DRAGONJULS Storybook
~ Actions and Consequences ~
J M Dragon
Part Four
© 2000 by J M Dragon
Email: jmdragon1@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: See Part
One
Chapter Five:
“Look Catherine, he wants out and how can we stop him? For gods sake he’s probably had more of a hard time over the incident than I have myself!” Constance spoke anxiously to her boss.
“Yes. I understand that. But, we pay well, so what’s the problem is everything supposed to be easy? Cut the crap Constance. What’s the bottom line?” Catherine was annoyed at this new news. Her VP for Europe had asked to be released from his contract.
“The bottom line Catherine is that he hates the European office. Especially where he is situated in London. You hated Rio. Well, Eduardo hates London in quite the same way.” Constance responded quietly knowing that Catherine was upset and not without reason. The business seemed to be a never-ending problem these days.
“Look Constance he is excellent as a VP, do not loose him!” Catherine interjected and was about to complete the call when she heard Constance answer back.
“Catherine this is something that I think needs your personal attention, not mine. He already thinks that you don’t trust him! Let’s face it; he’s not exactly stretched on the authority side. You check everything before he can make a decision.” Constance replied, her voice desperate. It was okay trying to persuade Eduardo, but beyond going to bed with the man, she had used all her options at the meeting with him. Consequently cancelling her homeward flight and having dinner with him, trying to take an early flight, which had been delayed the following morning. Now, she had the dubious task of facing the wrath of not only her PA, but her lover as well at some stage in the day. Fortunately she had booked dinner reservations for them which might help the situation.
“Are you saying you can’t handle it?” a hint of steel present in the tone.
“Yeah, damn right I am. You are the problem Catherine, not me!” Constance retaliated with a blistering pace.
Catherine was quiet at her end of the line contemplating the words her Corporate President had levelled at her, ‘was she the problem?’
“Well, are you taking care of it personally, or do I have to go to bed with him to try and get a result?” Constance retorted, peeved at the silence from her boss.
Catherine digested her last words and gave a chuckle that could be heard at the other end of the line. “I wasn’t aware you have taken some of my…shall we say less than former savoury practices to heart Constance. What ever would your PA think?”
“I know what she will think. I also know, not only would I be looking for a new VP in Europe, but a PA too!” Constance responded bitterly. Her time with Clare had been virtually non-existent in the last six months or more. The situation did not look like it would be changing any time soon. It was as well that Clare understood the situation as they worked so closely together.
“Then I’d better take care of a problem you have indicated that I have caused. But Constance, if it isn’t me, consider yourself demoted!” Catherine ended the call and sat back in her chair contemplating her own words. Would she demote her president? Damn right she would, and immediately too!
Looking over the papers that had arrived from Christchurch and England about the schools that Jake could attend, she smiled and thought ‘at least that’s something I can do and have no doubts. It’s good to give a child a decent education. These were the best schools money could buy.’
**********
“I’m not going to do it Mama!” Althea stated half-heartedly, pushing back her wrought iron chair as she picked up her glass of raki. She went to the balcony overlooking the stretch of clean beach and the blue Aegean Sea, how could her mother suggest such an idea?
Fatama Spiros looked at her daughters back and snorted, “You think not?” her tone sarcastic.
George Spiros watched the two most important women in his life and wished he were some place else, preferably at his restaurant across town.
“What you propose is barbaric and outdated! For god’s sake, who put the damn notion in your head?” Althea felt sick. It wasn’t anything to do with the couple of glasses of raki she had consumed either.
“Barbaric? Child we are barbaric. We are human beings after all! A very interesting American came to see me with the information. She has paid highly to have our support. Even if she had not paid, I would still take this path.” Fatama stated, totally engrossed in her plans. Her daughter would do as she was told!
“Well, I’m not going to help you Mama. This is insane! Please just give the woman her money back. Let us get on with our lives.” Althea pleaded, her eyes filling with tears.
