Castle of Sand
Part Six
Her skin hot and feverish, Catherine waited by her balcony wall, looking without seeing at the city lights below, her mind willing Vincent to come to her. Deep inside she knew that what she was doing wasn’t right, but her needs were powerful and desperate. For three years and more she had denied herself the right to love. Though she and Vincent loved in spirit, it simply was not enough anymore. She so desperately needed to show him how much she loved him, that she would give him anything, anything at all to prove it to him, and they needed that. Despite his fears, they needed to move through and beyond them. The time had come for that.
Standing alone, waiting, Catherine dwelt deep inside the Bond, calling softly. For the first time, embarrassed by her probing, but nonetheless insistent on her goal, her words rippled through their connection, softly coaxing. “Vincent, come to me. I need you. We can be anything to one another if you will only believe. Come to me my darling, let me love you as you yearn to be loved. I will offer you every thing. I need you now Vincent, do not delay. Come to me, please my love.”
The words went round and round in her heart, speeding via her heart and through their connection, knowing at the back of her mind the distress it would cause him, but convinced that he would not be able to ignore her pleadings.
When an hour of desperate yearning had passed and he still hadn’t come, or answered her need through their Bond, Catherine became angry and hurt. He had deliberately ignored her, yet earlier he had been so pleased to see her, so reluctant to leave her, she could not understand it.
Suddenly she remembered Father’s invitation. She looked at her watch, it was the early hours of the morning, Father would be asleep in bed. Catherine smiled with acknowledgement, Vincent too might be asleep in bed. Would she have the nerve to crawl in beside him?
A delightful mischievous smile formed and Catherine hurried inside to begin dressing. She would go Below and if she should chicken out, she could always use the guest chamber, and confront Vincent in the morning.
Again she stopped herself short a couple of times, and tried to tell herself how wrong all of this was, but the need, the over-riding need chased all doubts away. They needed this, this is what it was all about, and she had waited too long for him to make the first move. He would never do that, he had not the experience. No, she reasoned, seduction in its purest form was definitely the answer.
Happy with herself, Catherine made her way down to the basement, her intent obvious. She was going in for the kill.
*** *** ***
Vincent was in mid-sentence, when he stopped to listen, “Catherine is coming Below!” He exclaimed, the fear and distress apparent on his face. Father struggled from the bed, reaching for his clothing, “Where is she do you know?”
“Yes. Father I must go to her.”
“Vincent No, haven’t I just spent half the night stopping you from doing just that, not that I minded, but wouldn’t it have been a waste. You must stay here, wait for her here, when she comes, we shall speak with her together. I still cannot understand it Vincent, it is so out of character for Catherine. Why she is acting like a bitch on heat, its preposterous, unbelievable, she can’t be in control of her mind right now, it has to be something physiological Vincent, it must be, Catherine would never act so out of character.”
Vincent hung his head, “I fear I am the cause of that. Maybe if I hadn’t of stopped seeing her, if I hadn’t of insisted she should live without me, this would never have happened. But as you say it doesn’t make sense. My heart aches that she has so easily and so quickly too gone with other men, for the things I was unprepared to give, but I cannot comprehend why she feels in such distress, such need for me, when that need has so obviously been appeased.”
“Neither can I. But then perhaps it hasn’t Vincent. Perhaps she has remained chaste.”
“Father I saw them with my own eyes. Joe Maxwell and Catherine... kissing, and then Mary saw....”
“I know all that,” Father took up from where Vincent was unable to finish, “but maybe nothing happened.”
“Then what of the kiss. Are you saying I imagined it? I saw them Father with my own eyes.” Vincent shook his head, “I saw them. It broke my heart.” Vincent looked up sharply, his senses told him that Catherine had arrived, an instance before the Bond confirmed it and her words rang out. “Who did you see Vincent?” She stepped down into the chamber, coming towards him, her eyes bright with love, and yes, Vincent flinched and stepped back, with desire and longing too. He grew afraid, she had not seemed to have noticed Father and her intent was plain. Coming towards him, he saw her hands reach for him, just as Father coughed, and halted her. Catherine stopped, turned, seemed stunned to see him there, but she had known, hadn’t she? When she had entered, who else had Vincent been speaking to?
