Oblivion 2 Chapter Seventeen "There exist companions disposed to break one another to pieces..." (Proverbs 18 v 24) “Care to talk about it, Jamie?” Catherine ventured softly, holding the sobbing girl against her firmly. Jamie shook her head. “Where’s Mouse?” Gerry asked. And was rewarded with Jamie crying harder still. Gerry and Catherine exchanged glances; there were no prizes for guessing the reason behind Jamie’s tears. “Did he hurt you?” Gerry asked her gently, suddenly afraid that he may have. Jamie shook her head, “No, Yes.” She mumbled, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. Gerry tried to keep a straight face, “What kind of answer is that, either he did or he didn’t.” “He hurt me with words.” Jamie told them both, “I never expected he could be like that.” “That doesn’t sound like Mouse. Did you anger him?” Jamie shrugged her shoulders. “Everything happened so fast, I don’t know.” “Everything?” Catherine queried, “What do you mean by everything?” “Not what you’re thinking.” Jamie told her, with a slight smile, “Do you think I’d be crying if it were that?” Catherine bit her lip this was serious. “Jamie, come and sit down with us, will you let us talk with you?” “Is this another pep talk. Cullen has given me one already?” “It depends whether you are in the listening and reasoning mood or not. We, all of us, want to help you, not gang up on you Jamie, and clearly you do need our help, whether its to attach yourself to Mouse or not.” “Then you don’t think I am stupid to want him?” “I didn’t say that, neither do I think you are stupid Jamie, just a little lost that’s all. A frank talk might help. Come, sit down, tell us how you feel, can you do that?” Jamie looked at Gerry and Catherine’s concerned faces, and nodded, but then glancing back at the dense undergrowth replied, “But not here.” They led her over to the water’s edge, away from Cullen, away from anywhere where someone may overhear, and sat her down on the sand. “In your own time, Jamie, there’s no hurry.” Gerry coaxed her. “I love him. It’s as simple as that.” Jamie told them, “But Mouse, well Mouse doesn’t understand that sort of love, at least I keep being led to believe so, but back then when he kissed me...” “He kissed you?” Catherine exclaimed, Mouse actually took the initiative? She could hardly believe it! “I kissed him first.” “Arh,” now Catherine understood. Hadn’t the same happened between she and Vincent? “But it wasn’t intentional.” Jamie answered in her own defence, “Well not to start with.” Gerry’s lips twitched, and Jamie laughed. “Mouse found something. Something excellent,” then she stopped, torn between her threat to tell and Mouse’s insistence to keep the secret, “I was so pleased with his find, I just hugged him, and kissed him, and then he kissed me, and wouldn’t let me go.” “Did he frighten you?” “Frighten me? No” She shook her head, “It was wonderful, surprising yes, but wonderful.” “So why the headlong flight and tears?” Gerry asked confused. “It was after the kiss, he let me go, and yelled at me to leave him. He sounded almost like Vincent when he gets annoyed, and yes I guess it did frighten me, a little, though I suppose it was the surprise and shock of it all, that sent me running. Should I go back do you think?” She looked back at the shrubbery with longing. Among all that greenery Mouse was in there somewhere, and her heart was still with him. She had left it behind. “I don’t think its Jamie that needs advice here Catherine,” Gerry told Catherine over Jamie’s head, “Its Mouse. Perhaps we are wrong. Perhaps something could develop between these two, but Mouse obviously doesn’t know how to handle it.” Then patting Jamie’s hand she told her, “How would you feel if Vincent and Devin had a go at talking to Mouse, in your favour?” “Do you think they would?” Jamie’s face lit up. Gerry and Catherine nodded, “You know they will, they’ll do anything to help another.” “Yes but this is different, and there is Father to consider.” “You leave Father to us, even if we can’t alter his feelings, Mary is always a force to be reckoned with.” Gerry told her simply. “And besides I have a little tactic I can call upon if he doesn’t want to listen to Mary, don’t you worry.” Jamie laughed. “Okay then. Thank you.” “You’re welcome” They told her together and laughed. When Mouse heard Vincent and Devin calling him, he at first hid himself from them. But then the discovery of the treasure came to mind, and he stepped out almost at the side of them, making them jump, as he exclaimed excitedly, “Come See Vincent, something good, better than good, better than better.” Vincent exchanged looks with Devin, the unasked question firmly in their minds, ‘did Mouse really kiss Jamie of his own accord?’ Somehow they could not picture this. The boy was tugging at their hands, just like an excited child. “It makes you feel old, doesn’t it?” Devin whispered to Vincent, “I mean being experienced enough to give others advice on relationships of the sexual kind.” Vincent nodded. When Catherine and Gerry had returned with Jamie to the boat and suggested this, he was in two minds about it until Devin convinced him it might be fun. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and it was rare that Catherine misjudged a situation. Besides it made him feel good to actually have enough experienced in sexual matters to help someone else like this, something that once he would never have believed possible for him. Mouse was on his knees, not noticing the pain in them at all, as with eyes bright with excitement; he hurtled sand out behind him, scooping it from beneath the tree with his hands. “See, treasure!” he told them brightly. Vincent was his best friend, and he trusted him with his life, Vincent wouldn’t tell anyone of his find. Devin whistled, “Gold sovereigns.” He picked one up, “Seventeenth Century I’d say, this lot is worth a fortune.” “Looks like your story of the Cocos Island has come back with a vengeance.” Vincent told him, his eyes widening at the discovery. Then turning towards Mouse told the boy gently, “But Mouse, we can’t keep this money, the island doesn’t belong to us, so the treasure can’t either.” “Vincent is right Mouse, the treasure belongs to my friend Greg Masters. The island is his.” “Its like the time we found treasure Below, do you remember the trouble that caused Mouse, do you remember how friendships that had lasted a lifetime were almost severed when greed reared its ugly head? Even Cullen was unaffected, and he is usually so level headed.” Vincent reminded him. Mouse nodded, “I know, that’s why it’s a secret.” “No Mouse, we must collect it all up, and as soon as we get home, I shall have to contact Greg and tell him of its discovery.” Mouse stood guard over the treasure, “No. Mouse found it.” He told him determinedly. “Perhaps it would be better if you contacted Greg from the boat, made a person to person call via the coast-guard, and called him at home, he might want to come out here and see for himself.” Vincent told Devin reluctantly. The last thing he wanted was a stranger coming out to the island while they were there. Devin disagreed, much to his relief, “No, we’ll do the best of both things. Leave the treasure where it is, make a note of where it is, and tell Greg when we get back home. Its been here for hundreds of years, another five days will hardly matter, and no-one else comes this way.” Mouse smiled, he was happy with the idea, and the wealth of treasure really meant little to him, he just liked the way it sparkled. Then he remembered Jamie. “Showed Jamie, she wants to buy a house with it.” “Oh yes, Jamie.” Devin spoke slowly, “I had almost forgotten about that. Mouse, come with us will you, there is something we need to ask you.” Mouse hesitated, he didn’t think he liked Devin’s tone, and looked up at Vincent for reassurance. “Its all right Mouse, you aren’t in trouble, we would just like to speak to you about Jamie that’s all.” Mouse smiled happily, then frowned, “Mouse made Jamie cry.” “Yes we know, come let’s talk about that shall we?” Sitting down alongside the treasure, Devin and Vincent were unsure about how to start when Mouse told them, “Mouse love Jamie.” and felt their mouths dropping open in surprise. “Is that true Mouse, or has Jamie made you say that?” Mouse shook his head, “No.” “No to what?” Mouse sat staring straight ahead, and Devin drew a deep breath. “We are going to have to take the initiative here Vincent,” he told his brother, and then back at Mouse directed the words, “Mouse, when you say you love Jamie, how does it make you feel?” “Good, better than good.” Vincent and Devin laughed out loud, by the unexpected cheeky look that crossed Mouse’s face. “He’s no fool Vincent.” Devin said, so Mouse could hear, and Mouse grinned. “You do realise what is going on then, with Jamie I mean, you do know what she has planned for you?” Vincent asked the boy. Mouse grinned, “Jamie wants babies.” “Whoa ho!” Devin exclaimed doubled with laughter, “We are facing a losing battle here Vincent,” as Vincent laughed out loud too. “And how do you propose to give babies to Jamie?” Vincent