“No! No, that’s not possible now. We Greeks always keep our promises. Especially when we have struck a bargain.” Fatama spoke absently.
Althea gave a sarcastic laugh ‘Mama everyone knows what people think of the Greeks. What’s the saying ‘beware Greeks bearing gifts?’ I think we might have to revise that to…beware Americans bearing gifts too!”
“Enough, Althea! You will do as I say!” the voice dictatorial. The force of her words enough for Althea to take a second look at her brother who refused to return her glance and instead looked deep into his glass of raki.
“If I don’t what will you do to me?” Althea asked defiantly. This was the year two thousand not back in the dark ages.
Fatama slowly rose from her chair and with the aid of a cane tapped her way over to her daughter, lifted her chin, her old brown eyes piercing the younger grey ones with a menacing stare. “I will kill you myself.” The older woman turned as her daughter stared at her in shocked disbelief.
George turned aghast eyes to both his mother and sister. But he didn’t move or say anything. He had seen the fall out from numerous altercations their mother had previously with the staff of both the house and the restaurant. Most had not been pretty and he believed that his mother would carry out her threat without compunction.
Althea felt the sting of tears as they, without bidding, cursed down her cheeks. Surely her mother would do no such thing?……But…. Who would stop her? Certainly not George, he was far to under the thumb and at the end of the day, who would care? She was only the daughter of the family, not the heir or a son! How outdated that sounded but to some families it was still true and in hers particularly, her mother would never give up on the traditions.
“What do you need me to do Mama?” the question resulted in a brief satisfied smile from her mother and a relieved one from her brother.
“Ah, now we get down to business. I knew that you would see it my way Althea. After all it is your heritage and we must defend that accordingly. Come sit by me. We will plan for the foreign visitor who will aid us.” Fatama stated. It had been hard to say those words to her only daughter. However, she would have carried out the threat. After all Althea now knew part of the plan and that could not be divulged. They would lose the edge over the Xianthos family. That simply wasn’t acceptable. Not now that they were close to the termination of the Xianthos family from the island at last!
“Is the foreign visitor the American woman Mama?” George asked finally deciding it was safe to join the conversation.
“No, our foreign visitor comes from the Antipodean side of the world. I’m told that they have first hand experience of the niece of Constantia Xianthos. They are due to arrive next month. Then we can really take the feud out of mothballs and into the sunshine.” Fatama gave her children a wide grin as she drunk deeply of the raki.
“Who is it? Do they have a name or are you still waiting for the name from your American informant?” Althea inquired. She was interested in the visitor who had signed on for such a horrendous task. The niece must have certainly ruffled their feathers, if they were prepared to commit a crime…and more likely murder if her mother’s plans came to fruition.
“Yes, they have a name my daughter, the visitor is called….”
**********
Jace watched Catherine pace around the edge of the field that Rio was happily running around in. She was obviously agitated about something. It showed in her walk and the carriage of her body, not to mention the scowl she wore. Although, she did look kind of cute when she scowled.
Lisa and Elena were playing with dolls and Elena’s cart in the enclosed part of the drive, which Catherine had made secure for the children. She did not want anyone unfamiliar with Destiny driving towards the house and hitting one of the children by accident.
Jace continued her surveillance over her female family members. As always, Jake was elsewhere. Today he’d volunteered to go with Colin to check some of the horses in the field furthest from the ranch house. The boy was clearly upset about something, but refused to discuss it. Maybe he would with Colin and they could clear up the matter. She certainly hoped so, for she hated to see any of the children distressed.
Elena took that moment to head towards Catherine’s direction as fast as the cart would allow. That meant imminent danger of collision with her tall partner. Jace considered moving from her position at the patio doors in the lounge to stop the action, but decided that seeing the consequences might outweigh the interference.