“Hello Father,” Catherine composed herself and smiled, “Are you well?”
“As well as I can be at 3 o’clock in the morning. What are you doing up at this hour?”
“I couldn’t sleep. I needed to see Vincent.”
“What’s so important that it couldn’t wait until morning. Catherine are you all right?” Concerned, Father hobbled over to her, as Vincent lifted a chair and placed it behind her. Catherine had placed a hand to her head, and she swayed slightly, gently moaning. “Whatever is it Catherine? Are you ill?” Father felt for her pulse. It was rapid. Her body feverish and clammy.
Authority and years of medical experience took over, at once Father was doctor, “Carry Catherine to the hospital chamber will you Vincent, something is certainly amiss here.”
Lifting her was easy and a pleasure, but Vincent was unprepared for the assault. the moment he lifted Catherine into his arms as her lips sought out the exposed flesh along his throat, trailing kisses that made him catch his breath. “Catherine.” He growled a warning, but she would not heed it, instead her hands caressed his shoulders and his chest, making him hurry, eager to put down this troublesome burden, eager to put space between them.
Gasping for air, he settled her down on the hospital bed, her eyes held his, and Vincent felt his throat constrict. Her eyes were filled with longing, with desire, with need. It was so unlike her!
Now at close quarters, the Bond vibrated with her need. Only father’s pass me this Vincent, pass me that, kept him there. He longed to run. Run away from those compelling green eyes, from the emotions that held him captured.
Hours, it seemed passed, when in effect it was only twenty minutes or so, and Father could find nothing wrong. But her temperature was high, her pulse still raced, and turning to find Vincent ever watchful of her, almost to the point of fear and expectation, Father dismissed his son, sending him off on an errand that wouldn’t appear so obvious.
When he had left, Father took Catherine’s wrist, examining her again. The pulse had lessened considerably, but not so the tears. They came now swiftly, as Catherine shook her head, and begged forgiveness, “Father, what is wrong with me? I cannot control this need. It drives me, I feel so ashamed. What ever must you both think of me?”
“Would you like to talk my dear, start at the beginning? Perhaps this is what you need. We have all missed you Catherine, and I mean all, but this is so unlike you Catherine, you are usually so in control, I cannot understand it at all.”
“Neither can I really. Its like I’ve been taken over, Father. Can you understand that? Its almost as if my need for Vincent has become so totally out of control that he is all I can see ahead to find peace again.” Her voice trembled as she went on, “Father, I love Vincent so much, these weeks away have been hell, a living hell.” She sobbed now, her tears falling thick and fast.
Father patted her shoulder, “But Catherine, you always seemed to be enjoying yourself, you’ve been seen, with Elliott Burch, a man from your office, and your boss, Joe Maxwell. We all thought that you would be er... would be...er... well you know with either one of them, and that this need you speak of should not be a problem.”
Catherine’s tears stopped abruptly, “What on earth gave you that idea! Father have you not heard a word I’ve said. I love Vincent. There is nobody, nobody, Father that I want if I can’t have Vincent. Do you seriously expect me to jump into bed with the first man who shows an interest in me, just for sexual gratification!” Her voice rose, and Father blushed, stammering, “Well, er...”
“You did didn’t you!” Catherine’s eyes opened wide, “Oh Father, how could you!”
“The facts spoke for themselves, Catherine.” Catherine turned her head sharply at the softly spoken words, to see Vincent returning, his eyes on her intently, “You were seen.”
“By whom!” Her rage apparent, Vincent hesitated, as via the connection, the denials hit him.
“By myself, by Mary.” He went on sadly.
Catherine lowered her gaze, fighting for control, until with some composed dignity went on, “I’m not guilty of the things you are implying. If you saw anything then you were mistaken. Vincent, I swear, I would never willingly betray your trust.”
