Father couldn’t settle about doing actually anything, each time he tried he would say, ‘better not start this or Vincent will return before I’m done and then I’ll never get it finished.’ And Devin, well Devin was on tender hooks awaiting his brother’s return since Mel was spending the weekend in the tunnels and Devin wanted to be the first to inform his brother and Catherine of that fact, and then of the other one, that he and Mel had kept to themselves wanting to enlighten Vincent and Catherine of their plans to be married before they told anyone else. Because at the back of his mind Devin wondered if they might have a joint wedding, assuming of course that Vincent and Catherine wouldn’t be getting married anytime soon, as he and Mel wanted to wait awhile.

Going along to the pipe chamber Devin enquired of Pascal, “Does my brother usually announce his arrival home before going to see Father?”

Pascal told him that if Vincent didn’t then one of the sentries would and Devin should not be worried for the moment Vincent entered the perimeter of the hub everyone would know about it and that if he had anything he wanted to tell Vincent, the only thing he need worry about was actually being among the first to grab him, because everyone would be pleased to see him back. That placed Devin in a predicament, because he wanted to spend his time with Mel, but if he did he wouldn’t be seeing Vincent before anyone else, and if he did then he would have to spend the day apart from Mel because he didn’t want his brother and Catherine seeing her in the tunnels before he’d had a chance to explain everything and so for one reason or another no one could settle that Sunday as they awaited Vincent’s return.

Finally it happened, and Devin alternating between the falls and the chamber assigned to Melanie was actually arriving back at the falls for the tenth time that day when he heard Catherine’s unmistakable laughter and stayed where he was, inclining his head so that he might pin point their whereabouts, and then he saw them hand in hand and crossing the river by means of the stepping stones and his face lit up in welcome.

“Well you two look happy.” He called as they reached his side of the river, “Welcome back.”

“Hello Devin, to what do we owe the pleasure of your welcome, is everything alright?” Catherine asked as an afterthought came that maybe he’d been waiting for them because someone had fallen ill or something had happened that they needed to know about the moment they got back.

“Yes, don’t worry. I just needed to speak with you, before any one else did.”

“What about?” Vincent asked. Devin noticed how easily his brother held Catherine with one arm draped around her waist holding her close to his side and now that he had his moment, Devin found he was tongue-tied. “I’ve got, I mean, I want, that is I need…” Catherine laughed, “Spit it out Devin!” Devin grinned, “Its difficult, we have an addition to the tunnels and its someone you know.” Catherine’s face fell, “Not Elliot?” She whispered.

“No, No! Not him, he would be the last person I would want to see.” By Catherine’s curious glance Devin added, “Well that you’d want to see I mean. No this other person is an old friend of yours and mine, its Melanie.”

“Melanie, as in Rawlingson? What here? Why on earth would she be here?” Catherine asked her questions in quick succession and her tone implied that she was not happy to know of it either.

“In short? I love her. We’re going to be married, and you two are the first to know.” Vincent’s face lit up but soon quelled when he felt Catherine’s feelings on the matter.

“You and Mel?” She laughed derisively, “Oh yes that would be about right, of all the people…Devin how could you!”

“She’s changed Cathy, she’s not who we thought she was, and believe me when you know her like I do you’ll see that. Just give her a chance huh?”

“Never!” Vincent recoiled from the venomous tone Catherine used, and he gave her a sidelong glance beginning to wonder if there was more to it than met the eye. So did Devin, he knew that Catherine was unaware of Mel’s behaviour with Elliot or how she had been the spoke in the wheel that had ended that particular romance for Catherine, but what he couldn’t understand was why Catherine appeared to hate Mel so much. “I thought you two were friends?” Devin enquired thoroughly bewildered.

“A long time ago we were friends, and you have a short memory, Devin, you know why I can’t stand her! Look what she did for God’s sake, look how she came between you and me.”

“But that’s old news Cathy, we’ve all moved on, and Mel didn’t come between you and I out of spite, she genuinely loved me, always has.”

“And that makes it alright does it? But for Melanie you and I could have been together!” ‘Oh my God!’ Catherine suddenly realised what she had said, and how it would be misconstrued and especially by Vincent who was looking at her bewildered and hurt and Devin’s mouth had dropped open and seemed to appear would stay that way, until he shook his head, “But you don’t feel anything for me still, do you?” He glanced at his brother quickly, and Vincent noticed the unease in Devin’s eyes.