“What the bloody…Elena!” Catherine yelped as the child hit her shins with her cart and looked at her with tear-filled green eyes. Catherine looked down at the child. Shrugging her broad shoulders she knelt down to the child’s level and gave her a long look with her ice blues.
Elena watched her tall playmate and grinned happily. Her green eyes suddenly clear of the tears and she held out her arms to be picked up. Catherine gave her a bemused look. It was incredible what those green eyes could do to her. God help her, she had agreed to venture down that path with Jace again. Would she survive three pairs of green eyes? She highly doubted it! Then again, two beautiful daughters from her partner were surely worth it and more. Although, there was always a possibility that it might be a boy with green eyes. Now what would she make of that? Wonder if he would want to learn to ride or take after his mother? That was something they still had to venture with the little one here and the time was coming ever closer.
Elena wailed at her for her lack of attention and Catherine smiled for the first time since she had taken the call from Constance. It was going to be hard to leave the ranch again. But she had a good idea this time and she hoped that Jace approved it.
“Come on little one. How about you sit on my shoulders and we go and chase Rio. What do you say?” Catherine picked up the child, hugged her and noticed that Lisa was running like the wind towards them. Tears running down her cheeks. Waiting for the child to catch up, Catherine looked questioningly at her for the reason why she was upset.
“I trapped my finger in the brakes on the bike Catherine and it hurt!” The child screeched tearfully and showed her the red mark on the middle finger. At least it didn’t look too bad.
“Does it still hurt?” Catherine asked the child who shook her head.
“Not really now, but it did.” Lisa explained and waited for Catherine to say something else as they eyed each other.
“Come here Princess.” Catherine put Elena onto her left side and held out her right arm for Lisa to hug her in a comforting hold by the tall woman’s side.
“Let’s see the finger up close.”
Lisa placed the finger close to Catherine’s face, who gently kissed the injured digit and a smile beamed from Lisa.
“That feels better already. Thanks Catherine,” the child responded and hugged harder into the tall frame.
“My pleasure Princess. Now, do you want to join our hunt to capture Rio, the wonder dog?” Catherine laughed at the grin her elder daughter gave her the injury now completely forgotten. All three wandered after the dog frolicking happily in the field.
Jace marvelled at how gentle and caring Catherine always was with the children. If
someone had told her that this woman would be this compassionate with children the first
time she’d heard about her, she would have shook her head at the notion. Yet,
Catherine had always shown her this caring side of her personality. And it had never, ever
wavered! No adversity had shaken the taller woman’s love for her, not in
anyway……not even her foolish episode over Elena’s father.
Jace looked unseeingly over the field that held her partner and her two daughters; things
could have been so different without the trust her partner had steadfastly given back to
her. She had taken it as a lifeline. And neither of them had not looked back since. It did
not matter that some of the events had caused them additional heartache.
“ Are you thinking seriously about something that I can help you with?” came a concerned, soft-spoken inquiry.
Catherine had left the two children playing with Rio and walked over to her partner, who had seemed engrossed in nothing in particular, but who had a peculiar expression on her face. It was unhappy, but not sad, yet strange.
Jace looked at Catherine with her hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans waiting for an answer. Smiling, she gave her a rueful look.
“I was kind of day dreaming. Guess you have sneaked up on me?” she offered as an explanation.
“Yes, that I did. Now, tell me, can I help?” Catherine locked her gaze with the green one and watched the slow build up of tears in her partner’s eyes. It never ceased to amaze Catherine that this woman could turn the water works on so easily. Yet, it was her compassionate heart that always brought them on.
“You already have.” Jace answered softly and closed the gap, placing her arms around Catherine’s neck, kissing her tenderly on the lips that had pursed at the answer.
“Excellent. Because if anything was wrong, you know I’d work it out for you right?” Catherine placed her hands around Jace’s waist and held her tightly, their foreheads touching, the tender concern emitting from the tall woman.
“I know. I love you Catherine. That will never change.” Jace whispered as Catherine captured her lips in a powerful display of emotion.