Vincent shook his head, wanting to believe, but he hadn’t dreamed Joe Maxwell kissing her, neither could it be disputed that Mary had gone to the apartment at seven in the morning and found a half dressed Joe Maxwell there, at that hour.
“You don’t believe me do you?” Catherine’s voice crumpled.
“I want to do.” Vincent told her, “but with my own eyes I witnessed you kissing Joe Maxwell.”
“With your own eyes. Where? When?” Catherine was clearly confused.
Father decided to intervene, “Vincent went to see you at your apartment one night. He felt that you needed him, but found Joe Maxwell there, saw the two of you kissing.”
Catherine remembered, and turning her eyes challenged Vincent’s, “You saw one of us kissing, Joe. If you had stayed long enough, you would have known the truth of that. Joe kissed me, I was not a willing party to that, and though I responded for mere seconds, it left Joe extremely hurt. For it was your name that I uttered not his. The only thing that Joe’s kiss did for me, was to make me wish it were you, Vincent, you. I love you, I’ve never stopped loving you, I never will stop loving you. No matter what, not time, not death, not unforseen occurance, nothing can stop me from loving you. Believe me Vincent. You are everything to me.”
Catherine stared at Vincent, willing him to believe with her eyes, if her words should fail. Vincent looked stunned. He was stunned, her words thrilled yet frightened him, but he was still unsure. almost taking the words right out of his head, Father went on, almost as if she hadn’t spoken, “And then there’s the little matter of Mary finding Joe in little more than a towel when she called on you the following morning. Even you cannot deny that he must have stayed the night?” He asked her accusingly.
“I don’t deny it. Joe did stay. He would have continued to stay, but for that kiss. He flooded his apartment by leaving the bath taps running, I said he could stay with me, he took the invitation the wrong way, he kissed me, I spoke Vincent’s name, Joe was upset, he left the next morning, end of story. I’ve dated him since, but he knows how things are, he understands we are nothing more than friends. Can never be anything more than friends.”
A ton weight slipped from Vincent’s shoulders, he found his breath again, steady, even, and exhaled a breath long and slow, with relief. But Father went on relentlessly, “And then there was this other fellow, whatshisname...”, “Daniel” Both Catherine and Vincent uttered together, causing a shy smile from both of them, for each of them, and Father went on, “Yes, Daniel, and Elliot Burch. Cathy! Why Elliot Burch, of all the people!”
Suddenly something snapped inside Catherine. “What is this, the third degree! What the hell has it to do with you! Vincent set me free, told me to find a new life for myself. That is what I thought I was doing. Trying to do!” the tears slipped down her cheeks again, “but I can’t” She sobbed harder now, “I can’t.”
Standing still, Vincent ached to go to her, to put his arms around her. It distressed him to see her like this. Her pain transmitted itself to him, yet, what could he do? To go to her now, would put them back again. That she was trying was plain, that she found it difficult was also plain, but after almost four months apart, and not seeing each other until the previous evening, each had begun, if ever so slightly to accept their fate, and lead their separate lives. Though each loved the other was not in dispute here, they would always love one another, desperately, but they had to live apart, there was simply no other way. But Catherine disagreed, as always, her eyes pleaded with his, her words begged it of him, “Vincent please, let me back into your life, I need you so much. I can’t get through life without you.”
“You can Catherine. I know you, you are strong, a fighter, you have courage, and so much to give, you can do this Catherine. You must forget about me. You must.” the words almost broke his heart, but he had to insist this was right, it was the only way.
“But I don’t want to do. Vincent, I love you, only you, and we can make it work Vincent, I know we can. Please Vincent, I’m begging you. I can’t live without you!”
Vincent shook his head, his tears running freely as did her own, even Father knuckled away some moisture that had threatened to overflow in his own eyes. His throat felt tight, he was unable to speak another word, and watched these two, as one would a play unfolding. He could see Vincent’s point of view, he could see Catherine’s, he could even see a future for the two of them, but Vincent had to believe in it too, before that would be possible.