“No…course not” Catherine laughed but it sounded hollow and untrue even to herself. She tried again, “I mean it, anything there was between you and I was over years ago, not that we actually got anywhere with it anyway.” Again she laughed but it still sounded hollow, Catherine was growing furious with herself. She could tell she had dug a hole and was sinking deeper and deeper inside it with every word she said.

“Even so…” Devin was doubtful, “Mel said something similar and she has been secretly in love with me for years…” He said this as though speaking out loud to himself, pondering the issue of possibility but Vincent saw it for what it was, and he looked between his brother and his bride to be with a look of incredibility. Surely Catherine did not harbour feelings for his brother, not now, not after everything that had happened between them during their trip to the crystal cavern?

“Look, I’m tired and there were a few misplaced words back there, they didn’t mean anything or ought not to have done and the more I try to convince you both of that, the harder it becomes.” Catherine told Devin simply but that she had brought Vincent into the equation gave them both rise for speculation. Finally Devin told her, “Well anyway, whatever you think, feel or do, I love Mel now, and she is coming to live in the tunnels and she and I will be married, and you will have to get used to it, ‘cos nothing you say about her will change my mind! And now to that other problem though I hate to say it that way, I’ve explained to Mel that my brother looks different, and she is here in the tunnels actually in a guest chamber awaiting the chance to meet you. Vincent, what do you feel about that though? Maybe you’d like to freshen up first?” Vincent was silent the happiness he had returned with had evaporated by what Catherine had termed a few misplaced words. He probed the bond and found Catherine’s emotions high and muddled, and that did him no good either. Finally he replied, “I shall be in my chamber, you take Catherine with you to see Melanie, I will see you all at dinner.” And he took his arm from Catherine’s waist and waltzed off taking great long strides away from the pair of them. “Now see what you’ve done!” Catherine cried as she set off to hurry behind Vincent. Devin called after her, “I did nothing Cathy you were the one being pigheaded about it all.”

Catherine turned back, “I have good reason to be!” She flared.

“No you don’t.” Devin shouted at her, “There’s no reason for you to get uppity about this. You have Vincent now, and I have Mel, I love her and she loves me, and Vincent loves you, the question forming here is…who do you love Cathy?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I love Vincent, you know that.” Catherine stepped back toward him seething not so quietly.

“I thought I did. I thought it was a cut and dried case. I thought that you and I had nothing left between us, but now I’m not so sure. We didn’t actually finish anything did we it was just something that didn’t actually happen as you say, because Mel got in between us. So what is it Cathy, what kind of animosity do you hold in that heart of yours, do you consider that I should never find anyone to love as much as I loved you. Would that make you happy to know that some kind of retribution would leave me unhappy for the rest of my life seeing you move on a while I have to live with what I lost. Is that it? Is that why you can’t bear the thought of my finding someone else? Huh? Huh?” Devin was really yelling at Catherine and she winced, “I couldn’t care less what you do anymore, only why do you have to taunt me with Mel?”

“Because it shouldn’t matter who it is, if you love Vincent, nothing I do, no one I see should bother you. But it does doesn’t it, why is that Cathy. Do you still have feelings for me?”

“I told you before, no I do not.”

Devin remained silent.

“I don’t!” Catherine yelled at him.

“When you can convince yourself Cathy, come and try to convince me huh? And then when you’ve done that, you’d best see if you can darn well convince my brother, cos right now I wouldn’t mind betting that he thinks that you do still have feelings for me, why else would it bother you if I was seeing Mel?”

“Like I told you, it could be anyone, but why Mel? Its not fair Devin, you flaunt her under my nose again, its not right, how can you hurt me again?”

“Why should I hurt you at all, if you have no feelings for me?”

Flustered Catherine couldn’t explain it, and she was just getting deeper and deeper into the problem. But she was incensed that Devin had brought Mel into the tunnels, and she couldn’t understand why. Devin was right if she had no feelings for him she wouldn’t care who he fell in love with. And she loved Vincent so what was the matter with her?