“Pleased to hear it. And I love you too Jace. How would you like a walk in the fields with our daughters and Rio? You can hold my hand and tell me what’s bothering you?” Catherine smiled.
Jace knew she would explain herself to her partner, but at least it was easier these days, as Catherine made sure that it was a warm and loving atmosphere as they ambled off towards the family and the release of more memories. ‘Anyway, Catherine had her own explaining to do! She just didn’t know it yet.’
**********
Colin looked out over the paddock and saw the flitting young horses that had no notion of the world, as they were only a week or so old. It was a wonderful sight. One he loved as the seasons brought forward the new foals. He watched the gangling legs and heads that whipped up towards the skies as they frolicked in the paddock. They had produced some fine horseflesh this year on Destiny. Colin had to admit that his boss certainly had an eye for decent horse.
She had even talked recently about looking for a decent sire for her mare Tralargon. That was a shock; he thought she would never relinquish her pride and joy for a moment, now she could ride the mare again. Catherine would know herself, if it was about the right time for the mare to breed. If that was what Catherine wanted? Tralargon wasn’t getting any younger. Watching her with the children that at first had been a hindrance and now they were a focal point of her life. It was now a natural reaction for her.
He himself wouldn’t mind the chance of being a father. He knew that Grace also wanted children. They certainly had never taken any precautions, even in the early days. It had been just so right; precautions didn’t have any bearing on the relationship. If Grace had become pregnant without the commitment, he would have surely begged her to marry him. Or at least stay with him, because at the end of the day, he loved her. There was nothing in life that was going to change that. He missed her too. She was so alive, even his life came alive as soon as she walked into the room!
He would watch her interaction with other people and marvel at her repartee or fortitude, especially when it came to Catherine. At the end of the day, Grace and Catherine had found within each other, a way of expressing feelings they kept dormant with other people, even people they loved and he was grateful for it. After all, had they not had that friendship and the tie, he would still be without the woman he loved?
“How are the new foals doing Colin?” Catherine asked calmly, knowing that the man had not seen her come up along side him.
He turned at her voice and smiled. “Great. We have some good horseflesh here. That chestnut with the star on his forehead is a playful one for sure.”
“Would he be suitable for my son do you think?” Catherine leaned on the railing watching the horse Colin had mentioned.
“Jake? Hell yes, Jake would do well with him in another six months or so.” Colin thought she might have kept the horse for breeding purposes, because he was certainly the type to bring in lots of money.
“My son is thirteen years old in two months. That will be a fitting present for him. He is out growing Ruby.” Catherine smiled as she watched the foal in question.
Colin wondered if now was a good time to broach Jake’s problem. Clearing his throat, he decided that it was as good a time as any.
“Would that be wise if Jake is going away from home for his education. He won’t be here to exercise the horse much.” Colin responded quietly and waited for a reaction from the tall woman at his side.
Catherine turned her ice blue gaze on her ranch foreman and looked quizzically at him.
“What are you talking about Colin?”
“Jake said that you mentioned sending him to a school out of town. Maybe Christchurch or even England! The horse wouldn’t get much exercise if he was away from home all that time.” Colin pointed out practically.
Catherine considered the words. She had to admit that the thought hadn’t crossed her mind; she would be losing her son! The very thought sent a pain to her heart. No way was she letting her boy go, unless he wanted to!
“Thanks Colin for reminding me about certain facts of life, shall we say.”
Colin nodded his head as they both looked at the foals in the dying sunlight.
“Grace will be home soon Colin.” Catherine said softly to the brooding man.
“Yeah, I know. But it’s the waiting that’s the hardest part Catherine, whatever she’s going through, I want to share it also.
“You will share it Colin. Grace loves you trust in that. It will never steer you wrong. I know, because she has never, ever been anything but loyal and constant in my life,” her words filled with love and affection for her friend.