“Remember the castle of sand Vincent.” Father was aghast to hear himself speak out loud, he hadn’t meant to do, didn’t even know how he could, his throat felt so tight with unshed tears, yet Vincent was turning to him, listening, acknowledging the words. “I remember Father, but that was long ago, we have both moved on now. It no longer applies.”
“Does it not Vincent?” Father found his voice, amazed that he had. “Nothing has altered, everything is just as it was before Vincent. You know that, deep down you know nothing is resolved.”
Catherine was looking from one to the other of them, ‘castle of sand? Whatever were they speaking about?’ It confused her, but there was something else, whatever it meant, it was something good, something positive she was certain of it. Had she suddenly found herself an ally in Father? Was he siding with her? It didn’t seem possible!
Suddenly Father yawned. It was contagious, Catherine followed, stifling it with one hand, apologies quickly following, “I’m sorry Father, you’re tired you should get some rest.”
“You too my dear. Things always look brighter in the morning. Perhaps we should leave any discussions till then.” He yawned again, making Vincent feel selfish for keeping him up so late.
“I’ll show you to the guest chamber Catherine,” Vincent told her, startled when she refused.
“No, take me to the threshold will you. I’m going away for a couple of days on business, my flight leaves at nine.” How had she forgotten that earlier?
Vincent looked from Catherine to Father unsure, and Catherine laughed easing the situation considerably, “I won’t bite you.” She told him, making him grin, “You’ll be in safe hands. Well maybe.” She put her hands behind her, “See no hands. Father do you have any handcuffs, just in case I get tempted though?”
Father laughed, he couldn’t help himself, his laughter eased the tension that had filled the hospital chamber since first they had all three entered it, “I’m going to tie your hands with trust my dear. You seem better in mind and spirit than when you first arrived, I trust that you will not now seduce my son in the tunnel ways.”
Vincent blushed, “Father!” but Father was giggling mercilessly, and Catherine could not stop herself from joining in with him.
*** *** ***
Faced suddenly with the fact of Catherine going away, Vincent didn’t know what to say as he walked alongside her through the tunnels towards the threshold. He didn’t know if he’d be able to find his voice even if she hadn’t of been going away of course but that alone made him feel regrettably sad. In all the months of their separation, he had been glad of one thing that she was close. That he could at any given opportunity visit her, see her, check that she was okay, although the one attempt he had made of that still burned within his brain, the night Joe had kissed her. But Catherine had explained all that, and as they walked along in silence, Vincent knew he at least owned her an apology. “I’m sorry Catherine, for jumping to conclusions, over you and Joe.”
“I’m sorry too Vincent, that you had to be hurt by that. But what I don’t get Vincent, is why you were snooping on me anyway? You set me free to find a life for myself and then I have to hear that not only don’t you want me Vincent, but you don’t want anyone else to have me either. Vincent, what am I supposed to do?”
Vincent drew in a long shuddering breath, before trusting himself to speak, “It’s true, I can not bear to see you with anyone else, I admit that, but its the only way forward, for you, for us. You have to follow your heart Catherine, you have to live the life you were born for.”
“If I followed my heart Vincent, I would never leave you, not even now. I would go back with you into your world and never want to leave it ever again. That would be to follow my heart. Does that shock you?”
Vincent shook his head, hiding the longing in his eyes with his long frame of hair, “No” He whispered, “I know how you think you need me.”
“Its more than that Vincent. And I think you and best leave me now to complete the journey alone, or I will be breaking Father’s trust in me.”
Vincent looked up sharply to see the desire filling Catherine’s eyes again. “I want you Vincent, no-one else will do, so unless you want me to become an old maid, alone on the shelf, you had better do something about it. For I promise you, I’m not giving up on this. You fear for me for something you don’t even know would exist, you deny yourself the right to love, when it is not for you to make that decision. If I offer my love to you, you should take it Vincent, for I know what I am doing, but do you?”