couldn’t help asking, and laughed harder at the expression that passed Mouse’s face, “Well really Vincent.” Devin chided him, “You of all people should know the answer to that,” and saw Mouse double over with laughter. Vincent grinned. “Okay.” Devin calmed down, “We have established I think that you Mouse, aren’t the innocent boy you have us believe, so where do we go from here?” Mouse looked perplexed, and Vincent asked him gently, “Where would you like the relationship to go Mouse?” “Mouse marry Jamie.” Vincent blinked hard, he hadn’t expected that. “And live in the tunnels?” Devin asked. “Yes, with Arthur.” “Its a good job Jamie gets on with that racoon as well as you do then, is all I can say.” Serious again, Devin went on; “Do you want our help Mouse?” Mouse shook his head. “Yesterday Jamie scared Mouse, make Mouse feel funny. Nice feelings though, good feelings, better than good, better than better. Mouse love Jamie now.” Devin and Vincent laughed. “I don’t think we have to worry about you Mouse, you seem capable of handling the situation well enough yourself, and things will come naturally when love is involved, as well as Jamie showing you the way. Look why don’t we cover up this treasure and head back to the beach?” Devin asked. “Is Jamie on the beach?” “No she went back to the boat, would you like her to come to the beach, we’ll fetch her for you if you like?” Mouse nodded, “Okay good, okay fine.” And then they watched with amazement as a smile they didn’t think they had ever seen on Mouse before lit up his entire face. Watching from the boat, as Jamie swam through the sea toward Mouse waiting on the sand, everyone waited in anticipation. Only Father seemed mildly annoyed, but was being calmed by the minute by Mary’s reasoning. “Jacob, don’t worry so, Vincent and Devin have assessed the situation, and if it is as they say that Mouse and Jamie know what they are doing who are we to argue?” “Let me have those binoculars Devin.” Father told his son, “I have to see for myself if what you say is so, your eyes are younger than mine.” Devin handed the binoculars to his father, keeping his own gaze fixed on Jamie as she made it to the beach, and hung back a little unsure of Mouse’s reaction. But Mouse would have none of it, he ran to her, swept her up into his arms, and her shout of delight could be heard ringing out around them. Father placed the binoculars to his eyes, just in time to see Mouse place a resounding kiss on Jamie’s lips, and heard the sound of applause and shouts of joy erupt around him. He found his own lips could not stifle a grin, and putting down the binoculars he told everyone, “Well fancy that. Mouse and Jamie. Who would have believed it? Tell me please, did my eyes just deceive me?” Gerry and Mary took his arm on either side, “No,” they told him happily, watching Mouse and Jamie disappear into the undergrowth, “And by the looks of that,” Mary told him, “Mouse has taken her off to his nest, and you know what that means don’t you Jacob?” Father looked sheepish, “What me?” Gerry nudged him, “You do know don’t you Father?” She whispered suggestively, reminding him of what she had overheard taking place that day in the shrubbery with himself and Mary. To which he coloured up profusely, and coughing told her, “Why Gerry, whatever do you mean?” Adding under his breath only loud enough for Gerry to hear, “You little minx,” and finding himself delighted by Gerry’s burst of gleeful laughter. Later that day as they walked along the beach hand in hand with Jacob, Vincent and Catherine glorified in having their young son enjoy the time spent with them on the island, and realised that now they had responsibilities as parents, never again could they go anywhere without their children. And now that she had been sterilised, Catherine had no worries about having more children, and looked forward to enjoying the ones she had. And yet, if she had been able to do, she would gladly have spent her whole life having Vincent’s babies. He was such a wonderful person, and she wanted nothing more than to fill the whole world with his offspring. “I still can’t believe that Mouse and Jamie are in love.” Vincent told Catherine as he spied the pair up ahead of them splashing about along the water’s edge like children. “When he told Devin and I that he wanted to marry Jamie, you could have knocked us down with a feather.” Catherine laughed out loud, “I know when Jamie told us that Mouse had kissed her, Gerry and I reacted much the same way. But you know Vincent; it makes the heart rejoice doesn’t