Later that week after finishing dinner with Remington, Laura, Harry and her manager Miles, Kate got up to clear away their plates from the dining room. "Kate, let me help you," Laura said as she went to get up but Remington put a hand on her arm.
"No you sit, I’ll give her a hand," he said with a smile as Laura nodded returning the smile, then he grabbed the rest of the plates and followed Kate out to the kitchen, leaving Laura, Miles and Harry to chat together, not before he exchanged a meaningful look with Miles.
"Ah...Kate you got a moment?" Remington asked as he came into the kitchen and nodded towards the back door leading out to the garden. Kate nodded as he held the door open for her and followed her out. She assumed he wanted to discuss something about Harry.
She watched him as he hesitated for a moment, tugging on an ear lobe as he did so. "What’s up Harry?" Kate asked, using the name she’d had first known him by, recognising the tell-tale signs of him struggling to find the right words to say.
He looked at her for a moment as a slightly nervous smile crossed his face and he blew out a breath. "Some week huh?’ he stated with a grin trying to make conversation, putting off the inevitable.
"I’ll say," she agreed with a smile of her own, getting the feeling he was trying to work up the courage to say something. Was he having second thoughts about being a father to Harry? she suddenly worried.
"Harry seems to have taken the news quite well," he commented as she nodded in agreement. "He’s a wonderful boy Kate – you’ve done a great job raising him," he added sincerely.
"Thanks – yes he is a wonderful boy. And I don’t want to see him hurt," she replied seriously, giving him a meaningful look.
Remington looked at her a little surprised. "I have no intention of hurting him Kate," he reassured her. "Why would you even think that?"
Kate shook her head. "I guess I just wondered what this is all about Harry – what are you getting at?" she demanded. At that he looked down at the ground for a moment, knowing what he was going to tell her would probably hurt her but he knew he had to be honest with her.
"I actually don’t want to talk about Harry, Kate," he said.
"Well what do you want to talk about then?" she asked.
Remington sighed. "Kate as you know, Laura and I, well we’ve become very close these last few months…"
"Yes I think that’s great," Kate replied genuinely as he nodded with a smile then went on.
"I guess finding out about Harry has made me realise it’s time I started making things a bit more permanent in my life, you know, put down roots that sort of thing, and I think I owe it to Harry to have a stable home environment for him when he’s with me."
Kate nodded in agreement, wondering what he was trying to say, although she had a suspicion. "What are you trying to say Harry?" she asked, her voice quiet & her gaze intense.
Remington took a deep breath then said "I’m going to ask Laura to marry me Kate. I’m planning to surprise her with a side trip to Paris before we return to Los Angeles and propose to her there."
Kate took a moment to absorb the news, fighting to control her emotions. If she was honest with herself, she had expected this day to arrive sooner or later but she hadn’t expected it to be quite so soon. She forced a smile onto her face. "That’s great Harry, I’m happy for you. About time someone made an honest man out of you!" she quipped, putting on a brave front.
A half smile crossed Remington’s face. She wasn’t the only one who knew the other well. He could always tell when she was putting on a brave face. "I know you better than that O’Casey. And while I appreciate your well wishes, I also realise this can’t be easy for you to hear, but I wanted you to hear it from me. And also because it’ll have an impact on Harry I guess," he said gently, his blue eyes holding hers intently.
Kate looked down at the ground avoiding his intent gaze. She nodded, unable to find her voice for a moment. She then swallowed the lump in her throat. "Harry...I meant what I said to you in LA, I want you to be happy. And I know Laura will make you happy – I wouldn’t have walked away if I didn’t think so," she stated honestly. "And I know she’ll be good to Harry," she added as Remington nodded in agreement.
He paused for a moment then asked softly "Are you going to be okay Katie?"
At that she nodded and gave him a half smile. "Don’t worry – I will be," she reassured him.
He smiled gratefully at her and then hugged her. "Thankyou – for everything," he murmured into her hair as she nodded against his chest, fighting back her tears. "I guess we should get back inside eh?" he stated.
"You go on in – I’ll be in in a moment," Kate replied as Remington nodded understandingly then went inside, leaving her to her thoughts.
When he came back into the living room where Laura, Miles and Harry had moved to, Laura asked him, "All done?" in reference to the washing up.
"Yes – all done," he replied rather distractedly, realising he had just closed a door that needed to be closed in order for him to open another one – the door to the rest of his life.
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Later that night after Remington, Laura and Miles had left and Harry was asleep, Kate hopped in the shower and finally let her tears flow freely. When she got out she looked in the mirror, her gaze focused on the diamond earring in her ear, as a host of memories of the bond it signified came flooding back to her. With a deep breath she steeled her resolve and took the earring out.
"Enough tears now O’Casey - it’s time to let him go," she told herself firmly as she took one last look at the earring then put it away in a drawer.
The next morning as they ate breakfast, Harry happened to look at his mother and noticed she wasn’t wearing the diamond earring that she had worn for as long as he could remember. "Where’s your earring Mum – the diamond one? You didn’t lose it did you?" he asked curiously as Kate smiled at him a little wryly.
"No boyo, I just thought it was time for a change – I’ve been wearing that one for far too long," she replied as she affectionately ruffled his hair then changed the subject, preferring not to discuss it any further.
********************************************************
The next day while Remington and Kate were going through a joint custody arrangement for Harry with Kate’s lawyer, Laura found herself alone with Harry, "How are you doing Harry? Pretty big week for you huh?’ Laura asked with a smile as he nodded.
"I’ll say Miss Holt... I mean Laura," he replied a little shyly. "It’s been a pretty big week for your Dad too - well for all of us I guess," she confessed. "Actually I’m glad we’ve got this chance to chat Harry and get to know each other a little better. "
Harry smiled then said "So you’re Dad’s girlfriend and you work together too? That must be exciting being a private detective."
Laura nodded. "Yes it can be exciting sometimes," then she added sincerely, "And I want you to know that I love your Dad very much. He’s a wonderful man and I know he’s going to be a great father to you."
"It’s kinda cool to finally have a Dad," Harry admitted with a grin that was so like his father’s Laura noticed, as she replied "I’m sure it is," then added. "And I’m looking forward to having you as part of our life when you come to visit us in LA."
"I’m looking forward to that too," Harry stated with a smile.
Laura hesitated for a moment as she looked at the young boy, a lock of black hair falling over his forehead. "Harry I just want you to know that I’m not trying to replace your mom but I would like for us to be friends. How does that sound?" she said with a warm smile.
"That sounds good," Harry agreed with a smile of his own.
They chatted & laughed together for a while, getting to know each other, Laura amazed at how much Harry reminded her of his father. Apart from his physical resemblance to Remington, his personality and even his mannerisms were similar. "I’ve got a nephew, Danny, he’s around your age – just a little bit younger. Maybe you two can hang out when you come visit your Dad," Laura suggested.
"That sounds good," Harry replied.
"I know this is going to be all new for you Harry – having your father in your life and spending some of your time in another country but I know between all of us we can make this work. And if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know okay?’ Laura said with a warm smile.
"Thanks Laura – I appreciate that. It’s going to be kind of different for a while I guess – I mean it’s just been me & Mum for as long as I can remember," Harry confessed as she nodded.
"I’m sure with time it’ll become second nature", Laura reassured him. "And I know one thing Harry– your father loves you very much and he wants to do what’s right for you," she added as he nodded.
"I know he does," Harry agreed. "I guess he knows what it feels like to not know who your father is," he added perceptively, showing a wisdom beyond his years.
"Yes indeed he does," Laura agreed as she wondered if Remington would ever find his own father…
To Part 1-5