Vincent shook his head, though not with denial, “For you to say those things, to me, it is incomprehensible...”
“You’d better believe it Vincent, for its true. There is no one for me but you. Oh I might be attracted to others, but mere attraction is no foundation for a solid relationship, and ours is as solid as it comes. You love me, yet you deny it, and I love you, and as long as it takes, at whatever cost, you are going to believe it eventually, and you aren’t going to get away with it so easily from now on. I’m going to hound you Vincent Wells, with my heart, my presence and with our connection. I’m going to hound you until you give in, because you are all I need, and you know, deep down you know that I am what you need.”
They stared at one another for long moments breathing rapidly, until Catherine turned on her heel and strode away from him. As she turned the final corner to the threshold, she could still feel his eyes upon her back, and in some small way glorified in the feeling it gave her, knowing without a doubt that at last, he was giving consideration to her words. And she had meant every one of them.
*** *** ***
Later, while some of the night still remained, and Catherine had decided to sleep on the plane, rather than risk over sleeping now at this hour, she was not surprised when a light feathery breeze rippled in one corner of her balcony, signalling that Vincent had arrived
Catherine turned her head, her hungry eyes eager to feast upon the sight of him and shuddered at the way he stood there just looking at her. His eyes were hidden from her by the fold of his hood but she could feel the aura that surrounded his very presence. He had been drawn to her as a bee to nectar, and his own senses throbbed vibrant with desire for her. Every nerve ending tingled, in hungry expectation.
“I shouldn’t have come.” He whispered. Holding her gaze.
”But you have. Are you going to leave again?”
“No.” Vincent swallowed with difficulty, “Catherine, what you said...I cannot believe that you would say those things to me, neither can I believe that you could want me, like that, in that way. Really...” He drew in a deep ragged breath, “Is your need that bad?”
“What are you asking? Is my need so bad that I’d have even you!” Vincent was rocked to the core at her words, the need to flee imminent, but her next words halted his headlong flight. “Or do you mean is my need to make love with you guided by the love I feel for you? Vincent surely you know the answer, have I not begged enough? I want you Vincent Wells, all of you, you want to know how much?” Stepping towards him, Vincent stepped back, the hard stone wall behind him with the street eighteen floors below and Catherine in front. For split seconds Vincent did not know which offered him the most danger, but when Catherine’s hand reached out and touched him, simply there was no alternative, he wanted her, just as surely as she wanted him. Right or wrong, good or bad, his need was as great as her own.
For long moments they stared at one another, neither speaking, and Catherine saw a picture flash through her mind of her earlier plan of seduction, and smiled softly. That would never work now. Though she had touched him, he had to make the next move. He was here. He’d come to her, and breathlessly, she found her voice, “kiss me”, she pleaded softly.
“Yes.” that one word melted her, the sound of his voice, Catherine closed her eyes, feeling herself sway, and in those seconds of darkness he stepped towards her enclosing her in his arms. Catherine clung to him, drinking in the scent of him, moulding her heated body to his.
“Hold me” Her voice rich with desire begged him, “Hold me, tighter. Vincent, tighter.”
Vincent complied with her wishes, or were they his own? Simply, he never wanted to ever let her go again. Catherine trembled, turning her face to his, drawing her hands free to clasp behind his head forcing his face down towards hers. For split seconds, Vincent froze, but then he relented, he wanted this too, he also wanted her offering desperately, hadn’t that been why he had willing gone when her body had called to him?
Their lips met, in a blaze of fire. Vincent was stunned, his mind reeling, his arousal flaring into throbbing life. Catherine glorified in his response, drawing closer to him, moaning as she felt his hardness against the pit of her belly. God, she wanted him, she clung to him, her lips beneath his hungrily searching out all the places she had longed to know for so long. When her tongue flicked into the cleft of his upper lip, Vincent was lost. His head swam with a burning desire, he was out of control and before he realised what he was doing, he had lifted her to carry her to her bedroom, his heart thudding in his ears, his lips never leaving hers.
