his weight, not that I mind! I'm really glad he's happy."

Pilar laughed as she swore, “I promise not to descend into a state of acute love!"

Christmas was rapidly approaching, Katie's baby was due to arrive in the New Year, so she was keen to have a good Christmas to celebrate a change in her life. Pilar was staying in Spain for the holiday, so was Ramon. So she decided to show them a true English Christmas. She managed to locate a turkey, organize all the trimmings including stuffing, cranberry sauce, even a Christmas pudding.

By the time the day came around there were seven of them set to spend the day with her, Ramon, Pilar and Antonio as well as two of his friends Miguel and Sebastian and her new friend Trudy. Everyone brought something with them to the meal. Trudy managed to get some genuine crackers, Miguel and Sebastian brought homemade gazpacho and fresh bread as an appetizer, Ramon and Pilar brought more wine than Katie thought her friends could drink. Though she couldn’t help them dent the supply, other than the odd glass.

After exchanging gifts, they all took a walk along the beach, waving to their neighbours and acquaintances as they strolled. It was a brisk morning, but the sun was shining. Katie was wrapped up in the hoodie of Dan's that she'd found in her bags after their time together. The smell of him was lessening, but at a time like Christmas she really felt the need to be as close to him as she could. She missed him every day, finding herself wondering what he'd do or say at so many situations. She knew it was wrong, hell she knew her baby was wrong on so many levels, but that afternoon as she watched her friends playing charades, she knew that it was right for her, as selfish as that sounded.

Once everyone had left, Katie felt tired, more tired than she had in ages. As she unloaded the dishwasher waiting for milk to warm for a bedtime drink, she felt a twinge in her back. She thought no more of it, but a few hours later she realized that it wasn't backache, it was actually labour pains, three weeks too early.

When she could hold on no more she called Ramon. He sleepily answered his phone on the fourth of fifth ring. "Katie, are you ok? Is the baby ok?"

She loved the sound of affection in his voice, he was a true friend, "we're both fine. You know I asked you to be there at the birth?"

He grunted a yes, and she could hear him assuring Antonio that things were fine.

A twinge of pain silenced her for a moment, then she added, "well I could do with that support now."

"Shit! The baby's coming?"

He was outside in a taxi within ten minutes, carrying her bag, helping her into the car, then into the hospital. 

It was a long night, nothing happened for an age, and just as Katie was about to send Ramon off to get some breakfast, things changed. Suddenly the baby, her little girl decided to make an appearance.

As she held her daughter she looked at Ramon smiling, "how can I ever thank you for being such a good friend?"

He smiled as he cooed at the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen, "just let me see this little girl everyday and I'll be happy!"

Ramon stayed until Pilar arrived with flowers, and gifts. He headed home to rest.

The doctors weren't concerned about the baby, apparently she was as fit and healthy as any other baby. Because she lived alone the doctors wanted her to stay in for a night, just to make sure she was coping. The next morning Ramon came to visit armed with gifts galore for his favourite little girl. He noticed she looked tearful, but wasn't sure he was ready to deal with her emotions.

He spotted a sign at the top of the baby's cot, "Grace?" he asked turning to her.

Katie nodded, "my mother's name."

Grinning he cooed at the baby, "It's beautiful! Just like her."

As she tried to smile, the tears started to flow at hysterical levels. Ramon dropped beside her and pulled her into his arms. "What is it querida?"

She tried in vain to swipe away her tears before she managed to muster, "I know you don't want to think about it, but she is SO like him Ramon, it's like looking at Dan every time I look at her." She stared up at him and the look of pain crossing her face almost broke his heart. "I miss him so much, and I didn't tell him when I saw him...."

"At the funeral?" Ramon prompted. Katie hadn't mentioned anything about her trip to see her dying father, but he'd noticed she was a lot quieter since. This opening up could only be a good thing.

She nodded, "he accused me of going back to Xavier, he thinks she's his, that after all that happened I COULD go back to him, as if I could think about anyone else. I should have told him, but I was hurt, and it was my father's funeral." She was babbling now, trying to remain in control of her unstable emotions and raging hormones. "I mean, he deserves to know, but I think that actually saying the words to him would make it all real, and this is like a living nightmare. I think I want to see him!"