“Thanks for the shoulder Catherine. But it’s time for me to see our new lives on the property to their mothers and bed. See you tomorrow sometime.” He smiled at her and walked away.
“See you tomorrow Colin.” Silently adding ‘everything will work out. It just has to. I won’t allow anything else.’
Moving away from the railing, she looked at her ranch foreman’s retreating back, then towards her house and knew she had her own problems brewing. For once, she had the solution. Laughing softly she went towards the stables and her goodnight to Tralargon.
**********
Constance was seated at her favourite table in the same restaurant that Jace Bardley had managed to persuade the formidable manager to allow her a take out. It was a major feat and Constance wondered how she’d managed it. They never did find out. Perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing, exclusivity and all that! Now anxiously looking at each person had they came into the room. She was sitting strategically at a spot that would allow her to see the entrance. She would know when her dinner guest arrived, who happened to be about half-hour late already. “Clare, where the hell are you?” Constance spoke quietly to the empty chair opposite her.
Clare had been upset for the…what; it must be numerous times in the last six months. No matter how often Constance promised to be home, or have dinner, or take her out for the evening, or just spend some time on the weekend enjoying each other’s company, it never happened! Work got in the way, for Constance was either on a plane to another part of the world, or ensconced in the office pouring over the problems that the shooting had caused them world wide, but particularly in New York. Now that she had finally found a replacement for the VP role in New York. All the other positions that had become vacant had been resolved. Thankfully, the lesser positions, she had been relieved to pass over to that particular head of department to recruit, had been filled. Maybe, just maybe, they could get some personal time together. She hoped so.
Arriving at the office from a delayed flight from the UK to New York around six in the evening, she had found surprisingly Clare gone for the evening. Leaving a message on the answering machine at home for Clare to join her at dinner, they could at least enjoy a great meal and perhaps talk; inconsequential talk she hoped and not work related at all.
Once again she glanced over at the opening of the entrance door and saw her lover slowly make her way through the door, stopping briefly to talk to the manager before she headed in Constance’s direction.
Constance was surprised Clare still had on her outer coat and had a totally blank expression on her face as she approached the table. Constance immediately got up and waved away the hovering waiter; something was wrong, very wrong.
“Hi Clare, you’re not staying?” her voice held a hint of worry as she said the words. She made sure her smile didn’t reflect her nervous reaction.
Clare starred at her and Constance saw the tears that the younger woman held back. “Is there something wrong Clare?” this time the worry was evident in her voice.
“No! No nothing is wrong that can’t be put right I guess. You look tired Constance?” Clare managed to say, but her words came out slowly and with only a little interest in the conversation.
Constance shrugged her shoulders and smiled slightly at the observation. “I guess you know me to well huh? Yes, I’m tired. But if we eat, I’m sure my body would appreciate it. And with such a beautiful dinner companion hell, I can’t lose right?” Constance waited for her answer. She knew that she wasn’t going to like it. Already her heart was hammering, waiting for the shoe to fall.
“Yes, I know you well enough now. I think and that’s why…why I’m leaving tonight to go and stay with my sister in Monterey. She has just had her third child and could do with a hand. I’ve already taken care of the office. Rita Tuscany is very efficient. She will be a fine replacement.” Clare didn’t continue. She noticed the pallor in the skin of her friend and wished that Constance had just come home instead of wanting to have dinner somewhere. She had not taken her cell phone, so it had been impossible to contact her earlier. Well she could have left a message, but it was getting late. She had a flight to catch and the taxi was waiting outside for her.
“You…Clare you’re leaving me? For how long? Are you coming back to the office? To us?” Constance asked that many short staccato questions.
Clare wasn’t sure what to answer first. She should know. After all it was the reason behind her leaving.