Catherine whimpered when he lowered her down to the satin sheets, following behind in one swift movement to lay with her there, his hands roaming over her curves, aware, just, that she had loosened his clothing. Her fingers wending their way through the many layers that he wore to reach their goal. As Catherine’s fingers made contact with his hot and silky hardness Vincent shuddered, her hands were bliss upon him. Never had he felt anything so glorious in all of his life.
“Make love to me, please Vincent” Catherine begged, “I need you so much.”
In a daze, Vincent shed his clothing, never knowing how Catherine had discarded her own so quickly, knowing only that within seconds she lay naked before him, his eyes focused on her offering, his hands touching every where.
He had no experience, and whether it was from instinct or Catherine’s encouragement he did not stop to ask, but suddenly he was filled with the most exquisite emotion, the feeling of his body sinking into hers.
Only Catherine’s screams triggered his response, believing he’d hurt her, he froze, pulling away, his senses returning. “Catherine, what have I done?”
“You didn’t hurt me, that wasn’t pain crying out Vincent, well maybe a little, its been a long time for me, over three years, and you aren’t exactly average you know, please come back... “ She tried to make light of it knowing his fears, “Vincent?”
Vincent was shaking his head, what had he done? He had been blinded by passion. How had he got here? He looked around him, startled almost to see where he was, pained at finding Catherine naked before him, “I shouldn’t have come here. This is not right!”
Gathering his clothing, he hastily dressed, leaving Catherine a little bemused, “Isn’t it kinda late for that Vincent. You were almost there, in fact...”
He swung on her, his blue eyes blazing, “What?”
“Well it happens Vincent,” She tried to laugh it off, he’d assumed he had stopped before going too far, but Catherine knew from experience, that his passion, his need had erupted inside of her within short seconds of entry, but Vincent was shaking his head in denial, disbelief and shame.
“Catherine! It stands! It still stands, we cannot be what you want us to be, I love you, but I could hurt you. Forget about me Catherine, you must! You must!” And within seconds he had left her, gone out into the night, to only he knew where, but Catherine did not feel alone, never would she feel alone again, he would return, she was sure of it, he had made love to her, and he would return. Hugging herself tightly, Catherine exhaled a sigh of pure pleasure, happy in the knowledge that they had just taken a giant leap forward, and things could only get better from now on.
*** *** ***
Returning at last from the business that had taken her out of town, Catherine was happy to step back through the door of her apartment. She’d been gone weeks. The case had been a tricky one, the witnesses scared of talking. She’d needed all her attention to coax them to come forward to attend the trial, in order for a very dangerous man to be locked away for the next twenty-five years.
Had it not of been for all of that Catherine would have gone mad. She ached, literally ached to return home, to see Vincent. Now she was home, she quickly donned her jeans and sweatshirt, and hastily left her apartment. Nothing, especially no telephone messages would delay her going to him, she desperately, desperately needed to see him.
*** *** ***
Deep beneath the city Vincent felt her coming to him, and froze. For the last seven weeks he had berated himself for his weakness, had hated himself for giving in to the pull of her body for his.
He could now feel her surge of happiness and it scared him. He could not meet her! Instead as before, he went in search of Father.
“What is it Vincent?” Father’s concern was once again evident, as it was that night seven weeks ago, when Vincent had sought him out then.
“Catherine is on her way down.” Vincent told him.
Father rubbed his cgin thoughtfully. “And you don’t wish to see her?”
“No.”
“Vincent?”
“No, Father, I said No.”
“Very well then Vincent, why don’t you go someplace, and let me speak with her then. I have missed Catherine even if you haven’t.”
Vincent scrowled at him, “How can you say that! You know I have missed her?”
“I know nothing of the sort. Seven weeks ago, huh you seem surprised, did you not know that I have been keeping account of the weeks? No obviously not, well Vincent seven weeks ago, when Catherine was last here, you went above after she left. You went to her that much you told me, its what you left unsaid that makes me concerned. In light of how you reacted to her coming here at that time, I am only left to wonder at whatever must have transpired between you two. So maybe Catherine can fill me in.”