it? It couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple, present company aside of course.” “Of course.” Catherine felt her heart somersault at the smile that lit up her husband’s eyes, and unable to help herself she told him, “Oh Vincent I love you.” Approaching their favourite spot beneath the palm trees, they sat down, with Jacob sitting on Vincent’s knee, to survey the island, “I love being here, Catherine.” Vincent told her breathlessly, “I love this island, the ocean and I love you. But for you Catherine, I may never have had the rest.” “I know what you mean. Loath as I am to think it, the day I was attacked proved to be a blessing in disguise for me, and ultimately for you. Without that abhorrent incident in my life, none of this would be. Well not in the same way. For a certainty it would not be me sat here beside you now. Someone else perhaps, for Devin’s plans would have still gone ahead.” “But would he have had the money to finance them? Without your father’s money Catherine, we would not be sat here now, and I doubt very much that I would have found someone else to love. I know there was Lisa, and then Lena loved me, but neither of them possessed our connection. No Catherine, whichever way you look at it, you and I were destined to be together, even if it did take me a long time to accept that.” “I’m glad you have been drawn to that conclusion, sometimes Vincent, I think it is only a question of time, before the next crisis has you insisting I should have married Elliot Burch and I used to hate it when you do that.” “I’m sorry Catherine, for a long time I couldn’t believe that you could love me the way you do, even though through our Bond, your heart told me no lies. I really believed you would be better off with someone else. What did I have to offer you? Even now, I still find it hard to comprehend, that someone as beautiful as you are could want me. That’s what makes everyday as the first, a new revelation each day from dawn to dusk, of actually believing you love only me.” “You had better believe it Vincent. You are the beautiful one, to think out of all the people in the world you chose me, it is I who feels privileged to be here with you now, to have given you children, and you don’t know what a pleasure that is to me.” “Thankfully I do. Your emotions ripple through our Bond, it is a unique gift Catherine, what I would do without it I do not know.” He groaned then remembering, “Oh yes I do.” She laughed, “Yes, been there, done that. Let’s not remind ourselves of those horrors shall we Vincent? Instead let’s enjoy what we have in this beautiful place.” “And enjoy what others have being here too. Look at Devin and Gerry, Jamie and Mouse, Father and Mary even Cullen and Charles. Do you know, even with his hands bandaged, Cullen is showing Charles how to carve wood, and make something beautiful, it’s the effects of being here. Someone somewhere cast a magic wand over the place, and everyone that steps onto it finds exquisite happiness.” “I agree.” Catherine lay back on the sand closing her eyes, “It’s simply bliss being here.” Vincent dug in the sand with his large hands while Catherine dozed, showing Jacob how to make a channel from the sea’s edge to the land for the water to collect into, and then took his hand to find some shells, to place around it. Catherine listened as she heard the child’s cheerful chatter going away from her with his father’s melodious voice at his side, and smiled, she had so much to be thankful for and nodded. Yes she had found her happy life without a doubt. Still in awe of one another Jamie and Mouse, trampled down the dense undergrowth that led into the centre of the island, without really thinking about where it might lead. To them everything about the island was paradise. Hand in hand, and shyly looking at one another they found the perfect spot to sit and touch one another in slow exploration. Jamie thrilled when Mouse’s hands travelled down the back of her neck, touching her shoulders, and lingering just a little longer than necessary upon her back, “You have soft skin.” he told her, blushing a little, “It feels nice.” “It feels nice to me too Mouse, when you touch me like that.” “It does?” He seemed surprised. “Yes let me show you how it feels.” Reaching out Jamie caressed his back, watching as Mouse closed his eyes and shuddered. “Funny feeling again.” he told her, as her hand stole round to his chest as it had the day before. “Nice feeling though.” Jamie laughed, and her eyes opened wide as she saw how she was affecting him, down below. Suddenly a little wary of the situation, she stopped. Really she was way out of her depth here, and the thought suddenly filled her mind that they were just children playing at adult games. Was she really ready for this? Mouse was no usual man, and he did not know about self-control. Everything in Mouse’s life was spontaneous. He seldom stopped to think about the rights or wrongs of any given thing, and she could hear his voice echo in her head now, ‘not stealing, taking, just taking.’ Was this how it was for him now? Would he take her, just like that. Oh yes he’d be moved by the experience, who wouldn’t be, but that didn’t make it right, and it didn’t mean that the infatuation they felt for one another was made to last. Catherine and Vincent had waited three years before embarking upon that side of their relationship, and they were happy, Father and Mary had waited over twenty years and they too were happy. It was this friendship thing all over again, friends did make the perfect lovers then, but did it apply to all friends? Mouse’s fingers trailing up and down her thighs did nothing to lessen her desire, and Jamie felt herself grow ready for him, but what of the consequences, was she really ready to have children of her own? Panic consumed her, and she shuffled away just slightly, “Perhaps we should go back to the others now on the beach Mouse.” She told him a little nervously. “Why? Mouse likes being with Jamie.” Suddenly, Jamie wondered what on earth she was doing. The man couldn’t even speak properly; he didn’t even have a proper name. “What is your real name Mouse?” Mouse stared at her, not understanding, “Its Mouse.” he told her. He had been called it for so long he had forgotten the name his mother had given him. Jamie laughed out loud, if they were married she would become Mrs. Mouse, and Mouse thought she was laughing at him. He snatched his hand away as if he had been burned. “Mouse is a good name.” He told her unhappily. Sorrowful, Jamie hugged him, “Oh Mouse yes of course it is, forgive me, I was laughing about something else.” Nonetheless, the reason for her laughter stayed on her mind, and she became uncomfortable in his presence.” ”Mouse” she told him softly, “This isn’t right, you and me, it doesn’t feel right. We should have stayed just friends. I’m sorry.” The look in his eyes saddened her, and she tried to ignore them, asking brightly, too brightly, “Are you coming back to the beach?” She stood up, looking down at him, trying to ignore the hurt in his eyes. “No. Mouse stay here, want to explore.” “Okay, see you later.” And she left him sitting there, her long strides gaining pace as she walked towards the beach, relieved she had come to her senses before it was too late. Coming out onto the beach Jamie saw Catherine lying in the shade of the palm trees, and flopped herself down wearily beside her with a huge sigh. Catherine’s eyes flew open, “Jamie! What ever’s wrong?” “Should there be anything wrong?” “Well no, it was just the way you slumped yourself down.” “How do you learn that Catherine. I mean how do you know by a look, or a word or an action that something means something.” “Whoa you are losing me Jamie.” Catherine struggled to sit up, trailing her fingers through her hair to shake the sand out of it, “Is this leading somewhere?” Tears gathered in Jamie’s eyes. “I’ve made such an idiot of myself.” “Oh dear, with Mouse I take it?” “Yes. I was wrong, everyone was wrong, only Father was right.” “The Wisdom of Solomon and all that?” Catherine smiled, as out of her eye corner she noticed that Vincent was returning with Jacob and went on, “Do you want to continue this later, or would you like to share your troubles with both Vincent and I?” “Yes, Vincent is okay, he’s as wise as Father without the mean streak.” She laughed, “Well not exactly mean, but you understand don’t you? You were on the wrong side of Father for long enough weren’t you?” Catherine smiled remembering, “Yes.” As Vincent reached her side, Catherine held up her hand and smiled into his eyes, “Come sit down darling,” She told him, “Jamie and I were just talking, but she isn’t against sharing her thoughts with you.” Before Vincent sat down, he emptied his pockets of shells, liking the sound as they tinkled together hitting the sand, and delighted in Jacob’s squeal of joy as he watched them fall. “My what a lot of shells Jacob.” Jamie picked some up, and held them out to him, “Shall we build a sand-castle. Is this your canal?” “Where’s Mouse?” Vincent asked looking all around him, “Isn’t he with you?” Jamie