“I have to think about this.” Catherine flopped herself down wearily and Devin about to walk off changed his mind and sat down with her, “Want some company?”

Catherine managed a half-hearted smile and sighed heavily, “I’ve messed it all up haven’t I?”

“Between you and his nibs?”

Now Catherine laughed, “If you mean Vincent, then yes. God he’s going to get the wrong end of the stick here.” Catherine buried her face into her hands and sighed raggedly.

“He’s not the only one if there actually is a wrong end. Catherine? Want my suggestion?”

“Only if it’ll erase all of this, you know that feeling when you wish you could start the day all over again, well I’ve got it. So what do you suggest?” Catherine turned to face him, noticing him truly for the first time in a long time and realising in that swift moment what exactly had drawn her to him in the first place. He was gorgeous and he took her breath away.

“Well we have to talk, you and I, we’ve never actually done that have we? We began to embark upon a relationship and misunderstandings and other stuff got in the way and then I left the country and you a letter that didn’t ask you to wait for me, but in truth I hoped that you would, I loved you Cathy, really loved you, and I guess if I admit it a part of me always will. I care for you deeply, it would hurt me dreadfully if anything happened to you, and its great being able to live where you live and seeing you every day but I’m not in love with you anymore, and I guess if it wasn’t Vincent you were marrying, I’d be a bit peeved about anyone else. What I’m trying to say in my clumsy way is that I have feelings for you and you have them for me, but they are feelings we have to keep buried honey, cos they would destroy the ones we care about if they misconstrued them to be deeper than they supposed. Catherine, if I was with anyone but Mel, you wouldn’t mind would you?”

Catherine shook her head and told him ‘no’ there had been a lot of logic in what Devin had said.

“But because it is Mel, it brings it home forcefully what we might have been to one another?”

Catherine smiled, “You should have been a philosopher.”

“Than I’ve hit the nail on the head?”

“Okay then a carpenter.”

Devin laughed, “Seriously, is that it?”

With a sigh of relief Catherine nodded, “Yes, that’s just about it. I know exactly what you mean, and you are right through and through.” Devin smiled, “Good, so we agree,” He grimaced, “Now all you have to do I’m afraid little girl is convince Vincent and everything will be hunky dory again. Good luck babe, cos believe me knowing my brother’s stubborn streak you are certainly gonna need it.”

Catherine laughed and let him help her to her feet, “Ever the pessimist. Devin you never change.”

Devin laughed and together the two of them walked back toward the hub both lighter of spirit but with one of them quaking about how to explain things to Vincent.

Catherine located Vincent by the mirror pool. Having reached his chamber he found the welcome committee inside it a little too much and couldn’t face them so had sidetracked to the place where he knew he could think. If he hadn’t of heard it with his own ears he would never have believed it, but there is was, something still between his brother and Catherine, after all they had become to one another, she still felt something for Devin. So when she finally sat herself down beside him and lay her hand on his he moved it away out of her reach.

“Its not what you think, Vincent.” Catherine appealed to him with all the tenderness she could muster.

“And how do you know what I think?” He replied desperately looking straight ahead.

“Back there…what I said, it gave both you and Devin the wrong impression. I love you, you know that.”

“I thought I did. I thought that you and I were forever that I had found that special once in a lifetime kind of love that some people search for all their lives. But I think perhaps had we not been connected then you would have been with Devin. He is in your heart, please don’t insult me by denying that.” Catherine detected Vincent’s wet cheeks and knew he’d been crying. Her heart went out to him and he told her, “I don’t want your pity Catherine, just the truth.”

Catherine tried to remember how it was that Devin had explained things. When he’s said them she could see it all so clearly, it was exactly as he said, but telling Vincent was different entirely, since Vincent loved her so much and possibly if Devin tried explaining it to Mel, he would meet with the same problem. All the same she had to try. “Vincent over and above everything else, and from the bottom of my heart, I love you. No one else, just you, for now and forever, whether we had the connection or not it would make no difference, I simply and utterly love you and there is no one I’d rather spend my time with.”

“But?”