Vincent challenged him with his angry blue eyes, “Leave it Father, what happened between Catherine and I, is our business.”
“Then I trust you will handle it alone, and not involve me. You know how I feel about it Vincent, yet you will neither listen nor consider my words. Catherine loves you, she is prepared to live here with you, and you won’t get a chance like this again.”
“Who says I won’t” Vincent flared.
“Well will you?”
“Who can say?”
“Would you want it, would it be any different with someone else?”
“No. I love only Catherine. There could never be another for me that I would love, as I love Catherine.” Vincent hung his head shamefully.
“Vincent....” Father hugged his son, “Stop, and think about this, what you are losing, what you are pushing away. Elliot Burch is waiting in the sidelines, have you not read the newspapers. The reports say he is grieved by the length of time Catherine Chandler is away, but when she returns they will be seen together again in the public eye. Do you really want to force Catherine to be a part of Elliot’s world?”
Vincent brushed tears away that threatened to fall, “You know I do not. But how can it be any different.”
“I told you before Vincent, I’ll tell you again. Remember the castle of sand. Its fragile, it’s made up of the purest refined grains, so soft, so pliable. It can be shaped into anything that you want to shape it Vincent, and so too can it be swept away by the elements if you do not protect it. Realise what you stand to lose here Vincent. The grains of love will expire with the sands of time, if you do nothing to stop it. And you can stop it Vincent, to your lasting happiness, you can put a halt to its progress, believe me.”
Vincent stared at Father, understanding every word, yet defiant in his conviction, “I have not the right to stop it.” He gasped, “neither do I dare.” He told Father sadly before he swept out of the chamber away to the lower levels, as he heard Catherine approaching from the other way.
Listening to his son’s receding footsteps and Catherine’s approach from the other direction Father waited, a smile ready on his lips, as Catherine swept into the chamber, “Was that Vincent, beating a hasty retreat Father?” She asked knowing full well it had been.
Father smiled, “Welcome home Catherine, are you well?”
They embraced, hugging one another tight, “Its good to be home Father. The case was a harrowing one, and I have earned my reward, two whole weeks off, can I spend them here?”
Father’s face grew grave, “I would like for nothing more, but I don’t know if it would be wise. Whatever happened between the two of you?”
“Vincent didn’t tell you?”
“No. He was adamant that you had no future, and that night you were last here, well I thought we had ironed out a lot of misunderstandings, and I hoped that we would be seeing more of you again. And then the next thing I hear is Vincent leaving a few hours after you went home, and returning like a bear with a sore head. He’s been in the strangest mood ever since then. Won’t you fill me in?”
Catherine shook her head, “I can’t, it’s not something we can talk about. It’s between Vincent and I, and I cannot talk to him if he refuses to see me. I would still like to stay though, can I?”
“I don’t think it would be wise. You know Vincent he takes time to come round.”
“He’s had seven weeks!”
“I know, but that’s without you, having you close, here, well he would have trouble with that. Whatever the problem he has to bear it and come to terms with it. Catherine I have to ask you...”
Catherine smiled mischievously, “What do you have to ask me?”
Father hesitated before continuing, wondering whether he ought, “That night. That last night you were here, I placed my trust in you not to seduce my son. Did you break that trust?”
“Not in so many words.”
“How many words?”
Catherine swallowed, really Vincent should be discussing this with his father it wasn’t her place. “Vincent arrived at my balcony. It wasn’t one-sided Father. He wanted me as I wanted him....”
“And...”
Catherine licked her lips, scanning the chamber anxiously, searching for a sign of anyone overhearing, but they were quite alone, “and we began to make love.” She finished quietly.
Father drew in a long controlled breath, exhaling it slowly, tears filling his eyes, “You were unharmed?”
“Yes, but Vincent didn’t believe so.”
“Why was that my dear?”
