The Family Next Door Read online

  The Family Next Door

  By H.D’Agostino

  The Family Next Door-

  Book 5 in the Second Chances series

  H.D’Agostino

  Copyright © March 2014 by Heather D’Agostino

  All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect is appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  The following story contains mature themes, profanity, and sexual situations. It is intended for adult readers.

  Cover design by Michelle Warren of IndieBookCovers.

  ISBN: 978-0-9912075-1-0

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  As the rain pelted the sidewalk, Katie glanced out at the night sky. It had been a wet Fall thus far, and the weather seemed to fit her mood. As she let her mind drift back over the last three weeks, she couldn’t quite figure out where it all went wrong. They’d been so happy, or so she thought. How could Patrick lie to her like that? How could he look her right in the eyes, and tell her she had nothing to worry about? How could something that seemed so perfect, turn into the nightmare she was living?

  “Here,” Hannah came walking into the room and handed Katie a steaming mug of tea, bringing her out of her musings. “You’re going to have to talk to him at some point, ya know,” she stated gently.

  “Yeah…I’m just not ready yet. I don’t think I can do this,” tears welled in her eyes as she turned to face the window once again. “He said he loved me,” she began to sob.

  “Are you sure you saw what you think you did?” Hannah sat down on the chair beside the window bench Katie was curled up on. “I mean…are you sure?”

  “I know what I saw, and I can’t believe you’re not on my side about this,” Katie wiped at her eyes.

  “I am on your side. I’ve been through this…remember?” Hannah set her cup down and wrapped her arms around her sister’s shoulders. “You can stay here as long as you want.”

  “Thanks,” Katie nodded. “I know Matt is probably ready to get rid of me by now.”

  “Nonsense,” Hannah nudged her. “Matt keeps saying that we need to invite people over.”

  “I don’t think he was talking about having a long-term house guest when he told you that. You guys have enough to worry about with Charlie.”

  “You’re my sister,” Hannah sighed. “When you hurt, I hurt. Matt understands,” she took Katie’s mug from her hands, placed it on the coffee table, and wrapped her in a hug.

  “I just…,” Katie sobbed. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”

  “I know,” Hannah soothed. “Believe me…I know.”

  After what seemed like hours, Hannah pulled away, “I’ve gotta go tuck Charlie in and look over his homework. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Katie nodded as she moved to stand from the window seat. “I’ve got some charts I need to go over anyway.”

  ooooooooo

  “Did you brush your teeth?” Hannah called as she walked down the hallway.

  “Yes, Mom,” Charlie groaned.

  Hannah smiled as she watched him roll his eyes. He had just recently started calling her mom, and she couldn’t help the feeling that settled in her heart over it. At nine years old, Charlie was turning into quite the young man. He was the spitting image of his father, and she knew that he was going to grow into quite the heartbreaker.

  “I checked over your math. I didn’t see anything wrong, but your handwriting left a little to be desired,” Hannah sighed as she sat down on the side of his bed.

  “I can read it…the teacher can read it…what does it matter?” Charlie huffed.

  Hannah shook her head, “Don’t you want to do your best?”

  “Mom…if I get an A, that’s all that matters,” Charlie shifted in the bed.

  “Fine,” Hannah decided to drop the subject. She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, “Goodnight.”

  “Night Mom,” Charlie yarned as he started to roll over. When Hannah reached his door, he called out, “Hey Mom!”

  “Yes?” Hannah paused and turned to face him.

  “Is Aunt Katie ok?” his big brown eyes pleaded with Hannah to tell him the truth. For nine, he was very mature. Wise beyond his years, due to his tumultuous childhood.

  “She will be,” Hannah nodded.

  “I like that she’s staying here,” Charlie offered a soft smile. “It gives me somebody to hang out with when I get home from school.”

  “I’m glad,” Hannah stepped out the door, “Go to sleep. You have school in the morning,” she pulled the door to a crack behind herself.

  “Night Mom…love you,” Charlie called as he rolled over in bed.

  ooooooooo

  “So,” Hannah called as she came back into the living room. “What’s your next move?”

  “I don’t know,” Katie sighed. “I guess I need to figure where I’m going to live.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a little pre-mature?” Hannah moved to sit down beside her. “I mean…you need to talk to him.”

  “I know what I saw, Hannah. I know you don’t think that I get it, but I do. I saw all of this coming like a train wreck,” Katie huffed as she set the folder down that she was looking at. “It all started with that job. I wish he’d never taken it. The moment we stopped working together, was the moment it began to fall apart.”

  “I don’t think it was the job,” Hannah cringed when she saw the hurt on Katie’s face morph to anger. “I think you guys don’t trust each other as much as you think you do. I think you jumped to conclusions without getting all the facts.”