Catherine drew in a deep breath and sighed, “But nothing. Devin and I have talked, we realised what has happened here and have accepted it for what it is and have moved on. Your brother cares for me because of our past and because of you, and he is happy that we are together, and I’d be happy for him also if he had someone other than Melanie, but the thought of seeing them together brings back so many heartbreaking memories that I don’t think I could bear it, Vincent. I loved Devin, he was the world to me, and I care for him deeply, but I don’t love him, and knowing what I know about Mel, I can only see that she will hurt him and he doesn’t deserve that. If he was with anyone else it would be wonderful, in the same way he has told me if I had been with anyone else but you it would have been awful. We care for one another, but we do not love one another, not in that way, not in the way that I love you.”

“I can’t judge since I have yet to meet her, but I can’t help believing that Devin has acted hastily with her, only last week he was still in love with a woman he met in England.”

“He was? I didn’t know.” Catherine told Vincent as she reached for his hand again, relieved when he did not draw it away this time.

“I promised I would tell no one, and you must not speak of it. I’m only saying this because I am worried about him and what you tell me about Melanie. And I can feel here,” Vincent touched his heart “that you have animosity toward her neither do you trust her and that worries me. I think Devin is on the rebound and he is acting hastily, but what can we do, since he will hear nothing against her?”

“Firstly and forgive me for putting myself first, but I have to know Vincent, are we okay? You and me, is everything fine between us?” For a long while Vincent was silent and Catherine worried incessantly then as he read her feelings of anxiety through the connection and how much she loved and adored him, he relented and turned to face her, “I love you, I will always love you, yes everything is fine between us, don’t worry I understand your explanation and accept it, and know that you care for Devin maybe more than a brother but not as much as a lover and I know he will let nothing happen to you ever.” Catherine hugged him tightly, “I was so frightened, I thought I’d lost you.”

“I know, it was that as much as anything that told me how much you do care for me. Thank God for the connection.” Catherine smiled, “Yes thank God for the connection. As to Devin and Mel, I don’t think he will listen to anything I say against her, we will just have to meet her and be as friendly as we can and se if she has changed. What I remember of Mel though, she very cleverly changes to suit the mood, I just hope when she finds what a gorgeous hunk you are she doesn’t try to muscle in between us, she has a great track record for doing that, and not just with me and Devin, she did it with a great deal of couples at school and then the moment she broke people up she dumped the guy and moved on to someone else. Nasty piece of work is Mel.”

“Why did she do such a thing?”

“Jealousy. For some reason she couldn’t get a boy of her own, though she bragged about how many lovers she’d had, she gave boys the impression that she was an easy one night stand, but you should have heard the things they used to say about her. That she was a tease and led them on and didn’t deliver. I used to believe them until the night I found her in bed with Devin, and believe me Vincent every time I clap eyes on her that’ll be the picture that will fly to mind. They both betrayed me Vincent.”

“But you forgave Devin?”

“Yes, because he’s changed.”

“Doesn’t weigh up, he still betrayed you.”

“I know but Mel tricked him, made him think I didn’t want him and she did, he fell for it hook, line and sinker and he’s still doing it.”

“I’m not.”

Vincent and Catherine twirled round and found Devin a few yards behind them with his hand in Melanie’s. She gasped at the sight of Vincent’s face and stared at him openly but did not cry out or scream or call him anything insulting as the old Mel might have done, not stopping to care about hurting feelings.

“We’re having a private conversation.” Catherine reminded them, Devin shook his head, “No you’re not your talking about us, so as we’re included we’re staying to thrash this thing out, once and for all, cos like it or not, Mel’s staying here with us.”

Vincent rose and bowed before Melanie and giving her the benefit of the doubt that he hoped Catherine would do, he extended his hand and offered her a seat alongside him. Mel stared at his furred hands with the claw tipped nails and shuddered and clasped hold of Devin’s hand more tightly. “No offence, “ she looked at Vincent, “But I’d rather sit next to Catherine.”

“No offence taken. Vincent replied and sat down next to Catherine’s other side, but to his dismay as Mel sat next to her, Catherine got up and sat on the other side of Vincent, leaving Devin to do the only thing possible, he sat between his brother and Melanie.

All were silent for some time, animosity flaring from Catherine to Mel, leaving Devin and Vincent feeling uncomfortable as they waited for the fireworks to ignite. Still Catherine said nothing, though inside she remembered that just a few short weeks ago, she had invited Melanie into her apartment and had held a civil conversation with her, even though she had been sure that Mel had been up to something as her track record spoke of. She’d never found out what it was though. But she was just about to.