Ramon squeezed her hand, "are you sure? I can call him, get him to come."

She shrugged, "I'm scared, I don't know anymore. I've never felt like this!!" She looked up at him again and tried to smile, "less than a year ago I was successful, happy, married......look at me now!"

He tilted her chin forcing her to meet his eyes, "you are strong, brave and very beautiful Katie. You're better off without Xavier, he was a leech on your life, I don't think that Dan has done enough to deserve your devotion. But if you want to see him, then I think you should. Think about it and let me know."

He stayed for a while before leaving promising to collect the two of them the next day.

Katie had barely thought about the arrival of Grace. It had been a concept in her head, but never really more of a reality than that. She was woefully ill prepared, but knew that she didn't need a great amount for her. It was still holiday time, the shops were all closed, so she had to survive on the minimal supplies she'd bought. But she was home, and her friends were amazing.

She got to know Grace over the next few days, learning to understand what she wanted when she cried. When she'd settle her into her crib, she'd look at the newly framed photo of her and her own mother that served as a guardian angel on the wall above the baby and talked to Grace Senior, wondering if Katie herself had been a content baby, if she'd cried as much...she knew so little about her childhood.

Katie woke on day six and realized that life had to go on. She had a beautiful daughter and despite everything she wanted her to have a full and happy life. So she dressed her in the new snow suit that Antonio had proudly bought her, settled her in her pram, and headed out into the brisk winter morning. She strolled down to the seafront, meandering along waving to familiar faces, all came to pry on the new baby, cooing appropriately.

"So little Grace," she talked to her as she head back toward her house. "Everyone is in agreement that you are the most beautiful little girl in the whole world! What do you say to that?"

Her daughter stretched and sighed before settling back to sleep. Katie chuckled, turning the pram left onto her street.

A black and white taxi had pulled up near the house. The apartment blocks were very quiet, so she wondered if she had a visitor, she couldn't think of anyone she was expecting. Then she froze as she saw the familiar head bob out of the car. The shaggy hair, tall, strong build. Her heart raced, she felt sick, worried, happy and sad all at once. As he turned his eyes met hers and she blinked.

Dan.

"Katie!" he rushed up to her then seemed to stop when he spotted the pram. "You've had the baby? Of course you have!" he answered his own question. "I thought you were back in Mexico, I've been trying to track you down for weeks!"

She shrugged, "I've not been anywhere."

"You look well...."

She turned to stare at him, "why are you here Dan?"

Whatever she'd expected or wanted as a response, the last thing she expected were the four words uttered. "Bill wasn't my Dad."

She staggered slightly as her legs weakened and her head became light, he rushed to her side and physically supported her. "Sorry Katie, I didn't mean to shock you."

"It's a good shock," she said suddenly awestruck. "So we're...it wasn't..." the relief was palpable as she staggered to hold herself upright. All the pain, the heartache, the fear, it all dissolved. No one could hurt her, and no one could hurt Grace.

He shook his head, "we didn't break any law, we didn't do anything wrong."

She nodded slowly, the sudden weight on her shoulders lifting at a rate of knots, she felt light headed, free, finally clean, "that is the best news I've ever heard."

He reached for her hands, "your father specified that I had a DNA test it was one of the bases of the will. The results came back," he dropped one hand to reach in his back pocket, pulling out a paper and handing it to her, "saying that I'm not related to him, or you! It's been so awful, I've not slept for months. So many times I've wanted to call. But now.....we can be together......" he glanced down at the pram and sighed dropping her hands. "Sorry, I forgot....." he hung his head.

"Dan, I have two things to say to you. Firstly I could never have slid back into a failed marriage with the purpose of forgetting you after all that had happened. I don't think I could consider being with anyone ever again. And secondly, why would you even think that after the way you've treated me I'd be standing here with open arms. You have been a complete bastard, I trusted you and you screwed me over." She turned to march up to the door of her house leaving Dan silenced in the street.

As she placed her key in the door she heard him shout. "If you're not back with him then who's the..." he paused for a moment. "Shit! It's mine?"

"It is a she," she turned to face him, "and her name is Grace."

He gulped, "after your mother...and she's mine?"

As Katie nodded she saw tears gather in his eyes, spilling down his cheeks.