  “I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just say that,” Katie scowled. “I know what I saw. I know that she’s had her eyes on him since he moved to that practice. I know that she’s been biding her time waiting to get me out of the picture. I know what she’s like, AND I know what Patrick used to be like.”

  “Easy,” Hannah sighed. “Patrick changed when he met you. I’ve never seen a man so devoted to his wife. I know you’re angry, but you need to step back and think about this. Don’t throw a year and half of marriage away on this. Don’t let this define you guys,” Hannah begged. “Please…just talk to him.”

  “I really need to get this finished,” Katie pointed to the stack of charts on the table. “I have to work the early shift tomorrow,” she glared at Hannah. “Not all of us have normal hours, you know?”

  “I’m gonna walk away,” Hannah shook her head. “I’m gonna pretend that it’s the hormones talking and not you. I know that you don’t mean half of what is coming out of your mouth.”

  As Hannah disappeared around the corner, Ka
tie mumbled, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.” She reached down and caressed her swollen belly, “Momma didn’t mean it.”

  ooooooooo

  As he reached for the tumbler, a knock sounded at the door, “Come in,” he slurred.

  “Dude, you need to stop,” Matt shook his head.

  “I can’t…she won’t talk to me,” Patrick poured another bourbon and tossed it back.

  “This isn’t the answer,” Matt reached for the glass, and placed it and the bottle out of Patrick’s reach. “I’ve been there…we’re both married to stubborn women, remember?”

  “I don’t know how to get through to her though. She thinks I’m some kind of slime ball,” Patrick glanced around looking for the bottle of Jack Daniel’s that Matt had taken away.

  “You know you’re my best friend, and now my brother, so I’m just gonna ask…did you do it?” Matt cocked his head to the side.

  “No! Damn it!” Patrick roared.

  “Easy,” Matt put his hands up in front of himself.

  “I didn’t do anything wrong, but she won’t believe me,” Patrick huffed. “I don’t know how to get through to her.”

  Just then, Patrick’s cell phone buzzed on the table. When he picked it up and saw the name that flashed across the screen, he roared in rage and threw it as hard as he could across the room. When it hit the wall, it shattered into several pieces.

  “Ahhhhh!” he growled. “It’s all her fault. She’s a conniving bitch!” his shoulders moved up and down as he fought to control his erratic breathing. “I wish I’d never left the hospital. This would have never happened, if I hadn’t left.”

  “This isn’t your fault,” Matt grimaced as he watched Patrick seethe. “It’s hers,” he pointed to the phone. “She’s the reason this is happening. You need to fire her ass.”

  “I can’t,” Patrick slumped down onto the couch, defeated. “Her dad is my boss. The only way I can get away from her is to leave. It’s career suicide.”

  “What’s more important…your job, or your wife?” Matt moved to stand. “I’ve got to get home. Charlie will be going to bed, and I need to tell him goodnight.”

  Patrick nodded, “Yeah ok. Tell Katie I love her. I know she doesn’t believe that, but tell her…please?”

  “I will,” Matt began to walk toward the door.

  “Thanks, man,” Patrick sighed as the door closed behind Matt. He tossed his arm over his eyes and let the tears come once again.

  How was he going to fix this? How could he live the rest of his life without her – she was his heart! How was he going to be a part of his child’s life if his wife wouldn’t even stay in the same room as him? How had his life gone from being so perfect to so horrible in such a short amount of time?

  Chapter 1

  1 Year Earlier…

  As morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, Katie yawned and stretched. It had been a long night, and she really wasn’t wanting to wake up and drive back to Boston. She and Patrick had spent most of the night awake enjoying the last little bit of their time off before going back to the real world.

  Hannah had gotten married the night before, and so had Grace although they didn’t know about that until after the fact.

  She smiled as the previous evening began to flood back. In the middle of the reception, Patrick had convinced her to sneak away back to their room. At first she had resisted, wanting to spend time with her sister before she left on her honeymoon, but as Patrick had whispered into her ear all the naughty things he wanted to do to her, her resolve had weakened.

  Before she could continue to daydream, the warm body behind her stirred.

  “Morning,” he groaned as he pressed his hips into her backside and began to skim his lips along her bare shoulder.

  Katie giggled, “Good Morning.”

  “What’s so funny?” Patrick mumbled.

  “Nothing,” she murmured as she turned over, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I was just thinking about the fact that you told Justin we’d leave. You didn’t seem to want to leave last night...”

  “They didn’t get a fancy wedding night like us. I was trying to be nice,” he shrugged. “Besides…we can always stay home from work tomorrow…” he trailed off as he wiggled his eyebrows.

  “You are a bad influence on me,” she smacked at his chest as he rolled them and pinned her to the mattress.

  “You like it though,” he grinned as he leaned down and placed a deep kiss to her lips.