“Cathy, “ Melanie spoke very quietly, “You aren’t aware of it I think, but I owe you an apology.” A sidelong glance from Devin surprised Catherine, more so as he told Mel, “You don’t have to do this honey, besides its personal.”

“I do, I need to, it needs to be said, and besides it grieves me, Cathy should know what I did.”

“What did you do?” Catherine wanted to know now.

Mel took a deep breath, exhaled quickly and began quietly, “I found out that someone was visiting you at night, now I know it was Vincent, but then all I knew was that it was Devin’s brother and I went straight to Elliot Burch and told him you were seeing someone else behind his back.”

Catherine jumped up and ran round to Mel and to Vincent’s and Devin’s horror dragged Mel to her feet by her hair and hit her hard. Shamefaced Mel just stood there, but Devin was up at her side and holding back another blow that Catherine would have issued. Vincent too was standing and watching a scene that caused him much distress.

“You cow!” Catherine cried, “You little bitch, I knew you were up to something that day, I knew you didn’t visit with me because you were interested in me. You did it again didn’t you? You came between me and someone I loved, I hate you!”

“Catherine, Catherine…” Vincent held her arms at her sides and pulled her back against him, it was all he could do not to believe that Catherine still had feelings for Elliot, but he could tell thankfully through that blessed connection that Catherine was annoyed for what might have been not what was.

To Catherine’s surprise though Mel told her simply, “You should do. What I did was appalling, and what I did between you and Devin was unforgivable.” Catherine expected anything but that, and neither did she expect the tears that glistened in Mel’s eyes, but she reacted to them furiously. “You little liar…what kind of game are you playing now Mel? God Devin why did you trust her to bring her here?” Catherine directed her question to Devin then stared back at Mel, “Let me tell you madam” and she spat the word, “If you so much as tell a soul about the tunnels and Vincent, I’ll kill you. Got it? I will, I’ll kill you!”

“Cathy I’m sorry. I wouldn’t do that, I’ve changed, just give me a chance to prove it please?”

“No way, not ever, you’re track record speaks too highly of you unfortunately it’s the only thing that does!” Catherine wretched her arms free from Vincent and flounced off leaving the three of them to stare after her. Despite their calls she just walked away, but suddenly when they thought she wouldn’t be back, she turned and hurried back to them, “What did Devin mean, when he said, you didn’t have to tell me,” she glared at Devin, “Surely you wouldn’t have let her hide what she did from me?”

“No, it wasn’t that.” Devin spoke softly looking in Mel’s direction. Mel in turn looked at Vincent, who taking his cue told them, “I’ll be in my chamber if anyone needs me, I understand the welcome committee are there?”

Devin nodded, “Thanks bro, yes they are, and if they knew you were here they’d have followed us.” Vincent walked toward the exit and Catherine watched him go, she longed to go with him, but whatever Mel had to say she needed to hear that too.
When Vincent had gone the three sat slowly back down again, Devin tossed pebbles into the mirror pool and Mel watched the ripples as she spoke while Catherine watched her face for every expression to see how genuine Mel actually was.

“After I told Elliot about you and someone else, he offered me a ride home in his car. I was impressed I’ve never been in a saloon and it had started to rain, so I agreed. We were half way home when he started touching me.” Catherine gasped, “What do you mean, touching you?”

“He put his hand on my thigh. I promise you Cathy I never instigated it all I wanted was to get home. But then he offered me money to let him touch me, and it was a lot of money Cathy and I was tempted, but I thought all he wanted to do was touch me.”

“Yeah right.” Catherine retorted angrily.

“Honest. I know what you think, I know you think I’ve slept around, but I haven’t Cathy, I never have, Dev was the only one I came close to sleeping with, and we all know what happened that night.” Mel’s laughter was high pitched near hysteria and Catherine stared at her, disbelieving that the tears in her eyes were for sorrow at not having actually slept with Devin. “Do you mean to tell me that you two never actually ever did it after that, I mean after I left?”