shook her head, “No.” “Sounds ominous, that no.” Vincent remarked glancing in Catherine’s direction who nodded. “There you are!” exclaimed Jamie, “See what I mean, with just a look, you two have spoken to one another. That’s what I mean about it meaning something.” “Would you care to elaborate Jamie.” Vincent told her his eyes dancing with mischief. Jamie sighed, “Mouse isn’t the one for me.” She whispered sorrowfully, “I was wrong to believe he was, and now I’ve messed everything up.” “Whatever changed your mind?” Vincent wanted to know. This was the shortest love affair on record. “Just Mouse. Just me, I realised I was confusing a good friendship with romantic notions, it would never have worked between me and Mouse, he’s such, such, a...” “Child?” Vincent ventured. “Yes, he’s just a child, and I tried to force him into growing up fast, and now the fact that I have begun a journey he might never have gone on, I am worried about what I have started.” “How far did you take him on this journey?” Vincent tried not to laugh, but relaxed when Jamie did. “Far enough, but fortunately I stopped when...well let’s just say that when I saw how I was affecting his body, I was scared to bits, and couldn’t continue along that roadway.” “Poor Mouse!” Vincent laughed, and Catherine slapped him playfully, “Trust you to think of Mouse.” “Well, to get to that stage and have it snatched away is so frustrating.” “And you would know of course? When ever did I deny you?” Vincent looked deeply into her eyes, “Once.” He told her and Catherine blushed, as she recalled the occasion in her apartment after she had left him the first time. “I had my reasons.” She told him sadly, “And it all turned out right in the end.” “Yes, but believe me it hurt, and I think that is how Mouse will be feeling now.” “No I don’t think so.” Jamie told him, “Mouse isn’t like that. Why he has probably forgotten me already! As soon as he finds something to make another gizmo with, you’ll see, I’ll be yesterday’s dinner.” “Is that what stopped you?” Catherine asked knowingly. “Basically yes. I realised Mouse takes things all the time and I would just be something else for him to take. For a while he’d enjoy it, perhaps believe in it, but without my having dredged it up in the first place, Mouse could have lived till he was one hundred without it, and not known it existed. I’ve ruined him Vincent, how on earth can I undo what I started?” Jacob continued to play at their feet, and Catherine watched him idly, Jamie did have a big problem, but she didn’t doubt it would get resolved, and at least Jamie had grown up a lot in the space of two days. “Should I go and talk to him again?” Vincent asked her, gently. “Would you, just to see how he is feeling if nothing else.” Jamie sighed with relief. Vincent smiled, getting to his feet, and bending to brush a kiss onto Catherine’s brow, “I’ll try not to be gone too long my love.” He told her sincerely. As Vincent walked towards the undergrowth he wondered what on earth he was to say to Mouse this time, when suddenly the bushes in front of him parted, and Mouse came scuttling through with something in his arms, “Vincent! Look!” Vincent’s eyes opened wide, “Mouse! Wherever did you get that?” He cried as he found himself looking down at a very small and highly frightened monkey. “Found it. Friend for Arthur.” “Mouse you can’t take it home with you.” “Why not?” “It lives here on the island. Its mother will be looking for it.” Mouse looked down at the tiny monkey quivering with fear in his grasp. “See how it trembles Mouse, you have frightened it.” “No, leg broken see.” Vincent took the tiny monkey from Mouse, turning it over in his large hands, noticing how it nestled into his fur for comfort, and saw that its leg was indeed broken. “Father fix it.” Mouse told him. “Yes” replied Vincent, “He will, and it looks as though we have another passenger to take back with us.” “So Mouse keep it?” “I don’t think we have a choice Mouse, it needs looking after, will you do that?” Mouse nodded, his eyes bright, and as Vincent walked back with him towards the shelter, he decided that Jamie had been correct, Mouse did go from one thing to another it seemed without too much conscious thought, and the monkey would indeed take his mind off of things. Mouse couldn’t have found it at a better time. Vincent failed to notice as he and Mouse passed within yards of Jamie and Catherine, that Mouse’s eyes filled with tears when Jamie looked the other way, or knew how much his heart was breaking. To be continued in Chapter Eighteen..