“Father, you’re a doctor, you’d understand. It had been a long time for me, years,” She smiled becomingly, “I was a little rusty, it hurt, I screamed, Vincent got the wrong impression. Need I say more?”
Father chuckled, “No Catherine, I think I get the picture. And that explains everything. Thank you, I know it was difficult to tell me, thank you for your confidence.” He looked away thoughtful, he understood it all now. Vincent’s behaviour and his reluctance to talk.
“Father?”
“Yes Catherine.” His concern was evident, there was something in the way she had spoken his name.
“There’s something else, something Vincent isn’t aware of, maybe hasn’t even thought of, or maybe he has, I don’t know. I only know that it shocked me when I found out.”
Warning bells sounded in Father’s head, “What is it Catherine?”
Catherine took a deep, controlled breath, before speaking slowly, “Father, I’m carrying Vincent’s child.”
For long moments the room swam around him, and Father had to steady himself by flopping down into the nearest chair. He stared at Catherine with disbelief as if she had just told him the sky had fallen in. Shaking his head, he told her, “Tell me it isn’t true?”
With difficulty Catherine swallowed, “It is, its been confirmed, while I was away. I’m sorry Father.”
“What will you do?”
“Do?”
“You aren’t considering having it!”
“Father what do you take me for! When I said I loved Vincent, did you not believe me? I thought you did. My love for Vincent’s extends to every part of him, even his seed. This is his child. How can I not love Vincent’s child!”
His voice steadying, his heart regaining its steady pace, Father regretted his outburst, “I’m sorry Catherine, forgive me, it was just a shock that’s all. Did you want me to tell Vincent?”
Catherine shook his head, “No, I don’t want Vincent to know.”
“Not to...?” Father stared at her aghast.
“Please. I don’t want him to feel pressurised into anything he isn’t ready for. It wouldn’t be right. He has to accept me in his life before he can accept this. Please Father, you won’t tell him?”
“I feel as though I have just been burdened with the biggest secret in the world and told not to tell a soul. Catherine it is burning out of me. How can I not tell him, he is my son.”
“And this is your grandson, please Father, you know it makes sense.”
“Grandson?”
“That’s what I said,” Catherine smiled tenderly at him.
“You know already?”
“It’s called technology Father. Medical advancement, Besides I would have known anyway.”
“How much more do you know?” Father’s face was grave.
“If you are asking the impossible Father, at this stage, I know little more than what I have told you. I’m pregnant, it’s a boy and it’s Vincent’s. As to your unasked question, as to what he will look like, I can’t answer, but it doesn’t matter, not to me, in fact to have a child like his father....” Catherine smiled warmly, her eyes glinting with tears, “that would be the finest thing of all.”
“You are one remarkable lady Catherine Chandler. I will be here for you, you know that, any time, any way, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Catherine rose to hug him hard. “That you will deliver your grandson is all I need to know Father” She told him.
Father knuckled away tears of joy, telling her, “As if you had to ask..”
*** *** ***
Deep beneath the catacombs Vincent paced. Up and down, up and down. Catherine was still in his world, he could feel her, yet he couldn’t feel her. The change was remarkable, though he knew that she was still Below awaiting his return, her heartbeat was muffled, it echoed somehow, why he did not know, but beyond the beat of her heart was another lesser one. A echo he concluded to be of her own.
Since that night in her apartment Vincent had done nothing but think, he was tired of thinking, His head ached with it. His heart felt ragged and desolate. He had hurt Catherine, as he had known he would hurt her, and yet the feel of her body had been so exquisite and Vincent could not believe that he had entered her so easily, had even reached that stage so blindly.
After leaving her at the threshold, her body had remained calling for his, and without Father’s restraint, Vincent had gone where she had lead, willingly, blindly, driven by a need that had matched her own. He had no regrets that he had loved her, only that he had hurt her, yet still his conviction remained that she would be better off with someone from her own world, even with someone like Elliot Burch! And though that thought pained him, Vincent sincerely believed it should be that way.
*** *** ***
To be continued in part seven.
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