  “Mmmmm,” she moaned as she felt him press his hips into hers. “Don’t start something that you can’t finish,” she warned as she grinned coquettishly up at him.

  “Oh, I plan to finish,” he smirked as he leaned down and nipped at her neck while rolling his hips to slide into her.

  “Patrick…” she panted as she tightened her arms around his shoulders, and lifted a leg to wrap around his waist.

  As he began to thrust, he leaned in and trailed kisses up her neck, finally stopping at her mouth. A growl rolled out of him as he moved down to nip at her lower lip. When he felt her tightening around him, his climax roared to the surface, and he collapsed on top of her.

  “What a way to wake up,” he panted as he lifted his head from where it rested beside her.

  “I’ll say,” Katie giggled. “And to think…we’re leaving today,” she pouted.

  “Oh, stop with the lip,” he smirked as he reached up and tugged at it with his thumb and forefinger. “It’s not going to work,” he chuckled and rolled off of her.

  “Can’t blame me for trying,” she shrugged as she began to sit up. She swung her feet over the side of the bed, and began to stand.

  “Hey…where are you going?” he asked, his forehead wrinkling in confusion.

  “To take a shower, and get ready. We still have to pack our stuff, and this room is a mess,” she waved her arm around indicating the clothes that were strewn all over the floor.

  Patrick stuck his lip out, mimicking the same pout that Katie had given him mere seconds ago, “I thought you’d want to stay in bed for a little while.”

  She grinned, “I need to get cleaned up…you can join me if you want to,” she winked.

  “Don’t have to ask me twice,” Patrick sprung from the bed with renewed energy. “Can’t say you’re going to get very clean though,” he grinned as he came up beside her and smacked her playfully on the rear.

  “Patrick McKinley,” she gasped.

  “What?” he cocked his head to the side.

  She shook hers, and huffed, “Behave yourself.”

  “Oh come on…you know you like it. I mean last night you couldn’t get enough,” he grinned at her as he turned and began backing himself into the bathroom. “Oh Patrick harder! More Patrick! Yes! Like that Patrick!” he mocked as he watched a blush spread across her cheeks.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she grumbled as she pushed past him and headed in the direction of the shower. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take a shower.”

  He watched her move to turn the water on, all the while ignoring him. He silently wondered if he’d pushed her too far. She reached in testing the temperature, and then stepped in closing the shower door behind her, and completely shutting him out.

  Patrick reached up to grab the back of his neck as he huffed out a breath, and watched her through the clouded glass.

  “Honey,” he mumbled as he opened the door and tentatively stepped in behind her. “I’m sorry…I’m an ass.” When she didn’t turn around he continued, “I didn’t mean it. You know I love you…right?”

  Her shoulders rose and fell as she fought to control herself before glancing back at him. “That was just mean,” she scowled.

  “You’re right,” he nodded. “I took it too far,” he cringed when she nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “Patrick you have to understand,” she dropped her chin to her chest. “It’s hard for me to tell you what I like when we…” she trailed off. “I’m still le
arning…I don’t have the same experiences as you.”

  “Hey,” he lifted her chin to look up at him. “I’m glad that you don’t. I’m glad that you’re getting to experience that side of things with me. I’m glad that I’m the one to teach you,” he leaned in and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I am sorry…please don’t stop telling me what you like. I love that side of you. I would hate it if you stopped expressing yourself. It makes things boring.”

  She nodded as she leaned in and placed a kiss to his cheek. As her soapy hand began to trail down his chest, she moved her lips to his. “We haven’t christened this bathroom,” she mumbled as her hand found his stiff erection and began to glide over it.

  “Can’t have that can we?” he grinned against her mouth as he reached down and lifted her knee to wrap around his hip. “Hold on to my shoulders,” he groaned as he lifted her, and spun them, so her back was against the wall. He crashed his mouth against hers just as she ran her hands up his neck to tangle in his wet hair. “I love you so much,” he panted as he lifted her onto himself. “More than I think you will ever know.”

  “I love you, too,” she gasped as he shifted her weight so he could free one of his hands.

  He reached with his free hand to knead one of her breasts as he leaned in to nip at her neck. His movements began to become frantic, and Katie knew the end was coming. She ground her hips into his, creating a delicious friction right where she needed it to send her over the edge. “Patrick…” she gasped as she leaned forward and bit down on his shoulder.

  “Ahhhh,” he growled as he was once again taken over by pleasure.

  Moments later, they stood there still wrapped in each other’s arms. His legs had grown wobbly, and she was trembling. “Muscle fatigue…we need to eat,” he mused.

  “Yes, Dr. McKinley,” Katie grinned up at him. “We need breakfast. Think we can get clean first?”

  Patrick released her legs and stepped back while blowing out a breath. “I would happily pass out from lack of food if you were the cause.”