“No, we didn’t. Dev chased after you remember, cut his foot on some glass, and the whole mood was gone and we never got back together after that, it just didn’t happen. But I loved him so much Cathy, I still do and I always will.” Devin squeezed Mel’s hand. “You have to remember that I didn’t know at first that you and he were an item, that night in Billy’s bar when you and I walked in and saw him, the two of you said nothing at first and by then, that’s all it took me to know I had found the person I wanted to have babies with.” Mel laughed here directing that final comment in Devin’s direction who visibly blushed beetroot and that too made Catherine laugh. “So when I saw he was with you, it broke my heart and though I considered you probably the best friend I had I set out to hurt you and take him from you just as I had done on numerous occasions with other couples, only with Dev it was different, with him, well, I would have gone all the way with Dev and he would have been the first.”

“Never!” Catherine laughed derisively. Now Catherine was furious, but not with Mel, “He did what! I don’t believe it!” Mel cringed relaxing only when Catherine cried, “the bastard!” Knowing Catherine’s fury was no longer aimed at her.

“As soon as he knew I was a virgin he got off me, but it was too late…” Mel’s lower lip quivered and Devin held her close, “Its not honey, like I said he didn’t get to make love to you, you’re still a virgin as far as I’m concerned, just like me.”

Catherine’s mouth dropped open, “You? Now I have heard everything!” She laughed derisively, but quietened fast when she saw the look of sincerity on Devin’s face. “Really?” She asked with incredibility. Devin nodded, “Fraid so, amazing how many there are of us left huh? Now it’s not just you and Vincent anymore, you’ve got company. We should form a band, the innocent citizenship, do you think it’ll catch on?”

Now Catherine smiled, “Well actually, its members are two down.” She told him with a chuckle and Devin gasped, “Really?” his eyes opened wide, “Man am I going to rib my little brother about that or what?” And he burst out laughing.

“Don’t Devin, please. I think he’s had enough to cope with for one day.” Catherine begged him.

“Who said anything about today?” Devin grinned. Catherine laughed.

Mel looked between them wondering if she fit in yet, despite the fact that she and Devin loved one another she would have given anything for the easy companionship that appeared between Devin and Catherine, but then they had known one another a long time and shared many things, like the tunnels for one and the people in it, Mel loved it all, and she would never tell a soul, she had quit telling people private matters, and she could see that Vincent depended on the secret of his home being kept safe.

“Vincent seems nice.” She spoke hoping it wouldn’t be taken the wrong way. Catherine stared at her, wondering if what she had mentioned to Vincent about Mel coming between them might be happening, but one look at the way Mel clung to Devin’s hand made her think otherwise. “He is, everyone loves Vincent.” Catherine told her, “Especially the children.”

“Correction.” Devin told her, “Especially you.” Catherine nodded and as she thought of her true love her face softened, “Yes, especially me.” She drew in a deep breath and sighed, “Okay Mel, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and not give you a hard time, but just remember, hurt Devin, Vincent or anyone down here and you won’t know what hit you, okay?”

Mel nodded, “That’ll never happen, this place is unreal, I wish I knew about it when I was eight.”

“Why what happened when you were eight?” Mel began telling Catherine the full story of her past, and by the time she was done, Catherine decided that Melanie the one she had known certainly had gone for good. Love had done that for her, Devin’s love, and it was easy to see that Mel loved him to bits. Catherine hoped that Vincent was wrong that Devin wasn’t on the rebound from the woman in England, but right now it seemed that Devin worshipped the ground Mel walked on. So Catherine just hoped and prayed that everyone would live happily ever after and that all four of them had found the once in a lifetime kind of love that some people search all their lives to find and with that thought in mind, she bade the couple farewell and went in search of Vincent. They’d been apart too long already and she missed him dreadfully.

She found him in his chamber and alone and walked into his arms, “I love you, “ she told him and probing the bond he could tell that all was well with her world again, and Vincent was happy and drew her down into his lap. “My dear, shall we take the crystal to Mouse so that he might fashion a stone for your ring with it?” Catherine wrapped her arms around Vincent’s neck and gazed into his eyes, “Tomorrow my love. I had hoped to spend our first evening home doing other things.” Vincent’s eyebrows rose, and he asked innocently, “Oh, what other things?” In reply Catherine kissed him passionately and he soon understood and spoke not another word till morning.

To be continued in Chapter Fourteen