“I’m hoping that you and Rita can work together. I can terminate my employment without having to return to New York. If not…well, I’ll be back in two weeks and serve out my notice! I think that about covers it really.” Clare’s voice was matter of fact and in an icy tone. Although, she had rehearsed the words time and again in the past couple of days, she had no idea how hollow they sounded. Or how much it was hurting her inside to give this woman up. How was she going to survive it?
Constance looked at Clare in shock. She had never expected this. Anger maybe. Perhaps a little bitter at how much time her work had invaded their private life, but this! This was…heartbreaking. “What about us Clare. Don’t you love me anymore?” the question filled with a hopelessness that Constance wasn’t able to hide.
“Love you? Constance I’ll always love you. But you want to have it all! You want the work, power and prestige that go with it. Then you want the person at home. When you have the time to come home that is! What that other person feels, wants or needs from you come second to work. How can we exist on that? Tell me please? I want it all too Constance. However, I want you as part of the package, not a phone call, email, flowers or a sorry have dinner without me, or the bed on your side to be constantly cold!” Clare gave her impassioned plea as the tears she held back finally flowed. The other diners close to them started to stare in their direction.
“I have to go. My taxi is waiting.”
“No! Look, we can work it out Clare please. Go for the two weeks, but come back to me. I’ll change. I promise!” Constance pleaded, her own tears close. If it wasn’t for the need to use this place again on business, she would have gone on her knees to plead her case with this woman.
“I’ll call you Constance. Please go home and rest. You know what you’re like in the morning if you don’t get enough sleep.” Clare turned not daring to look at the hurt she had caused on her lover’s face. It had been a close thing that she hadn’t given in but she couldn’t. They had no life. It was time to change, or the relationship was going to die anyway. At least this way they might have a chance, however slim that appeared at the moment.
“I’ll call you!” Constance replied. Although, she didn’t have a clue where she could call Clare. The retreating figure would not have heard her anyway as she slumped down in the chair. The previously hovering waiter came over to ask if she wanted to order now.
Constance looked at him with tear-filled gaze and nodded her head.
“A bottle of scotch and a raw steak,” she answered.
“Madam, you only want a raw steak nothing else?” he enquired puzzled at the request.
“Yeah, that’s right. Bring it in a foam pack. I need to take it home. By the time I’ve drunk the bottle of scotch, I’m going to need it for the headache I’ll have next morning.” Constance replied sarcastically and looked down at the table. The waiter left to fulfil her order, however strange a request it was, she was the paying customer.
**********
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Jace asked Catherine later as they sat together alone in the study. Catherine had been working on some last minute plans for the ranch renovations. The builders were starting on that particular phase next week.
“Which part?” Catherine looked at her partner and gave her a sheepish smile, her mind on the plans, not on Jace’s question.
“Which part Catherine? Which part Hades! The most important part, the one were you discussed without my knowledge. Our son’s education, and you’ve scared him out of his wits. That’s the important part Catherine! I’m not interested in your business, or that you’ve lost money, our son is more important!” Jace looked sternly at her partner. Sometimes she had to remind the focused woman just what was important in life. In her eyes money certainly was not if it neglected their children, or their relationship.
“I’m sorry.” Catherine bent her head duly chastised. Her mind now totally focused on her partner’s anger. Jace was right. She should have told her. Yes, Jake was far more important than the money. She just needed the odd reminder that was all. A boot up the arse from Jace wasn’t pleasant, but it was always for a good reason as now.
“Yeah, as usual a sorry seems to be your stock in trade. One day that sorry isn’t going to work. You know that, don’t you Catherine? Now tell me what you told our son and let’s clear the matter up.” Jace said exasperated, although her initial anger had now subsided to mild annoyance at her partner.
Catherine looked up her eyes held a full apology. She waited until Jace sat down. She would have preferred on her lap, but tonight Jace was using her own brand of punishment to make her point. Not being close to the blonde was always a good one to get her attention.
“Okay, I kind of mentioned that there were good schools in Christchurch and…England.” Catherine was stopped in her tracks.
“You wanted to send our son to England, Catherine? That’s thousands of miles away. We would never see him!” Jace looked aghast at the suggestions.
“I know Jace, I know. It was only a suggestion. They do have some of the best schools in the world. Trust me on that one; I went to some of them myself. And I received a good education.” Catherine anxiously tried to explain herself.
“Catherine as much as I hate to remind you about this and it will never cross my lips again, you were taking drugs at fourteen. So the education system couldn’t have been that good, or it would have detected it and my boy is almost that age. AND HE IS NOT GOING! Do you hear me Catherine? He is not going!” Jace angrily retorted.
Catherine starred at her partner. The shame she felt for those years she’d taken drugs finally hitting home in a most unexpected way from an unexpected source. “I don’t want him to go either Jace and end up like me. I don’t want any of our children to end up like me!” the voice bleak and desolate at the very thought.
Jace heard the inflections in the voice and the sad face that now looked down at the desk. She knew that her words had wounded her partner far more than she had envisaged. “Hey love, I know you don’t. I’m sorry I mentioned it.” Jace tried to relieve the situation.
Catherine merely nodded her head, but kept it down.
Jace didn’t want this. It was one thing to be upset that Catherine hadn’t discussed such an important matter, but quite another to see the distraught features before her. This was not an act of punishment, it was supposed to be a discussion. Jace stood up and moved around the desk and knelt at Catherine’s chair and put her hand under the tall woman’s face, smiling into the tear filled ice blue eyes with as much love, warmth and understanding as she could portray in her green ones.
“I wouldn’t ever want our son to experience drugs Jace. Never. I couldn’t cope with that.” Catherine muttered indistinctly.
“No, me either. But if it happens, let us face it Catherine, we can’t live his life for him, or make all his choices. We will be here for him, support him and help him. That’s what parents do. You have shown him more parental love than I think either of his birth parents ever did. He’ll remember that love Catherine. We always remember the love. The bad parts we send to another room in our minds. We lock them away and we carry on. But when we’re shown love, we keep that always with us, and hopefully share it with others. Because we have been so fortunate to have received it in our lives.” Jace spoke softly and traced a tender finger over the tracks of tears that covered the cheeks of her partner; smiling into those eyes she loved so much.
Catherine lost herself in the healing effects of the love she was receiving and Jace was right. When you received love, you tried to share it with others. A perfect example being Jace’s love for her and she had responded with the children and tried to offer them the same in her own way.
“I Love you. Please keep loving all of us Jace. We need it!” Catherine finally beseeched her partner, her throat dry with the emotion she was feeling.
“Every day darling, you have my love everyday. I’ll never let any of you forget it.” Jace pulled the dark head closer, kissing her gently and then rested her forehead on Catherine’s in quiet contemplation.
“I think we let Jake chose the school, what do you say partner?” Catherine finally asked as their breath mingling at the closeness.
Jace smiled, her eyes reflecting back at Catherine giving her the answer without words. “We can sit and talk to him about it, together. Now what other news do you want to impart to me tonight?” Jace asked lightly. She knew that Catherine was arranging something else, but she wasn’t sure what it was.
“Tomorrow Jace, can we discuss it tomorrow? I think for the rest of tonight I just want us to go to bed. I need to hold you. What do you say?” Catherine pulled away a little to see the expression on Jace’s face.
“Good idea darling. When you have finished holding me, can I reciprocate?” Laughing softly at the happy smile that now replaced all the angst their conversation had caused.
“Oooh, yes! I adore when you hold me close. I think it’s the octopus hands that you have, that I like the most.” Catherine smiled and stood up with the blonde in her arms.
Jace placed her arms around Catherine’s neck as they left the study. She was transported in a wonderful way to their bedroom. They might have had some difficult moments earlier, but they had survived the wave that crashed over them. Because at the end of the day, the most important emotion had surfaced and saved them, their unwavering love of each other!
Continued in Part 5
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